Suffering with Migraines
My migraines started when I was 14 and I only gained control over them when I turned 40. The first migraine I had in my teens hit me like a lightning bolt, and I fell to the ground on my knees holding my head and it didn’t stop until I passed out and woke up 24 hours later. From that time on I would experience migraines frequently and they would come in clusters. Often I would be vomiting, see an aura and spend days in bed.
Visiting with doctors, they never really had an answer but they would hand me a prescription. After multiple medications that did not work, and all which had intense side effects, plus visits to alternative practitioners, I assumed this was something that I needed to live with. And I did, for the next 20+ years. As time wore on my migraines settled into a monthly pattern. But after the birth of my 3rd child, they suddenly became much, much worse.
Opioids – A Long Term Solution?
Trying to raise three kids all under the age of 4 and working full time, I did not have time for migraines. So, at the onset of a migraine I would pop a Vicodin and maybe another. The Vicodin helped to keep the pain at bay, as I needed to function and could not afford to spend hours, much less days in bed. Even at the time, I knew this needed to be a short term strategy, addiction was too easy a trap.
Finally, a friend insisted that I consider cannabis as a solution. Honestly, I had nothing to lose, but I thought my chances of success were zero to none. I also did not consider myself a stoner.
Marijuana Stopped My Migraines
Marijuana stopped my migraines. After 20+ years, I do not experience frequent migraines anymore. It did not happen right away but today I live relatively pain free, and free of narcotics. How did I do it? It’s a two step process. The first step is preventative, which cannot be over emphasized. The second step is preventing pain if a migraine/headache does sneak through.
The preventative steps are relatively simple. I take 10 mg of 20:1 CBD to THC Rosette Wellnesstincture in the morning. I have found this ratio to be the most effective. Later in the day I take Moxie Meds 4:1 tincture, also at a 10 mg dosage.
It is important to note that high ratio CBD products do not make you high and although I ingest cannabis throughout the day, I am never high when taking these preventative measures. Also, CBD is not a silver bullet that takes effect in a day or two. I have found that the effects are cumulative and it took a 2-3 months of daily dosing before the longer lasting impact was felt.
In addition to cannabis, I also take Vitamin B and Magnesium which research has found to reduce migraines in patients who take these supplements regularly. I make sure to exercise regularly, typically hiking 3x a week and yoga 3x a week. Lastly, I eliminated gluten, soy and wine from my diet, which personally helped me, but may not be necessary for others.
Today, I am almost 100% migraine free. What does happen is what I call a ‘shadow headache’. When I feel the shadow descending, which is usually the result of a stressful event, I reach for my vape pen. As I do not do well with high THC, my oil cartridges are always high CBD and low THC.
CBD is known to be an analgesic as well as an anti inflammatory. My favorite oil cartridge is Bloom Farms Electra Tsu 3:1 oil cartridge. LOVE…I even wrote them a haiku, my highest form of praise and adoration.
Preventing Migraines
Migraine prevention is a possible. What triggers a migraine is individual, but the solutions mentioned above could prevent yours. I am always surprised by the amount of acceptance I hear from migraine sufferers, where all the attention is paid to pain management rather than migraine prevention. Why not try to stop them before they begin? As a result of my preventative efforts my life has changed significantly, for the better. I hope perhaps my solution helps you or someone you know.
Do you have a migraine solution? We would love to hear it, please share in the comments below!
If you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our Cannabis 101 post. HelloMD can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it’s 100% online, private and efficient.
