Any pointer appreciated.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42987624

Points: 1

# Comments: 3

In the past I tried zolmitriptans for it but they don't do much, same with milder pain killers.

My migraines started at 20, two decades ago. I remember the first one like it was yesterday. I was studying CS and was coding on a dark-mode CRT monitor with a big fat window reflection on the screen.

It always happen the same way, with the characteristic jiggles, some kind of colorful, moving patterns of light that start in the center of my vision, slowly expanding to my entire field of view, making me temporarily blind. Then 30 mns after the onset of that, gone. 30 more minutes and the headache + strong nausea start, and immense fatigue. At that point I'm out of commission for a good 12h. Meaning I better be close to my bed, in total darkness.

It really sucks. I used to have them every 3 months on the dot, like on a timer. As I'm getting older I'm having less and less of them, going about a year without one. And they are a lot milder now. I have a lot less of the jiggles, no nausea and the headache is not so bad. I'm still fatigued but usually recover the same day. I consider myself lucky.

It seems to run in my family.

I've tried finding a trigger for the migraines but I have no clue. I used to associate them with bright lights as there is usually a bright light present when they happen, but it needs some other element. Stress and fatigue appear to be factors, as are tanins contained in red wine and beer. But sometimes none of these elements were present.

I have a personal non-scientific theory that serotonin levels play a role. High levels like I think I had when I was younger tend to trigger migraines. As I'm getting older and grumpier, I probably have low serotonin and less migraines...

I've been thinking of reaching out to nurses and other pros that work around docs.

I like the professional org idea.

They do not trust me (why would they) and they think it's a sales tactic. I couldn't be purer in my intentions, but people are on the defensive.

And your pain point is actually one I've heard firsthand. Got a few ideas and connections in this area.

You made good points for the stage that you're in, i.e. you already have a solution that you can sort of pitch upfront (even seeding the conversation is a version of that). I'm at the point where I can't/don't want to bias them with the slightest hint of what I'm solving because it will taint their response. That makes it quite hard!