Ok, I get these super-scary attacks that they call 'complex migraines." The doctors tell me that it's very similar to a stroke, but without the lasting damage of a stroke. It's absolutely terrifying, and I have no way to predict when it will happen. I'm wondering if anyone with migraines has experienced an improvement in your condition after dropping the weight. I'm desperate to find a way to avoid this in the future. I've dealt with it since I was 12, and I'm so unbelievably sick of it that I can hardly talk about it without getting upset. Anyone have any advice??? Thanks---Krystal

I'm not sure losing weight hasnt lessened the migraines... but changing my diet did... About 3 -4 years ago - I was getting migraines about every few weeks... migraines that would having my dying for a cold dark room for a few days -and death would have been the preferred option... Multiple prescriptions really didn't help much... it lessened the pain but never stopped the migraine... MRIs showed I had a brain but that was about it... nothign causing it.

A doctor i went to suggested keeping track of foods and see if anything I ate triggered the migraine - including too much of a mineral or a food allergy (I was the guinea pig and this was an experiment

Cutting out processed meats (like salamis, pepperoni, certain deli meats, and some processed foods seemed to lessen the attacks... Karma will get me for saying this but the last migraine I had was about 3 months ago - and the trigger I'm pretty sure was pepperoni pizza at a meeting...

Thanks for the reply I am going to cut out EVERYTHING processed and just eat like a cave man for a while. I don't eat pizza either anymore, because I thought for a long time that was the cause of the episodes...but after about 6 months of no pizza, of course I experienced another attack. Then I was convinced it was gluten which you really can't get away from unless you eat only natural, whole foods. So it looks like boiled chicken and broccoli for me from now on! I know what you mean about Karma biting you in the butt...I'm afraid of that too. The minute I started telling people about my diet and the fact that I hadn't had any migraines, I got two back to back. Yikes.

I knew karma would get me in the end - it always does...

my stress level the past few days has been thru the roof - usually it's what keeps me from being a puddle on the floor - combined with very little sleep - today - it's reared it's ugly head in the form of a migraine... god bless the ability to take out the lights in the ceiling, and sunglasses... and a pox on a lazy doctor who still hasn't gotten into the office yet to call i a prescription tomy pharmacy....

Geez, I'm so sorry. I really really REALLY hope you're feeling better very soon. I'm wondering if red meat might be a trigger for me...I've been thinking it over the last few days and I see several connections.
I hope yours is gone by the time you read this message, and that you're feeling better sooner than later:|

I used to have complex migraines as well. They'd usually be accompanied by a loss of vision in one (or both) of my eyes. The cause of my migraines was the birth control pills I was using. My doctor has since taken me off of the pill and prescribed an IUD. I don't know if this is something that you might be able to look further into (not sure if you use the BC Pill or not) but if you do - you should be aware that the hormones in the pill can increase your chances of having a stroke 3 fold if you have any type of epileptic tendency whatsoever.

I dunno about complex migraines, but I get cluster migraines. I'll be in the clear for a month or two, then I'll get migraines for a week or longer. I've had CT scans and been on meds and all sorts of things, but no luck. Some doctors say they are nothing more than stress headaches-ha! In this month, just this month of January, my hubby left, I have been sick, my kids are sick now, I quit smoking, my diet has changed, the cat dissapeared, my car is making a weird noise, money is tight, I hafta play Hercules and do any and everything around here... but no headaches! Stress? Ha! I guess that, if anything, diet has improved me. I had one headache this month and that was due to sinus pressure. Oh yeah, I know someone who gets migraines if they eat anything that has been cooked on a grill. I did the charts on everything and we don't know what causes mine. (Does anyone ever really know?) Best of luck to you! The complex migraines sound scary.