Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Cause Of Optical Migraine

Question:
Here is a question I have not seen addressed here that puzzles me. I find that I have REALLY GOOD days where I can get lots of things done with a little effort, and then I have REALLY BAD days where I feel so scattered and out of it that I can't get even one thing (like mailing a letter that is stamped and ready to go) done. I have also noticed that my *symptoms* (as it were) seem to be worse now than they were say one year ago, and immensely more intense than say 10 years ago (this is the way I percieve it). Another thing which I don't know if it is related is the fact that I used to have severe migraines from the age of 16 until a few years ago. I also had other kinds of headaches quite frequently. The cause of the migraines was never determined. Five years ago, while pregnant with my second child, I stopped having the pain associated with the migrains, and began to have only Optical Migraines in which I have tiny flashes of light in my field of vision. After lots of testing, the cause could not be determined, but the Drs. surmised that the CHANGE in type was probably caused by hormones of my pregnancy. After the baby was born, I returned to having migraines, but they were VERY infrequent (one or two a year at most). I still have regular headaches, but not as frequently as before, and I can usually pin down the cause of the regular headaches now (ie: stress, sinus, etc.) I do still have frequent optical migraines with no pain--annoying at most. BTW, I do drink considerably more coffee now than when I was having regular migraines which may be why I'm having the painful ones less frequently. Has anyone here also had similar experience with headaches/migraines or with ADD symptoms getting better or worse over years? I am also quite curious about the day-to-day change in severity. I know there must be some sort of trigger that causes it, and I would like to find it to eliminate the problem if possible (like not sleeping 8 hours makes me more irritable and therefore magnifies the problem, or eating chocolate calms me therefore I can deal with the craziness a little more patiently, etc.) I know this sounds weird, and I know these environmental/physical things don't cause or cure the ADD, but it seems like mood emphasises it or diminishes the effects of it somewhat. I just can't keep my thoughts together long enough to figure out what is getting to me. Does that make sense?

Answer:
I can't say much on headaches, for me I don't remember. My boy does getthem sometimes but not often. As far as Chocolate goes, it has caffeine in it and my Hey use to drink coffee or tea for his ADHD. That use to work great.