This time of year is always rough for me. The temperature and changing barometric pressure always seem to trigger more migraines than usual. This year has been no exception. These are a few things I do to try and cope.
1. Stay IN or OUT!
I find I have even more trouble when I go from cool air conditioning to the heat and back and forth. If I'm going to be outside, I stay outside. If I don't need to go out, I don't. This may not be terribly practical in for most people, but during the summer months when it's either severely hot or humid, or storming, I stick to the air conditioning as much as I can. If I have something I need to do outside, I try to really stay outside until the activity is done. I.e. I went to our awesome Henry Doorly Zoo here in Omaha over the 4th. I started out with a migraine, but took my meds and an ice pack for the ride there and it was almost gone by the time I got out of the car. I could feel the twinge of it still, but once my body adjusted to the heat, I was pretty much okay for the entire time and tried to stay outside and not go in and out (some of the exhibits were inside, but I only went to a couple and only for a few minutes). Once I got back into the car and the air conditioning blasted, the migraine came straight back and I was ill for most of the rest of the day... but at least I got to participate in the activity until it was done. I've had this happen when I work in the yard too. I'll be okay until I'm done, but if I come inside to the cold immediately, I seem to end up with a migraine... so I've been trying to hang in the shade/garage until my body cools off before I come in. It seems to help some.
2. Ice packs!
Any of you who've read my posts before know that I'm all about the ice packs... I love them. My Mom recently found these awesome reusable ice cubes that I'm now in love with. They're called Cubies (there are a couple other brands that look to be similar - Icy Cools, White Ice - see them on Amazon), and they're great. I took a bag of them (40 pieces each) and double bagged them in ziplocks... so it's just like having a full ice bag, but without the hassle of filling up the bag and dropping ice cubes everywhere. It stays cold for me for 6-8 hours and when it's warm you just pop the entire setup back into the freezer. The benefits is that it's like the super simple gel packs, but doesn't freeze up as one big hard block. It's pliable so you can lay on it and your head sinks right in. I use double pillow cases to wrap it because it's usually too cold, and that's perfect.
I also use the awesome products from Medi-Temp - I use their headache wrap constantly on days when I need to be more mobile or sit up at my desk. They recently sent me a new product to try called the Micro Pillow and I use that when I lay down quite often as well.
There is another breakthrough cooling/heating product I'm going to blog about soon as well called Sootheaway. The company sent me a unit to test and I'm impressed with it. It's a different idea than using traditional ice packs, and I think it's cool. More coming soon.
3. For On The Go!
You know that product "Head On" with the annoying commercials. They have a version for migraines and I dig it. It's basically a large chapstick like tube with the product inside so you can rub it on your temples and forehead - wherever it hurts. This works for me when the headache is still mild... just gives as much of a cooling sensation as it can and it has the menthol smell, which for me is a cold smell.
I also keep my trusty Origins Peace of Mind peppermint aromatherapy with me. The peppermint has such a cold smell that it's almost like having cold there for me. If you haven't smelled it... it's great. It also helps me when I'm around strong smells like cigarette smoke or exhaust, etc.
No more migraines,
Kelli :)
Disclosure Notice: Any products I'm recommending above are only recommended
because they have worked for me, or I personally like them. I am an Amazon affiliate and if you click on the link for the ice cube products, I make a small commission if you purchase a product. I will not
receive any type of compensation if you purchase any of the other products.
Medi-Temp was kind enough to send me a product thanking me for my previous positive comments about their products on this blog. Sootheaway sent their unit
for me to test, but I will be returning the unit when my evaluation
period is over. EDIT 7/19/10 - Medi-Temp has asked me to join their affiliate program, so I will get a small percentage of each sale if you click on my affiliate link on this site. They've also offered free shipping on any order over $20 - see the banner at the top of this page.
My simple review: 
