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July 7, 2014 at 4:52 am #186791AmayMember
Anyone have any tips for dealing with migraines/stress headaches that do not involve medication? I really shouldn’t be taking pain killers every day. I am sleeping enough and drinking enough water. I hate how tense and stressed these exams make me feel!
BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂
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July 7, 2014 at 5:13 am #580089AnonymousInactive
Ive had about 5 serious ones in my life. Nothing compares. I have absolutely no tips for dealing with them post onset. I have found that I have triggers so I, of course, avoid those and I have fended off one by feeling it coming on early and taking the OTC Excedrin Migraine pills.
Mine do not last for over 24 hours but the next day is a full recovery day.
So yeah, not very helpful, but focus on prevention. Stay hydrated and stay aware if you feel it coming on. I'm talking about real migraines here i.e. vomiting, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound.
For bad headaches a lot of stuff works.
July 7, 2014 at 5:16 am #580090AnonymousInactiveIf they are stress headaches, you might be holding the stress in your neck. watch your posture. Consider marijuana if you live in a state where it is available. Drinking works for some not for others, the science behind it is weird, same with caffeine. Too much can cause headaches buit taken at the right time can help relieve them.
July 7, 2014 at 10:22 am #580091AnonymousInactiveI have heat-triggered migraines. I take 1000 Mgs of B-2 per day (recommended by neurologist) and try and drink 2 cokes at the rare onset of a migraine. Also, if it is tension related, try getting a massage. They can really work out the tension for you, but you need to let them know to focus on your tense areas.
July 7, 2014 at 10:31 am #580092ruggercpa2bParticipantMy coworker had stress headaches and she went and saw a chiropractor and she said it helped.
AUD - 1/6/18
FAR - TBD
REG - TBD
BEC - TBDAUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBDI am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.
July 8, 2014 at 2:11 am #580093AmayMemberThanks guys. I am pretty sure it's tension related. Today, my eye was twitching and everything at work! WTH! I agree that massages do help. I have been getting a monthly one since January as part of my New Year's resolutions, and it has definitely helped with my tension. I wish I had time to get one before my exam…
Most of the time I get bad headaches, but occasionally I get migraines. Those are real bad. I have to lay down as soon as I get home. I am very sensitive to light and even talking makes it worse. I can only sleep those off.
BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂
July 8, 2014 at 2:29 am #580094KimboroniMemberSomeone once told me that eye twitching comes from having tight muscles on that same side of my neck, so when I get the eye twitch, I knead that side of the base of my neck, and it goes away.
I used to have migraines much more often until I changed my eating –basically way less grains and lots more vegetables (in the realm of broccoli and cauliflower, not potatoes and corn). I rarely get them now. I don't know if that would help at all so that you'd be less susceptible when the stress comes on.
AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂
July 8, 2014 at 2:31 am #580095StevenFrostMemberChiropractor can help, most certainly. Another solution is stretching, or sweating for 30-40 minutes doing cardio. I find that not only does it improve the quality of your sleep but it also helps put in a few more hours of studying, or improves the quality of those hours.
July 8, 2014 at 2:54 am #580096AnonymousInactiveI get bad headaches related to stress too. Over the past two weeks, I have gotten about 5 migraines that don't respond to advil, tylenol, or aspirin. One thing that really helped me was to get a mouth guard because I clench my jaw when I get stressed and that significantly cut down on migraines for me. I know that exercising helps me too. I actually see a neurologist because I get so many migraines that over the counter painkillers don't help much…if you don't want to take an NSAID or acetaminophen, try getting some maxalt. It doesn't hurt your liver, it just helps the blood vessels contract and get rid of the migraine.
July 8, 2014 at 3:05 am #580097AmayMember@Amanda I saw a neurologist too and he prescribed me this anti-depressant (I forget the name) that's commonly used to treat migraines. I was afraid of using such strong medication, especially since he said it caused drowsiness, while I studied for my exams, so I have not taken it.
Coincidentally, I went to the dentist for my routine check-up in April and the dentist told me that my gum line was a bit receded and asked me if I got headaches often, that I should get a mouth guard because it looked to him like I may be clenching my teeth at night. Maybe there is some truth to it and I should try that too!
BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂
July 8, 2014 at 3:12 am #580098AnonymousInactiveDefinitely try the mouth guard! You will be shocked at how much it helps your headaches. It probably cut mine down by 70%. I take Celexa which is used to treat migraines (SSRI) and it made me drowsy for like a day. It really wasn't bad and I was worried because I started it when I was studying. I also happened to find this gel mask in the cosmetics section at Target and when I get a bad headache, I throw it in the freezer and then put it on and it helps them a little. Man, I hate migraines. It sucks being headache prone!
July 8, 2014 at 3:46 am #580099AmayMemberWhat he had prescribed me was Amytriptyline. I am definitely giving the mouth guard a try! I had read before in my migraine research that it had helped some people, so praying that it works for me too!
BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂
July 8, 2014 at 2:26 pm #580100AnonymousInactiveTry to see otolaryngologist, they say sometimes it's related to congestion. I have chronic migraine type headaches, I got some prescription nasal spray, to just see if it works, it doesn't for me, but it might for you. Do you know all your triggers? I thought before that mine was just a chocolate (dammit), but now I realized that it could also include other sweets, some ingredient they use, sweetener or something.
July 8, 2014 at 9:11 pm #580101tomq04ParticipantI'm a part time health freak.
If you're trying to avoid medication here is the short list that has helped my mother and wife.
1.) Chiropractic
2.) Hydration
3.) Food intake (intolerance)
4.) Massage
5.) Exercise
6.) Sleep!
I should mention that those should be in no particular order, in many many cases it is sensitivity to food, start tracking everything you eat and figure out when you are getting the headaches/migraines.
Common “allergens” are:
artificial sweeteners
gluten
sugar
dairy
alcohol
food coloring
various crappy oils (hydrogenated soybean, canola etc)
If you feel they are stress related, exercise and chiropractic can make a world of difference, most folks carry stress in the neck, and viola, you often get headaches when certain neck vertebrae are out (atlas and C3 if i'm not mistaken)
Don't forget to sleep in all this, dis-ease is just that, your body telling you that something ain't right… your body knows a lot more than you do and it's constantly trying to talk to you.
Good luck and I hope you start feeling better!
REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75July 9, 2014 at 12:55 am #580102AmayMemberThanks so much for the tips! I could get better with the sleeping. I usually sleep 6-8 hours though. In terms of food intake, funny you should mention because I started cutting out dairy little by little a couple of days ago, since I have read time and time again that's it's linked to acne and allergies and I suffer from both. My allergies are pretty bad – I have gotten a couple of sinus infections in the past. Acne – mild/moderate but it can be very annoying.
Cutting out dairy is proving to be hard and I know sugar will be much harder. For now, I am doing little changes and taking it step by step. That will be my next challenge after the CPA!
BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂
July 9, 2014 at 12:56 am #580103AmayMemberWhat are your thoughts on truvia? I just bought it to replace sugar. I know splenda is worse and this one seems natural…
BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂
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