You really need these earplugs!

If you are like me, and suffer from migraines regularly, you may want to stick around and read this.

Every migraine is different, and with over 40 (40!) different triggers for these seriously painful headaches, it can be difficult to pin down what exactly is causing your pain. Also, migraines aren't technically 'headaches', they are considered a 'headache disorder' and a neurological disease. Migraines affect over 1 billion people world-wide.

I have had migraines regularly for over 4 years now. At first, I had no idea what was causing them. I went to my doctor explaining the pain in my head, and they ordered a CT scan that very day. That was a scary few hours. The results showed nothing phystically out of the ordinary happening in my skull, so I was referred to a neaurologist. That doctor told me that I had nothing wrong with me except stress and precribed me anti-depressants.

Fast forward a few months, I did not fill the prescription for the SSRI I was prescribed, because I really didn't feel that I needed them. I found that when a migraine attack took place, I could function if I took two extra strength Excedrin and drank a Mountain Dew. This remedy worked for me until a couple years back when we relocated from Alabama (where I suffered maybe one or two migraine attacks each month) to Tennessee, to a much more mountainous region. Now I have easily 2-5 migraines every single week.

Now, look, I try my best to take care of myself. I have a daily yoga practice, I meditate and pray in the mornings before I start my day. I eat healthfully for the most part. (We all need a treat now and then, right?).I drink a lot of water. But one thing I don't do very well is sleep. I have insomnia more nights than I don't. And for a while, I was seriously addicted to sodas. I would have two or three a day, usually.

Well, I am happy to say, I stopped drinking sodas about 6 weeks ago, and I am also happy to say, my migraines have been reduced from doing this. So, let's talk triggers.

I have found so far, three things that trigger my migraines. One is caffeine, one is PMS, and the main trigger for me is fluctuations in barometric pressure. For awhile, I thought weather changes were my trigger, because anytime a storm blew through, it would send me straight to bed, useless for the day (and sometimes the next). But I recently started keeping track of barometric pressure changes in my area. I've found that even when big storms aren't coming, the barometric pressure can and does change. A lot. And when it fluctuates more than .10 Hg, I usually end up with a migraine.

In searching for some kind of relief that didn't involve taking a pill every day (if there's a side effect, I usually end up dealing with it), or taking a pill at the onset of an attack (tried a triptan; it made me so sick and nauseated I ended up in worse shape than just suffering with the migraine itself.) I decided to try a drug-free solution.

After searching the internet, I came across a few things. One was a green light that was supposed to help lower severity and pain during an attack. Neat idea, if you are staying close to home, but not a practical solution if you need to leave your house. Then I found a suction-type device that you stuck in your ear to equalize the pressure. That seemed like it would help, but again, didn't want to have to be in public with this huge suction cup doohickey hanging out of my ear. (This one is meant to be used for a few minutes, then taken out, it's not a wearable device.)

Then, I found weatherX earplugs. These are small, low-cost, and can be found online or at CVS drugstores. Under $20 per pair, and they are silicone, so pretty comfortable to wear. How they work is, when you know barometric pressure is going to fluctuate, you pop in your earplugs and it helps equalize the pressure in your head, thereby preventing some (and sometimes all) of the pain from your migraine.

I will tell you now, THESE THINGS WORK.

PRO TIP: if you have tiny ear openings like me, order the kid's size earplugs.

Depending on the severity, I have been able to comepletely prevent a migraine if I wear these on fluctating pressure days. Other times, when I get sidetracked by a pretty severe migraine, the weatherX earplugs bring the severity down a few degrees, so I can at least partially function, and not end up in bed all day, hoping I just pass out.

Another cool thing about weatherX, they have free app you can download on your phone that alerts you when the barometric pressure is gong to change. (I tried different weather forecasting apps, but had a hard time finding one that actually predicted barometric pressure changes). You can get the app for Apple here.

I like using these because they are tiny and discreet so I can wear them in public. Also, I don't have to take OTC pain meds as often. I was beginning to worry about the amount I was taking previously.

I am still figuring out what my triggers are. Those can be very different for everyone, so I suggest doing your own research and tracking your migraines so you can look for patterns.

If you have pressure-induced headaches, give these weatherX earplugs a try.