[Marilyn]

I've had migranes since age 7, and so has my youngest daughter. My oldest daughter never had one until she took birth control pills for acne. She had such bad migranes that the doctor took her off the pills and told her she should never ever take birth control pills again. She was too high risk for even worse complicatons.

I tolerate the pain much better now than I used to. I take extra strength tylenol as soon as I feel one coming on. If it doesn't work, then I take Advil or Motrin. Prescription meds don't work any better. The headaches may last a few hours, but sometimes linger for 2 to 3 days. Usually mine are the ice pick or knife blade in the eye kind, but once I had one that weakened my right side affecting my ablility to walk. I was on birth control pills at the time, and had to discontinue them. Never had that bad a migrane since.

Triggers can be anything, strong smell, bright light, too much time at the computer, not enough sleep. Haven't pinpointed any specific foods.

My youngest daughter has to take tylenol or advil and go to bed to get over them. They make her very sick as well, but as she gets older, she's tolerating the pain better also.