Tracking Migraines; June Migraine Giveaway

I am planning a trip this coming November to Scottsdale Arizona. I already have flight reservations to the first annual American Headache and Migraine Association patient conference which will be held there after the doctors convention.  There will be different Migraine and headache topics given by some of the top Migraine doctors anywhere.  We can never get enough education around our Migraines and the conference has the added benefit of being able to network with our fellow Migraineurs – live and in person!  As long as I will be out there, I am also planning a bus tour to the Grand Canyon where I have never been.

Roughly 36 million people in the United States suffer from Migraines¹.  Migraines are more than a headache and are typically associated with nausea, the pain is usually unilateral and there is typically sensitivity to light and sound. A Migraine can be severe and debilitating.

Along with the long travels on a plane and then bus tour, I will be surrounded by many of my Migraine triggers.  I will do my best to limit my exposure to them while trying to enjoy as much of the area as possible.  As my June Giveaway, Excedrin Migraine is giving away a few items which would be very helpful on a trip such as this one.  Here is a list of the giveaway items:
* Aero Snooze – A three-piece set which includes a TSA compliant carrying pouch with an Excedrin branded soft nylon eye mask and foam earplugs to help travelers drift to sleep.
* Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow – This u-shaped travel pillow is made of memory foam to provide support that correctly aligns your neck and spine, while supporting your head in soft comfort.
* Tritan from Eastman Water Bottle w/straw – A 25-oz bottle is made of durable Tritan material, BPA free and meets FDA requirements.  This Excedrin branded bottle is impact and shatter resistant and does not retain odor and/or taste.

All of these items would help me on the trip I am planning; they could help calm down some of my know Migraine triggers.  Fatigue and stress can help exasperate Migraines in some people.  Migraine triggers vary from person to person and some of the triggers I am concerned with while on my trip will be:
* Diet – certain chemical in food and beverages can trigger Migraines. I will need to try eating more fresh and fewer processed foods on the trip.
* Hydration – It will be a long ride to the Grand Canyon and I have to stay hydrated or I will be on a long bus ride and not enjoying anything.
* Weather changes – I’m not sure what to expect weather wise on the trip, but it will be the beginning of winter and I have heard that Arizona is a good place for Migraineurs – I guess I’ll find out!
* Hormones – although it doesn’t affect all women, it’s not uncommon for women with Migraines to have increased Migraines before or during high hormone change times of the month when we have a drop in estrogen.

I am lucky in that at least I know some of my Migraine triggers. Novartis Consumer Health, Inc, the makers of Excedrin^® Migraine found an overwhelming majority of women Migraineurs (93%) wish they knew more about their Migraine triggers while only 11% track their triggers regularly².

June is Migraine Awareness Month.  Since the end of last year, I’ve been using the MyMigraineTriggers^TM iPhone app which was developed by the makers of Excedrin^® to help track Migraine triggers which includes different foods.  The app gathers various data into reports and charts that can be easily shared with our doctors.

Excedrin^® Migraine is the #1 neurologist recommended over-the-counter brand for Migraine relief³.  It offers convenient and effective relief for Migraines for many of my nieces and was the first non-prescription medicine approved by the FDA to treat symptoms of a Migraine.

In order to be entered into the June Migraine giveaway, please post a comment to my blog by June 30th 2013.  I will need to be able to reach you if you are a winner so please feel free to email me your email address so I can contact you if you are a winner. Two winners will be selected. Good luck!


¹American Headache Society, June 2012
²This research was conducted between September 7 and September 13, 2012 via an online survey of 1000 women in the US.  To qualify for this survey, respondents had to indicate that they experience Migraine headaches at least 4 to 6 times per year and have a smartphone or tablet device
³Anti Migraine data, Wolters Kluwer 2012

Disclosure:  “I am an Excedrin^® Migraine brand ambassador. One iPod Touch to test the My Migraine Triggers mobile app was provided by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc., the makers of Excedrin^® Migraine; my journey for a migraine-free experience is my own.”