When you go to the emergency room for a severe migraine attack, what is one of the first things the nurse does besides make you undress in an ice-cold room? Usually, he or she will set up your IV for fluids. Do you know what is in the clear bag hanging from the shiny hook just above your head?
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What’s in the Bag?
The most common fluid found is normal saline, which is a salt solution in purified water. For people with
I learned early on, after visiting the emergency room several times within just a few months, that dehydration played a big role in my migraine attacks. I wasn’t proactively avoiding water, I just wasn’t big on water, unfortunately. Here’s the thing, it’s not about JUST water. It’s about electrolytes too, especially when you’re a person with migraine.
Please don’t misunderstand me. Drinking electrolytes
Electrolytes It Is!
I had a pretty big scare one day when I was taking a medication that caused severe side effects. One of those side effects was dangerous dehydration. I was home alone with my young children and I couldn’t walk or talk, I was so weak. I remember not having the ability to breathe so well either. I was able to slowly crawl myself into a cold shower and my daughter, maybe about 8 or 9, called my husband for me. She was scared.
He couldn’t really hear me speaking on the phone, my voice was so weak. I remembered this feeling, though, as dehydration, and asked him to bring me Pedialyte right away. Luckily, he worked down the street and was already on his way home.
Once he arrived I drank the entire bottle. I’m not kidding. The entire bottle, within seconds. Now, I can’t suggest anyone actually do this, but I feel like it may have just saved my life. I was on the verge of passing out. Within 30 minutes I was almost back to normal and functioning again. My voice was back and I could pull myself up without any help. It was a very scary moment, one I’ll never forget. We still went to the emergency room to make sure everything was okay. I wasn’t going to take a chance it was something that would happen again.
I was still slightly weak and needed additional fluids once at the hospital. If it wasn’t for my quick thinking, I don’t know what would have happened. After that day, I kept bottles of Pedialyte with me at home. Always ready. For some reason, I would just suddenly become dehydrated. It’s still a mystery and happens every now and then, though it hasn’t happened in a couple years.
I think I know why. After a while, I moved on from Pedialyte to Gatorade at the urge of my doctor at the time. He didn’t like that I drank Pedialyte on a regular basis. But I was so unhappy with the sugar content of Gatorade and I’m just not a big fan overall. Once I went on a low-carb diet, I quit Gatorade all together and had to find an alternative. I went back to plain Pedialyte for a while before I found my saving grace.
Never Leave Home Without It
For the last three or four years, I have been carrying Nuun Effervescent Tablets with me everywhere I go. I keep a bottle in my Emergency Migraine Kit (EMK) in my purse. If you follow me regularly, you will have seen pictures of my EMK on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. I even wrote about it on my blog here.
I have never needed to go back to the emergency room for a dehydration-related migraine attack ever since I began supplementing with electrolytes. It
Migraine Emergency Kit brands above are: TheraSpecs, MigraineX, Redmond RealSalt, NOW Essential Oils, Nuun, Perfection Collection
Migraine Products
Do you want to view other products that might help with your next migraine attack? Visit my Amazon Influencer store! I can’t promise it will work, but if you’re like me, you’ll try what has helped another person with
We are all different, what works for me, might not work for you. So please do not put all your hope on one product or medication. It’s so easy to do, trust me, I know. I do it all the time. I’m also let down all the time, too. I’m with you there! If you know of a product that has helped you and you don’t see it listed, please let me know! Let’s help out the next person ❤️
Nuun Recipes
Here are a few recipes you can throw together too! Some of these are alcoholic, but you just might be able to get away with it if dehydration is the reason alcohol is a trigger for you! I wouldn’t blame you if you aren’t willing to give it a try, just leave out the alcohol! You can find more recipes on the Nuun blog!
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13 Comments
Very interesting article. I didn’t know about electrolytes (as I’m not a migraine sufferer) and I’m glad that I learned something new. Good to know for anyone who has a loved one who suffers from migraines.
I find it really odd that your GP was so keen on you drinking Gatorade. Seems like such an unhealthy pick.
Kate | https://katedaysaweek.be
Electrolytes are helpful for anyone, really. I always have my son drink Nuun in a water bottle when he’s outside working on the lawn. He sweats so much and loses a lot of electrolytes through his sweat. He and my husband also drink Nuun when working out. So it really is for everyone! I’m so glad you learned something at Achy Smile 😁 If it was just one doctor who told me to drink Gatorade, I wouldn’t say anything about it. But I’ve been told to drink Gatorade, specifically, but TONS of doctors. It’s crazy!
Hey, i have a question, we follow you on Insta. Im Sorry for my bad english, but im from Germany. My Wife have a chronic migraine and a Friend takes us the Nuun Supplements from USA to Germany, can you please tell us, how should my Wife take the Supplements when she has an Attack.
Thank you for your Support
Your English is just fine! No need to apologize ☺️ When I feel an attack coming on I make a bottle right away. Also, if her doctor has ever told her to take caffeine with Ibuprofen, like my daughter’s doctor has, I also keep a tube of Nunn with Caffeine handy. It’s definitely not a cure so it might not work, especially if she isn’t even slightly dehydrated. Thing is, most of us are dehydrated on a daily basis, so the Nuun helps a lot. If I could, I’d drink them twice a day just to stay on top of my hydration. I drink a lot of water but it isn’t quite enough for me. Adding Nuun seems to do the trick. Hope it helps her!!
Oh, and thank you so much to following me on Insta!!!
One more thing!! If she’s nauseous, take smaller sips. But if not, I suggest chugging it in a few drinks so it can flood her system. Sometimes I chug one bottle and then sip on another if the attack is at a high pain level. This is just what I do, this is not medical advice. She should definitely take the bottle to her doctor to get her/his opinion.
Nuun Effervescent Tablets can be taken everywhere you go. One can also keep a bottle in my Emergency Migraine Kit (EMK) in their purse. Both of these are quite effective.
So true. It’s my go-to electrolyte on-the-go!
There a LOT of different Nuun. Do they all have the same amount of electrolytes?
You know that’s a good question. That I’m not sure, I can only assume so. But again, I do not know. If you do find out, definitely let us know what they say.
I have just read this article. I could hug you to pieces!!!!! I appreciate so much all the wisdom and remedies you have shared. I found relief with Pedialyte as well. I am excited to try the NUUM. Thank you!
You’re so welcome!! Have you been able to try out Nuun yet?
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