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Q&A with Sharron Murray and Alec Mian

By Alec Mian, PhD, CEO Curelator on December 3, 2015

sharron-murray
Sharron Murray
Photo: Joshua Wells
alec-mian
Alec Mian
PhD, CEO

We were fortunate to have Sharron Murray as one of our first N1‑Headache users. We were introduced to one another by Dawn Buse, PhD, one of America’s leading clinical psychologists and Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Montefiore Headache Center in New York. We were very interested to have Sharron try N1‑Headache because of the phenomenal success of her five year journey to track her triggers and reduce her chronic migraine attacks by 90%.

Sharron is a registered nurse by profession and the author of a respected book about migraine triggers: Migraine: Identify Your Triggers, Break Dependence on Medication, Take Back Your Life: An Integrative Self-Care Plan for Wellness.

When Sharron received her trigger and Protector Map®s, they largely confirmed the factors that she suspected were influencing her attacks.

sharron-murray-book
Sharron Murray book

Alec: Sharron, can you explain that a bit for us?

Sharron: Yes, the Maps (which reference Sharron as Patient 39) confirmed triggers like MSG, tyramine (additives and preservatives), humidity, eyestrain, loud noise, travel, tiredness/fatigue, sadness, anxiety, and stress.

I also liked that it showed my protective factors as happiness, sleep quality, wake refreshed, sleep duration, relaxation and 1-2 glasses white wine per day.

I also found it interesting to see some of the triggers with no association like moderate activity and bright lights. As well, some of the triggers with not sufficient data are things I avoid like spirits, intense activity, missed meals, dehydration; use sparingly like chocolate; and, tend to limit my exposure to like wind and pollen.

Individual Trigger Map® for Patient 39

Triggers are associated with increased risk of an attack.
Results of a 90 days analysis by N1‑Headache.

murray-trigger-map murray-trigger-map
Skin Sensitivity factor Skin Sensitivity
Odours factor Odours
Tiredness Fadigue factor Tiredness Fadigue
Humitidy factor Humitidy
Missed Migraine Medication factor Missed Migraine Medication
Monosodium Glutamate factor Monosodium Glutamate
Sadness factor Sadness
Loud Noise factor Loud Noise
Travel factor Travel
Stress factor Stress
Anxiety factor Anxiety
Bright Lights factor Bright Lights
Car factor Car
Tyramine factor Tyramine
Dehydration factor Dehydration
Pressure factor Pressure

Individual Protector Map® for Patient 39

Protectors are associated with decreased risk of an attack.
Results of a 90 days analysis by N1‑Headache.

murray-protector-map murray-protector-map
Sleep Refreshed factor Sleep Refreshed
Sleep Quality factor Sleep Quality
Happiness factor Happiness
Relaxedness factor Relaxedness
Temperature factor Temperature

Individual No Association Map for Patient 39

Factors not associated with risk of an attack.
Results of a 90 days analysis by N1‑Headache.

murray-protector-map murray-protector-map
Activity factor Activity
Angriness factor Angriness
Chocolate factor Chocolate
Coffee factor Coffee
Eyestrain factor Eyestrain
Irritability factor Irritability
Moderate Activity factor Moderate Activity
Nitrates factor Nitrates
Onions factor Onions
Sexual Activity factor Sexual Activity
Sleep Duration factor Sleep Duration
Time Outside factor Time Outside
White Wine factor White Wine
Wind Gust Mph factor Wind Gust Mph
Wind Mph factor Wind Mph

Alec: Can you describe the tracking method you first used to monitor your migraine triggers?

Sharron: To begin with, I began to keep a calendar, a big bank calendar, the kind with big squares to write in, so I could see overlapping triggers at a glance. I wrote down everything I had to eat and drink, weather, lights, noise, stressful events, sleep time, moods, travelling, appointments, visitors, etc.

Alec: Was that difficult?

Sharron: Yes! Especially, because I had to watch for a pattern (looked for associations and relationships). For example, stressful events and interruptions in sleeping and eating patterns.

Once I identified something as a trigger, I began by eliminating or avoiding, if possible, the most problematic; and initiating protective measures for others. As well as documenting triggers, I added in measures I took to abort a migraine. For example: medication, ice pack, biofeedback, exercises and meditation. I also included my acupuncture appointments as I wanted to assess if the technique worked and how long it took.

Alec: How long did it take to see any effects?

Sharron: I started in the fall of 2001. The process was gradual over about five years, with my migraines and medication use decreasing accordingly. I was amazed to find that I had prescription medication left over at the end of the month.

Alec: How do you control your condition now?

Sharron: I continue to avoid and manage my triggers. I practice daily biofeedback exercises and meditation to keep my stress levels under control; regular moderate exercise, 7-9 hours sleep, eat three healthy meals a day, stay hydrated, and have acupuncture every 6 – 8 weeks. I do take a low dose of Verapamil (90 mg) at night, which works for heart palpitations related to mitral valve prolapse as well as a preventive medication. I keep Relpax in the freezer (the last time I took one was about 4 years ago). I use Advil on occasion but more often a compound anti-inflammatory cream I can rub on the nape of my neck at the onset of a migraine.

Alec: Can you explain how you use N1‑Headache, including some of your early results?

Sharron: N1‑Headache is easy and fun to use. It takes the guesswork out of triggers. I punch in my data and it is analyzed for me. it makes me think about my lifestyle habits, as well as daily stress levels. It also lets me know what my protective factors are so I can reinforce positive behaviors.

It motivates me to try and predict and preempt attacks (a game). In addition, I like that, by analyzing my data, it tells me whether I had a headache or a migraine. An asset for ensuring the right treatment is initiated. I also have found there are certain things like chocolate, which I denied myself, I can have in small amounts in the absence of other triggers. Wish I’d had it years ago.

Alec: Can you talk a little about what you would like to see N1‑Headache do in the future?

Sharron: I like the fact that N1‑Headache tracks medications taken and missed. I wish I’d had the app when I had Medication Overuse Headaches; perhaps I would have been able to avoid them. I would like to see a place for non-pharmacological therapies, such as exercise, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relaxation therapies like meditation. The data collected could provide valuable input as to those that work versus not.

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