Abdominal migraine is just what it sounds like! You are probably familiar with migraine headaches. These are recurring headaches that people experience.
Abdominal Migraines (AM) cause recurrent episodes of intense abdominal pain lasting an hour or more. These patients typically also have migraine headaches, but not always.1,2,3
It is interesting that patients with Abdominal Migraine are often treated with the same medication that is used to treat migraine headaches. And, the time frame may be similar. For example, patients with migraine headaches often experience an “aura.” This is a sensation, a warning sign of some sort, that in 10 to 30 minutes, the migraine headache will occur.
IBS and AM patients may also experience an aura. Often, their pain begins slowly and then escalates. If the pain starts slowly, that can be the equivalent of an aura. So, in the past, the aura was the signal that the IBS episode or AM or migraine headache was going to occur. Patients who learn self-hypnosis can use the aura or beginning of the episode to use this technique to prevent the episode from occurring.
I treat patients with abdominal migraine the same way I treat patients with FAP and IBS, or with migraine headaches, utilizing hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral strategies.
For patients with migraine headaches, hypnotherapy and CBT have been shown to be extremely effective. To date, there have not been any specific studies using these methods for patients with abdominal migraine, and my patients with abdominal migraine have benefitted from these two treatment modalities.
My online, video-streamed, home program, Controlling Your Gut Feelings®, was designed to help patients with abdominal migraines, too.
Click to learn more about hypnosis for migraine headaches.
Learn About Dr. Lazarus’ IBS + Gastrointestinal Issues Treatment
Dr. Lazarus has developed a new online home video-streamed program to provide patients and families the solution for irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal pain, and other digestive issues, and the anxiety that accompanies them. Based on medically proven, evidence-based research, this program combines medical hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy strategies, and powerful motivational tools for fast and long-lasting results.
References:
1. Dulued, Emily, MD, Desilets, David J, MD, Boles, Richard G. in Uptodate, online, September 23, 2009.2. Vlieger AM, Menko-Frankenhuis C, Wolfkamp SC, Tromp E, Benninga MA. Hypnotherapy for children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Gastroenterology. 2007;133(5):1430-1436.
2. Vlieger et al. Long-term follow-up of gut-directed hypnotherapy vs. standard care in children with functional abdominal pain or irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol. 2012 Apr; 107(4):627-31.
3. Fishman, Mary B, MD, and Aronson, Mark D, MD, in Uptodate, online, May 26, 2009.
