I got the idea for the scalding hot from the whole "promote blood flow here/ restrict blood flow there" ice/warm water method. I found that it wasnt working and in an irrational moment of agony I decided to try just turning the water up as hot as it would go. I was pleasantly surprised that it worked and it has been my fallback method ever since. I should have clarified, when I said that I have tried everything I have found on the internet, that does not include pills. I have a silly aversion to taking pills, even vitamins.. Its stupid, but its a thing I have trouble shaking.. The only exception to that is antibiotics. I will take antibiotics, because, you know... I dont wanna die. Its stubborn, I know.. Its my own personal eccentricity and it hasnt killed me yet. (to be fair, I have never had a thing that was "take this pill, or die". If I did, Im sure I would reevaluate my position) I have not tried the oxygen method. Mostly, because I dont know where I would go about getting an oxygen tank and mask locally and I was sort of under the impression it was expensive. All of my treatment methods so far have been more homeopathic. Unsurprisingly, none of them really worked, until the pain thing. I have found some mild relief from my wifes stupid dotera oils. Namely, the citrus scented ones. They seem to help a little. Rockstars/Coffee can help to postpone them when they first start to rear their ugly head, but that just holds them at stage 2 for a bit.. They always ramp back up, later.
Exercise has helped a handful of times, but more often than not it doesnt work.
I have attributed stages to their progress, btw.
Stage 1 is when they first start to show up. Noticeable by a slight discomfort right behind my left eye. It doesnt really hurt yet, but I can feel that something is weird. Stage 2 comes anywhere from 5-30 minutes late and can last anywhere from 5-15 minutes. Once stage two is in full effect, stage 3 is impending and I frantically try to fight it off with caffeine or vigorous exercise.
Stage 3 is where it really kicks into high gear. My left eye starts watering profusely and it feels like there is a demon inside my brain methodically trying to dig its way out of my face. I was actually just thinking the other day that I should make it 5 stages, instead of 3. I had a moment that was between 2 and 3 the other day. It hurt more than usual, but my eye wasnt watering. Also, I think stage 3 is a bit too general. There are at least two levels of pain. So it would be 4 being when it first starts to come on and eye waters, and 5 being the time while Im totally incapacitated and the pain is too much to even function on a basic level and all you can do is rock back and forth on the ground and writhe your hands and feet. Really, its irrelevant but I like to have a progress meter to gauge by.. its some small amount of solace.