migraines

[supergolden88]

my old friend the hormonal migraine is making a big comeback and rendering me useless. I started having monthly migraines ages ago whilst on the pill (partly why I had to stop taking it) they went away for years but now back and getting worse...

any tips on what to take /do to make this go away? I have been taking paracetamol round the clock but it's not doing anything

[Pickle]

Oh horrible, I feel for you, I went through a phase of getting them regularly. I found Migraleve tablets were good, the pack has two different types of tablets, one which you take as soon as you feel symptoms, and they seemed to work. Paracetamol didn't help me at all.

It was around the time I started knitting/crocheting again that I stopped suffering, and have since read that activity like that can help prevent them - not sure of the science behind it, and it may just be coincidence I guess!

[Jessie]

I've suffered migraines for years, varying from mild to debilitating. I see someone at King's now, but was given a good tip once which I still use in emergencies: dissolve aspirin (or in my case solpadeine as i'm sensitive to aspirin) in a glass of full sugar coke and down it. Seems to take the edge off (obviously without having taken any other painkilling medication). And also, the most recent doctor I saw told me to always take antinausea medication with painkillers for migraine as apparently something happens to the stomach during migraine even if nausea isn't a normal symptom (never is for me, really) which makes it more difficult to absorb the painkiller, though all my meds are prescribed by the doctors at kings for me now.

So in a nutshell, I'd go to the doctor! Migraines are not fun, and are the bane of my life. You have my empathic sympathies.

[Spooner]

I've had them for years and they're beasts. I sympathise with you completely.

In my experience some doctors are great at helping and others views migraines as little more than bad headaches. It is really worth pursuing the matter with your doctor as everything that has ever worked for me has needed a prescription.

Following on from what the others said, I take 2 x domperidone (the anti-nausea tablets), 2 x aspirin & washed down with a sugary fizzy drink. This is what my doctor prescribes and I finds works most of the time. I like it as it's a relatively soft painkiller dose as well unlike things like Migraleve which stopped working for me.

Different things definitely seem to work for different people and what works for me then stops moving and I move onto the next treatment.

If your migraines get really regular your doctor might put you on a daily dose of anti-depressant or beta-blocker. I'm on the latter and it controls it pretty well with taking the occasional concoction listed above when I get an attack coming on.

Jessie - I asked my doctor to refer me to King's and she said the head dept was rubbish and wouldn't refer me. I was pretty dissatisfied with this response and am in the process of finding another doctor. I imagine King's is the place if you suffer badly? Have you found it helpful?

[tekton23]

Hi,

I have had migraines on and off for years, mostly during stressful times or when I have been working for a difficult company. I am a mid-thirties male. Thankfully they have mostly gone away, but when they do come back I have learnt a good trick. If you can, drop your head below the level of your heart so the blood rushes to your head. This is easiest at home, as you can lie on the bed with your head off the edge (carefully a it puts strain on your neck). If at work you can simply bend over as if touching your toes but without a straight back and try and hold the pose. I am convinced there is a huge relationship between migraines and oxygen or blood flow to the brain.

T23

[Jessie]

Yes, my specialist eventually put me on anti epilepsy pills about 2 years ago (topamax) which have helped enormously. More than anything, finally finding a doctor who took me and the headaches seriously was relief in itself.

Spooner, I'll send you a PM about the clinic I attend.

[dulwichgirl2]

I have had one which was painful and terrifying as I felt that my body was shutting down. It didn't know how to cope. My sympathies. I was walking in the sunshine when I occurred and I sprinted home, closed the curtains and slept for a few hours solidly. I was totally focussed on getting away from the sun.

[Jessie]

Yes, sleep is the best remedy for me. But working full time and being a single parent alas often not an option for me - something the doc at kings was v v good at recognising.

[supergolden88]

I went through seeing various doctors years ago when I first had the migraines. I used to take medication that worked quite well but have forgotten the name - it melted on the tongue I remember that. Not one of them suggested it may be the pill (hormones) causing them even though I only got them when I got my period. Eventually a lot of personal research led me to that conclusion and when I stopped taking the pill I stopped having them

Right now it is again linked with my period and feels like a permanent really bad tension headache. When it is particularly bad - last night after a very busy day - I feel completely sapped of energy and just nauseous and weak. I don't seem to get migraines any other time (so should count myself lucky. I will try the aspirin trick tomorrow if it is still bad

[intexasatthe moment]

Lots about migraines here

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/1514330-tell-me-about-your-migraines-and-other-superbad-headaches-please

[supergolden88]

Interesting thread at mumsnet - I too get weather triggered headaches/migraines

I get the auras too (floating lights in my vision) but again not necessarily linked to migraines. Bet being stuck in front of computer all day long does not help

What is really weird is that I had a terrible earache yesterday evening/through the night which someone on mumsnet suggests is migraine related

[Saffron]

Sorry if this is repeating anything from the mumsnet link, didn't have time to read... but do a search on PMDD and migraines, both have possible links to altered serotonin levels interfering with hormones cyclically. I have migraines occasionally too. They're awful, and I don't know what triggers mine either. Thankfully I only seem to have a couple every year or so. The last one was while I was watching flash photography on tele, which has never happened previously. Now I'm paranoid every time they say something will have flash photography!

[rose_grid]

Buccastem is now available over the counter for migraine related nausea, which really helps me as it is absorbed through the gums and acts pretty quickly. Those cooling pads also give a bit of relief. I feel for you, migraines can be so debilitating.

[civilservant]

Mine increased in frequency but declined slightly in virulence over the years until I was having 24-hour migraines twice a month when peri-menopausal

GPs were no help at all, with some even questioning the link to hormones! The best thing I could do was take pain-killers in anticipation, and try to sleep them off - not easy when working full-time.

I would have benefited a lot from the advice on this thread.

Thankfully they have now ceased, and I feel 'normal' again. Hormones are over-rated IMO!

[Fuschia]

I get visual and aural disturbances, numb hands and tingling

Very worrying as over the years I have been investigates for possible MS amongst other things

I rarely get an actual headache but the auras and flashing lights can mean I can't drive and as my partner is a no driver, I have to be very careful if we go on a long journey

Immigran used to work for me http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumatriptan, it works on serotonin I think, so interesting wht you say, saffron

More recently I have had zomig, a similar drug

[Fuschia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migraine interesting info re drugs

[Spooner]

The Migraine Trust is also very useful and have lots of information available.

[madmum]

Feeling your pain...I am a sufferer and have been since the age of 7! at first it was chocolate, orange jucie and cheese then as I got older it was hormonal. I have been and tried everyting, Chinese herbalist, cost a bloody fortune to get my jing and jang flowing, Weekly appointmenst to get new herbs dwhich I had to boil and drink..gaging just thinking about it. Acupuncture was next as it was thought that my blood flow was off, this was relaxing but didnt stop them. Beta Blockers, crap just made me feel weird. I have also been to Kings where I was informed that unfortunatly I am just unlucky...Waited 3 months to be told that.

Finally a new dr decieded to change my pill, I am now on the mini pill and have been for last 5 years, it has helped tremendously, I still get migrains but not as bad or as frequantly. Monthly I do tend to get tension type heads but nothing 2 neurfen cant sort.

If I catch my migrain from the first twinge( or in my case funny vision) then 2 neurofen and some flat lemonade normally work within 30 mins.

Only a migrain sufferer can undersatnd how bad an attack can be. Once Ihad one so bad that it affected my heart rate and I ended up in A&E.

GOOD LUCK

xx

[GinaG3]

I completely feel your pain. I've suffered migraines since I was 15, all centred around my periods. I have various other health conditions linked to hormones, which affect migraine also. I used to get 3 episodes a year, upto 16 weeks constant migraine with no relief but then remission of 3 months before entering another episode. This year I had a constant episode of 6.5 months, no remission, day and night it was the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. My neurology consultants have been through so many medications I'm at the end of my list of recommendations now. I've been on antidepressants, the strongest prescription pain killers I can be prescribed in a range of different drug categories and anti epileptic medication too. I'm still taking the anti epileptic drug after coming off the antidepressant because of the sedative effect and literally feeling like a zombie all day. Nothing works for me, I really feel anyones frustration at migraines especially females! Ive been prescribed gym membership on prescription, also accupuncture (which I'm currently doing) and paid privately to see a chiropractor who did manage to put me in remission but I'm waiting a few months to see what happens with my headaches. So far I've been almost headache free for 6 weeks.

Another thing to consider is the condition of your mattress. I was sleeping on a mattress that had done its rounds for sure and was ready to be replaced. After replacing I've noticed differences in my migraines even. I also sleep with the flattest pillow I can, but I don't like the tempur pillows recommended for migraine use, they make mine worse.

Have you tried naproxen or diclofenac? Available on prescription from your GP but something I'm always prescribed at hospital and take on top of my medications if needed. Although I don't find relief from it I hear a lot of people do. They are both powerful NSAIDs.

Natural remedies to try include feverfew, I'm waiting and waiting to try this but no one can tell me if it will affect all my daily medications or other health conditions at all. This is meant to be one of the most amazing migraine treatments. My sister uses after over 19 years of migraine and says she wouldn't use anything else ever again. There is information online if you search it in google. Also hear all the time to avoid a lot of product around your periods to reduce the occurrence of migraine including caffeine, sugar, red meat. This may work for some.

The pill definitely is not good, most contraceptive pills shouldn't be used in women (or should be monitored very closely) with a history of migraine. I'm currently on norethisterone which thankfully isn't affecting my migraine as of yet - touchwood. Although ideally should not be used in migraine sufferers, if your using for contraceptive use only it may be worth talking to your doctor about other options.

I have a lot of information after years of research into hormonal controlled migraine, and there is a wealth of valuable information online. There's a brilliant 'wiki how' page on controlling migraine and relief.

http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Migraines

Edited to add link