Damn migraines

[littlejan]

I keep getting migraines weekly lasting 3 days, and can take painkillers every 4 hrs which don't work, I have had paracetamol, sulphadene, ibuprofen, mitraleve, etc etc is there anyone here know of the best ones to take or anyone that uses alternative ways of getting rid of it, I also feel really sick with it too.

[Gambit62]

Have you seen your GP?

It doesn't sound, if they are weekly as if the trigger is hormones - do you have any idea what triggers them? stress? diet?

A lot of people find that drugs from the triptan family help - though generally they need to be taken early on in the attack

I found by accident that running (1/2 mile a day) really helped to reduce severity of the attacks - and apparently a lot of people report beneficial effects from increased exercise and general improvements in health ... though for me it does have to be running - swimming and cycling just don't seem to have the same effect.

Do you get any warning signals before the migraine starts proper - lots of people get auras of one sort or enough - tingling tongue is another one.

I came across a meditation that had helped some people who had warning signs - catch a migraine before it developed where they had warning signs - it involves imagining that you are holding something warm in your hands - think the theory behind it is that it encourages blood to flow to other parts of the body so it isn't so much of a problem in the blood vessels in the brain. I did try it and it did help but I usually forget about it and don't necessarily spot the auras before hand.

I also tried using the opposite when I was in a full blown migraine - imagining an ice rod going into the middle of my brain and felt that that helped take away some of the pain but it certainly wasn't a cure.

The sickness is probably my worst symptom - really bad gut spasms and I just have to be sitting on the loo when I do throw up - so that certainly isn't unique. You can get antiemetics - had one brilliant one when I was in hospital with a broken ankle last December - but can't remember what the name was and the ones that I got from GP obviously weren't the same.

[teadrinker]

I have them almost weekly at the moment, and they tend to last 3 days. Luckily, the majority respond to botox so the headache bit is minimal, and I can live with the ones that come without the headache. But the really rotten, painful ones are a nightmare and nothing seems to shift the pain. It's as if I just have to ride the storm and let it burn itself out. I've tried triptans but they just seem to delay the inevitable headache.

I find a combination of ibuprofen with lyseine (Nurofen sell it but it's cheaper to get a supermarket own-brand one, often marketed as ibuporfen for migraines - though they sell exactly the same combination and strength for period pains, back ache etc!), plus codydramol (available on prescription, or there is a slightly reduced strength one over-the-counter called "Paramol") helps. It's similar to co-codamol which is in Migraleve. Heat and sleep seem to be the only other things that work.

Fortunately, apart from a bit of nausea, I don't get sick.

[katya2]

Damn migraines is absolutely right. They are a pain and it seems so unfair that we get them and others don't. Weekly migraines lasting 3 days is a lot and you must talk to your doctor about what medications you can take to try to reduce their frequency. You don't say how you react when you get them. I agree that triptans can sometimes enable you to stay on your feet and keep going - though at the risk of the headache hitting you again when you stop. But in the end you will need to rest to give your body a chance to recover naturally. Two days in bed in a darkened room with the radio or a podcast to give me something to occupy my mind (not my eyes) helps me a lot. As far as the nausea is concerned I drink boiled water, eat the occasional cream cracker and keep a plastic bowl by the side of the bed for throwing up purposes. With practice you can throw up and still follow the plot of the Archers. Good luck and keep trying till you find what works for you, which may include changing your lifestyle to enable your body to get a bit more rest as part of normal routine,

[littlejan]

I only get them when I'm at work, I'm a teaching assistant and if I work only till dinner time I'm fine but if it's all day I get the migraines, I started wearing my reading glasses, which helped, but not this week. I don't get an aura, just my eyes feel tired, and straight away get the start of a migraine,, even if I take something straight away it doesn't always help. I also feel sick most of the time and tummy hurts for some reason, I do have fibromyalgia which doesn't help, as I always have a stiff neck which could also cause them. That is why I'm amitrptyline . I'm just getting fed up with it, even if it's the lights at work, I can't stop working because of that. Or can I? Lol. Thank you for all your help so far.

[Gambit62 in reply to littlejan]

You mention the lights at work - are they florescent? - I believe there is some evidence that florescent lighting can trigger migraines - there is even a legal precedent involving a case for unfair/constructive dismissal because an employer refused to listen to an employee who suffered from migraines and said that installing florescent lighting would make them worse. May be limiting your exposure to florescent lighting might help. If you find that that helps then may be mentioning it to the school would be a good idea.

Whatever - you definitely need to talk to your GP

[teadrinker in reply to Gambit62]

I am having big problems with lights at the moment - since the clocks changed it's become very noticeable. Supermarkets are the worst culprits, so much so that I am thinking I'll have to wear sunglasses! We have flourescent lights at work - I'm OK in certain rooms but not in others.

[Susann in reply to teadrinker]

I wear sunglasses most of the time because sunlight and bright lights start an attack of migraine. I know it might look odd sometimes but I would rather be without the attack. I get pain behind my eyes and sometimes in the front of them which I think is sinusitis. The trouble is that the sinus attack can change to migraine very quickly and one side of my face is painful and probably my head is tight along one or both sides as if the blood is pumping through too hard.

[Hidden]

The most useful medication for me to stop a migraine is Imigran (sumatriptan) but I'm limited to no more than 8 or 9 a month which is hard because I get 4 or 5 migraines per week. Over the counter "remedies" (aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, codeine) just don't work for me at all. What has your doctor suggested?

[scoles1973 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I am a surveyor too! Usually get aura/headache migraines around 2 or 3 times per year, but have recently had 4 in the last week (one an hour ago!). I take Nurofen Migraine, which helps. I used to take Imigran years ago when I got them worse, with nausea etc. Have you seen a neurologist with that kind of frequency??

[Hidden in reply to scoles1973]

I've seen numerous GPs and four neurologists, one at my local hospital and three in London. All to no avail!

[Charlotte_NMC Partner National Migraine Centre]

You really need to see a doctor with knowledge of headaches. If your GP is well informed then go to see him, otherwise we can see you at National Migraine Centre. We have some good factsheets on our website about treatments but it really is something that needs to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Sadly medication is not a one size fits all thing! I can tell you for sure though that paracetamol is pretty ineffective for migraine and if you can take it, a better over the counter option is aspirin. See our resources page here: migraineclinic.org.uk/about... and good luck!

[mikeB2004]

I ended up after many many visits to my GP, (my company even sent me to Harley St to see one of the best so three head and neck scans and two operations later as he thought it was sinus problems but admitted it was too dangerous to go too close to where he thought the problem was in the end at the base of the brain!) I ended up using Samaritan and co-codamol 30/500 which works as long as you catch it, however I was also put onto Amitriptyline recently which has definitely given me other problems which I am coming off now, I also found exercise is great but I found hydration very important as this could cause a real bad one and I did lose some weight once on the Atkins diet that had an incredible effect on the number of attacks I had but I could not stay on it as I would have had a heart attack. There is obviously a trigger. I have tried so many drugs over the years I have lost count. A good GP will keep trying.

[Murphy123]

Damned migraines is one way of putting it. Hate the horrid things!! I get them every month lasting anywhere between 1 and 5 days when my period is due. I take aspirin 900mg when I first feel like one is on the way along with domperidone to help with the sickliness. If I wake with one (which is often the case) I take sumatriptan injection as soon as I can and if I start with one during the day I take zomig spray. Only use triptans if the head pain itself has started or they won't work. I do find they keep coming back though after triptans.

even when taking medication I find that unless I shut off and lie in a dark quiet room with no light, noise etc the blasted things won't go away.

GP mhst be fed up with me as I am never away from the place but as the others say keep on at your GP - keep a diary of what you have eaten, drank and were doing on run up to migraine starting to see if a pattern emerges and to identify any triggers if you haven't already done so. I find my main trigger is hormones but not enough sleep, nkt eating and drinking enough, bright lights, weathef changes are all other triggers for me too.

hope you get better control soon.

[paula1708]

hi All. Just wanted to ask, I'm 26 now and was having migraines since I was about 19. I am getting quite severe migraines recently, I've been taking sumatriptan which used to made it a bit easier at first but then it started getting worse. I've been on Amitryptiline since August this year,which was helping at at begging but can't see any results now. 2 weeks ago my GP prescribed me Migraleve as I had to take at least 2 sumitriptans to feel the difference. This past weekend it was a proper nightmare. My aura started on Thursday and on Saturday night there was a proper, horrible migraine. On the top of that I have Crohn's disease so all the tablets I'm taking are causing lost of harm. Have never been so sick like with Migraleve, does any of you have experienced something like that? I ended up taking 3 sumitriptans and some paracetamol as well. Can you advice anything else apart from those two medicines or something to prevent it?? Any help will be much appreciated.