Daily headaches- triggers into migraines/various other symptoms

[BambieT]

Hi all, july of last year a consultant diagnosed me with 'neurological' migraines. Saying I was particularly light/sound sensitive. They discharged me prescribing Topiramate and a Beta Blocker. When I spoke to OCC Health at work they said the diagnosis was 'pathetic' as all migraines are neurological. Has anyone else experienced a lame diagnosis from the hospital ??

I'm not able to tolerate Topiramate or Beta Blockers due to other health issues, so currently taking 8mg of Candesartan. With the back up Sumatriptan if absolutely necessary. However, I take other medication which absolutely shouldn't be mixed with Sumatriptan.

I have daily headaches, eyesight issues (fuzzy vision, gets worse with continued use of PC/ reading) so makes work very challenging as role requires 100% use.

Other symptoms will be some nausea, tightness of neck and shoulder muscles/pain radiating upwards, face and jaw pain.

Physically it feels like the Candesartan has slightly supressed the migraines but I still feel like Im getting them, not sure if this makes sense ??

Any advice would be great, thankyou in advance.

[Caat]

Sounds like vestibular migraine. Do you get any dizziness?

[BambieT in reply to Caat]

I do, a little like vertigo

[troy04]

Doctors who have interests in migraine can only help us. Their curriculum even neurology doesn't give migraine much emphasis. You probably didn't have chance to choose your consultant, but I would try to be seen by someone who at least claims a migraine specialist.

Anyway, how about your diet? Have you identified triggers? Physical exercise even 10 min running every day can work better than so called migraine prophylaxis according to recent studies. Also you cannot go to bed late, it has to be well before midnight. You probably already know these but still mentioned in case ...

[Itsleilac]

See a neurologist that specializes in headache! Mine is very knowledgeable and keeps up to date on new migraine research

[BambieT]

Troy04 and Itsleilac.....Thankyou both. Yes diet etc looked at and continue to research what my triggers could be. Im armed to go to GP on Friday with so mu h information. To be fair they are very good, they specialise in migraines so are open to listening and make direct contact with a neurologist to discuss my case. X

[babs1234]

Google Hemicrania Continua. Sounds similar to my symptoms

[BambieT in reply to babs1234]

Hi babs1234, ive googled and can resonate with this. The suggested medication though may not be suitable with my other meds. Everything im learning though is invaluable and helping me to establish a plan with my GP x

[jackiesutton62]

I have tried all the drugs through my Neurologist and have now found amazing relief from Botox injections, 3 monthly and sumatriptan if required. I do take Candesartan for blood pressure too. It does knock you about but after about 20-30 mins the side effects ease and usually the migraine is gone.

I have gone from 20-24 migraines a month to 1 last month. Usually about 4-6. They will only give Botox if you are diagnosed as chronic migraine which I think is more than 14 a month.

Good luck I hope you get some relief.

Cheers Jackie

[Onthemove1971]

I have gone from having daily migraines to less than 10 a month.

I have started taking magnesium glycinate 250mg ( this is different from other magnesium) 3x daily ( I know this seems impossible) but it really helps. When I wake up I take 1, then right before lunch (I feel the migraine come on but it stops shortly after) then at bed time. I also take 1 Feverfew 1x daily in the am.

Please consider listening to the "Heads up " podcast for more information about eating and other recommendations.

I never skip a meal and try to sleep well. When I struggle to sleep I sometimes take melatonin.

Hope this helps.

[Moniwaller]

Hi yours sound similar to mine and I take 12mg of candersartan daily and when the neck pain gets severe I find this causes one constant migraine that nothing will get rid of. This is when I go and have a GON injection at the back of my head. This is a occipital nerve block and works really well for me I can get up to six months relief and can call my migraine nurse whenever I feel I need one. It’s pretty painless and really does work. I’ve also really noticed difference taking care to eat before I am hungry, drink before I am thirsty and sleep before I am tired! Sounds obvious but I think I have lived much of my life running on adrenaline and not taking care of myself it was crazy to me that these things together made such a difference but they did, good luck! I feel you pain! Literally!

[laddy3 in reply to Moniwaller]

Hi can I ask are you in the UK ? Wondered how you got to get injections and a specialist nurse many thx 🙏

[BambieT]

Sorry for the delay, date night with hubby. Have quickly read your message and will read properly tomorrow. Just a quick question what are GON injections x

[Shecallsitabuggy]

The trouble with trying new meds is what you alluded to a few times: the other meds you take. There are other triptans besides sumatriptan, but if you are concerned about a serotonin syndrome reaction, everyone is different. I take multiple medications that would seem to cause anyone serotonin syndrome but not me. I’m surprised you have trouble with the b-blocker unless it’s propranolol (it causes problems for almost everyone I know that’s taken it, including me). Atenolol is a good alternative with much fewer side effects. Also, calcium channel blockers like verapamil are effective for prevention for a lot of people with migraines. And, for me personally, I didn’t know I had borderline high blood pressure until I had a hypertensive crisis and that my migraines are much better at a somewhat low pressure (110’s/60’s). My neurologist went through the list of preventatives with me today and they included b-blockers, gabapentin, cymbalta, lyrica, topamax, and verapamil. Of those, I already take 4 of them and my migraines are still just as bad. Hopefully I’ll be starting Botox within the next few weeks. I’ve done the occipital blocks with no success. Depending on your insurance, Botox can be approved with the failure of some determined number of other treatments. I started Botox a couple of years ago and had to stop because I lost my medical insurance. It helped then, so I’m hoping it will help this time. Hang in there and keep looking for what works for you. Sometimes you just have to try something, even with risk involved. I don’t know what you do for a living, but for nearly all of us, it’s nearly impossible to work with a migraine. And don’t do just enough research to be dangerous. Do enough to be well informed and to ask when you don’t know the answer. I still have hope my migraines will be well controlled again soon. I hope the same for you.

[laddy3 in reply to Shecallsitabuggy]

Can I ask what probs you had with Proprananol ? I am currently trying it out but dizziness is terrible I read that verapamil also gives dizziness do you find that ? Many thx 😊

[Hidden]

I'm not sure if anyone has suggested this to you before, but look up idiopathic intracranial hypertension

[Jase8989]

Have you checked your eyes? The computer and cell phones are triggers too!