Hi - I'm new here and very grateful for any help you may be able to offer. I'm a 28yo female and have started suffering with migraines over the last two months or so. They started out quite mild, and stupidly I ignored them for a few weeks when they started coming on and off.
For the last month I've been struck down by the most intense migrainous pain which is sometimes in the top of my head, sometimes on the right aide, sometimes behind my eye. But it always seems to involve some jaw pain. It can be relieved a bit with an ice pack.
I've downloaded an app and started to track to identify triggers. I was using strong hand sanitizer and the migraines make me very smell and light sensitive so I've wondered if that was a trigger. I've also been working at home and wondered if it could be due to posture, or stress.
I've been spending lots of days in a cool, dark room. I've been proscribed/advised to take various pain meds but I'm not sure they've helped. That's included sumatriptan, naproxen, cocodamol, Ibroprofen, and paracetamol.
The doctor has now put me on beta blockers (propranolol) which are making me dizzy but I'm really hoping will help. Oddly, I've also started to get a pain in my breast on the right side (same as the migraine) which has left me a bit worried.
Is there anything else you can advise to help with this migraine pain? Those who deal with this on a regular basis really are so tough. 💪💪
Thank you!
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dg363
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Yes.. don't skip any meals..eat protein at every meal. Drink lots of water..
Take preventives like magnesium (glycinate) there are 3-4 differnet types, but this has worked best for me. I take it as directed 3x a day. It will take about 3 months to make them less painful, then reduce them.
As soon as you feel the first tinge if pain treat it.
I also have an injection at home of Imitrix which really stops everything.
Have a plan if they last longer that 2 days.
I also use pepermint roll on and drink hot peppermint tea when really starting to get bad. Ice on neck and back.
Hello, am so sorry you have started suffering with this 😩 av had chronic migraines for 2 years.. currently in hospital now as an havin a 6 week chronic severe migraine and bad cluster headaches which sound like yours they are right sides really intense like the most painful thing to experience can come in my eye and side and back of head (oxygen can help this am yet to have a tank at home feel like taking this one out the hospital lol).. on top of these I get migraines as well.. I have only ever been on propranolol and canderstartan (sorry it’s spelt wrong it’s originally a blood pressure tablet) but these haven’t ever worked for me they just lower my already low blood pressure so keep and eye on the dizziness and that’s probs because your blood pressure is going abit low so get the dr to check on it...
I’ve yet to find a miracle tablet that can help me but I’ve only ever tried 2 am waiting to see nuro again to see what they say but I am going to start the ‘Angela a Stanton fighting the migraine epidemic’ it’s a book about changing our diets and making sure our electrolytes are in balance she’s a doctor and suffers herself and has
Stopped her own migraines and lots of other people by following her protocol I’ve been speaking to people who have suffered really bad and now are migraine free! Also am starting to take magnesium 400mg (Not oxide, try citrate or glycerinate) and vitamin B1 and B2, I would bet a blood test done see if you deficient in b12 before you take it and when you take the magnesium take it with a glass of full fat milk as the calcium is needed.. Also I assume your de has done all blood tests on you to checks your thyroid function etc? I am starting all this once am out the hospital as this has seemed to help people..
And the breast pain isit in your breast or behind like your chest? It could be the medication as the tablet your on is a beta blocker and affects your heat rate so keep an eye on that also I get chest pain quite often I feel it in me ribs and like behind me breast bone I think it’s a mixture of anxiety and all the pain killers av taken have probs caused a few issues now 😩 I really hope you get relief soon my migraines started out of nowhere and to be honest have been debilitating for the last 2 years but I had an awful GP who never seemed to take me seriously so they’ve been left to get out of control! Also am only 29 too and it’s just horrible to be suffering this much, if you ever need to chat just message me x
Oh one more thing hemiplegic migraine can cause like weakness and sensations down one side of the body I have them too can mimic a stroke ya eye and mouth can droop and can get sensations down the body too..
Hello dg363. I am sorry to read that you have started to have migraines. Is it your GP who has given the diagnosis of migraines? I am a bit surprised that your GP has given you the advice to try different pain killers, including Cocodamol. Actually, doesn't surprise me as most GPs don't understand migraines and the last time my GP told me to use cocodamol, I went back to the headache specialist and told him that, he almost hit the roof as he was so furious to see that medical professionals still recommend cocodamol for migraines.
My first advice would be that you should only accept the diagnosis of migraines if it is made by a neurologist, not a GP. Then you can take it from there.
Really sorry to hear you're having such awful symptoms. I think I would agree with Chleo11, GP's are great but migraine's are complex and so much of the medication prescribed can start you on a cycle of rebound headaches/migraines-the very thing that you're trying to avoid, a sick joke I know!
I would ask for a referral to a neurologist, that is your right. It may be a phone consultation with the present difficulties with covid19 but that's better than waiting and not getting the appropriate help. Write down all of your symptoms and concerns before you speak to them and write down what they say, also having someone else with you is a good idea, to listen to the doctor and also perhaps give information you might forget, which is easy to do when you're feeling so awful.
I agree with other comments that you should seek a referral to confirm the diagnosis and obtain treatment options. You could also then have access to treatments such as the greater occipital nerve block, which can provide respite from pain.
Subject to that, I recall that vitamin b12 deficiency may potentially be implicated in migraine so it may be worth exploring the possibility of a link further.
You mention possible triggers and I would say that these include light, sound, smell, smoke, certain drugs and certain foods.
It can take a while before you know whether or not propanolol is working. If it doesn't work, there are plenty of other options. In the meantime you could try other triptans for individual attacks if sumatriptan is not working (or try increasing the dose of sumatriptan) - for example I have found eletriptan more effective than sumatriptan tablets, and the full permitted dose is more effective than a lower dose. Sumatriptan injection is the most effective of the triptans. Triptans are best taken as soon as pain starts. As for other painkillers, codeine should be avoided. A full dose of soluble paracetamol or aspirin in a fizzy drink can be effective if taken as soon as you realise an attack is impending but in my experience painkillers have little effect once the migraine is in full swing.
I agree with getting a neurology diagnosis to determine if it is migraine and what type you are experiencing. Unfortunately their all different and people react differently to the meds.
I personally was diagnosed with hemaplegic migraines, TMJD and hemacrania continua. Immigran injections and rizatriptan melts are my go to's.
As most of my pain is behind my eyes, jaw , scalp, neck and head I thought I'd give BOTOX a go ( into my TMJ ) and all pain went. I get very little migraines now and I now have control back in my life.
I've suffered 40yrs and my story is long and complex but you will get there. Everything is trial and error. Magnesium comes in many forms and not all migraine sufferers take the same one ( mine was citrate) 300 at bedtime helped with sleep.
Request your GP to do bloods, thyroid, cortisone etc and request a referral to neurology.
Sorry to hear that. I started with migraine around 35 and use to get one a month premenstrually and wasn’t especially bothered. After menopause this jumped to 12 a month and still getting them at this rate 15 years later. I’ve learned that the anxiety around trying to manage them makes the symptoms even worse. I now go with it instead of against it. I do mindfulness exercises that calm me and I bought a headache hat that I keep in the freezer - worth it’s weight in gold - and take Naratriptan as soon as the first symptoms appear. Don’t wait hoping it will go away - it won’t! If you’re taking more than 3 triptans a week, you need specialist intervention.
Above all, remember that it will pass as it has before and life feels good in between.
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