Injections

[Onthemove1971]

I can not say enough about how helpful injections are. Here is and example: I went to bed ( around 10:30pm) with a migraine that on pain scale was about a 3 or 4 out of 10. I slept and woke up at 4 am with the same pain level so I took 2 over the counter migraine medication. I fell back to sleep and woke up at 6:15am at about an 8 pain scale out of 10. I knew if I took an Imitrix pill, it would not be helpful enough and take to long to work. I could also tell if I did nothing it would get worse ( this takes a number if years to learn to judge).

So I asked my husband to get my injection. Within 15min. I am now at about a level 2. I am also drinking a cold can of pepsi ( I know it's horrible at 6am). I know within the hour I will be pain-free and go on with a great day.

A few years ago when I didn't have injections as part of my treatment plan I would have waited and waited until I could not stand it any more than ask someone to take me to the Emergency Room.

What a difference they have made for me. It really leaves me with no pain at all, which is also something that the pills do not do. I always feel like when I take a pill the pain "kinda" goes away hours later when I am finally at a 0 out of 10.

I hope if you need a new treatment you look into adding the Injection in whatever medication works best for you. For me it is Imitrix.

I would love to hear from the group if they use injections and how they work for you guys and if you don't use them "why not"

Thanks

Have a great day and Happy Friday!

[dubstepMaul]

Glad to hear the triptan injection works for you. My son has been using them for a few years now and they don't work that great anymore unfortunately. Question: why a cold can of Pepsi?

[Onthemove1971 in reply to dubstepMaul]

A number of Neurologist said it is best to take the Over the counter medication with. Something about drinking it quick sWith the caffeine and something about it.

I noticed the over the counter usually work better when I quickly drink a Pepsi.

I am curious if your son increased the dose with the injection if that would help.

I have to take 100mg pill form and normally people only need 50mg.

I also wonder if your son has tried a cocktail with the injections ( anti-inflammatory, anti-nausa, caffeine, Imitrix, injection and drink lots of water). They give all of them together but by IV, it really helps.

Thanks for responding.

[dubstepMaul in reply to Onthemove1971]

He had the cocktail at the ER, it reduced his migraine a bit but did not eliminate it. The trouble with triptans is if you take too often you can get into a rebound loop which actually happened to him a few years ago. Now he is only allowed 2 per week so he saves them for the days he works ( weekend).We have tried so many things over the years, too much to mention here. He has been to 6 or 7 neurologists over the years, 3 of them pediatric neurologists (when he was young), the first one I took him to was the then head of pediatric neurology at CHOP (Children's Hosp of Philadelphia). He has chronic debilitating migraines, and it hurts my mama heart to see my child suffer even though he is now 30 makes no difference he is still my child. Particularly upsetting to me is when people make "helpful" comments which are really thinly veiled judgements that he is doing something to create the headaches or not doing something to stop them. We don't speak to many people about it anymore b/c we are sick of that. In the last year he changed his diet and began a rigorous exercise program which enabled him to lose more than 40 lbs and firm up. He looks great now but unfortunately it did absolutely nothing for the migraines.

I recently encouraged him to take magnesium glycinate based on your recommendations on your posts, but I realize it will be a while before we see results.

Incidentally, I get migraines too but nothing like his. Usually Excedrin works for me (acetomeniphen, aspirin, caffeine) I can't take triptans anymore they give me chest pain. I have been taking magnesium glycinate daily and I think it has helped reduce the severity of the bad ones I get about once every 8 weeks.

Thanks for your posts I appreciate them. 😊❤

[Onthemove1971 in reply to dubstepMaul]

I am so sorry for him. My son also gets them but in his stomach. I totally get where you are coming from with the triptans.

I really hope he pushes the magnesium to the highest dose between 1400-1600mg. In fact when I feel pain in the last afternoon I will add another 100mg to see if that helps.

You are most likely correct. When it starts to work each migraine hurts less... then you will get less in a week.

I have a number of pain-free weeks now becuase of the magnesium.

So good for him that he has lost the weight.

I agree I tried changing my diet and cut out all of the things they day cause migraines and I felt much worse.

One last thing I have added that can help. I use roll on peppermint oil. I roll it on the back of my hand and smell it. I can feel it help with long breaths.

So hoping for less pain for you guys.

Best to you!

[headachequeen in reply to dubstepMaul]

Has your son tried preventive injections like Aimovig or Ajovy? Aimovig has cut both my chronic tension headache and migraines by 90%. And I don’t walk around feeling headachey, constantly monitoring pain level. I feel normal in between.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to headachequeen]

Thanks.. he gets migraines in his stomach so they are not in his head. He also has a horriable reaction ( like runs away) from needles. We have been dealing with them since 2nd grade he is now in 10th grade. It is are very unpredictable as to when he will get them. They start at the same time ( 6am) and run the same cycle. He takes cryprohepetine, but we will try a new medication to see if we can prevent them. It's called CVS- chronic vomitting syndrome or cynically vomiting syndrome. The only connection we can make is eating spicy, deep fried food.

Thanks for asking.

[dubstepMaul in reply to headachequeen]

Yes he is currently taking Aimovig and has been for over a year. It helps only a little.

[Wales99]

Unfortunately in the UK we don’t have this option. It’s nigh on impossible to get an appointment with a Neurologist through the NHS the waiting lists are so long.

[Pingez in reply to Wales99]

I realise this is all down to deliberate under funding of the NHS, but you do seem to have to suffer for years before you get anywhere. Thankfully for me after long years of suffering, trying the same tablet regimes with different doctors, I'm now on Emgality which has finally made some difference.

[Wales99 in reply to Pingez]

Hey. Yes it’s been six years for me now. I am very lucky in that I have private healthcare through my work but migraine isn’t covered. Once you get diagnosis you have to go back to the NHS. I have my last appointment with my Neurologist tomorrow. I haven’t heard of Emgality - is it one of the monthly injections you can have? I’m glad it’s working for you. 😊.

[Pingez in reply to Wales99]

Yes. It's the trade name for galcanzumab which I inject monthly. It's the only thing that has ever made a difference apart from triptans which I have to limit. Good luck with it all.

[Wales99 in reply to Pingez]

I think, I’m no expert by any stretch, but from what I’ve read & understand, it’s one of the few drugs that is actually to treat migraine, whereas all the other preventative meds are for other conditions. Good luck to you too. It’s a horrible condition. 😊.

[Sophiebun11]

What injection are you recommending? Injection of Imitrex, Botox, Aimovig Autoinjector, or something else? It would be nice to have the name of the med since there are so many.

I'm up for trying anything and trying to get a new Neuro to help me.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to Sophiebun11]

I take 100mg pills of Imitrix Then when I need it, An Imitrix injection, like an Epi-pen. I don't know the dose. I hold it against my backside and push a button and wait 5 seconds. I usually have no head pain within 20min or less.

They help so much!

[Sophiebun11]

When Imitrex first was invented over 30 years ago or so, it was only available as an injection. People hated that so they made a pill. Even then the pills cost nearly $100 each so no one could afford them.

Just getting the pills are a blessing. I can't take the 100mg because I'm allergic to the orange food dye and it gives me a worse migraine. I take 50 mg and another an hour later. I am allergic to the preservative in the Imitrex injectable.

Thanks for letting me know what you meant. I am happy to hear it helps you. I used to use Pepsi and chocolate to help. The caffeine helps a great deal.

Here's to more days without a migraine than with one.