Daily migrane

[Mary1959]

Hi has anyone gone to accident and emergency during a bad migrane, so you can get someone to listen to you and do scans to try and see if something is causing them. I have now had bad headache or migraine every day for 10 weeks and don't seem to be getting anywhere with tabletd?

[Onthemove1971]

Yes I have and they give me a IV with a cocktail- migraine drug, anti-inflammatory and anti-vommiting..It really helps, but I may enter with a pain level of 10.. and leave at about a 4 or 3.

I carry injectable Imitrix on me and when my regular medication doesn't work I have an injection and it always stop it.

Good luck.

[Mary1959 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thank you for your reply. Glad they were able to help you. It's good to know you were treated, instead of them thinking it was "just headache" . Hopefully, one day everyone will realise just how debilitating migraine is. Take care x

[Cat00]

Personally I couldn't cope with the stress of going to A&E with a bad migraine but also because I have a history of migraine I very much doubt they would treat me. If you have a history of migraine you'd be in the back of the queue. I went to A&E fairly recently with a broken foot and there were kids with concussion that had to wait over 24 hours to be seen.Do you a neurologist you can talk to?

[Mary1959 in reply to Cat00]

Hi, that's what I thought, they would probably think it was just a headache. I'm trying to get my doctor to refer me to a neurologist but he just keeps giving me different tablets. I can't afford to go private. I'll just have to keep pressing my g.p. Thanks for your reply, take care x

[Cat00 in reply to Mary1959]

Yes its hard, I've had a migraine last more than 6 weeks on more than one occasion, its hard to be believed. And then there is Hemicrania Continua where people have headaches/migraine everyday.There seems to be quite a standard protocol these days when trying to get a referral to a neurologist, firstly they want the GP to rule out Medication Overuse Headache and then they want GP's to have tried you on at least 3 preventative medications too, that way when you get to the neurologist they can give you access to the meds for more severe cases.

In the old days the GP couldn't do an awful lot so they sent you to the neurologist so that they could tell you the bad news! GP's can do more these days.

[troy04]

If you go to A&E with headache, they'll not do any scan unless the headache is caused by head injury. You'll be asked what pain medicines you have taken within last 24 hours and then you'll receive (paracetamol + codeine), ibuprofen accordingly. A doctor will come (after a few hours) and check if you have Meningitis by asking to lower the chin to the chest etc. They may give you anti-sickness medicine if you are nauseous. I am afraid, that's about it - you'll be told that they could not have treated you any other way and you can now go home.

So, I would not go to A&E with migraine headache. The GP is no different in many cases than a neurologist unless you are lucky to see real migraine specialists who know what they are doing. All neurologists in NHS treat migraine and you cannot choose - it's a luck. However, your GP must try a few different treatment before referring to a neurologist - that's the rule.

If you see eventually a neurologist, please do not expect a miracle - they may not be able to help at all. However, they can arrange Botox or recent CGRP treatment (taken by injection in the UK at present) etc. No oral CGRP has been approved yet at NHS.

You may want to take a look at different treatment options below to get an overall idea:

migrainetrust.org/live-with...

If you can - try jogging or taking a long walk to exhaust yourself including steep path. The idea is to make your heart beat considerably fast (if you cannot run for some reason). Initially it may cause negative feelings but - after a few days you'll see the benefit.

[Mary1959 in reply to troy04]

Thankyou for your reply. To be honest, don't think I would make the 45 minute journey to A&E with a full blown migrane. My doctor told me to stop taking propanolol as a preventative and increase amitryptiline, but I didn't think you should stop them abruptly, having been on them over 20 years, but he seemed to think it ok and at the same time, told me to stop fluoxitine, anxiety pills, without doing it gradually, I'm hoping he will try me on another preventative when I speak to him next. I will see if I can see a headache specialist, sooner than neurologist. Thanks