Has anyone tried acupuncture ?

[Cavapoochonowner]

I have graves and currently going through a dose adjustment as I am slightly overmedicated.I have had bad migraines since I was 14 and am on amitriptyline to try and control them. I have had 5 migraines in as many weeks and I'm at the end of my tether.Wonder if anyone has tried acupuncture to help thyroid symptoms and/or Migraines?I'm willing to try anything at the moment,losing at least 2 days every week feeling awful and often bedbound.Thankyou for reading.

[Star13]

First of all Im sorry to hear about your migraines. Personally you need to be referred to a headache clinic so you can be properly diagnosed for the type of migraine you have and therefore put on the correct medication. There are some very good migraine medications now and I dont mean over the counter ones. Im on Topiramate which works very well.

Secondly, I dont know where in the country you are but if you are near London, the National Hospital for Integrated Medicine does Acupuncture for Headaches and its excellent. If you cant reach London then Id still look into it as I find Acupuncture very good for both Headache and chronic pain.

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to Star13]

Hello,thankyou very much for your reply.I get a mixture of migraines both with and without aura and sometimes just the aura with no following headache.They had been very few and far between since I became menopausal so I thought they were gone for good.I have read about topiramate,it's an epilepsy medication isn't it.It's good to hear a positive experience.I think I'll contact my doctor today as either the graves has caused them to return or my medication is failing to work.I'll try that first and keep acupuncture in reserve.I have found one near me on the national register and one of her specialities is migraine.Thankyou again for taking that time to reply, You have been very helpful.

[Star13 in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Good Luck!

[PurpleNails Administrator]

I used to have occasional migraines then I was given propranolol when first diagnosed hyper & had high heart rate. When the specialist told me to stop propranolol abruptly this triggered terrible migraines. In the end The GP re-prescribed it as a migraine preventer. I have weaned it to very low dose now but very sensitive if I miss or late for a dose.

Notice from your previous post you been given this medication. Have you altered dose or stopped it recently?

[Cavapoochonowner]

I tried proprananol years ago as a migraine preventative and had to stop it as I was having hallucinations during the night.More recently I only took it for a day and only 2 × 10 mg tablets to help a high heart rate. I didn't carry on with it as I felt strange.I had numbness in my hands and a bout of migraine blindness. I have managed without it since.That's one of the main things I'm worried about concerning changing medication, the possibility of withdrawal symptoms from one drug and side effects from a new one. Thankyou for taking the time to reply.

[C70rol]

I have used acupuncture for many symptoms relating to my thyroid over the years, especially headaches, back ache, digestion and and I’ve had a lot of success.

But I would advice you seek out a full time experienced acupuncturist………my acupuncturist was trained in China as a doctor for 12 years, and only does acupuncture. It’s not an ‘add on’ to other treatments.

I would often go to a practitioner like that, rather than play around with too many drugs, as I’m quite sensitive!

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello, Thankyou for taking the time to reply.I too am trying to look at alternatives to too many tablets.My current migraine prevention doesn't seem to be working as it has been.I've managed to get a telephone consultation with a GP in 2 weeks time to discuss this.I am wary of changing tablets and perhaps making things worse.I have found someone near me who does accupuncture and also cupping and they are registered and properly qualified. I think I have nothing to lose if I give it a go.My thyroid isn't stable at the moment which may be contributing to the headaches.Thankyou again for the advice.

[hyporeb in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Hi

I have hashi’s and I have acupuncture and cupping (in one session) every 6 weeks or so. I find it really helps with the peculiar headaches I tend to get when my upper back and shoulders start to tighten up - which I’m convinced is a thyroid related symptom (along with tonnes of others that randomly appear out of nowhere for a few days) oh the joys.

Try it and see x

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to hyporeb]

Hello, thanks for your reply.I think I'm going to go for it.I could probably afford one treatment per month after the initial consultation.I've been researching headaches quite a bit today and think mine are a mixture of migraines and cervicogenic headaches. Alot of my headaches start at the back of my head and neck and sometimes my neck is so stiff I feel I could trap a nerve or something when I turn my head.I do also hold alot of tension in my shoulders.Sometimes medication can only do so much so I think it's worth a try.The lady I've found also does cupping.Thanks again.