How do you prevent your migraines?

[Denine]

My DH gets so many migraine headaches. He takes Verelan PM to prevent them and imitrex to get rid of them. I don't think the verelan is working as it should and was wondering what others have tried.
Has anyone tried butterbur or Migravent?

 

[pumba]

my sister had severe migranes each and every month due to hormone changes. The doctor prescribed a bp medication even thuogh she does not have high bp.....the med is also perscribed for migranes and it did the trick......ask about other meds and see what his doctor says

 

[grinningghost]

My migraines are simply unpreventable. I've tried it all - I think they're hormonal, and since my hormones are now in their 40's and follow no pattern - my migraines don't either.

I just wait for them to come and then beg the Excedrin to kick in quickly.

Give your DH a hug - if he suffers from migraines, he needs it.

 

[Calliaz]

Does your husband know what his triggers are? One of my office mates has had great success with diet changes to eliminate triggers along with some aggressive drug therapy (basically she spent a week on some heavy drugs getting out of the migraine cycle). All of this was done by a neurologist.

I've been able to control my migraines by working on my hormones with a naturopath, chiropractor, and accupuncturist. I really think that has helped to work on the source of the problem.

 

[LMC]

I take a preventative called Topamax for my migraines. It really does help. I took it for about a year then ran out and thought "well ya know I've been feeling better so I really don't need it anymore". WRONG, my migraines came back within a month and by two months I was having horrible headache pain everyday. SO, back to the neuro I go and get my Topamax. I now take it religiously as I have seen how it helped and how I do when I go off it. I still do get headaches and migraines but I also have a prescription I can take during the day for a headache (can't read the doc's handwriting and I don't have it filled) and my aresenal is MaxAlt. It is a wonder drug. I tried Imitrex and it didn't work but MaxAlt works in about 30 minutes. If it doesn't knock out my migraine/headache it at least takes the edge off so I can function.

I have a few triggers besides hormones. One is lighting whether it be sunlight, flourescent lighting, or metal halide (warehouse type lighting). If I am couped up in doctors offices or hospitals all day then I know I will have a migrane. I wear sunglasses even when it is cloudy because if there is even a hint of glare, I will have a migraine.

A neurologist can help with these meds.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Have all of you been tested to make sure they're migrained or is that even worth it? I think I get them based on the symptoms, but I didn't know if I wanted to go through all the CAT scan testing, etc. to prove it or just try some medicine to see if it works...

 

[Cindyluwho]

I have botox injected between my eyebrows every 4 months. It doesn't prevent them completely but it makes them treatable with Exedrin Migraine. Mine are hormone induced and I would be in bed for 4 days whimpering, even with the stongest painkillers or Imitrix. I am going to try beta blockers, though. Those botox shots HURT!! I do look younger, though.....

 

[Chris2597]

Migraines run in my family...My oldest dd26 and ds19 get what the neuro calls Complex Migraines. The aura starts with numbing in the fingertips,goes up to their faces and then speech becomes imparied and disorientation follows...This part lasts about 20-30 min and then the headache comes on with a fury....DS is taking a daily dose of Aminotriptan (sp??) as a preventive and Imitrex injection if one occurs. So far this has been working. The dr also put him on Topamax for neuro back pain he is suffering from a car accident. The dr said it will also help to prevent migraines...that the research is astounding on the impact this drug will have for sufferers.
I take Midrin for my headaches. DD and DS have had ct/mri scans to make sure nothing else was going on...I think migraines are diagnosed through symptoms not through scans.
Oldest dd is married and has been told by neuro dr and gyn that she can not take any form of birth control pills with complex migraines as it could greatly increase her risk stroke.

 

[LMC]

Well I can't say that the doctor was going to use a CAT scan to diagnose my migraines but after describing what was going on (and I've had problems since I was a kid, significant problems since 1992) and when he asked how many days a month I would have a migraine and or bad headache and I told him it was easier to tell him how many days I didn't have one I think he was sold on me having a problem. My headaches are always (well 98% of the time) the SAME. Start the same, progress the same, settle in the same place. I was just finally glad to get some relief (other than 3 visits per week to a chiropractor) that I didn't care what he did. I would have taken surgery; still would if it would help.

Have all of you been tested to make sure they're migrained or is that even worth it? I think I get them based on the symptoms, but I didn't know if I wanted to go through all the CAT scan testing, etc. to prove it or just try some medicine to see if it works...

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I am not preventing mine at all right now. In the past few weeks I've had migraines all but about 3 days. Not good!

I've tried various preventative meds. One blood pressure med lowered my BP too much (it's already low). Another med increased my heartrate. Topamax gave my constant cold sores (4 cold sores in 3 week).

For the pain I take Maxalt. Have tried imitrex and it works, but makes me feel sick. Axert (I think that's what it is called) didn't work and our prescription drug plan only allowed 6 tablets/month, not enough for me. The Maxalt works, however it seems that once I get a headache I get a string of them. Basically feels like a cycle.

I have an appt with my internist tomorrow and will go to a neurologist if I don't get some help/suggestions from my dr. I really should have already gone to the neuro dr, but I'm a procrastinator.

I do have a book which has an elimination diet in it and I try to avoid food and drinks which tend to cause problems, but I think a lot of it is hormone induced. They've gotten worse in the last 5 years and terrible in the last year or so.

Some days I just want to curl into a ball.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

And I did have a CAT scan 5 years ago. They've gotten a lot worse lately and the dr might want to do another one, even though it's more to rule out something else.

 

[Parkhopper]

I had severe migraines 8-10 times each month until I did a medical study for the herb butterbur. I was on the study medication twice a day for 4 months and noticed a great reduction in the amount of migraines I had AND in the duration. They kept me on the medication for the study for an additional 4 months because I had a "side effect" that they wanted to keep watching (I "burped" the awful tasting stuff several times a day). The awful taste in my mouth was nothing compared to migraine pain (I didn't even consider it a side effect worth mentioning.)

After 8 months on the study medication, I no longer suffer migraines at all. I don't take the butterbur any more either! It's like it switched off some wires that were contstantly getting crossed causing migraines. I have probably had only 3 migraines in the past 7 years.

Suzi

 

[Denine]

Thanks for your responses. Obviously, his headaches are not hormone related since he is a man. His mom gets them too.

I know that sunlight is a trigger, he always wears sunglasses outside. ALso, gasoline and sometimes alcohol, but not always the same kind of alochol. He gets them if he lies in bed too long. They always settle in his right eye. He will get a shooting pain and then it hurts right there. Sometimes, he gets sick from them.

The imitrex usually helps get rid of them, that and a dark room and cold cloth.
The Verelan PM is a BP med that is supposed to help prevent the migraines. It seemed to help more before. But, lately, he seems to be getting them more often again, 2-4 times per week. He just saw the doc in August, but I don't think he tells him the whole truth about how often and how bad they are. I am the one that finally got him to go because I thought they were migraines. I am just wondering if the Verelan can become less effective over time. He has been on it for about 3 years now.

He did have a CAT scan to rule out any other problems when he was first diagnosed.

 

[Denine]

I had severe migraines 8-10 times each month until I did a medical study for the herb butterbur. I was on the study medication twice a day for 4 months and noticed a great reduction in the amount of migraines I had AND in the duration. They kept me on the medication for the study for an additional 4 months because I had a "side effect" that they wanted to keep watching (I "burped" the awful tasting stuff several times a day). The awful taste in my mouth was nothing compared to migraine pain (I didn't even consider it a side effect worth mentioning.)

After 8 months on the study medication, I no longer suffer migraines at all. I don't take the butterbur any more either! It's like it switched off some wires that were contstantly getting crossed causing migraines. I have probably had only 3 migraines in the past 7 years.

Suzi

Thank you for this reply. I am going to do a little more research on the butterbur and talk to DH to see if he thinks it's worth trying.
I think he could deal with 3 migraines in 7 years!

 

[allie&mattsmom]

My migraines are mostly hormonally induced, although not always. Sometimes stress can bring one on. I got my first migraine at age 21, I'm now 41 and I still get them. I've tried every medication out there I think. Fioricet/Fiorinal works great for me and usually these meds can keep me from going into a full blown migraine. When I do get a full blown one, I take Maxalt and go to bed for the day (which makes it kind of hard to be a mommy!).

 

[noseybuddy]

I get migraines same time every month. I know it is hormonal. The doctor gave me Butalbital it helps a little, enough that I can function, but I want something better. Mine last for two days usually ending with vomiting. I just HATE it!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I had severe migraines 8-10 times each month until I did a medical study for the herb butterbur.

Where can that be found?

 

[Disney Ontario]

I know enough to take something as soon as a headache starts. They are not migraines but I have had a few that make me wander. We are tired of going back to the doctors every time we run out of Tylonal 3s. We can get Tylonal 1s at the pharmacy. What else is out there esp. in Canada with out a perscription. I have also had both my hips redone(I am only 40) and arthridus has set in too.This colder weather does not help, and I can't over do it or I will pay for the pain the next day.I just keep on living in pain.

 

[luvwinnie]

Treating my inflammatory arthritis has helped decrease my migraines, thankfully. I take Frova when they do hit. Also, I take the Pill for 2 months at a time to avoid menstrual migraines as much as possible.

 

[mickman1962]

Mine is done mainly by diet, kept a food journal of EVERYTHING I ate and drank for a year and eliminated lots of food. I was surprised by a lot of foods. For example I can eat say a Hershey bar but M&M's (non-peanut) will give me a migraine within 20 minutes. Have had them for 30 + years and currently taking Maxalt for releif. I am very leery of taking a daily medication as too many of them (not necessarily migraine meds) get pulled after a few years for one thing or another. I can live with treating them, as I remember what it was like in the old days when nothing touched them and you just had to suffer thru it. I however still get one or two every year that require me to go to the hospital for a shot to knock me out.