Migranes...

[tripletsmama]

Does anyone else get horrible migranes? I am getting a migrane almost every week. My head throbs with each step I take and even the smallest noise makes me want to scream. I have been to the point of tears with these headaches. I have tried all sorts of medicine, nothing helps. Sometimes if I can lay down and take some advil that helps a little. But I am a stay at home mom, so I can't always just go lay down. What does everyone do for their migranes? Any suggestions would be GREAT.

 

[preshi]

I get them less frequently now that I switched to a long term BC pill (Seasonale) Mine came with hormones. Have you asked your Dr.? The only thing that works for me is Relpax. I tried Imitrex and it gave me odd side effects. I suggest getting a prescription for something strong. Advil just doesn't cut it. I also find laying downa and taking a nap is the only thing that combined witht he meds works for me.

 

[princess pooh]

I've been getting migraines often this summer. Sometimes the combination of advil and caffeine helps a little. I definitely need to be in a dark room when I have one.

 

[salmoneous]

Four Words: Go see a doctor! Wait, make that five words: Go see a doctor NOW!

 

[Froggyswife]

I take bc powders for mine but it isn't good for your tummy.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Yep, go to the doctor. Let them decide if it's migraine or something else. I've been getting them for about 3 years, and they did get better when I stopped taking birth control pills. I also have Relpax, and love it. If you have really frequent migraines, your doctor can also give you a daily preventative medicine instead of one to take after one starts

Good luck - migraines take a lot out of you. Get as much rest as you can between them.

Jen

 

[sunlver]

Well I have gotten migraines for most of my adult life. Although, I was in denial about them, my mom and brother had them , I just knew I did too.

Im very prone to headaches in general,not just migraines, just run of the mill old tension headaches. But, I know when I had a migraine, Id wake up during the night and my head would just pound and throb. WIth the mild headaches I would take 2 motrin and one excedrin Migraine pill. If its a mild headache that will do the trick. Now though, I finally saw the dr in May. SHe gave me Imitrex, and what a lifesaver that is for me. WIthin 2 hrs my headache is gone. Sometimes I would panic when I would get a severe headache. My youngest is 22 months old, and I couldnt just lay down and sleep. Now, I dont panic when a headache hits. I still try the motrin/exedrin combo first, and then go from there.

 

[bbangel]

I've had migraines since I was a small child. (They run in my family) You can tell if it is a migraine because they usually come with other symptoms - sensitivity to light, seeing halos/auras around objects, tunnel vision, nausea etc.
The best thing you can do for them (prevention) is to have good sleep habits. Go to bed at the same time every night (and get up at the same time in the morning), don't read or watch t.v. in bed, don't eat 4 hours before going to sleep. Since most of us can't manage that, and medication isn't the answer for everyone try this:
Put a heating pad on your head and a cold pack on your feet (for about 20 minutes). For some people the reverse works (cold on head, hot on feet). Migraines are often a circulation problem so this sometimes helps.

Also most migraine sufferers have a set of "triggers" that spark a headache. For my mom it is red wine and some cheeses. For me certain types of light and air pressure. Some of these triggers can be avoided so knowing what yours are is very helpful. Try keeping a headache journal - note when you get a headache and what you were doing just prior to getting it. It may help you see a pattern.

I agree with all the above - see a doctor. They have a lot of information and help to offer!

 

[jennifer293]

I got them when the second baby came along and the first baby began TALKING sooooooooo much.... She is SO LOUD when she talks. We are constantly telling her to use her inside voice but nothing helps. Also along with baby number 2, I got gestational diabetes and it never went away and now I have Type 2, so if my sugar levels get off in the least I get a splitting headache. ALSO I had a tubal done with baby number 2, and as the monthly girl problems came back they were AWFUL so my dr. put me on birth control so I don't ovulate. Along with the BC came headaches as well.....SO LONG STORY SHORT between kids, diabetes, and birth control I feel like my head is about to EXPLODE daily!!!!

Normally if I go lay down for a few minutes I am good to go..

Has anyone ever used that HEAD ON roll on stuff? Does it really work?

 

[Snowysmom]

I have had migraines since I was 9 and thankfully they are getting less frequent as I get older. Although this summer they seem to be frequent and of long duration. One lasted 3 days but luckily less intense each day. I take ibuprofen which just takes the edge off. Also, I find that coke is all I can drink probably because of the caffeine. Another thing I do is put ice in a washcloth and hold it to where the pain is. That does help. Food triggers for me tend to be eating peanuts and chocolate at night, and nitrates, wine, and aged cheeses anytime. Hormones bring them on too. I can sympathize with you not being able to lay down because of kids at home. When my kids were younger I just had to go on through the pain. It is hard! Maybe you could get a prescription med from your doctor. Good luck!

 

[Barb D]

Here's a recent thread on migraine meds:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1160420

 

[crz4mm2]

I agree with everyone that said go see the doctor. Find one that at least knows something about migraines (neurologist or someone that specializes in headaches). I have suffered for years. Took a neurologist to actually help me find a preventative med that works for me (topamax).
Get help. Your life will be YOUR life again.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

You might want to do a search for migraines since there have been various threads here in the last few months about migraines.

I've been getting migraines since I was about 12yo. They went away for many years, but came back after I had my last child and we believe that they are related to the changing hormones of peri-menopause. I have a dull pain most days and can have at least a migraine or 2 a week. If I catch the headache early and take Maxalt I can usually head it off at the pass, but if I don't I sometimes have a hard time getting rid of the headache.

I'm on Topamax as a preventative, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. I've been on other preventatives, also. They either had side effects or didn't help my headaches.

My list of triggers is very long. Alcohol is a big one, so I rarely drink. Hunger is another one, so I try to make sure I'm eating on a regular basis. Getting overheated gives me headaches and so does looking into the sun, so I have to be careful about those things.

I hope that you are able to find some answers. What meds have you tried?

 

[Makdyn]

I just had a Mirgrane on sat. I have not had one in a couple months. I was on imatrax (sp) but it did not help as quick as I needed it. I usually throw up with it so i was throwing up the meds. but throwing up is the only thing that make it go away that and sleep. Doc said it has to with hormones come time for ms.flow. I am glad I am not alone. I always think I am going to die when i get them. I am such a baby.

Also the mirgrane lingers like i have a sligh headache since saturday and i just take mortin. That is the only meds that my body is use not used too.

 

[Minnie_Moo]

Also most migraine sufferers have a set of "triggers" that spark a headache. For my mom it is red wine and some cheeses. For me certain types of light and air pressure. Some of these triggers can be avoided so knowing what yours are is very helpful. Try keeping a headache journal - note when you get a headache and what you were doing just prior to getting it. It may help you see a pattern.

Ditto on this. I was able to narrow down some of my triggers by thinking about what I had eaten and done before coming down with a series of migraines over a year ago. I was able to figure out that a particular combination of foods (colby-jack cheese and a breakfast bar that contained nuts an dried fruit) followed by exposure to glaring light caused my last two migraines. I also try to avoid MSG. If I manage to down three tylenol with as much water as I can stand to drink (fortunately, I don't usually get nauseous) right after the visual disturbances start, and close my eyes for a while, they don't proceed to a full-blown painful headache.

Knock on wood - I haven't had another migraine since I figured out these trigger foods and didn't have to resort to prescription meds. Good luck to you!

 

[mum4jenn]

I have had migraines for decades and from fall-late winter I was having them about 2 times a week. I went to the Dr in Feb who sent me to a neurologist and also scheduled me for a CT scan. I was put on blood pressure medicine and Relpax. The blood pressure seemed to be a huge factor in this so I have had only maybe one BAD one a moth since then. The times I do have really bad ones the Relpax will knock it out in about 2 hours!!!!! I LOVE this medicine!!! Other days I will feel I like a migraine might be coming and I will use Excedrine migraine and that will usually take care of it.


You MUST go see a DR. It might be blood pressure related or almost anything.

 

[Horseshoes]

I have been getting migraines every month for about 10 years---hormonal. So until I go thru the change, I will continue to get these. And when I tell you every month for 10 years, I mean EVERY SINGLE MONTH. It definitely affects the quality of my life when I get them, they last about 3-4 days.

I was taking Excedrin Migraine for a long time, because I was too afraid of going on prescription meds. I was afraid of the side effects.

Well one day I realized I had taken 11 Excedrin Migraines in a 10 hour period. I was so scared I had overdosed on the tylenol in it.

I made an appt the next day with my MD who put me on Maxalt. It works so much better than the over the counter stuff. And luckily I have no side effects from it.

 

[Coloradomom]

DD (age 16) began getting migraines last fall. She is working with a pediatric neurologist who is wonderful. He put her on Frova, apparently it works really well in females and it did for her. (until she got a migraine after getting hit in the head with a flag at guard practice). Now she uses Migranol. It worked well, and so far so good. He also recommended she take biofeedback treatment, we were skeptical , especially since the first $600 would come out of our pocket, but it really worked. Doesn't remove stress but teaches you techniques to deal with it. So far she has not had another migraine. Be aware of jaw action....no gum,no chewy foods. Consistent eating and sleeping patterns and a steady intake of protein.

Good luck to you. It is tough to see DD go through that.

 

[va32h]

I have been getting migraines for about 9 years now. Well, depends on which doctor you ask. Some said it was cluster headaches, some said it was tension headaches.

When they are at their worst, I am hot and nauseous, and cannot stand noise or light. I have to lay flat on my back, in a dark room, with a cold compress on my head. If I take massive amounts of Tylenol, and manage to fall asleep, I can usually wake up without pain. Although sometimes as soon as I wake up the pain is right back.

Through trial and error, I discovered that Aspartame is one of my triggers; when I quit drinking diet soda, it helped a lot.

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

I'm glad to know that I am not the only one! I probably get 8-12 per month (every third day or so it seems like). I am pretty convinced that they are a product of my autoimmune issues. I also have arthritis and an unspecified (possibly lupus) autoimmune disease.

For me the best pain med (to stop the med) is Migranol. This is what they give you if you go to the ER, except at home you shoot it up your nose, rather than by IV in the hospital. I've not found a preventative that works real well yet, but the side affects have sure been interesting. The Topomax has been the worst, and several of them have made me gain weight.

So... I find it interesting that there are so many others here. How do you do at Disneyworld? I am praying I won't have a flare of the autoimmune issues, or I will need to rent an ECV to survive. But loud noises and flashing lights can trigger migraines quickly. I will bring earplugs and sunglasses. And we have planned shorter days and frequent breaks. If you have a migraine at WDW, do you go and lay down, or keep going? I've been dealing with these for a couple years, and homeschool my 4 children. I've learned that life doesn't stop and it is amazing what a mother can do, even when they are in pain, lol!