OT- Migranes

[AmandaK]

I used to get migraines once a month when I was on the pill. I haven't taken it since my kids were born 5 years ago, so I thought that the migraines were related to the pill. I got one last month and it killed!!!! All my Rx meds were expired so they didn't help. I called my doc to get my Imitrex and took it but by that time I was too far gone. I get the aura (sparkly lights) so I know when its coming and can usually stop it with the Rx. Unfortunately, all the good Rx meds for migraines cost me $20 a pill. So I talked to a friend that is into holistic remedies. She recommended taking the herb Feverfew. Three 2x a day for two weeks and then back off to two 2x a day for a week and then one 2x a day to keep prevent migraines. So far it is working. I googled it before I took her advice and found that for some people it works. It was cheaper than the Rx and it may prevent them from coming back. I've only been doing it a month now, so we'll see. But since herbs aren't regulated, some brands are processed better. She recommended the brands Solaray, Natures Plus, and Nature's Sunshine. Hope this helps!

 

[ndfi78]

I have them, always preceded by visual aura changes. I suffered through them for several years because I thought they were the result of other meds I have to take. After I talked to my Cardiologist about it and told him my symptoms he immediately referred me to a neurologist. He gave me a prescription for Amerge which has been amazing. It is not for everyone because it is kind of slow acting but since I have aura changes I can take it as soon as I start noticing those and it keeps my pain level down almost completely. It does make me a little out of it but that is so much better than the migraine.

http://www.bing.com/health/article/...aratriptan-Hydrochloride-Oral-tablet?q=Amerge

 

[poohfriend]

neurologist suggested B2 - adults 400mg a day for prevention.

i take maxalt (almost $40/pill) but it works most of the time. Sometimes I get an $80 headache!

I would also say that excedrin works when i take it quickly. Maxalt usually works better if I take it quickly too...but sometimes I'm just trying not to have the additional costs associated with the meds.

 

[KitKat_Tink]

I'm a 17 year old girl and have had bad migraines for the last 7 years. Often they are one sided, by my eyes. They have progressively gotten worse since I was 14. I have literally been on every pill that can be prescribed to me for them. They started me with taking Excedrin which didn't work. Then Midrin which worked for awhile but they I got too used to it. Then Maxalt which didn't do anything. Then Fioricet which helped but made me feel too weird to function (like I couldn't go to school or work). Then Imatrex which didn't do anything either. Then they decided upon preventatives so I was on Elavil for a month with scary bad side effects. Nightmares, mood swings, just not fun stuff. Then they tried a round of predisone steriods. Which gave me some brief relief. And then another preventative of Topamax and another abortive prescription of Fioricet. I hate it but it helps some. I also have had to be given emergency shots of toradol.

In the long run I think whats best is caffeine, sleep, and avoiding the things that can trigger migraines. Which can sometimes be hard, especially if nothing seems to trigger them like mine. Stress is a HUGE trigger for migraines because it causes tension.


Here is a list of triggers that are quite common
* Stress (either during a stressful time or right after stress subsides).
* Menstrual cycle in women.
* Changes in sleep—getting either too much or too little sleep.
* Fasting or skipping meals.
* Changes in the weather, heat, or high humidity.
* Bright lights, glare, reflected sunlight, or other intense visual stimuli.
* Foods, such as chocolate.
* Alcohol—all alcohol, or one type of alcohol in particular, like beer or wine.
* Odors such as perfume, paint, dust, and certain flowers.
* Strong emotions, such as depression or anxiety.
* Physical exercise.
* Aspartame.
* Monosodium glutamate (MSG).
* Nitrates, which are found in cured meats such as hot dogs, bacon, and cold cuts.
* Tyramines, which are found in pickled or marinated foods, aged cheeses, and yeast.
* Smoking or being around someone who smokes.
* Excessive caffeine or caffeine withdrawal.
* Birth control pills and hormone therapy.
* Medications that expand (dilate) the blood vessels (vasodilators), such as nifedipine, and nitrates.
* Overuse of headache pain medications, leading to rebound headaches.

Try seeing a neurologist too. They can make sure that it isn't a more serious problem.

 

[Ms.Tom-Morrow25]

I used to take Maxalt until my co-pay went from $20-$100!! Yikes!! I now take a generic version of Imitrex and it works wonders as did the Maxalt. But I do also find that if I take the Imitrex for a few days and then don't need to for another few days, I will sometimes suffer from rebound headaches.

 

[MomRN]

I have cluster headaches. My PCP diagnosed them as "atypical migraines"

I suffered from them a few years before getting seen for them- due to lack of health insurance. My last cluster was 10/09, and my PCP prescribed Maxalt. I'm really not sure if it worked or not. By the time I got in to be seen I was in the last part of my cluster phase (which lasts 1-2 weeks) and during the last part they tend to only last 30 minutes. With Maxalt, I was having relief in about 20-30 minutes. I won't truly know if it's a solution until my next phase, which will probably be about spring (I have them 2-3 times a year)

My signs and symptoms? Only happens while I'm asleep, about one hour after falling asleep, starts suddenly, feels like a stabbing pain, I will occassionally have nasal discharge, and occassionally have nausea (more related to the pain). The first time I had one I thought for sure I was having a brain hemorrhage and was dying right then. By the time I thought I wasn't dying, and should go to the hospital, it ended as quickly as it started.

An interesting note is that they used to occur at night, but now that I work 12hr nights 3/7, now they only occur in the days I sleep.

Anyway, that's my experience with cluster headaches. Oddly, research will show a favorable solution is oxygen- lots of it with a non rebreather mask. For whatever reason, my PCP didn't want to prescribe O2, and instead favored prescription pills he was able to provide me a sample of (convenient?). At that time I didn't care. During the middle of an attack you will do whatever you can to get pain to go away. The next time I have an issue, if the prescription doesn't work, I'm going to a neurologist. I probably will anyway.

Oh, and the other relief I get... an ice ICE cold washclothe on the affected side. However, some people with clusters prefer heat.

 

[5 for WDW]

I suffer from migraines too. I started getting them in my lower 20's. I used to take Imitrex but, it always took so long to work. My Dr switched me to Treximet last year. Its by the makers of Imitrex. It combines Imitrex with Naproxen and it works wonders!!

I feel for everyone that suffrers from them. I know all too well just how awful they are!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Add me to the list.

I have tried every Rx out there from Maxalt, Cymbalta, Imitrex, Treximet (don't pay for the Treximet, its just Imitrex and Naproxen together.. much cheaper that way), Midrin, Topamax, Vioxx back when it was legal, etc, etc... I could go on. Oh and also Excedrin Migrain and Excedrin have the same dose of active ingredients so save your money there too and get the regular kind if it works for you. My neuro also tried Trigger Point Injections in my head and neck. That didn't help either. I have seen many doctors and neuros. Ive had multiple CT scans. I've seen chiropractors. I've had allergy tests. You name it I've done it. The only thing I have heard of that I havn't tried is checking my hormone levels. I'm working on having those checked next.

If your migraines or severe headaches have come out of nowhere you may have cluster headaches or have a more serious issue. My doctors never seemed that concerned with it having a more serious cause because I've had them since I was very, very young. I've also had one doctor tell me about rebound headaches. When I don't have an active migrain I usually have a small to mild headache 4-5 days a week. One dr called them rebound headaches that could happen due to all the medicine I've taken.... who knows. Sadly, many things that work for one don't work for another in this area. Its all trial and error. I sympathize and wish you all the best though.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Upper Cervical Chiropractic
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