What do you take for your Migraines?

[breezy1077]

Wow. Weird. Mine can be on either side - they usually actually switch sides each time. I have at least 3 a month that are hormonal and lately several a week that I have no clue what is triggering them.

What are everyone's triggers?

My known triggers are: too much or too little sleep, too much or too little caffeine, artificial sweeteners, strong odors (especially cigarette smoke), bright lights, loud noises, dark chocolate, wine, aged cheeses (especially melted cheddar!), artifical coloring (like in orange soda), nuts in any form, stress, and a drop in blood sugar from not eating soon enough.

Years ago my Neurologist had suggested putting me on a daily anti-seizure medicine (Neurontin I believe) but I was still nursing my middle child at the time and couldn't take it.

Actually DS just weaned himself a few weeks ago so that may be an explanation for my recent migraines - the hormone levels may be wacky right now.

, only the left for me. Mine can also be linked to hormones. I don't get them every month - but when I do, it's definately around a hormonal time . They also started shortly after I had my daughter - so again, hormonal changes I'm guessing. Before that, I'd never really had even regular headaches, let alone migraines. The first time I had one - I thought I was having a stroke - especially with all the pretty lights that you see during an occular migraine, and the numbness in my face.


My endocrinologist is the one who suggested taking 2 advil at the very first inkling of one coming on. I think I've been able to deter a couple of them that way from becoming full blown migraines. But mine are occular, so maybe that's different.

Oh, forgot about alcohol - thanks PP, yes that's a trigger for me too - I don't drink very often at all, so I forgot.

 

[breezy1077]

Well I have had a constant headache since JANUARY... Dr says it is not diagnosed as a migraine, but I do have all the signs ans symptoms of a migraine, instead I have occipital neuralgia, I don't like it at all. I take Soma (muscle relaxer) and Percocet, but I have been taking the percocet for so long that it is no longer working for me. I too have what feels like an ice pic is going right through my right eye, and I also have a constant feeling of someone has slugged me in the back of my head at the base of my skull with a baseball bat. I would never wish this on anyone.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

For those of you who have tried botox, where did you have the botox injected? Months ago I was supposed to have botox in my neck since my neuro said that might help (I get a lot of occipital pain in my neck at the base of my head), but the insurance has refused to pay. If I were having it for cosmetic reasons I certainly would have it between my eyes for my wrinkles! I don't give a rat's *** what the back of my neck looks like.

 

[tonilea]

My mom recently started seeing a chiropractor and is doing a million times better. She was having daily migraines. Their house was so dark, we called it the cave. Since seeing the chiro, initially twice a week, then once a week and finally not unless she is having problems (and she isn't), she is for the first time in two years, pain free.

The difference in her is amazing. I have never been a fan of chiros, but I am so impressed!

 

[MichelleVW]

, only the left for me.
.

Yep, never the right....always behind that left eye!!

Triggers? Not enough caffeine, too much sun and junk food (which makes Disney fun at times!!) and the change in weather will usually give me one.

I felt one coming on one day in Epcot, so I took some excedrin quick. I had been drinking, eating as healthy as I could that day (just had a banana from the fruit stand). But decided to leave for awhile in case it got worse...good idea!! By the time we walked from Germany to the busses my head was killing me and could hardly stand. Then I got on the bus and the nausea hit!!! I was so afraid that I was going to barf on the bus back to ASMovies!!! Our room was pretty close to the next hotel (Sports I think?) so we got off the bus there and I practically ran back to the room and puked as soon as I got there.

Sent the girls to the pool by themselves, probably not a smart Mommy move since they were only 8 and 10, but I thought I was going to die and I needed a dark and quiet room. They went to the pool with instructions to not talk to ANYONE and stay together and be back in one hour. I puked a few more times, threw the pillow over my head and luckily fell asleep. Exactly One hour later the good children came back from the pool and I was feeling a little better. Took it easy for a bit and I think we went back to the park.

I've been lucky with the few Disney migraines I've had in that they haven't lasted as long as some of my others.

 

[4nana]

I suffered with severe migraines for many years, all the while trying many meds and even chiropractic w/o any success. My dr finally decided to try the beta-blocker Atenolol and I have been headache free for years. It has truly been a Godsend miracle for a co pay of only $3 a month!

Hugs and prayers for help to all those suffering.

 

[Disneylover79]

OMG, honey, I'm so sorry. I totally know that feeling, as I was diagnosed with intracranial hypertension last year and had to have six surgeries for it. I honestly hope they can come up with something to give you some relief. Have they done an MRI or a spinal tap on you?

WOW I am sure that doesn't feel to good. I have had a cat scan but I am going Friday for an MRI/MRA, but I sure am tired of having this pain, and the irony of it is I am a neurological nurse, so I know way to much...

 

[Disneylover79]

Thank you, What a difference a hug makes... oh and the percocet too....

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

WOW I am sure that doesn't feel to good. I have had a cat scan but I am going Friday for an MRI/MRA, but I sure am tired of having this pain, and the irony of it is I am a neurological nurse, so I know way to much...

Thank you, What a difference a hug makes... oh and the percocet too....

Good luck with the MRI! Hope everything is ok.

Here's another hug. I'd send Percocet too if that was legal for me to do!

 

[Phedre]

I've got Imitrex for my migraines, but I think if I still have them at my next year's check-up with my Dr, I'm going to ask for something else because I don't like the side effects. I feel a heaviness in my chest and my shoulder blades get very tight and it's sort of like its hard to take a breath.

I am in the process of switching to an all raw food diet however and haven't had a migraine since so I'm hoping that my migraines stay away now that I'm trying to fill my body with just healthy foods Maybe by next year I just won't need the meds at all

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

i started years ago on propanolo, which i gained almost 10 pounds the first year. then i switched to inderal. then i had to switch to atenolol which i am on now. i take one in the morning and one after supper . my migraines were so bad i would end up in the er also. the beta blockers work great for me. if i do feel a slight pain i usually take a Caffergot pill . sometimes 2 pills. also i will have tea or pepsi. i have 2 daughters. they both have migraines. my oldest is on medicine. my youngest was diagnosed when she was like 5. we actually have been to the neurologist a few times in the last few months. i didnt want to put her on daily medicine yet. but with younger daughter she will get migraines if she does not eat enough also. so its a pain in the butt to suffer migraines. good luck to everyone , hope you all find the right medicine.

 

[emer95]

I've tried several different things. I used to take Excedrin daily, and have daily headaches, weekly migraines. When I started seeing a neurologist he put me on a 6-day Medrol dose pack, to break me of the headaches. It worked, and now they're not daily, more like weekly, and only occasional migraines. Imitrex didn't work for me, Relpax made me so sick to my stomach, but Maxalt seems to do the trick. Thank God!! Like a previous poster said, I've lost way too much time in my life to migraines.

 

[themarquis]

this is really timely for me, because I have been escalating issues with migraines, and am almost at my breaking point. I've had them since early adolescence, but the interesting thing is that they're not really that bad. I hear some of your stories of horrible horrible migraines and am thankful mine are not like that. They are not pleasant, but in the past I could usually catch them early enough, and often times, they were not completely incapacitating.

Now I am getting to the point where they come out of the blue, no warning, no aura, stay for days, waxing and waning. This month I had about eight days of constant migraine, on two days bad enough to make me miss two half days at work (and I NEVER miss work) . Last month it was ten days. They don't respond to anything anymore -- I've gone from two ibuprofin (tylenol and aleve have never done anything) which would work if I caught it early enough to four (800 mg.) And I'm not totally sure it is responding to that dose -- maybe a slight placebo effect. That's the prescription dose, and I know it's reasonably safe, but not at all safe when you take that dose three or four times a day for ten days a month.

I know they're related to my period -- always that time of month, and when my cycle gets messed up in some way, they get much worse. Course for the last two months, I have had weird stuff happening in that department.

I really hesitate to take any kind of prescription medication, since it seems dumb to deal w/ side effects for headaches that are bad but not my-head-is-going-to-explode bad. I was told birth control would help, but I'm not on it anyway (female partner) and we want to try to have a baby relatively soon -- so it seems like a terrible idea to put myself into possible subfertility just to cure bad but not-that-bad headaches.

Argh!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

this is really timely for me, because I have been escalating issues with migraines, and am almost at my breaking point. I've had them since early adolescence, but the interesting thing is that they're not really that bad. I hear some of your stories of horrible horrible migraines and am thankful mine are not like that. They are not pleasant, but in the past I could usually catch them early enough, and often times, they were not completely incapacitating.

Now I am getting to the point where they come out of the blue, no warning, no aura, stay for days, waxing and waning. This month I had about eight days of constant migraine, on two days bad enough to make me miss two half days at work (and I NEVER miss work) . Last month it was ten days. They don't respond to anything anymore -- I've gone from two ibuprofin (tylenol and aleve have never done anything) which would work if I caught it early enough to four (800 mg.) And I'm not totally sure it is responding to that dose -- maybe a slight placebo effect. That's the prescription dose, and I know it's reasonably safe, but not at all safe when you take that dose three or four times a day for ten days a month.

I know they're related to my period -- always that time of month, and when my cycle gets messed up in some way, they get much worse. Course for the last two months, I have had weird stuff happening in that department.

I really hesitate to take any kind of prescription medication, since it seems dumb to deal w/ side effects for headaches that are bad but not my-head-is-going-to-explode bad. I was told birth control would help, but I'm not on it anyway (female partner) and we want to try to have a baby relatively soon -- so it seems like a terrible idea to put myself into possible subfertility just to cure bad but not-that-bad headaches.

Argh!

Noooooooo birth control pills can TRIGGER migraines. Be very careful with that!

Honestly you should call a Doctor about how much Ibuprofen you are taking - that could be causing long term effects worse than any side effects from prescription meds.

to you and good luck with the future new addition!

 

[DisneyMim]

Oh I feel so bad for all of you. Tons of hugs and good thoughts to all who suffer from migraines. I had hormonal migraines for almost 20 years. Every month for between 4 and 7 days. Terrible terrible pain where all I could do was lay down in a dark room and wait. Exedrin migraine would sometimes help. I would also alternate between a heating pad and a cold pad. Sounds wierd, but someone once told me that peppermint flavor mints help. Never really helped me. I also heard that squeezing your earlobe could help. I think it just distracted me, but sometimes it would help a little. Actually for all you young women I have to tell you that since I went through menopause my migraines have really improved. Now my poor husband gets them. He went through cancer a few years ago and it seems that since then his migraines are worse. Exedrin migraine helps him somewhat. Our doctor prescribed some pill for him but it never worked.

I just really wanted to offer my hugs and thoughts for all of you. I know what migraines are like and they can just ruin everything.

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

WOW I am sure that doesn't feel to good. I have had a cat scan but I am going Friday for an MRI/MRA, but I sure am tired of having this pain, and the irony of it is I am a neurological nurse, so I know way to much...

I don't know how you can even work through it. I go to work with mine, but I always end up in the ER if I do too much with one of them. Good luck with the MRI. Keep us updated on what they find out.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My neuro has tried to talk me into going on the pill and I've refused. First of all, I've been told that it may trigger them. Also, I never had to go on the pill for pregnancy prevention, so why take it now when I'm past that time of my life and I'm not in a situation that would lead to pregnancy? I've heard that there are risks for migraine sufferers who are on the pill (stroke, I believe). Not worth it for me.

 

[Stacerita]

Lexapro, Vicodin, Xanax, and Excedrin Mirgraine.

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

We're all a bunch of druggies!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

My neuro has tried to talk me into going on the pill and I've refused. First of all, I've been told that it may trigger them. Also, I never had to go on the pill for pregnancy prevention, so why take it now when I'm past that time of my life and I'm not in a situation that would lead to pregnancy? I've heard that there are risks for migraine sufferers who are on the pill (stroke, I believe). Not worth it for me.

I have a genetic clotting disorder and being on the pill is a huge danger for me.

Lexapro, Vicodin, Xanax, and Excedrin Mirgraine.

Xanax? That is an anxiety med. Does it help?

We're all a bunch of druggies!

Yes but you win the prize for the best medicine cabinet! I am jealous of the Dilaudid. LOL