What do you take for your Migraines?

[HugsForEeyore]

I am one of the very fortunate rare ones who actually figured out my trigger. I had migraines for 20 years before I realized that mine were caused by a chiropratic issue - if I bent my neck down and to the right (like I was trying to look at my front right shoulder), that's all it took - I could get a migraine from that simple movement. Took me years to know the migraines were caused by this movement of my neck - apparently when I do that, I would "kink" a blood vessel in (I think) the back of my neck, restricting blood flow to my head. The result would be a classic migraine - aura, then the zigzagging blinking lines; then a horrible headache above my right eye; then throwing up; then feeling lousy for 2 days!

When I had migraines, I did get a perscription for Imitrex but it did nothing for me since I would throw up. And my health insurance is minimal and would not cover it (it was like $16 a pill back in 1995!). And like others said, I hate the thought of being on constant and multiple perscription medicines, so I just lived with the headaches or tried Excedin which really didn't do anything anyways.

I am so glad I found the trigger - I try to be very careful with my posture, and while I still do occassionally get a migraine, it's like one every 5 months instead of 1 or 2 a week! Much better.

 

[gulf breeze]

Wow I just read about the last 12 years of my life. I started getting migrains in my early 30's. I think I had a couple when I was younger but I didn't know what they were...I just thought I was gonna die! Mostly hormones but thunderstorm (low presser fronts) can trigger them. Strong smells, being out in the bright sunlight, not eating 3 meals are a few other things that can set one off. For awhile I'd get them twice in a month and they would last for about a week. My Dr. told me when I was pregnant that I shouldn't get them. Wrong!! I've tried several drugs that have been mentioned with no luck till I took Maxalt. It works to get rid of the pain but the side effects are sometimes just as bad. The last time I had a Rx filled the Dr. about had a fit when I told him I'd taken about 9 in the past week. I've been taken these for 4 years and thats the first time he told me I shouldn't be taking more than 6 in one month. Can cause stroke if you take to much. I've tried a few drugs that are supposed to prevent migrains and no thank you!!! Talk about making me feel like a total basket case! I take Excedrian on a daily bases, I also have a ringing in my left ear from this. Too much asprin. Anyone else notice their hair falling out more after taking a dose of Maxalt?? I go through spells of losing a lot of hair and I thing I've finally made the conection. I'll be going to the Dr. this fall to redo my Rx. Whats new in the last 4 years? to all that suffer from these.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Wow I just read about the last 12 years of my life. I started getting migrains in my early 30's. I think I had a couple when I was younger but I didn't know what they were...I just thought I was gonna die! Mostly hormones but thunderstorm (low presser fronts) can trigger them. Strong smells, being out in the bright sunlight, not eating 3 meals are a few other things that can set one off. For awhile I'd get them twice in a month and they would last for about a week. My Dr. told me when I was pregnant that I shouldn't get them. Wrong!! I've tried several drugs that have been mentioned with no luck till I took Maxalt. It works to get rid of the pain but the side effects are sometimes just as bad. The last time I had a Rx filled the Dr. about had a fit when I told him I'd taken about 9 in the past week. I've been taken these for 4 years and thats the first time he told me I shouldn't be taking more than 6 in one month. Can cause stroke if you take to much. I've tried a few drugs that are supposed to prevent migrains and no thank you!!! Talk about making me feel like a total basket case! I take Excedrian on a daily bases, I also have a ringing in my left ear from this. Too much asprin. Anyone else notice their hair falling out more after taking a dose of Maxalt?? I go through spells of losing a lot of hair and I thing I've finally made the conection. I'll be going to the Dr. this fall to redo my Rx. Whats new in the last 4 years? to all that suffer from these.

I have a permanent ringing in my ears too but am not on Maxalt. Have you been tested for Hypothyroidism? Hair loss is one of the symptoms for that.

I did have fewer migraines when I was pregnant once my hormone levels stabilized but in the first trimester they were pretty frequent.

 

[phragmipedium]

I get opthalmic migraines a few times a year, a very weird and disorienting aura as if I've stared at a light too long. It lasts about a half an hour. Sometimes I get a migraine headache afterward; the migraines themselves are not very painful but I do feel very unwell and out-of-sorts for a few days. I take Excedrin Migraine when I get the aura and perhaps that helps with the pain.

The last opthalmic migraine and resulting migraine I had was the worst yet - my face and lips went numb, and so did my left arm from the elbow down for about an hour. I had no idea this could happen and it made me panicky as well - I thought I was having a heart attack! I went to the doctor to discuss the migraines and he gave me Maxalt to try if it happens again.

I have no idea what my triggers are, especially since I get them relatively infrequently (and I'm always on birth control, drinking artificial sweeteners, have hayfever about five months of the year, etc so I would assume I'd get them more frequently if those types of things triggered me).

 

[tonilea]

Wow I just read about the last 12 years of my life. I started getting migrains in my early 30's. I think I had a couple when I was younger but I didn't know what they were...I just thought I was gonna die! Mostly hormones but thunderstorm (low presser fronts) can trigger them. Strong smells, being out in the bright sunlight, not eating 3 meals are a few other things that can set one off. For awhile I'd get them twice in a month and they would last for about a week. My Dr. told me when I was pregnant that I shouldn't get them. Wrong!! I've tried several drugs that have been mentioned with no luck till I took Maxalt. It works to get rid of the pain but the side effects are sometimes just as bad. The last time I had a Rx filled the Dr. about had a fit when I told him I'd taken about 9 in the past week. I've been taken these for 4 years and thats the first time he told me I shouldn't be taking more than 6 in one month. Can cause stroke if you take to much. I've tried a few drugs that are supposed to prevent migrains and no thank you!!! Talk about making me feel like a total basket case! I take Excedrian on a daily bases, I also have a ringing in my left ear from this. Too much asprin. Anyone else notice their hair falling out more after taking a dose of Maxalt?? I go through spells of losing a lot of hair and I thing I've finally made the conection. I'll be going to the Dr. this fall to redo my Rx. Whats new in the last 4 years? to all that suffer from these.

Did you see what I posted about Mom going to a Chiropractor in Harrison?

 

[Barb D]

I've been having severe constant migraines for almost a year. I'm currently on disability from work because of them. I've tried every med known to man (Imitrex injections, Percocet, and Phenargan are my friends, but even they don't always help.) I've also tried chiropractic, acupuncture, and with my neurologist's blessing, Chinese herbs. I've had nerve blocks, epidural injections, and a radiofrequency rhizotomy (kind of like burning the nerve.)

In June a had a trial ONSTIM (Occiptial Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Migraines.) This basically uses electrical impulses to block the pain signals from the occipital nerve at the back of the head to the brain. It feels like constant carbonation all over the back of the scalp -- but no more migraines! I only had the trial for 6 days because it involved wires coming out of the back of my head. Next week (7/22/08) I get an implanted ONSTIM, with everything internal.

Here's a link for more information: http://wwwp.medtronic.com/Newsroom/NewsReleaseDetails.do?itemId=1214482108297&lang=en_US

Also, if anyone is on facebook, search for ONSTIM and you'll come up with my facebook group which has pics and more details.

I'll be getting my life back soon...back to work and everything!

DH has migraines a lot. His are based at the top of his neck, bottom of his head.

This is basically where my migraines come from. Get him to ask his doctor about occipital neuralgia, which is what triggers mine.

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.

Ayup! I know we've talked before.

 

[kacaju]

maxalt

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

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.

Did you only have to take the Medrol that one time? I'm curious because I've been on the Medrol Dosepak for other illnesses at times, but the steroids did nothing for my migraines. Also, have you had any issues with weight gain? I ask this because me + steroids = weight gain. I'd definitely be interested to hear more on how this works and if you have any side effects due to the steroids.

 

[themarquis]

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!

I did not know that birth control could trigger them!

I think the logic behind going on it was that if I am having menstral migraines, they are being triggered by a drop in estrogen (drop? or rise? something like that!) just prior to starting my period. An estrogen birth control would regulate my estrogen level so that I have a steady amount in my body. Hence no migraines (??)

BUT ... you are right that a lot of things trigger them, and I'm not surprised that a rise in estrogen might do the same thing. Doh!

I know I've already been going through this thing with missing periods, spotting, extra-long periods, etc. My dr. goes back and forth about PCOS as a possibility. I don't mind that my cycle has been messed up (although it makes baby plans more complicated, obviously)-- I just can't deal with the headaches any more!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I did not know that birth control could trigger them!

I think the logic behind going on it was that if I am having menstral migraines, they are being triggered by a drop in estrogen (drop? or rise? something like that!) just prior to starting my period. An estrogen birth control would regulate my estrogen level so that I have a steady amount in my body. Hence no migraines (??)

BUT ... you are right that a lot of things trigger them, and I'm not surprised that a rise in estrogen might do the same thing. Doh!

I know I've already been going through this thing with missing periods, spotting, extra-long periods, etc. My dr. goes back and forth about PCOS as a possibility. I don't mind that my cycle has been messed up (although it makes baby plans more complicated, obviously)-- I just can't deal with the headaches any more!

Seriously, have your Dr check for hypothyroidism. Those heavy cycles can be caused by that as well.

My hormonal migraines are caused by any fluctuations (rise or fall) of hormones in my system and when my Dr tried me on the pill I had HORRID migraines more frequently than before. He even tried me on the Depo shot and that made them worse as well. I can't take any form of hormonal birth control now because I was diagnosed a few years ago with a clotting disorder.

 

[jesseiann]

I used to get horrible hormonal migraines when I was on the pill. I got them every month for several years. I would get really sick, throwing up and everything. One day I was doing some research on it and came across a website about taking magnesium for migraines. I thought they were crazy, but was willing to try anything at that point. They had a forum that told how to take it and what kind. The important thing is to get magnesium that is as an organic form, not the inorganic. When you look at the bottle, it will have magnesium -ate. For example magnesium chalate. Do not get the oxides, they wont' work as well. Start off with one pill a day and go up if you need it. I only had to take one a day, and never had to go up, but if you take to much it will cause either constipation or diarrhea, I can't remember which one. If that happens, just back off a little. I was absolutely shocked when it worked. I went from having horrible migraines where I couldn't function every single month to having a bad headache that easily responded to advil every few months at the same time. I mentioned the magnesium to my doctor and she said it did work for a lot of people. Especially for the hormonal migraines.

I stopped taking the magnesium when I got off the pill. I do have occasional migraines, but they don't get as bad and they aren't so bad that I can't function. Usually, I can get rid of them with Excedrin Migraine, some extra caffeine and nap. On the rare occasion that the are bad enough that I get nauseous, I have found that soaking in a bath for as long as I can stand it seems to get rid of the headache enough that I can keep the medicine down. Unfortunately, the headache comes back as soon as I get out of the bathtub, so I still have to take a nap.

Anyway, I hope you get relief from your headaches. I know they are terrible.

 

[MainStMandy]

I used to get horrible hormonal migraines when I was on the pill. I got them every month for several years. I would get really sick, throwing up and everything. One day I was doing some research on it and came across a website about taking magnesium for migraines. I thought they were crazy, but was willing to try anything at that point. They had a forum that told how to take it and what kind. The important thing is to get magnesium that is as an organic form, not the inorganic. When you look at the bottle, it will have magnesium -ate. For example magnesium chalate. Do not get the oxides, they wont' work as well. Start off with one pill a day and go up if you need it. I only had to take one a day, and never had to go up, but if you take to much it will cause either constipation or diarrhea, I can't remember which one. If that happens, just back off a little. I was absolutely shocked when it worked. I went from having horrible migraines where I couldn't function every single month to having a bad headache that easily responded to advil every few months at the same time. I mentioned the magnesium to my doctor and she said it did work for a lot of people. Especially for the hormonal migraines.

I stopped taking the magnesium when I got off the pill. I do have occasional migraines, but they don't get as bad and they aren't so bad that I can't function. Usually, I can get rid of them with Excedrin Migraine, some extra caffeine and nap. On the rare occasion that the are bad enough that I get nauseous, I have found that soaking in a bath for as long as I can stand it seems to get rid of the headache enough that I can keep the medicine down. Unfortunately, the headache comes back as soon as I get out of the bathtub, so I still have to take a nap.

Anyway, I hope you get relief from your headaches. I know they are terrible.

I have heard magnesium works...and funny, my migraines go away when I take a shower, but come back as soon as I get out, lol.

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

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



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



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

Dilaudid pills are good, but intravenous Dilaudid is the bomb! Unfortunately, too much of it makes me throw up.

I am one of the very fortunate rare ones who actually figured out my trigger. I had migraines for 20 years before I realized that mine were caused by a chiropratic issue - if I bent my neck down and to the right (like I was trying to look at my front right shoulder), that's all it took - I could get a migraine from that simple movement. Took me years to know the migraines were caused by this movement of my neck - apparently when I do that, I would "kink" a blood vessel in (I think) the back of my neck, restricting blood flow to my head. The result would be a classic migraine - aura, then the zigzagging blinking lines; then a horrible headache above my right eye; then throwing up; then feeling lousy for 2 days!

When I had migraines, I did get a perscription for Imitrex but it did nothing for me since I would throw up. And my health insurance is minimal and would not cover it (it was like $16 a pill back in 1995!). And like others said, I hate the thought of being on constant and multiple perscription medicines, so I just lived with the headaches or tried Excedin which really didn't do anything anyways.

I am so glad I found the trigger - I try to be very careful with my posture, and while I still do occassionally get a migraine, it's like one every 5 months instead of 1 or 2 a week! Much better.

That's unusual. I've never heard of a particular movement causing a migraine. That's good to know.

Imitrex is $30 some a pill now. At least, the last time I got it filled, that's what it was. Why in the world is some of this stuff so expensive?

I did not know that birth control could trigger them!

I think the logic behind going on it was that if I am having menstral migraines, they are being triggered by a drop in estrogen (drop? or rise? something like that!) just prior to starting my period. An estrogen birth control would regulate my estrogen level so that I have a steady amount in my body. Hence no migraines (??)

BUT ... you are right that a lot of things trigger them, and I'm not surprised that a rise in estrogen might do the same thing. Doh!

I know I've already been going through this thing with missing periods, spotting, extra-long periods, etc. My dr. goes back and forth about PCOS as a possibility. I don't mind that my cycle has been messed up (although it makes baby plans more complicated, obviously)-- I just can't deal with the headaches any more!

I know that can cause the migraines, too. I wonder if you did get pregnant, if they would go away. I certainly hope they wouldn't get worse. Your cycle is really messed up. You would think that by now they would have figured out what to do about it.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone else out there have a migraine free week in their cycle? I always knew that when I was exposed to a trigger sometimes I'd get a migraine but other times I wouldn't. But, in the past year I actually noticed that the 3rd week in my cycle makes me virtually migraine immune as in I need to be guilty of the most excessive trigger abuses to get one. So now I know it isn't the triggers that aren't bothering me, I just have some kind of hormonal protection at work. My Grandmother and MIL both said all their migraines disappeared once they hit menopause so I can't help but wonder if their might be a similar effect on hormones that occurs during a particular phase of the cycle.

I just happen to be enjoying the super-hero like freedom right now and was wondering if anyone else has noticed the same thing.

 

[livie1205]

I take midrin but when I have bad ones I take a combo of norco/ soma the soma works great....

 

[themarquis]

I know that can cause the migraines, too. I wonder if you did get pregnant, if they would go away. I certainly hope they wouldn't get worse. Your cycle is really messed up. You would think that by now they would have figured out what to do about it.

Yeah, that is what I have heard (they often go away with pregnancy). My mom has the exact same kind of headache (estrogen triggered). They went away with pregnancy and after menopause.

I know my cycle is totally messed up. Actually I have gone for 4-6 month periods without it. The weird thing is that I have talked to my doctors a lot, and none of them seem to think it is a big deal. For a while, they were on the, "well, stress can mess them up" kick. Then, I was misdiagnosed with cysts on my ovaries as an incidental finding when being evaluated for possible appendicitis. So afterwords, of course, my dr. kept saying, well, you definitely have PCOS because we found these cysts when we did an ultrasound. Finally, I saw an actual gynecologist, and he didn't seem to think the messed up cycle thing mattered, either . He did figure out that the ovarian cysts they "saw" on the ultrasound were not actually there (the dr. at the hospital had misread the lab report!!)

There is one final blood test I need to get to clear up the PCOS question (I keep putting it off). But the gynecologist really seemed to think that because I had gained some weight recently, that had done something to mess up my cycle (extra weight causes some hormonal changes to the body) and that a small weight loss would trigger them to become more normal. Actually, I have been working on it, and they have come back (for now!)

I think the big thing for me is really the migraines. I can't go around having ten day migraines every month because the level of estrogen in my body is off. Argh!

 

[jenm2878]

A shot of Jack.

Seriously though, nothing works for me other then throwing up and laying in the dark until it goes away. Luckily I only get around one a year now. My DH was home the last time I had one and I'm pretty sure I scared the poor guy to death. I think it just freaked him out that I was in that much pain and there was nothing he could do.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Yeah, that is what I have heard (they often go away with pregnancy). My mom has the exact same kind of headache (estrogen triggered). They went away with pregnancy and after menopause.

Mine never went away during pregnancy, in fact I had some of my most wicked ones when I was pregnant. Maybe because of a hormone spike? Now that I'm in my 40's, I don't get migraines nearly as often as I used to. Probably because I'm heading toward menopause and the hormone levels are dropping.

 

[piratesmate]

I used to suffer from severe migraines, starting before I was a teen. I’d have them for a day or 2 at a time & pretty much 15 – 20 days/month. This was back in the days when there was nothing to do but sleep it off. I never knew what my triggers were – except for the times my mother broiled chicken breasts with the skin on. I got a migraine every time – guaranteed! I didn’t nearly as many after I went to college, but still got them. They finally stopped after I had the kids & went to a chiro for a couple years for back problems – except for one that lasted 6 weeks because of a drug I was on for knee problems.

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. …….

For you & BarbD, too! I really feel for you!

DD started getting migraines when she was 6, but usually only 2 or 3 times a year. She’d vomit & sleep it off. Then when she was a couple months shy of her 15th birthday she got one that just won’t go away. This was in Feb 2006! She did have a 6 week pain-free period in July-Aug 2006, but other than that she’s had this thing 24/7 ever since. We’ve been through nearly every drug & treatment listed in this thread & a few more. Nothing has worked. Last fall the doctors at Children’s Hospital told us there was nothing more they could do for her & sent us to Jefferson Hospital’s Headache Center. (They won’t take you until you’re at least 16.) Her diagnosis is something like Persistent Daily Headache, which doesn’t sound nearly as bad as she feels she says. It’s very much like a Transformed Migraine, except that those are usually when the migraines come more & more frequently until they just don’t go away.

After the changes they’ve made, her pain level is no longer 8 to 10 out of 10, but runs more like a 3 or 4 out of 10 most days – with an occasional flare up.

Her current treatment includes Zonegran, Vitamin B2 & Petadolex daily with Midrin & Compazine as rescue meds. She also sees a chiropractor & continues with Yoga, which the doctors at CHOP recommended. The biggest difference has come since she started with the Vitamin B2 & Petadolex.

Her triggers for the flare ups are too little sleep, bright light, loud noises, high pitched noises, many odors – not necessarily strong ones, stress, a drop in barometric pressure – before storms…none of the usual foods seem to be problematic.

……Now this is going to sound strange but I notice when my migraines are going away I start belching. Does anyone else do this?

I read the entire thread & didn’t see anyone else respond to this. It’s not related to the migraine going away, but DD has had a terrible time with belching for quite some time now. At one point she was on a muscle relaxer – that’s when it started & her old doctors said it was from the drug. However, when they took her off of the drug, the belching didn’t even slightly diminish. I wonder why this is? The new doctors don’t seem to have any idea.

 

[MickeyMouth]

Fioricet with codiene!