Migraines

[*tinker*bell*]

I get really sever migraines, both with and without auras. I was having them everyday caused by stress from my job. My doctor prescribed me many different medications to try taking when I felt one coming on but none of them helped. Eventually he decided to put me on propranolol, and while it did help at first it seems the effects have somehow worn off. I'm still taking one a day however I've just had to stay home from work for a couple of days as I've had a really bad migraine and been staying in bed, I need a cold dark, silent room. I take an Advil liquid gel extra strength and an oxycodone to try to get some relief from it.

 

[torinsmom]

I had daily chronic headaches for almost 20 years. It was nothing for me to take 4-5000 mg of ibuprofen a day with other things thrown in to boot. No doctor I went to ever gave me anything that worked AND didn't sedate me. Last spring I went to a new doctor. They did a thorough history with me and then decided a course of treatment. First off was stopping ALL OTC pain meds along with starting a 10 day course of steroids to counteract withdrawal symptoms. Then I started Cymbalta, which is typically prescribed for depression, and is being used off label for chronic pain. Amazingly, it worked right away! I have maybe 1-2 headaches per week that are treated with either diclofenac, maxalt or relpax. It really is amazing how few headaches I have and how much better my life has become~

 

[IheartMickey]

I had daily chronic headaches for almost 20 years. It was nothing for me to take 4-5000 mg of ibuprofen a day with other things thrown in to boot. No doctor I went to ever gave me anything that worked AND didn't sedate me. Last spring I went to a new doctor. They did a thorough history with me and then decided a course of treatment. First off was stopping ALL OTC pain meds along with starting a 10 day course of steroids to counteract withdrawal symptoms. Then I started Cymbalta, which is typically prescribed for depression, and is being used off label for chronic pain. Amazingly, it worked right away! I have maybe 1-2 headaches per week that are treated with either diclofenac, maxalt or relpax. It really is amazing how few headaches I have and how much better my life has become~

I have chronic daily migraine and new daily persistent headache. My headache specialist was the Director of the Headache Institute at a well known hospital in Long Island. He had actually said if the Effexor started to lose its effectiveness that Cymbalta was a good choice.

I've tried elavil and several other antidepressants that I can't spell right now. Some of them worked enough to reduce my amount of hospital stays but not the frequency of pain. I got some many other reactions though. With the elavil I got the worst sweet tooth, carb cravings ever and gained 10 pounds. When my Effexor was too high it caused problems with my ability to concentrate so they had to put me on drugs for ADHD. Most of them give me insomnia so I need sleeping pills. Another one made me want to end my life. It's been crazy.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I don't know if this will help anyone, but my coworker was suffering from at least one debilitating migraine a week. He started going to a chiropractor regularly for adjustments. He noticed the migraines getting further and further apart until they were finally gone. He hasn't had 1 in a couple years. I know a chiropractor isn't for everyone and I'm not saying its a miracle cure, I'm just offering it up as an option that might help someone.

 

[IheartMickey]

I don't know if this will help anyone, but my coworker was suffering from at least one debilitating migraine a week. He started going to a chiropractor regularly for adjustments. He noticed the migraines getting further and further apart until they were finally gone. He hasn't had 1 in a couple years. I know a chiropractor isn't for everyone and I'm not saying its a miracle cure, I'm just offering it up as an option that might help someone.

Mine started after I saw a chiropractor. Massage therapy has helped in the past though.

 

[TruBlu]

Another thing I use is a frozen compression wrap around my head. The cold really helps mine.

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

 

[TruBlu]

I'm bummed because my DS11 has started having them, too. His description of the auras at the eye doctor freaked me out! He'd never told me he was having them, so I thought he was just having headaches related to his allergies.

He's being seen at a pediatric headache clinic next week.

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

 

[sheron15]

Imitrex or Relpax are great for anyone with migraines. They don't always work on everyone, and they don't always work every time, but they are FAR better than any other method for getting rid of migraines. Don't let the poster above this one scare you. They took far more than they were supposed to be taking, no wonder he/she got rebounds. Your only supposed to take 4 100mg pills maximum per week (or it might be 4 1/2).

I cut my pills in half in case the 50mg works first. Although for me it always takes at least 45minutes before it starts to work. The Imitrex shots, a lot of times will start working within 10 minutes. The shot hurts though, but its much better than the pain from the migraine.

 

[Shanti]

Do you take anything for them? Does it work? I have suffered from them for years. But lately nothing wil. Even touch it. I used to have luck with Excedrine migraine, but lately nothing helps. I am really struggling. I have a lot of patients with all kinds of scripts for their migraines, but not sure if any work. Ill have to start asking people what has actually worked for them. I am curious if anything ever helps. My doctor thinks I should just call out of work , turn off the lights and relax, but that is completely unrealistic considering I Get one at least once a week. I think they might be sinus related.

I've had migraines on and off since adolescence. Over the years, they have varied in severity and accompanying symptoms (nausea, aura, intolerance of light and sound). Who knows what predisposes people to this kind of pain, but different stimuli (such as possibly your sinuses) can certainly trigger any one particular attack. Here are a few other possible triggers you might not have considered:

1. Vision problems/eye-strain (undiagnosed vision problem; not wearing needed glasses/contacts at all times; wearing glasses with outdated, smudgy or scratched lenses; contacts that aren't worn correctly)
2. Hormonal changes/imbalance (if you're a woman)
3. Caffeine withdrawal (if you have irregular caffeine consumption patterns: drinking a lot on some days, but none or little on other days)

Each of these has been a trigger for migraines for me, particularly #1 and #3. In fact, I'm now so careful in managing them that I rarely get migraines anymore.

When I do sense a migraine coming on, I am careful to take medicine the instant I begin to feel a little off, before the full-blown pain hits. That's really important. Yes, that means I carry a liitle medicine around with me at all times, to be prepared. I use ibuprofin, not aspirin or acteminophen. I also drink something that contains caffeine.

Ibuprofin is an anti-inflammatory, which is helpful with migraines. Talk to your doctor about what upper-limit ibuprofin dose he would be comfortable with you taking during a migraine attack. With ibuprofin (unlike with acetominophen and aspirin), you can safely take a much higher dose on occasion than you see approved on the labels for regular use. But definitely talk to your doctor about that first.

 

[mom2rtk]

Imitrex or Relpax are great for anyone with migraines. They don't always work on everyone, and they don't always work every time, but they are FAR better than any other method for getting rid of migraines. Don't let the poster above this one scare you. They took far more than they were supposed to be taking, no wonder he/she got rebounds. Your only supposed to take 4 100mg pills maximum per week (or it might be 4 1/2).

I cut my pills in half in case the 50mg works first. Although for me it always takes at least 45minutes before it starts to work. The Imitrex shots, a lot of times will start working within 10 minutes. The shot hurts though, but its much better than the pain from the migraine.

Welcome to the DIS!

FYI, this thread is from almost 5 years ago, so I'm guessing the OP has found treatment by now.

 

[Grmnshplvr]

I know this thread is old but who doesn't need tips for migraines?

I use to suffer horribly from them. I was on Zarrah birth control pills for 13 years, never linking the two I suffered from migraines about once a month for 2-3 days with no relief.

I got off the Zarrah and am now on Mirena and have been since November....I've only had about 2 headaches in this time. Wish I would have switched bc much sooner.