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Migraines?

lmccandless

lmccandless

The Force is strong with this one.
Joined
Mar 9, 2009
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I was down yesterday with the worst migraine I've had in the last 5 years. UGH. Usually with meds, I can recover in about 6 hours but this was a solid 24 hours of ick. I have a prescription for Imitrex but it only works for me if I take *really* quickly after the migraine starts. My best recovery tools are usually a chiropractic adjustment and some acupuncture and REST (admittedly not the easiest for me). Anyone else get migraines? Is there anything you've found that really works for you?
 
Oh no! Hope you're feeling better now! My sister suffers from them and nothing literally helps. She just likes staying in a dark room as the light irritates her when she is going through one. Hope u find a solution that works for u! Sending you lots of hugs
 
My mother, me, aunt, grandmother and now Maddie (13) all suffer with migraines. (In the case of my mother, aunt and grandmother they all stopped once they went through menopause so you can bet I am looking forward to that!)

I got into a rebound cycle several years back which was hellish (migraine every day for weeks) and had to go cold turkey off imitrex. I was very careful about taking them for a long time afterwards but now I have worked out that the rebounds only happen if you take the pain meds once the headache starts so now I pay very close attention to the warning signs before the actual hammer hits your head so to speak.

The other thing which has helped a lot is taking up hot yoga. It took several months to really see the benefits but they are definite.
 
I was the same with having to take a medication super quickly. Otherwise it wouldn't work, or I'd vomit it up.

It is really bizarre and probably won't work for most people, but eating a couple of spoons of parmesan cheese and drinking Mt. Dew sometimes helps me. It is a weird craving thing that doctors assure me isn't possible because both can *cause* migraines, but it works for me. :)

My neurologist put me on amitriptyline and that has been holding them at bay for the last year and a half. I have gained a lot of weight on it, and at a higher dose, it made me really lethargic and feel kind of depressed, so that is a definite downside. :/
 
Oh... and I went to a high-end headache clinic for awhile. They taught me biofeedback to slow my breathing/heart rate and increase my body temp. That worked for a little while.
 
I have them every month - mine didn't start until after I had been pregnant the first time and are hormone triggered. If I don't catch it before the 'point of no return', there isn't much that will touch it. Meds help some, regular chiropractic helps more, and my DH's recipe is a goody powder and a mtn dew for his - he has had them all his life, so our kids are probably in for them too :( The worst "one" i had was two years ago, and lasted 6 days with a neurologist visit at the end of it. Thankful every day that they aren't always that bad, but I am horrible about not taking the time to pay attention to what my body is saying until it is already full-blown.

I am SO sorry yesterday was so bad for you, and I am pretty sure today isn't much better if you have the same brain-charlie-horse feeling all day after having a migraine as I do. ((hugs!))
 
I haven't had a full blown migraine for some time. If I catch it early I take a few magnesium tablets and have found they usually stop it.
 
Getting pregnant took my migraines away. Headaches started coming back a little when I weaned my son after 2 years of nursing. But then they leveled out again, and I consider myself to be migraine free. I do still get headaches around my period, but they are nothing like they used to be. I blame birth control pills for my migraines, although my doctors always told me that was impossible.

When I was having the migraines I never really found a pill or anything that worked reliably. Imitrex worked sometimes. But I was having headaches about 50% of the time, so I think my doctor put me on a daily drug called Inderal. It was more of a hypertension drug, but he said doctors prescribe it off-label for migraines. I did help decrease my headaches for the few month I took it, but then I got pregnant and went off them.

I'm so sorry for all of your headaches!! Headaches are horrible, and there were times I had headaches I called "scary headaches" when I wondered if I should go to the ER or something.
 
I get them. I feel for you. I'm sorry it was a bad one, but glad you are on the mend.

I have mixed migraines. Tension, and Menstrual. Depends on when I get it, honestly. I start with ice packs and head massages, dim lights, and sleep. To fall asleep, I usually have to regulate my breathing. I also drink about 10 glasses of water a day, since I've started this practice, I have less headaches. I also watch my caffeine intake.

If it is really bad, I take Maxalt... and if the first dose doesn't help, I take a second dose 2 hours later (per my doctor). It's strong stuff and is pretty effective when I break down to take them. If I wake with a migraine, I always feel as if I'm overheated, so I drink water, take a hot shower, and have a soda for caffeine after, it has in the past, gotten rid of them before medicine.

I have not tried, and would like to try - lavender oil, basil oil, and peppermint oil. Maybe in a roll on or something. I have not ventured in this, but have looked into the basics.
 
Ugh, I'm so sorry! My mom gets migraines, I've been blessed to not have inherited that gene. Sometimes my husband gets them. When he does, I pull the blackout curtain, and lock him in the bedroom. I take the boy and dog and run away! The least little noise or light really bothers him.
For my mom and him, a massage helps. Not the more smelly oils, but some eucalyptus and neutrogena sesame oil mixed together. His mom is a massage therapist certified in cranial therapy.

I'm sorry you get them! Yuck. I hope you don't get headache hangover like I do. That's the pits!!
 
I get them very regularly. Magnesium did help some for a while, but mostly I have to get muscle relaxers if I really want them to go away...which I don't have at the moment. They are really debilitating for me. I get the auras, the throwing up and then the migraine hangover afterwards. Like...super duper worn out and foggy. THIS ARTICLE is pretty much me about once a month...or once every other month. It takes a lot out of me and usually I have to be completely alone and silent in a dark room with a cold cloth over my face. :/ I would like to find some more natural ways of dealing with them, but I haven't yet. :(
 
Migraines are just the worst! I personally have had them since I was 18. I distinctly remember my 1st b/c I was a freshman in college and went to the ER b/c I thought I was dying, LOL. I didn't die. Sadly. But I've suffered from them ever since.

Mine seem to be triggered by hormones over the last few years and I actually welcome this. It means the bad ones are only for the few days around my period. Birth control made them WAY worse so I'm thankful that I don't need that anymore. They are also triggered by lack of sleep. But hello? Sigh.

Dehydration is a trigger as well, so I agree with Jenn re: the water. Doesn't prevent mine, but it may help a bit.

I've been on several prophylactic meds through the years and the only one that really helped was Nortriptyline. The side effects were pretty bad, though, so I only took it for about 6 months (in Med School... which were the worst years for my HA ever... stress much?)

The only medication I've found that helps is Maxalt, and it is a lifesaver! Tragically, my insurance has just stopped covering it and it is $300 for 8 pills. EEP. I REALLY have to be bad to take one now. Which stinks!

Funny story: I tried Imitrex when I was younger, when it was the only option other than narcotics (which I also took for a while b/f worrying I'd get addicted)... when it was injectable... remember that? Anyway, my body didn't respond well to it. It had been like 20 years so I tried it again just last month (b/c it was cheap). I took that thing and within an hour, I literally could not get up off the couch. I slept in the middle of my house. In the middle of the day. On a Saturday when everyone (including my teenagers' friend) was around. For 8 hours. Like I was drugged (which I was, LOL). And still woke up with the stupid migraine! I have since thrown the Imitrex away and will save my $$ for more Maxalt.

I have a headache every day of my life. But it's all a matter of degrees. Many days, I don't really even notice unless I think about it. I try to avoid meds when possible, but have to take something (excedrin usually b/c of the caffiene) about 1/2 of the days.

I've tried everything from changing my diet to trying essential oils. I'm not a huge fan of most alternative therapies b/c I'm a cynical scientist, hehe, but I dabbled. Nothing really makes too much of a difference for me.

Again, migraines (and headaches in general) are the worst! Sorry for all who suffer from them.
 
Oh @lmccandless , I feel for you. I've gotten migraines since I was a teenager. I hate Imitrex, it makes my jaw hurt & doesn't always work. I loved Midrin, but the company stopped making it. Now I take 2 preventative rxs. Grape drinks or Arizona fruit punch helps, I know it sounds crazy. A study came out recently & my husband was amazed because I'd been saying it for the past 20 years. My husband has hidden a small amount of Midrin. If it's unbearable, I take one. It makes me sad though that I'll eventually run out.
 
I'm so sorry. They are plain ick. I get them, but not as frequently now as before. Seems that gluten/lactose (among other foods) is my trigger, along with dehydration or needing a chiropractic adjustment on my neck/head (she does DNFT chiropractic - it's wonderful!). I've been nearly migraine free for over two years since being put on an extensive list of food restrictions for digestive reasons, but the migraines, dizziness and nausea all but disappeared when I did. I get about one a month or so, rather than weekly, and I can get rid of them with acetaminophen, lots of water and rest.
 
I feel for everyone here who suffers from migraines! I don't have them, but my husband does and I've witnessed firsthand how debilitating they are.

He takes Imitrex, and as long as he catches it right when it starts it'll take care of it. He says that his head is clearer and he thinks so much better after taking Imitrex, and he also sleeps a lot better than usual the night after he takes it. If he waits too long and Imitrex doesn't help much, his sister (who also has them) recommended that he also take ibuprofen along with it. That combination seems to have really helped, and he'll sometimes "chase" all of that with a heavy dose of something caffeinated, as well.

He is also epileptic, and the docs are pretty sure that his brain chemistry is just wacky to begin with- hence the migraines. He has one of those brains that never, ever shuts off, even when he's sleeping.

@jenevang - you mentioned yours being worse in med school- he is there now, and the day after an exam I basically hand him an Imitrex as soon as he wakes up. Especially if it covered anything to do with anatomy. :giggle Did yours get any better once you were out of school and in residency or practice? I am hoping that there's at least some relief in sight for him!
 
I suffer from migraines also. Mine are generally hormone related. I usually have to just rest. I really don't like to take medication for them. I also make my husband massage my head. He just loves that. LOL! I do use essential oils though. I use a blend by doTERRA called Past Tense. It's made up of wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, marjoram, Roman chamomile, basil, rosemary, and frankincense and it comes in a roller bottle. I apply to my temples, forehead and the back of my neck. If I am on top of the migraine it helps pretty quickly.
 
I have never been formally diagnosed, so these may not be true migraines. But lack of sleep triggers a brutal headache over my right eye that won't go away without a combination of a lot of Advil, and a whole lot of sleep. It usually takes me a couple of days to get rid of them. I am marginally functional while I have them, meaning I will go to work and do what's needed around the house, but I want to gouge my eyes out and kill everyone while I do it. One of these days I need to see a doctor for these. I'm at a point where nothing short of 6-7 Advil at a time will touch them.
 
scrappyjedi said:
@jenevang - you mentioned yours being worse in med school- he is there now, and the day after an exam I basically hand him an Imitrex as soon as he wakes up. Especially if it covered anything to do with anatomy. :giggle Did yours get any better once you were out of school and in residency or practice? I am hoping that there's at least some relief in sight for him!
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ummm. OK, let's go with that. Residency is tough b/c of lack of sleep, then I started having babies once I got out of residency... more lack of sleep and hormone nonsense, LOL. That said, Med School was definitely moderately worse.

carrie1977 said:
I suffer from migraines also. Mine are generally hormone related. I usually have to just rest. I really don't like to take medication for them. I also make my husband massage my head. He just loves that. LOL! I do use essential oils though. I use a blend by doTERRA called Past Tense. It's made up of wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, marjoram, Roman chamomile, basil, rosemary, and frankincense and it comes in a roller bottle. I apply to my temples, forehead and the back of my neck. If I am on top of the migraine it helps pretty quickly.
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My problem with essential oils is the smell makes me nauseated when I have a HA. Sort of defeats the purpose, hehe. However, the husband massage is a beautiful thing!

mrs2a50 said:
I have never been formally diagnosed, so these may not be true migraines. But lack of sleep triggers a brutal headache over my right eye that won't go away without a combination of a lot of Advil, and a whole lot of sleep. It usually takes me a couple of days to get rid of them. I am marginally functional while I have them, meaning I will go to work and do what's needed around the house, but I want to gouge my eyes out and kill everyone while I do it. One of these days I need to see a doctor for these. I'm at a point where nothing short of 6-7 Advil at a time will touch them.
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Migraine. Yes. LOL. I hear you re: the functionality and eye gouging desires :giggle . Oh, and no more than 4 Ibuprofen at at time, lady! 800mg is the max dose every 6 hours. Not worth losing a kidney over. Please and thank you, friend. (if you are needing more, talk to your doc... for realz)
 
Migraines are the worst. :( I suffer from them rarely now (1-2 a year ever since I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago.) Prior to that I had 1-2 a month. The only thing that works for me is Treximet (which is just imitrex plus aleve, sometimes my doc prescribes them separately). It truly was/is a miracle drug for me since nothing else ever worked for me. Once Tabatha had to take me to the ER for one; this was before I was presribed the Treximet. But @jenevang I had a similar experience with treximet. I was allowed 9 per month on my insurance (way more than I needed, thankfully), and I was to take 1-2 each time. It wouldn't go away once, so I took a second one. Oh. My. Gosh. I felt like a bobblehead, like my head was floating above my neck on a balloon. It was so trippy. I have never taken 2 ever again, even if the migraine was slow to go away. :P
 
jenevang said:
My problem with essential oils is the smell makes me nauseated when I have a HA. Sort of defeats the purpose, hehe. However, the husband massage is a beautiful thing!
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Yeah...I can see how that could happen. The blend that I use has a minty smell so it doesn't bother me.
 
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