Migraines

I have suffered from migraines for 6 years now.  Usually 1 sided, but can switch from left to right.  Nothing helps, most meds make me very ill.  The day before I get them, I feel exhausted and yawn excessively.  The next morning, I awake with one.  It can last from 48 hours up to an entire week.

I would like to know if anyone else out there suffers from them.  What has worked for you and if you can give me any advice.  I could really use some right now. 

I am finally seeing a neurologist in June, but I wonder if they will know the cause or have a cure. 

So if anyone out there could share their expereince with me, I would greatly appreciate it.

I have had migraines for almost 20 years, so I feel for you!  Try to figure out what triggers them.  For example, I cannot eat chemical sweeteners, they always trigger my migraines.  If you are logging your food here, check your food logs everytime you have a migraine, and see if there are any foods that are always there.

Personally, ibuprophen is the only med that helps me.  I have to take it before the pain starts, and I take 4 of them (which is the same as a prescription stregth motrin).  I had a doc recommend that to me, so you might want to check with your doc.  As I said, I have to take the meds before the pain hits, so it's imperative that I notice the signs that I'm going to get a migraine.

I'm glad that you are going to see a doc.  First, you need to make sure that they are migraines and not from some other cause.  Bad or misaligned teeth can cause severe headaches, as can bad eyesight and a host of other things.  Good luck, and hang in there!  I'm sure the doc will be able to shed some light on this!

Like plaidpooka, I've been getting migraines for over 20 years as well.

For me, sadly, it's because of my hormones and inheritance. My mother used to get them, my sister gets them, my grandfather got them, as did his mother, and so on and so forth. We're just finding out now part of it has to do with a section of our spines, where the head and neck meet. But with the hormones, my migraines are a forewarning of my period.

I find I can't take the same thing over and over again for every migraine, as my body becomes too used to the stuff. So for this one I had a few days ago, I took normal Excedrin ( sadly I had to work with this migraine, but I managed to get my front end manager to keep me away from working the express lane as much as possible ). Before that, I took Ibuprofen ( 3 200 mg tabs was the same strength as the prescription my dentist wanted to give me for the wisdom teeth I had removed ), before that, Bayer Back and Body.

But in all honesty, the only thing that killed the pain totally was Tylenol with codeine, but that would knock me flat on my back for 2 days.

I've also learned to recognize the signs that a migraine is coming on, so I'll take something a day before hand, and keep my movements at work down to a dull roar ( I move a LOT when at register, as part of my work out ^^; ). It doesn't ward the migraine off, BUT it lessens the pain.

When I was little, my migraines would all near send me to the hospital. No light, no sound, no smells ( keep lavender scented ANYTHING away from me when I have a migraine, I WILL make it fly through the window faster than you can blink ). The only thing I could do was just call out from work or school, shut all shades in my room, all lights out, and burrow under my blankets for the day, and try to sleep it off. Better to sleep the pain away then stay awake with it.

What did help, NATURALLY, though, was rubbing a little bit of a lemon grass or diluted peppermint oil on the bulb of my night stand lamp and let the heat from the bulb spread the scent through the room. OR... suck on a stick of peppermint or a peppermint star. Peppermint oil is great for headaches and migraines.

~~Bee

Thank you both so much for responding.

plaidpooka,

I joined in March and surpisingly March was the first month I did not have a migraine, but April and May they came back very hard.  I can't pinpoint any food likeness for either month and April was the first time I had ever had one in the middle of the month.  I generally have them at the end of the month, around the 23rd and on.  I am curious if they know the cause for yours.  I've had my TMJ checked (jaw) and have had head and sinus CTs.  Nothing has come up yet.

Bee,

I am glad that you mentioned about the spine.  Right before I  began getting them, I fell asleep while boiling bottles on the stove.  I awoke to a smoke-filled house and ran right into the door.  I was very beat up on both sides of my face and arms.  They did x-rays and didn't find anything, but did not x-ray my spine.

I can't imagine 20 years of these.  At one time, I could work through them, but recently they have gotten so intense that I have ended up in the ER.  I was also interested that neither of you take Topamx or Maltrax, or Immetrex.  I too rely on OTC drugs. 

Thanks so much again.  I really appreciate your input.

I used to have migraines about once or twice a month.  I never do anymore.  These are the things I changed around that time.  I don't know which of these things helped, but these are the things I did around the time I switched from 'once or twice a month' to 'never'. 

• Got rid of my CRT monitor for a LCD screen.  Probably the hugest improvement here.
• Went vegetarian.  Not sure if this really affected it but I did DO it around the time my migraines stopped.  On this subject, I also started cooking almost all of my food, I rarely eat out anymore and never eat pre-prepared stuff much anymore.  (So few preservatives/additives.)
• Started wearing sunglasses outdoors even when I didn't think I needed them.  I tended to wear them only when working out and I started doing so when driving and walking too.
• Added a long, ambling afternoon walk on top of my normal workout.  (It's my puppy's fault, he demanded this.  He walks slowly, he's a very little dog.)
• Moved my office away from the door to the microbiology lab at work.  (The stench of hot agar, every day, for a year... such a nice move.)

I think migraine triggers are very personal.  Every time you have a migraine, I would look very carefully at what you were doing, what you ate, everything.  A pattern will emerge and you can avoid those things.  Have you considered that the fatigue might not be a symptom of an impending migraine - but instead a cause?  If you sleep poorly and are very tired, that might be a sign that you need a nap to stave off the headache.

I saw a post from another member who swears up and down that artificial sweeteners triggered her migraines.

My mom always gets a migraine, like clockwork, if she eats something very sweet right when she wakes up.  (Like a breakfast pastry... or a cup of orange juice.)

Good luck, and my sincerest sympathies.

I have been having migraines since the age of 11.  Many different triggers for me, but other than hormonal and stress, my biggest trigger is Splenda sweetener.  As for what I take for them, Imitrex injections work wonderfully after you already are experiencing them, but ask your Neurologist about Topamax.  I take 200 mg of Topamax 2x a day and the freqency of my migraine headaches have gone from weekly demons that lasted almost a week in and of themselves to almost nonexistant.  I get the whole nine yards with them, too.  The visual auras, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sound and odor.  The one sided pain that makes you want to rip your head off and throw it up against the wall.

Anyhow, you have my sympathies,
I fully know what you are going through.  ( I had my first one in a year and a half just last week... I'm telling you, ask about Topamax... I know I sound like a drug company commercial, but it's one of the few drugs that I've actually found that I love that much :)

Best wishes and best of luck,
Von

Hey!

I started getting migraines when I was like 9. I was put on every pill a child could be given and when I turned 12 they started giving me adult drugs, (which they probably shouldn't have) nothing worked at all, except advil took away a tiny bit of the sting and tylenol3 sometimes put me to sleep.  My doctor basically tried everything available til I was 15, then finally decided to send me to a specialist. 

He immediately sent me for acupuncture. I did 6 hour-long sessions (I think it ended up costing about 450$  total, but was covered by Medi-care). I used to get migraines extremely often, occasionally passing out from the pain. for the first couple year after I got acupuncture done, I didn't have a single migraine. Now I may get one every couple of months, 5 years after the treatment!

Also, my specialist who sent me to the acupuncturist mentioned that if it didn't work I could try massage therapy. but, it didn't come to that

I always find 2 ibroprufen and 2 paracetamol do the trick, as well as sitting or lying in a dark room with nothing on (i.e. no music, no tv) just let my brain chill.

Although i'm sure an asprin a day would help, as a migraine is caused by pressure in the veins in the brain. So it would thin the blood a little and help prevent them, or them being so severe.

I used to get 2 a week, so i was useless for most of the week for about a year. I found out it was the fan on my hubby's pc that set them off. So now i'm away from it i don't get so many

Beach, no, they don't know what caused mine to start.  But personally I think it all began when I got rear ended by another car and got a serious case of whiplash.  I think something in my neck has never quite been the same since.  I just pay attention to my warning signs, and if I even suspect that one is starting, I take my ibuprophen.  I've tried other OTC meds, but Ibuprophen is the only one that kept working for me.  I never tried any of the perscription meds, because the ibuprophen works, and it's cheap.  If it ever stops working, then I'll have to try something new.

Actually, beach, I found that Imitrex made me SICK. Flat out made the migraine worse, and I ended up throwing up MORE than what I did with just the migraine alone.

For the spine, I would say go see a chiropractor, a GOOD one, whom can also do an x-ray on your spine. I WISH I could afford to go to one again, as the ones I went to growing up were fantastic ( one was also homeopathic to the max ). I don't know what I would have done back then with out them.

~~Bee

I suffered from migraines for over 15years.  I second the recommendation for Topamax. It is truly a miracle drug. It is a 'preventative' for migraines -- not just a drug to respond to an episode like Immitrex, etc.

The neurologist is a great way to go for treatment -- hopefully, the dr. is board certified as well. Migraines are heriditary as well as causal from trauma. I ended up with awful cluster migraines that would last for 20-25 days a month. The ONLY drug that worked for me was Topamax. I say 'was' because after 3 years on the drug, I am happy to say my episodes are virtually non-existent now and I went off of Topamax as well.

A well documented side-effect of the drug is weight-loss by the way.  Foods (especially sweets) will take on a less appealing taste. Also, a 'euphoria' feeling will last about the first couple of weeks while your body adjusts. Topamax is given in small doses which are gradually increased over a period of time.

Don't expect the drug to work immediately on your migraines. You have to take it for at least 3 months for it to work. Stick it out -- it's totally worth it.

Oh, don't drink alcohol while on it -- it increases your response to alcohol. One drink = about 4 on Topamax.

Good luck and hope this was helpful.

What timing!  I got one earlier today.  I still feel it but that lingering feeling, not so much full force feeling.  Mine usually start on the left and work their way to the right.  I haven't seen an neurologist yet.  Although that does seem where I'll be heading pretty soon.

I've gone through several meds with no luck.  Finally, I was given some Maxalt (dissolvable tablets).  If I take them quick enough I can keep it fairly tame or stop it in its tracks depending on how quick I can get to it.  Today, I kept it fairly tame.  I still vomited though.  :(  And was out of commission for about an hour and a half.  It could've been worse; could've been all day as you know.

Thank you to everyone for responding.  It's hard to believe there are so many people who suffer from this horrible pain.  I have read every one of your posts and I appreciate all of the suggestions. I plan on writing them down and trying every one.  I plan on back tracking and looking at everything that I have eaten and done.  (I am thinking about going vegan, or even Marcobiotic).  I have considered going to a chiropractor, and now I am planning on making an appointment.  I'm still a little afraid of the perscription meds.  I am like Bee, they make me very ill and whatever they gave me in the ER last week, did something to the electrical inpulses in my heart. 

I was saddened to read how long most of you have suffered, especially as children.  I did laugh at Von's post about ripping the head off and throwing it up against the wall.  I have considered that and worse!

Thanks to everyone.  I appreciate all of the advice and that you have shared your personal stories.  If anyone else has any other suggestions, please share them.

I get migraines around the time of my period and I never did this until the last year.  I think the pill I'm on may be contributing to that but until I can afford an IUD the pill it is ...

Also I used to get them from aspartame and most recently baking blend splenda has started to trigger them :(  I was having them almost daily for two weeks last month and was thinking what the heck?? no period no normal triggers etc.  and then I looked over my food logs and I had been eating oatmeal for breakfast every single day and I always put splenda brown sugar in it to cut calories.... well apparently that was the culprit because I promptly removed it from my diet and voila no migraines..

hope you figure it out

I, too, have had them for years and years, and tried almost everything. Most of the drugs, especially imitrix, made me really sick, and even triggered asthma attacks. The thing that finally worked for me was Maxalt, TAKEN EARLY ENOUGH. If I take it at the first sign, I don't even have a real headache, but if I wait until there are symptoms, I usually have to take two. I haven't had a real migraine set in for several years since starting to take it.

That said, a friend of mine goes to some sort of pain specialist who gives her some kind of shots behind her ears that work for six months at a time, or longer. So far her last shots have lasted 14 months. I don't know what's in the shots, but they really work for her. I wouldn't do it, because I have a real problem with needles, YUCK! I barely managed acpuncture, but it didn't work for me.

I agree that you need to make sure there's not something medical that's triggering or causing them. I've never figured out what triggers mine, it always seems different, but straining my eyes on anything is the only guarenteed way to get one!

Good luck!

I come from a migraine family, too.  Diet is a famous trigger - cheese, chocolate, MSG and citrus being particular favorites.  Hormones.  Heat exposure.  Dehydration.  Need for spinal readjustment.  Environment = dust, pollen, even laundry detergent. 

Like many have suggested, prevention is important.  I hate meds, as I've said elsewhere so my strongest combo is 2 ibuprofen and 2 Tylenol with caffeine.  Those, with a cup of strong coffee (caffeine is famous for helping with headaches, etc) and a hot water bottle.  I wrap the latter in a wet towel and lay down!  I've tried heating pads, but they don't work as well as the wet heat from a water bottle.    I have noticed that since I've changed my diet, I get them much less.

My 2 cents!  Z

i don't get them, but my best friend has for years, and she get's hemiplegic migraines - very scary.  for her, the onset is so fast that she usually can't keep oral medication down.  she's tried just about everything.  she had success for awhile with botox (success being a migraine every two or three months instead of every couple of weeks or more).

she has given up red wine completely (boy, did she resist that!), avoids the sun, must have coffee daily, but still is triggered by flying, brightness (snow is baaad), etc.  oh - and she won't give up cheese, though she knows it's bad.

I am 15 and have had a migraine for the last 5 years it never seems to go away and causes my eyes extensive pain I was wondering if anybody else is having this problem or has any advice I would really apreciate it

I had horrible migraines once a month for several years. I went to all sorts of doctors and had everything checked out. Finally they put me on imetrix, which worked pretty good.

Then one day I developed a migraine, went to bed, woke up in the middle of the night with no feeling down one side of my body. I got out of bed thinking I must call 911 because something wasn't right, and I collapsed to the floor. I was all alone at the time. I woke up the next morning and feeling had returned except my hands were stiff and remained that way for a few weeks.

Turned out I'd had a mini-stroke. Doctor took me immediately off the pill. I was just shy of my 35th bday, and a smoker. Pill + smoking does not mix, duh. It really ticks me off that it took my doctor 5 years to make that connection!!!

If you are on any sort of hormonal b.c., I recommend that you go off it to rule out the b.c. as the cause of the migraine. The risk of stroke is just too great. It took me a long while to get over the lingering effects. I am glad I didn't die.

jenmcc

Oh my gosh, a stoke!  That has been my biggest fear!  I am so glad you recovered!

On my 46th birthday last November, I stopped taking Yasmine birth control.  I had just been to the ER.  I thought I was going to stroke that day.

payge,

What has the eye doctor said about the pain in your eyes?  I hope they can diagnose you and give you a cure.  I can't imagine having pain like that at such an early age!

Again thanks to everyone.  This information is great!  My only wish and prayer is that they find a cure for all of us!

As for the pill???!!!  Well I haven't been on it since, but I had a dream that I had a baby at 50 !  Yikes!

OK, I have a VERY unique suggestion.  Please bear with me.

They run in my family, my mom can be debilitated by them for days, and i guess my great grandfather commited suicide because of them.

I got them for the longest time, and for me they usually started out as regular headaches and then progressed into vomiting and absolute misery.

But...here it comes:

Change your diet.  Processed foods are probably caught up in your digestive tract, and your liver function can affect your headaches.  No scientist will tell you, and no doctor will tell you, but I would hands down say that stripping processed/treated/chemical foods from my diet (and increasing activity) has stopped the migraines.

I'm sorry if its a silly and frustrating thing to hear, but I will always swear by food being the beginning and end of everything your body does. 

This is also completely off topic, but I also stopped getting strep throat when I switched, which I had been getting regularily for years.  I guess it also boosts your immune function. 

ok, crazy girl will stop talking, but please try it if you can!