Constant migraines!

[OneDoneOneBun]

I'm 10 and half weeks pregnant with second baby and have had about 5 migraines in the last few days, it seems constant and I'd really getting me down. I was awake at 3am last night with the worst pain behind my eye ever and couldn't sleep for hours, this morning it's still there but not as bad, I can't look at the light without it making me run to the bathroom heaving though cos my eyes are so sensitive to it. Anyone else had this? I didn't have anything like this is my first pregnancy

[RockerMummy184]

Yes! Had exactly this for 6 whole weeks until someone took me seriously! 3 different doctors told me 'it's just your hormones'. Turns out I had a really bad sinus infection and the swelling was causing migraines.
I was prescribed ABs for the infection, nasal spray to reduce the swelling, and painkillers with added anti-sickness meds.
I'm not saying this to try and give you a diagnosis, I'm just letting you know there are other things than 'hormones' that cause migraines, so demand to be checked, and to let you know that there are pain/sickness relief options.

[happygojo]

Hiya, I suffer from migraines normally and in the first trimester they were GRIM, they put me to bed completely, especially as I couldn't take my usual medication. I KNEW mine were migraines rather than sinus infection but if you don't get them normally then definitely get checked out. The only thing I can say is I found 2 x Paracetomol and a small amount of full fat coke (i bought the 'mixer' size ones) really helped me function. They stopped at about 14 weeks and now I don't even have a migraine when I usually would pre-pregnancy

[Caterina99]

I also suffer from migraines normally and had a lot of them in the first trimester. they went away after about 14 weeks I think and I have barely had any since (now 37 weeks). Doctor didn't seem concerned at the the time either

[OneDoneOneBun]

I spoke to the midwife about a hour ago cos my head still hurts from last nights one, she fobbed me off with the "it's just hormones" crap too but I know it's not, I've had migraines before. When I get them I lose some of my vision and can't read and my words come out all jumbled up, that can't be hormones!

[rebbles]

I had 3 in first trimester and they went away, came back at 17 weeks without flashing lights in eyes and turned out it was a sinus infection the second time! Still got headaches as it clears up

The only thing for the migraine is lots of water and sleep.

[UniversalTruth]

Have you had an eye test? When I first had migraines it turned out I needed glasses, and I needed new glasses in pregnancy, probably due to relaxed ligaments.

[OneDoneOneBun]

I had one just before pregnancy but it not since, I've got a doctors appointment at 11am today, I'm not a going to the doctor type of person, I always put things off but it's hurting so bad, I've had this one since 3am yesterday morning and it's not going away, I've taken migraleve too and they usually work for me

[hullabaloo234]

I suffered with this in the early weeks too. I was admitted to hospital by my GP on NYE as the pain couldn't be managed with codeine and I was very sick etc... Luckily after approx the 18 week mark they stopped. MW not fobbing you off with hormone explanation, hormones can and do cause migraines. however, not offering proper treatment is not on Hope you feel much better soon x

[OneDoneOneBun]

Thanks hullabaloo, I mean she fobbed me off by saying "I doubt you're having migraines, it's probably just headache cos they're common in the early weeks" ...I know what a migraine is, you don't lose some of your vision and not be able to speak properly or read with just a headache,that's what I meant by her fobbing me off. I hope they can give me something today, I'm worried with getting dizzy and carrying my 9 month old around too!

[Craftynonymous1]

Mine weren't as bad as migraines but I connected mine to the prenatal vitamins I was taking and they stopped when I stopped taking them.

[hullabaloo234]

Ahhhh I see sorry,it'll be me reading it wrong! 38 weeks pregnant and not sleeping much . When I had my really bad episode that ended up in hospital, I called the labour ward and they said don't wait to see MW go to GP so that's what I did-gave me painkillers and abti-sickness meds and 3 hrs for them to work. after that I was admitted for morphine and IV anti-sickness to get it under control. Codeine perfectly safe to take in pregnancy I was advised, so when a migraine hit I was advised to have 100mg codeine with 1000mg of paracetamol and that was usually enough to dim it down to a manageable level. Your GP won't leave you suffering, it's not fair for you or the baby. Hope you get some help and feel much better soon x

[OneDoneOneBun]

The doctor gave me dissolvable aspirin and told me to take 3 in one go as soon as I feel a migraine coming on, she said aspirin is ok in early pregnancy but not towards the end, she wants me to ring her in the morning to let her know how I get on and to give her chance to speak to the drugs team to see what they can give me whilst i'm pregnant . She said what I've described to her are the symptoms of an acute migraine. Lady in pharmacy told me that taking 3 at a time will probably make me feel sick and that I need to adjust the water amount to suit me.

[hullabaloo234]

Aspirin?! That's not really going to touch a migraine is it! The drugs team will be far more sensible and prescribe something that will manage the pain better I'm sure. In the meantime get yourself off to bed or feet up on the couch, sleeping is going to be your friend if you can manage it x

[OneDoneOneBun]

Ooohh sleep sounds so good right now! Not much chance of that with a 9 month old rolling around the place though! Bring on bed time!! X

[MissMartin1992]

onedone i feel for you! .. i posted a similar thread last week! i have really bad headaches and migranes one that lasted from sat-thursday! with no respite some one advised they only normally last the first trimester.. I've not had one for a couple of days so fingers crossed they might have gone. . hope you feel better soon x

[hullabaloo234]

Oh dear lol! my DC is 8 so much better st amusing themselves rill on bedtime indeed! Just remembered something else I used before I got my prescription- 4head. Doesn't take migrane away but does improve it and as it's non-medicinal you can use as much as you want. it's like a little roll on deodorant stick and you roll it on your forehead. That and cooling head packs from Boots were a ream relief x

[happygojo]

3 x Aspirin is actually a common dosage for migraine, especially if the doctor does not feel happy prescribing triptans. I know this from dealings with the migraine association and various migraine drugs trials that myself and my mum have taken part in over the years. Basically early pregnancy migraines SUCK, it is likely to be your hormones and they will hopefully settle down after the first trimester. The triptan Sumatriptan is the only one that has had any in pregnancy research done for it, but if you weren't on a triptan before, I doubt them prescribing it now you are pregnant. If you mix this with a bit of caffeine and sugar and hot and cold compresses, it will hopefully help. But unfortunately, like morning sickness....this is just one of the many joys of pregnancy for those of us who suffer with migraines.

The migraine association may have more advice for you so feel free to look them up.

I have had a blissful few months now without a migraine, not had one since 16/17 weeks when I usually have 2 a month pre pregnancy so hopefully the same is true for you.

[happygojo]

*have the aspirin with sugar and caffeine

[OneDoneOneBun]

The doctor has just rang me and said that she's been speaking to a colleague and they think that I should be sent to the day unit at the hospital for an assessment, if I have another migraine before the morning they're going to send me over tomorrow for one, thanks for the help guys I'll let you know what they said x

[hullabaloo234]

Good I'm glad your getting taken seriously! If you have another and become sick with it it really doesn't take long for you to become dehydrated so better to be seen and treated properly.
They couldn't stop mine coming but as I said the paim was managed with codeine whwn I needed it and after a few weeks they died off so fingers crossed you'll be right as rain in no time
Please let me know how you get on xx

[OneDoneOneBun]

I will do, thanks hullabaloo X

[ovumahead]

Make sure you review your usual migraine triggers as these can change during pregnancy. Pre pregnancy my triggers included coffee, chocolate and red wine. Yes, sucks to be me! Since becoming pregnant and experiencing awful and very frequent migraines I realised cheese had also become a trigger. Sad times! As soon as I cut it out, they were gone. The common factor in all of those is tyramine.