Migraine help

[Chubbalubs]

NC

So I've had constant migraines and headaches since the 16th, I've seen the doctor, been given sumatriptan. They aren't working, I'm waiting for a call back from the dr this afternoon. I've tried paracetamol, ibuprofen, migraleave. Nothing works. I've spent the last week wearing sunglasses, and taking holiday from work. I work in a call centre so I can't bare it at the moment with the lights and computers and the noise. Have an eye test booked for Monday. Also have fibromyalgia, but has anyone got any suggestions while I wait for a call back? I can't take this anymore. I'm sick of the pain, and the sweats and the nausea.

Thanks 😩

[SassandBelle]

I take sumatriptan but only when absolutely essential, it gives me sweats and nausea, and it's often a juggle between which is worse, the head pain or the sickness. Could the tablets be causing this with you?

How many mg have you taken?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Ice packs can help. I find the back of my neck gets very sore. However, unless you have a history of migraine I would be pushing for more investigations given how long it has lasted.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Have you been taking painkillers everyday?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

www.migrainetrust.org/about-migraine/types-of-migraine/other-headache-disorders/medication-overuse-headache/

[Mistymonday]

A few things that help me:

1. Heard from a Dr on R4 - take 1 paracetamol, 1 ibuprofen with some caffeine (tea/coffee/come). Works well for me.
   

1. I find a lot of pain relief from a very tight grip/massage of the two Bits (nerves/muscles ?) on either side of the back of my neck, where it meets the skull (not sure what it is, the bit like an upside down y), with your fingers deep around either side of each, digging into the ‘v‘ of the ‘y’ iyswim. Lifts the pressure instantly.
   

1. Cold showers, Cold flannels etc - I crave cold on my head in a migraine episode.
   

1. Sometimes eating a ton of salt can make them go for me (electrolytes?)
   

Hope you feel better soon

[derekmorgan]

You poor thing. I get migraines too, and as I'm breastfeeding there's little I can take drug wise.

The things that help me somewhat are a cool pack on my forehead and an eye mask, and then trying to either sleep it off or just stay as still and quiet as possible. As its been going on so long you're definitely doing the right thing by speaking to a Dr. I hope they manage to find you something that helps.

[Chubbalubs]

@SassandBelle I've had 50mg today, I've had the sweats and nausea since before I starting taking them though

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude no I don't take painkillers everyday, they usually don't work for me so I don't tend to take them unless it's absolutely necessary.

Dh is home now, I've called in sick at work, so I'm going to go to bed with an ice pack and hope it helps. I have drs at 10.20 tomorrow morning for an examination. I do suffer with migraines and headaches, so the gp is aware, I've just never in my life had one like this, or lasted this long, it's honestly horrendous

[HoldMyLobster]

You might need 100mg of Sumatriptan, or you could ask for a different triptan (I find Rizatriptan works much better with fewer side effects). There are also triptans that you can inject or spray in your nose rather than swallowing. I have a friend who gets such bad migraines she takes several meds together, including an injection and something else.

You definitely should see the doctor if you've had a migraine for that long, you poor thing.

Occasionally I get one that just won't shift, and I wonder if it's a virus of some kind when it happens.

[Ionacat]

I find aspirin better than paracetamol and ibuprofen, take with caffeine and a couple of dextrose tablets and bed. My GP advised to try and raise my sugar level at the beginning of an attack. I have to have background noise so radio 4 goes on quietly and then I sleep it off. Drink lots as you don’t want to be dehydrated on top. There are other triptans out there, I didn’t get on with sumitriptan but I’m on zolmitriptan now which does work. They are horrible - sending much sympathy.

[myohmywhatawonderfulday]

You could try eating an ice-pop ice-cream until you get a pain in your eye. This stimulates something (I used to know) somewhere and can help. I used to put an ice pack on my eye and sometimes it helped and sometimes it didn't.

Three dissolvable asprin in a coke - do so at your own risk because its above the recommended dose. This is a tip from a neurologist and used to work for me.

I went back on the pill, changed jobs so I don't look at a computer all day or have to travel and all those changes mean I have gone from migraines every few days for two years to really never.

For me was it hormonal, stress, computer related? I don't know - I what I really do think I was allergic to a cleaning product at my previous work.

x

[myohmywhatawonderfulday]

I just read you have fibromyalgia - if you can face it- follow bright line eating which takes out all flour and sugar products - so is essentially whole foods with an emphasis on fresh vegetables and whole foods.

[ComeOnGordon]

I’ve completely cut out caffeine and my migraines have stopped. Was getting them once a fortnight at least. I was exhausted for the first couple of weeks but it’s been 6 months now and I’m totally used to it

[TheFairyCaravan]

50mg of Sumatriptan doesn't work for me. I have to take 100 and even then it doesn't always work. I used to have Zomig nasal spray to break a cycle like yours but now I have Rizatriptan and I find them much better.

If I was you now, I'd take 3 aspirin in some full sugar coke, It works really well, and use ice packs. Going forward I found acupuncture really helped me too.

[Chubbalubs]

I will get some aspirin and coke tomorrow and give that a go. I'm willing to try anything at this point. I'm trying to keep fluids up, had almost 2ltrs of water today, a small orange juice and 2 coffees, I am struggling though because of the nausea. I have noticed that it's not as bad when I'm laying down, it's still there and it still hurts but it's not as bad as when I'm sat up, or when I stand up. Hopefully the dr can suggest a different form of medication tomorrow. Thank you all for your tips and tricks though, definitely going to try them

[Mandalalorianna]

I know it's considered a bit woo but seriously consider a daith piercing. I had mine done in June 17, not had a migraine since.

[TheVeryHungryTortoise]

Won't help acutely, but I read clinical notes for work and have seen many neurology specialists recommending Riboflavin supplementation alongside other medication. Could be worth a shot adding this to your diet as it's pretty difficult to overdose on.

Disclaimer, I'm not a doctor--just relaying what I often read about at work.

[croberts1208]

I feel your pain. I actually find 3 anadin extra tablets. A Dr Pepper and a bag of salt and vinegar crisps help wonders!

[FelicityPike]

I sometimes find a chocolate digestive bar works for me, if it’s a bad one.

[Ylvamoon]

I have had trouble with migraines 2 years ago...to the point where I was "out' for 2-3 weeks at a time. (So barley barely functioning, just about able to drag myself to work and back- but not actually doing any work...)
I tried a lot of different medications, including Sumatriptan which didn't do much. Anyway I am now taking a drug called Pizotifen, and it changed my life!
I still get some migraines, but they are bearable, I will take my tablets in the evening and I know it's gone the next day.
Might be worth looking into if it's reoccurring and has a big impact on your life.

[SunnySideDownBriefly]

Hiya,

Sumatriptan is almost useless if you get nausea with your migraines. It's an old drug and there are much better ones available. If you get nausea then your stomach has closed off already and nothing taken orally will help you...not for a long time anyway. Unfortunately, most GPs don't seem aware of this and keep prescribing old and ineffective drugs. There are also risks with Sumatriptan.

Try to get a referral to neurologist. It's the only way to be sure that you'll get the most up-to-date care. There are much faster action and longer lasting drugs that can be taken (usually nasally). I've gone private and my neurologist wrote to my GP and told them what they should prescribe me. I am also stopping my daily medication as it's another old one that isn't doing any good and not many people need or should be on a daily medication when you can blast the worst of migraines away in 15 mins with newer and safer medications.

[HoldMyLobster]

Won't help acutely, but I read clinical notes for work and have seen many neurology specialists recommending Riboflavin supplementation alongside other medication. Could be worth a shot adding this to your diet as it's pretty difficult to overdose on.

Yes - my doctor is very switched on about migraines (his teen gets them very badly) and he recommended a supplement called Migravent. It's Vitamin B2, Riboflavin, Magnesium, Coenzyme Q10, PA-Free Butterbur.

I don't know if it's available in the UK. I'm not very good at remembering to take things so I couldn't say if it actually helped, but it did make my wee bright yellow :-)

[MrsRonaldUlyssesSwanson]

I was in the same boat as you OP. Horrendous never ending migraines, I tried everything but had to start amitriptyline in the end and it's changed my life.

In the short term - Alkaselzer XS is incredible, it has the aspirin but also caffeine and salt in it and I think that has something to do with it. Cool strips from the chemist or supermarket. If you're still nauseous get the doc to prescribe you a good antiemetic (no use if you can't keep anything down though)

If you drink caffeine intermittently then you either need to stop altogether or commit to keeping it consistent. I have one coffee and one can of coke a day and it massively helps. If I stop or I'm doing it one day and not the next, that can be a trigger for me. And the bloody rain, I get some sort of headache every time it rains

Hope you feel better soon, it's absolutely horrendous having a migraine

[SunnySideDownBriefly]

My neurologist also recommended riboflavin as a next step if my frequency of migraines remains high. I don't know what the dosage would be but he said he's seen great results with it. And acupuncture is also a good option for some people.

[Chubbalubs]

@Mandalalorianna I already have this done, at first it seemed to help.

@TheVeryHungryTortoise I will look into this, thank you

@HoldMyLobster that made me laugh, definitely will try it just to see if my wee turns bright yellow

I will try and see if I can a referral to see a neurologist, fingers crossed the dr actually listens to me tomorrow and doesn't try to fob me off