Tips for preventing or treating migraines

[Eldermileniummam]

I get the signs before a migraine comes on where I feel exhausted, so tired I'm yawning and my voice sounds hoarse, I'm thirsty, irritable and I've come to recognise what it is. I tend to avoid triptans due to nausea so what helps you? I usually go and lie in a dark room but I've felt this way since yesterday so more than 24 hours and thankfully the migraine hasn't come on yet but just interested in any advice from others with experience.

Mine have a faster onset than yours but I’ve found that a dose of hydration salts helps. When I was younger full coke and an aspirin under the tongue was my go to.

an electrolyte drink, an aspirin and ready salted crisps
mine are sometimes related to tension in my neck this ones I take syndol with dozylamine succinate in it and lay down for a nap

I started taking magnesium supplements which slightly helped. Then I got a mouth guard to sleep with, (just one from Amazon that I mould to my mouth really simple) sounds mental but not had a migraine for over 100 days, and I was getting 2-3 a week some weeks! I reckon it was me grinding my teeth at night that triggered me.

Why do you avoid triptains? Do they cause nausea? And which ones have you tried there are quite a few different ones and some are worse for side effects then others.

Your also only supposed to take them once the pain starts, they won't help with the predome symptoms which you are describing.

For the actual migraine you could try caffeine and either a high dose aspirin or ibuprofen. Which is what neurologist normally recommend.

I would keep a migraine diary to see how often you are getting them if more then 4 a month they would normally recommend a preventative medication. There are many you can try if you talk to your GP.

Full sugar electrolyte drink, stretching (neck & back,) making sure I eat even if I don't feel like it, and avoiding screens when I can feel one coming on.

Triptans make me feel a million times worse. Nauseous and spaced out, and just plain weird in a way I can’t explain.

Ibuprofen, something sweet and coffee, preferably cans of iced coffee. Also sleeping but that is not always possible. If I can get them quickly enough I can stop any headache. The fuzziness and exhaustion is the same though I think but I can function at least.

I would try to work out what your triggers are and work on improving them.

Most people have more than 1 trigger and if you can make an improvement on all of them it will have a big overall impact.

Foods are rarely triggers, but often a symptom. The migraine starts before the pain and lots of people crave chocolate or cheese as a symptom, but assume they are triggers because the pain starts after they’ve been eaten.

One of my triggers was a bad cross bite. I’ve had braces on for 2 years to correct my bite and now wear a mouth guard which has had a huge impact. Neck tension was also a trigger for me and I see on osteopath regularly, and again, this has had a huge impact.

Hormones are also a trigger and my migraines have reduced in length and intensity but I still get a migraine around my period. I’m now working on eating to balance my hormones and improve my gut health, which I’ve researched can also be a migraine trigger.

I’ve had migraines since I was a child, and they are the best they’ve been since I started making a real effort to sort them out.

I've suffered horrible migraines since I was about four.
Things that work for me are-

Coca cola.
Salty food like crisis, nuts, chips.
Sleep. This is the most important part.
Opiate pain relief.
Ice cold flannel over my face. Which feels like it's on fire and being punched by Tyson Fury.
Cannabis.
Really high pressure facial massage on temples and sinuses.
Orgasm.

i had a few sessions with an osteopath. Muscle tension in my shoulders was causing constant migraine symptoms. Using the stretches she tought me, I’m down from around 8 a month to maybe one. If I do feel one coming on, coffee and a warm compress on my head helps.

I have to prevent neck and shoulder tension to prevent migraines so I have a massage every eight weeks, do stretches and have a fancy pillow.

Thanks for all the comments.

It's interesting a few of you mention asprin, which I never think to take, as well as sugary or electrolyte drinks.

Yes triptans made me feel more sick in the past but it's years since I had them and haven't tried different kinds.

I thought the advice was to take them bride the migraines came on but I could be wrong.

I believe my triggers are hormonal (get more before my period and when pregnant) and lack of sleep, maybe stress. I do have braces now so there could be a connection.

My go to is to lie in bed but since I've been this way for two days now that's not always practical. I am thankful the migraine hadn't fully materialised.

I will wear sunglasses when I go do the school run and then plan and early night.

Your triggers sound similar to mine. I always used to get a migraine after my braces had been adjusted. Now they’re off and everything has settled, they are much better.

My migraines always used to be 3 days of bad pain around the time of my period. They are now mostly reduced to just 1 day of bearable pain, but this month when I felt the migraine starting I used a tens machine on my neck and my migraine didn’t really develop which is a huge win for me.

It's true they can make some people feel worse, but often it's because someone has only ever tried sumatriptain. Which has the worst side effects of all the triptains but is often prescribed first as it's also the cheapest. Not everyone is aware that there about 7 different types and it's often worth trying a different one as they all work slightly differently.

Sumatriptain also was never designed as an oral medication and really works best when taken as an injection as its poorly absorbed by the stomach.

@Eldermileniummam often when I'm in this phase I sometimes find gentle exercise helpful. Not in this heat though, maybe drinking more would help. I'm one who certainly finds caffeine helpful though.

My symptoms come on so quickly i usually have about 20-30mins to work with, I usually can't avoid the migraine but I can help lessen the impact by being prompt acting.

Electrolyte drink, ibuprofen, packet of crisps and sleeping it off. I passed out at work more than once so I tell them ASAP and they usually find a place for me to lie down as I won't have time to get home or be safe to drive or travel either (I passed out stepping off the train, once)! I'm a teacher. I've slept in the Head Teachers office, the SENCOs office and the staffroom before (all with the support of a female leadership team, thought that's worth a mention).

Mine are hormonally triggered and link to menstrual cycle. I used to get one every 3rd cycle. Interestingly though, since I had babies I haven't had one at all (my last one was about 5.5y-6y ago).

You mite benefit from a faster acting triptain. Either Sumatriptain injections (this what this drug was designed for) or a nasel spray, like zomig. Maxmelts also melt under the tounge and are absorbed rather then going through the stomach.

While you've had a break from them for now women who have hormonal linked migraine often fine they get worse going into menopause.

I had no migraines while pregnant and breastfeeding, they came back when my youngest was about 2 years old.

My first symptom are visual splodges. Often it's neck tension triggered. I carry in my bags and take 3 aspirin at the first whiff and try and focus on relieving any tension. Not had one develop for years and used to be a 2 day type thing for me. Aspirin has been amazing for me - was recommended by the hospital headache clinic.

For me, taking panadol with caffeine as soon as I feel it coming on sometimes solves it. I also make sure I eat salty food, particularly crisps.

Sunglasses on bright days- particularly if travelling as the flashing of sun between trees seems to set it off.

Trying to not oversleep- somehow a lie in is a trigger for me.

@isitmeamithedrama mine also is this syndol prescription? Does it get rid of the pain, do you get bad neck pain?

@museumum would it be possible to elaborate on what type of massage please and pillow.

I get dreadful pain with mine where I am bed bound and unable to do anything

Yes I'm fully expecting them to come back with gusto when menopause hits. Sigh. I'll keep a note of your suggestions!

But it also hadn't even occurred to me that breastfeeding might be impacting too, my youngest is still partially boobing! We're on the road to the end. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

A really strong shot of coffee helps me. I get visual disturbances first.

I was increasingly suffering with migraines over the past couple of years. So debilitating and disruptive. My GP had prescribed sumatriptan but it didn't work as well as I hoped and Paracetamol does nothing. The biggest thing for me has been losing some weight, taking a multivitamin and magnesium supplement and drinking enough water. So simple but I've had very few migraines since.

Don’t have many migraines since I left teaching. Funny that! My trigger is stuffy rooms and a flash of light. I have staved them off in the past by running my wrists under cold water.