To ask for migraine relief tips

[LMW1990]

I've had headaches in the past but a few months ago I suffered my first migraine with aura. The pain was excruciating. And I thought I was going blind in one eye! I visited my GP (pre lockdown) and they gave me some sumatriptan tablets to take if I felt it start again.

It happened once again in the same week and then nothing.

Until yesterday. Unfortunately I was away from home and my tablets. I had the aura last night and this morning I feel as though I have had my head repeatedly stamped on. I feel sick if I move. Everything seems quite bright. I've taken some cocodamol as I had some in from bad period pain this month. It's eased it slightly. Any tips for anything else that might help? Hot compress. Cold compress. I have no idea what to do with myself.

I find a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel on the nape of my neck really helps. It opens the blood vessels and eases the pain and tension.

Thank you! I will definitely try that! I'm beside myself at the moment.

Aspirin has been a life changer for me. I take a big dose of aspirin (preferably soluble as it works faster) as soon as I get a hint of aura and it now does not develop into a full migraine. I used to have migraines about once a month and now haven’t suffered a full-blown attack for about 5 years.

The sumatriptan actually made me feel worse than the migraines!

I’m the opposite from a PP, I like cold. So a thick sock or similar, left under a cold tap for a bit til the water is as cold as it will get. Even stick it in the freezer for 5 mins. Put it over your head and eyes.

The relief is instant but I only do it while I’m waiting for the sumatriptan to kick in. Not sure if it would actually take the pain away completely

All I can do is sleep them off. Something weighty like a wheat bag on my head also helps, but any drugs just make me vomit.

My doctor recommended aspirin too.

She gets migraines herself and always takes 3 aspirin at the first sign.

I have migraines with Aura. When my sight starts to go slightly fuzzy if I find if I take a pink migraleave quickly enough I can usually sleep it off and not have the suicidal awful pain and just have a manageable fuzzy head for a day or two with tiredness. If I can't take the tablet in time then I've not found anything that touches the pain. I wish you luck in finding something that helps you.

As above, aspirin is good as are neurofen meltlets, they dissolve on your tongue and get into the bloodstream quickly. I always feel like my stomach shuts down during a migraine attack and these have worked wonders for me in the past.
The best thing is if you can work out the reasons for getting them, not always possible I know but for me there are definitely triggers I can avoid such as:
Not skipping meals
Not getting over tired
Certain foods
Trying not to get too stressed!!

Good luck with keeping them at bay, they are truly awful and definitely not just a 'bad headache'

3 aspirin at first sign and sleep. (Soluble are best)

If I don't have aspirin then co-codamol is my next choice.

^
That's what I did until the dr gave me propranolol which I take 3x per day. I've gone from min 3 migraines per month to 3 in the last year.

The advice here: www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk/migraine-and-headaches/migraine-treatment/

also gives the dose to take. A big dose of iboprufen as soon as I feel one coming on works best for me.

I take two paracetamol and two ibuprofen together. My GP assured me that it's quite safe to do so.
It clears mine really quickly.

Can anyone get you some white tiger balm? I find that's the only thing that gives me enough relief to be able to fall asleep, and sleeping for however long it takes, is the only thing that gets rid of them for me. I take a concoction of aspirin, 2 x cocodamol 30/500mg OR 2 x paracetamol and 2 x dihydrocodeine 30mg, 2 zolmitriptan. All those are on prescription though. I find zolmitriptan much better than sumitriptan. Then I put tiger balm wherever it's hurting the most and go to bed. If it's on one side, I find lying on the sore side is most helpful. I have to make a conscious effort to relax, it's difficult with the pain, but it it's important. I hope you feel better soon.

3 soluble aspirin ASAP. Cocodamol an hour later if still struggling. I take maxalt rather than sumatriptan. It works quicker.

3 aspirin and 2 paracetamol taken together

Hope you feel better soon

If you've been prescribed sumatriptan get yourself or a friend/relative to a chemist's and ask for Migraitan or Boots own migraine relief tablets if it's a Boots. Both are sumatriptan available over the counter. Everyone is different but codeine did nothing for me and just made me feel woozy. A small, strong coffee may also help until you can get sumatriptan. You may have to complete a questionnaire before the pharmacist will let you have the tablets, but they're usually very sympathetic and have given me water so I can take one straightaway. I now always have some in my bag and make sure I don't run out.

Ask someone to go to a pharmacy to get you sumatriptan.
It can be bought OTC I think they ask a few questions

MN seems to be full of people who swear by nitrogen or asprin for migraine. This does nothing for me. Triptans are the only thing to help for some cases.

4 head stick its cooling with menthol.
Migraleave,
codeine.
As pp has said two paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time
Laying with a wet cold flannel over your forehead and eyes

But the most important thing is doing it within ten minutes of a hint of any headache. Mind d are getting less frequent but they are also getting worse. I always assume it's a migraine and go in with the big guns asap. Buy a little pill box and always have them with you

www.fedup.com.au/factsheets/symptom-factsheets/headaches-and-migraines

@FondantPud, howling at the idea of nitrogen for migraine .
op part of migraine is digestion slowing and stopping which can make taking tablets inefficient.
For me the game changer was voltarol (diclofenac), suppositories. Bit of a bummer having to insert them but they work unbelievably fast, with no side effects for me. You'll have to ask your gp for a prescription.
Good luck.

I have taken Triptans for years and they are amazing (for me). At times when I’ve been caught out without them I have tried a high dose of aspirin (I read a research study which looked at high dose aspirin vs Triptans first) and found that quite effective, - my a pharmacist friend unofficially said the dose should be safe, although I don’t know what a doctor would say so take at your own risk :) !!. At the moment I am pregnant and have been told not to take anything but paracetamol. I’ve been really surprised to find that a cold shower, paracetamol and a strong cup of coffee can sometimes shift the pain. Works best if I wash my hair, I think it’s about getting the head really really cold. Sometimes it takes more than one cold shower and that can be hard to do when in the middle of the migraine pain. Nothing beats the drugs for me, but it you get caught out then give it a try! Good luck OP.

I have been trapped in a migraine cycle before and have taken amatryptalin for it.
Ive also started taking b12 supplements and had less of them.

White tiger balm at the back of my neck and forehead, migraleave, COLD can of full fat coke

Oh and 2 400mg ibrubrofen. No recommended but helps

I do hot water bottle on my neck, cold flannel on my forehead and suck on a mint to ease the sickness I normally take migreleve which helps and I always carry some in my bag

Thank you all so much for your tips and advice. I've taken some ibuprofen and it seems to have eased to a normal headache level for now, unless I bend my head down which is nauseating. I slept for 10 hours last night and I still feel absolutely knackered. Is that normal? I'm new to this migraine game but my mum suffered terribly in her early 30s and I've started just after I turned 30 in January. Thanks for the genetics mother