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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be absolutely sick of migraines and to ask if preventative medication is any good

94 replies

TinasCrockeryPot · 21/09/2020 16:03

To sum it up im lucky if I can go a week without getting a migraine, I've been suffering one for three days now, it started with a headache on saturday night that was gone by the time I woke up yesterday but reappeared last night and hasn't gone since. I feel like I'm going to vomit constantly and it really hurts my head and face. I've taken zolmitriptan but the side effects I get are horrendous I.e tight chest and extremity numbness/weakness. I also can't take this when I work sue to it making me drowsy so want to speak to go about preventative medications, does this make anyone drowsy? And how effective is it?

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 21/09/2020 19:30

@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream in answer to your triptans question

I was told never to take more than 2 triptans a week or 6 in a month.

Any more than this risks triggering overuse headache, where you are actually getting migraine like headaches caused by taking the triptans. I've had this and it's a disaster - the only cure is to stop taking any painkillers, even paracetamol for months and I ended up with severe daily headache for ages until it cleared up.

I keep a diary so I know how many I've had now and can decide 'Is this a triptan headache or not?'

If you are having that many migraines you need a preventer.

eldoxy24 · 21/09/2020 19:30

I have been getting the Greater Occipital Nerve Block its the best thing I ever tried. Been on loads of different tablets but this by far has been the best thing. Headaches are very few, get the jag every 3 months.

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 21/09/2020 19:31

@Gobbycop

Why is the first port of call always fucking drugs.

Consider seeing a chiropractor, physio, osteopath.
Fix the problem rather than masking it.

The Dr didn't offer me anything other than drugs. And I'd been asking for 5 years at that point. My Aunt saw an Osteopath for hers, but had to go private. I cant afford that so drugs it is. Hmm Mind you they also help with my anxiety. If I'm lucky I can actually leave the house when I take them so I wouldn't stop even if I could cure my migraines another way.
Rumtopf · 21/09/2020 19:34

I take CQ10, magnesium and vit D daily and overhauled my diet. No gluten, low sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no msg, no caffeine, very little alcohol, low carb. I also had a daith piercing done on my left ear and since making all these changes I've had around 6 attacks in 2 years instead of 2 or so a month lasting 3-4 days.

thebear1 · 21/09/2020 19:38

I have cluster headaches linked to hormones. Taking Pizotifen has helped the number and intensity.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 21/09/2020 19:40

[quote AnnaMagnani]@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream in answer to your triptans question

I was told never to take more than 2 triptans a week or 6 in a month.

Any more than this risks triggering overuse headache, where you are actually getting migraine like headaches caused by taking the triptans. I've had this and it's a disaster - the only cure is to stop taking any painkillers, even paracetamol for months and I ended up with severe daily headache for ages until it cleared up.

I keep a diary so I know how many I've had now and can decide 'Is this a triptan headache or not?'

If you are having that many migraines you need a preventer.[/quote]
Thanks Anna- I was on amitriptylline for about 9 months which didn't make much difference, some of my migraines probably are medication overuse but what the hell do I do when I can't function with the headaches?

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 21/09/2020 19:42

Look into food intolerances. Also take a broad spectrum probiotic. Extra magnesium at night

SummerBaby2020 · 21/09/2020 19:42

I’ve been on topiramate for about 3 years now but had to come off it when I fell pregnant but back on it again as when the hormones settled afterwards they came back with a bang tbh.

I also tried triptan injections as a trial with my neurologist and my god did they work ( they get into the bloodstream quicker than the tablets ) but again, because I fell pregnant had to stop them and now I can’t get back on it but when you go to the neurologist, it’s something to enquire about because they changed my life I’m just lucky that at the moment, the topiramate has them under control as well as sumatriptan. Good luck x

enyemaka · 21/09/2020 19:44

Acupuncture is really good for reducing intensity and frequency.

Original poster
TinasCrockeryPot · 21/09/2020 19:49

The thought of seeing a neurologist petrifies me

OP posts:
HoldMyLobster · 21/09/2020 19:51

@TinasCrockeryPot

The thought of seeing a neurologist petrifies me
Why?

I saw a neurologist and it was amazing. She was so well informed. They spent about an hour reviewing everything I'd tried, going through my history, and then talking through my options with me.

It was pretty life changing tbh.

Blahblahblah12345 · 21/09/2020 19:53

@TinasCrockeryPot have you searched into getting your Daith pierced. Google it and its affects on headaches and migraines. Myself and 3 other people I know have done it purely because of that. We all swear by it.

TrulyOutrageousJem · 21/09/2020 19:55

I’m on Amitriptyline and also take the pill Lucette which keeps me sane. If I double take my pill I only get one every period now.

They want to take me off the pill soon due to my age and I’m bereft. I’m so scared of getting a migraine with no way of warding it off.

ThreePipeProblems · 21/09/2020 19:56

Propanalol daily. No side effects. Get breakthrough migraines about once every 6/8 weeks but beats every 6-8 days like before!

ThreePipeProblems · 21/09/2020 19:56

Oh, faith pierving didn’t work for me.

ThreePipeProblems · 21/09/2020 19:56

*daith piercing

LakieLady · 21/09/2020 19:57

Topiramate helped reduce the frequency of attacks but what helped more was identifying my triggers. Few of mine are foodstuffs, but fluorescent light is a big trigger, as are some smells (paraffin, petrol, some paints, and some deodorants/perfumes).

Mine also improved massively after my menopause (the same happened to my DM), and I rarely get one these days. And when I do, they're nowhere near as bad and they don't make me sick like they used to (I used to get so sick that I've been rehydrated on a drip in hospital a couple of times).

GirlCalledJames · 21/09/2020 19:57

Neurologists are great, really. With migraines of that frequency one could really help you. Nothing to be scared of.

PennyDreadfuI · 21/09/2020 20:01

@Tallpaulwho

Low dose Amitriptyline. I take it for something else, but it had a side effect of reducing my migraines. Not sure if it would actually be prescribed specifically for migraines though.
I came on to say exactly this. I'm on 20mg a day for trigeminal neuralgia and while I still have TN attacks, I haven't had a migraine for years. And when I did they were absolutely brutal. I suddenly realised after about two months on them that I hadn't had a migraine for ages (I used to get them several times a week).
AnnaMagnani · 21/09/2020 20:01

@InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream you find a different preventer. Amitriptylline is not the only game in town. We haven't even listed all the options on this thread.

Go back to your GP, get something else and keep trying. Don't give up!

PennyDreadfuI · 21/09/2020 20:02

@TinasCrockeryPot

The thought of seeing a neurologist petrifies me
My neurologist (who I saw for my TN/investigations to see if I had MS) was wonderful. Don't be scared!
Original poster
TinasCrockeryPot · 21/09/2020 20:06

Just anything to do with the brain scares em especially with me having HA

OP posts:
HoldMyLobster · 21/09/2020 20:08

@LakieLady

Topiramate helped reduce the frequency of attacks but what helped more was identifying my triggers. Few of mine are foodstuffs, but fluorescent light is a big trigger, as are some smells (paraffin, petrol, some paints, and some deodorants/perfumes).

Mine also improved massively after my menopause (the same happened to my DM), and I rarely get one these days. And when I do, they're nowhere near as bad and they don't make me sick like they used to (I used to get so sick that I've been rehydrated on a drip in hospital a couple of times).

I live in hope that the menopause will help. My doctor tests my hormone levels once a year, as I haven't had periods in forever, but apparently I'm still not there at 51.

Your migraines sound like they were truly awful :-(

LookToTreblesGoingTreblesGone · 21/09/2020 20:08

Buy or hire a Cefaly device. You can use it every day as a preventative and also on a different setting to treat any migraines. It also has a setting for relaxation. I swear by it. The worst migraine I had lasted 21 days. I no longer get them.

Magicpaintbrush · 21/09/2020 20:15

A friend of mine who gets cluster migraines and after years of suffering she gets injections in her neck four times a year which essentially paralyse whatever it is that transmits the pain and she is pretty much pain free for three months after every injection. It's something like botox I think, one injection in each side of her neck - but she has to get it done privately as it's not available on the nhs, costs about £400 each time, all done in hospital.