AIBU to ask how you cope with severe migraines?

[G0ldenLeaves]

I know this isn't the correct place to post this but I'm posting for traffic as I'm really anxious and hearing from others helps calm me down.
I'm a long term migraine sufferer. Been on 50mg Amytriptyline for a year and take Rizatriptan when I have an attack that I can't wait out.
Occasionally I have those killer migraines where the pain is so bad that in the moment I'd rather die than feel it any more and have been in hospital 3 times in the past because they were so bad I was convinced I was having an aneurysm.
I now get really bad anxiety over migraines. As in fear of getting one and fear when one starts as I'm terrified they'll get really bad again. I have a 4 year old son who has Autism who is with me every day so if i get an attack, lying quietly in the dark isn't really an option as his care needs are so high.
Rizatriptan usually gets rid of the migraine within an hour but I've now had one since yesterday afternoon and nothing is touching it. I've taken paracetamol, ibruprofen and one rizatriptan but the pain is just getting worse and worse. At the moment it feels like the left side of my brain is going to explode. I can't stop being sick and the pain is going down the back of my neck so any way I try to lie is uncomfortable. I'm trying really hard not to panic and to just try to stay calm and wait it out but the pain is so bad I just want it to stop.
Can anyone tell me about how they manage their migraines or how they cope with an attack? I know its silly but I just get so anxious when I have an attack and I can really work myself up into a panic but hearing from others with the same helps to calm me down a bit. Thanks.

I was prescribed propranolol as a migraine preventative around 2 years ago, take one daily and haven't had a migraine since. It's been an absolute Godsend as I was getting 2 or 3 migraines a month and was incapacitated a lot of the time

Botox has been a game changer for my daughter (27). She has it 3 monthly .... 30 something needles around her head...they don’t so quickly....the clinic kept going even during Covid lockdown.... before that she Had tried acupuncture but that didn’t really work...she is under the care of the Walton Centre Neurological Hospital in Liverpool....but I’m sure other hospitals provide these services too.
Hope you get your referral sorted.....migraine is so debilitating ....take care

Seconding National Migraine Centre - approach them and they'll do what they can to help, irrespective of your donation.

Look into a device called a Cefaly.
Not cheap but it's changed my life. And you can send it back after about 3 months for a reduced price if it doesn't suit you.

Thank you so much everyone! You've all given some really helpful advice and it's made me feel a lot better. I think its something to do with knowing others have been through it and its passed helps calm me down!
Thankfully my migraine is beginning to subside now, still have a painful head but the nausea has stopped so I can think clearly now.
I've spoken to the GP and he's switching my medication from Amitryptaline to a different one (post migraine memory is awful, its something beginning with T) and has referred me for a CT scan to check there isn't anything else causing my migraines. If the change of medication doesn't work my next stop will be the headache clinic so that's reassuring to know.
Thanks again to everyone who replied. I always feel a bit silly after one of my panics but in the moment I get so worked up because of the pain and the panic!

Topiramate?

@Chambored Yes, Topiramate, that's it. I have to start lowering my dose of amitriptyline this week then start the Topiramate along side it and continue to lower the amitriptyline and raise the Topiramate. Propranolol was suggested but GP found it shouldn't be taken with Rizatriptan so we decided not to try that one. Hopefully this will help. He said if it works it should take the migraines down to one a month at least. Fingers crossed.

I’m on Topiramate and I’ve found it very effective. Hope it works for you.

I suffer with cluster headaches and I'm on sumatriptan which I inject and oxygen which I have for 20 mins when an attack comes on. Best thing to do is contact your gp and get them to refer you to a neurologist. I had this done earlier this year and had a ct scan to make sure there was nothing that was causing the attacks, sometimes it's one if those things some suffer with for no apparent reason. Also speak to your gp and see if there is other medication you can take if you feel the current meds are not effective.

Hi OP,
I take 2.5mg of Zolmitriptan with two 30/500 cocodamols. If it’s not gone within an hour, I can take more Zolmitriptan but have never had to do that. I feel like this, after trying a lot of different things, is my magic combination. Where I used to have to take time off work or go down to the hospital for an anti sickness injection/IV fluids, I can take this combo and stay at work no problem. I feel a bit floaty for a little while but the migraine goes away every time without fail. That really helped the worry of getting one for me as I know it will definitely work.
I tried Rizatriptan but it just made me feel drunk - weird. Sumitriptan sometimes worked but not always. I’ve also been on a couple of daily medicines to control but have come off those as I didn’t find they helped all that much.
Hope you find some answers.