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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if any of you have found a migraine cure

126 replies

TracyLords · 07/09/2021 20:11

I started having migraines when DS was born 5 years ago. Since lockdown they have increased. I take propranolol, sumitriptan and some other thing which I’ve forgotten.

They had been improving for a month: still occurring but going away quicker with meds. But today was a stoater and my head was pounding. Slept around 16 hours and I’m still knackered.

It’s impacting my work, family life and social life.

Has anyone found a cure for them?

OP posts:
converseandjeans · 07/09/2021 22:52

Regular sports massage on shoulder and neck area
Cocodamol with full fat coke

Mytupenceworth · 07/09/2021 22:56

I feel your pain! What works for me is soluble solphadol with full sugar coke. Caffeine in both so double whammy. If I don't catch it early enough then I get a morphine injection and sleep till its eased.

Glitterblue · 07/09/2021 22:58

After years on sumitriptan, I was recently prescribed zolmitriptan - what a difference. I take 2 of those along with 2 x 30mg of dihydrocodeine, 2 x paracetamol and 2 x ibuprofen, put tiger balm on my forehead and back of my neck, and sleep. Normally they're gone in a couple of hours now whereas in the past it could be up to 24 hours.

WellLarDeDar · 07/09/2021 22:59

Once I stopped taking hormonal contraception my migraines went away.

Polecat03 · 07/09/2021 23:00

Aspirin. Prescribed dose is 900g, told GP I would buy my own though so he advised to take three pills to reach that dose. Knocks migraine on the head, only thing that works for me.

Polecat03 · 07/09/2021 23:00

mg, I should have said Hmm

NowWhatUsernameShallIHave · 07/09/2021 23:01

2nd the ear piercing

Look it up

JoeMaplin · 07/09/2021 23:02

I was finding sumitriptrans had stopped working for me. I've had some horrendous migraines recently. Gp gave me Zomig nasal spray. I was very sceptical but it really works or me.. Good luck.

Thro · 07/09/2021 23:16

See if you can work out what triggers them, if it’s a certain food or drink or ingredient in them.
Keep a food/drink/migraine diary and see if you can identify a trigger.
Could it be an environmental trigger or are you spending a long time looking at screens without breaks?
I hope you get to the bottom of it.

Winniewonka · 07/09/2021 23:34

Mine have definitely tailed off as I have got older. In my twenties, I lost hours to painful episodes. Almost by accident I discovered that as soon as the 'aura' appears that blurs my vision, I have a fifteen minute window to take 3 paracetamol and that seems to stave off the headache and nausea.
Obviously, everyone is different and it may not work for others.

Brakebackcyclebot · 07/09/2021 23:41

Ginger - nature's anti-inflamatory. I have it shredded on granola on the morning, in tea, and I cook with it too whenever I can. Every day. I used to have headaches every couple of weeks and a full on migraine approx every 2 months. Since eating all the ginger, I have had none.

userxx · 08/09/2021 07:49

@Imnotcrazyjustdrunk

DH takes CBD oil daily, has massively reduced frequency and impact of migraines.

Where does he get his oil from please?

delusionsofadequacy · 08/09/2021 07:54

Its associated with birth defects if taken during pregnancy apparently

LegendaryReady · 08/09/2021 07:55

A friend of mine swears blind having regular botox for her frown lines has completely eliminated hers

Mn753 · 08/09/2021 07:55

Folic acid

pingster · 08/09/2021 07:59

I get chronic migraines - daily at their worst. I have tried every preventative medicine available - some have worked for a period of time but then they gradually come back. In desperation I had a daith piercing 3 weeks ago and since then have had 1 migraine (and that was brought on by a long flight and a very early start). I was dubious that it would work but so far it's been the best thing I've done for my head, and a huge bonus is no other side effects. My previous medication was one of the new specific antimigraine drugs (adjovy) but there was a problem delivering my prescription and now I've not been on that for 3 weeks I realise how awful it was making me feel so really pleased that I've stopped it.

CaptainMyCaptain · 08/09/2021 08:00

@TracyLords

I started having migraines when DS was born 5 years ago. Since lockdown they have increased. I take propranolol, sumitriptan and some other thing which I’ve forgotten.

They had been improving for a month: still occurring but going away quicker with meds. But today was a stoater and my head was pounding. Slept around 16 hours and I’m still knackered.

It’s impacting my work, family life and social life.

Has anyone found a cure for them?

My migraines started during pregnancy too - cured by hysterectomy 20 years later (that wasn't the reason for the op). Sorry if that sounds drastic but my mother had the same problem and had to wait for the menopause to cure it. Giving up caffeine helped a bit.
lollipoprainbow · 08/09/2021 08:03

No cure but after years of suffering I've realized that they come on if I don't get enough sleep or my sleep is interrupted. If I fall asleep on the sofa after a glass of wine I'm totally done for the next day!!

MumYourBabyGrewUpToBeACowboy · 08/09/2021 08:11

I tried amitriptyline, propranolol, topiramate, opioids… aspirin, a coke & crisps did help a fair bit (recommended by neuro) but felt very unhealthy. Botox has helped immensely.

SturminsterNewton · 08/09/2021 09:28

@Brakebackcyclebot

Ginger - nature's anti-inflamatory. I have it shredded on granola on the morning, in tea, and I cook with it too whenever I can. Every day. I used to have headaches every couple of weeks and a full on migraine approx every 2 months. Since eating all the ginger, I have had none.
Ginger triggers my migraines, so it shows how different we all are!
PinkPineapples9 · 08/09/2021 09:57

[quote TracyLords]@Brollypackedforscottishholiday Are those the “cool and sooth” things or something else?[/quote]
I use something called a migracap - its basically a cold pack hat that covers your whole head, comes down over the back of your neck and over your eyes. LIFE CHANGING.

Never found a pain killer that works tbh but a strong coffee followed by lots of water works if I catch it early enough.

Making sure you're taking adequate minerals.

Acupuncture - but, best advice I've ever received, only go to an acupuncturist who has made it their life's work, qualified for a very long time, studied or practiced in China if possible. I just can't tell you what a difference it makes.

Imnotcrazyjustdrunk · 08/09/2021 10:06

@userxx
Not totally sure, I think one place is canabidol.
I know he buys online from UK growers and manufacturers.
Wu try to remember to ask.

rageagainstbing · 08/09/2021 10:09

"I wonder why that is? I never had to be on contraception when I was on Topiramate."

I wasn't warned about contraception on topiramate and had a MMC while on it. I can only assume it was because of the medication.

I found removing gluten from my diet helped a lot, along with a daith piercing, topiramate and getting rid of my ex who it turned out was causing me a lot of stress. I don't know which helped more but I rarely suffer from them now despite being medication free and back on gluten.

Triptans made mine even worse, they'd make an attack last a week. I had hemaplegic migraines and they aren't recommended for that. The GP kept forcing them on me and it wasn't until I was referred to a neurologist that I found out I shouldn't have been taking them.

Acupuncture took the edge off but didn't reduce the frequency. I did find though that after a session I had the sensation back in my legs and wasn't dragging my leg behind me any more.

2 x high strength ibruprofen at the very first sign of an aura took away most of the pain, if I waited until the aura was over I may as well have not bothered.

I tried a lot 😂. I hope you find some relief soon OP Thanks

rageagainstbing · 08/09/2021 10:17

Oh and I kept a diary of everything I'd eaten, the time of day it came on, what I was doing at the time etc. That helped me to pin point what I did leading up to the attacks although was time consuming. I'd often find that if I'd had something to eat that had snidey gluten in I'd have an attack a couple of hours later. Or a very early start without enough sleep. I also noted what symptoms I had every time and which side of my body was affected.

They were happening multiple times a day at the worst and I was under occupational health at work because of the time I had to take off. I know how debilitating it can be.