To wonder if any of you have found a migraine cure

[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?

I found the triptans, although helping at the time never properly shifted the headache and the next one was worse, then the next even worse… I don’t take them at all now as I found it best to ride them out in bed.
What has helped most is visiting a chiropractor- literally changed my life in terms of pain level but I do still get them! I also must take painkillers at first sign (I’m going to try aspirin). I’m also vet aware the neck position I have to look at my phone really exacerbates them.

I have terrible migraines and peri has made them worse. Had the worst one I ever had for three days last month, nothing worked at all and I usually take sumatriptan. I've found that taking 1 sumatriptan along with 2 liguid gel ibuprofens helped a bit. But I can't guarantee that that will always help me. I get them at least every other week or so, sometimes every week

@Butiwantto

Rizatriptan works every time on mine - but only the Maxalt ones (for some reason the other brands don’t work anywhere near as well for me)

This for me as well. To think I used to lose whole weekends to migraines! (they hardly ever happened during the week strangely)

Nothing worse than going to bed with a migraine and it still being there when you wake up.

My daughters spray deodorant (Sure) makes me want to be sick and triggers a migraine. Even just a minute smell of it sets me off.
Hate strong sweet perfume also

Paracetamol Plus, sugary coffee and a cold shower worked recently to nip one in the bud. Also, cup of boiled water. Blowing on it, and sipping it. The hot steam on my face and plain hot water in my stomach helps reset things if caught early enough.

If it’s too late though, a couple of hot water bottles have helped moved round, back of neck, forehead, feet, stomach.

I cut all caffeine.

I've tried just about every medication under the sun (except Amitriptyline, I really don't like the sound of that one).

I found three things particularly helpful. None of them will work for everyone, though, but these are mine:

1. I always use triptanes (Sumatriptan and Eletriptan are my go-to), and lever OTC medications to fight a migraine. There are different triptanes on the market, and while they seem the same on paper, they affect everybody a little differently, so experiment until you find the right one for you (supervised by a doctor, though!)

1. I changed my diet like a million times to see if anything helped. I even tried to go with plant based wholefood diet for a while. Seemed sensible on paper, but made me REALLY sick in reality. It turned out that I simply don't tolerate histamine and tyramine well! The book "Heal Your Headache" will give you loads more info om this.

1. There will be bad days. I never found a complete cure, so simply accepting the bad days and getting enough rest has been key for me.

The neurologist prescribed Domperidone and 900mgs soluble aspirin after I was hospitalised for 5 days and had to have IV fluids and morphine for the worst migraine I have ever had.
It works very quickly.
Also mine are triggered by dehydration so make sure you drink plenty of fluids.

Ice packs on the back of your neck and forehead help too.

Does anyone know why it feels like sugary drinks help? I always find a can of coke/Fanta really helps when I feel a migraine coming on, but I've always wondered why

@meltinginthisheat I agree. A can of full fat coke and a paracetamol is the best cure for mine too. No idea why sorry!

@Lougle

I know it’s not the point of the thread but I am gobsmacked a GP has said this to you.

I am 14 weeks pregnant and have (unplanned!) become pregnant whilst taking topiramate.

Not once has any healthcare provider suggested I terminate my baby or that I stop taking the medication.

What they have done is talk through the risks with me, which is that for someone taking topiramate at my dose in pregnancy the risk of having a baby with a cleft lip / palate is 3 in 1000 as opposed to 1 in 1000. They have discussed this alongside how topiramate currently controls my migraines and how crippling they are without - and the fact they have already even with topiramate gotten worse during pregnancy. I’m having consultant led care (mainly because of the medication issue) and she said to continue with the medication and my baby will be monitored more and we will know at the 20 week scan about the cleft lip / palate.

I just wanted to comment as although I appreciate its not recommended to become pregnant on topiramate, and I’m certainly not trying to underplay the risk, or encourage anyone to get pregnant, it’s certainly not something that health care providers would be suggesting you terminate a baby over if you did, from my experience.

Please please look into folic acid. It was trialled successfully as a treatment but not taken forward because no one cares about womens health. So much of women's migraines are associated with pregnancy, breastfeeding and menstruation ie blood loss and increased nutrient needs.

I have been diagnosed with virtually every type of migraine. The weirdest ones are in my arms. The worst ones are the ones with aura.

I saw a neurologist and had an MRI. There were no abnormalities.

The neurologist was fab. He said to me the usual cause is sleeping on 2 pillows, fucks up your cervical spine.

So I now sleep on one pillow.

He also prescribed topirimate. I didn't have to be on contraception for it.

I had to take it in increasing amounts until I hit the dose needed. Then I had to stay on that amount until I was symptom free for a certain number of months. Then I had to decrease the does until I was off it. I have had 2 migraines since. It has changed my life.

I'd really recommend you ask for a referral to a neurologist from the gp. Waiting lists are long mind.

@Mn753
Do you have a link for further info about using folic acid as a preventative treatment?
Thanks.

Not medication which sounds like you need to be on, but once I feel one kick in I have caffeine of some form (constricts blood flow so reduces pain), can be coke, coffee or strong tea, whilst I run a hot bath. Once in bath, put ice pack on head and back of neck. Soak for 20 mins. Something like the difference of temperatures again does something for blood flow that really takes the edge off. This is my miracle cure, it always works to not become a full-blown migraine if done early enough, or relaxes me enough to fall asleep if right in the thick of it.

Add some essential oils if you believe in that/want to. Two that are recommended are lavender (great if you need to sleep after) or peppermint (if you need to feel a bit more refreshed).

My sympathies, migraines are horrendous and the post-drome phase can knock you out for a whole week, it is rubbish.

I feel your pain - have had migraines with aura since the age of 6. Usually am on propranolol as prophylaxis, on its own, I was still having episodes every 2 weeks.

The most reliable treatment I've found was going Keto - was completely migraine free for 6 solid months. A week of home quarantine and having a pity-party indulging in carbs and the migraines came back.

I see someone else went plant-based and saw an improvement.. so there's definitely a dietary link, but its probably different for everyone!

Although, if you can't abort it with drugs or lying down in a dark room, I do swear by a good glass of champagne - not sure if it cures it, or just makes me forget about it!

My ds' used to get migraines, but I used feverfew to keep them at bay. I recently stopped giving ds2 any to see if they returned, and they did, so he's back on them. One capsule each morning.

can you link to the Feverfew you are using @ArtemisiaVulgaris

I've had migraines nearly my whole life, which Zolmitriptan helped treat from my late teens onwards. Over the years though it grew gradually less effective, and the frequency kept notching up. No better luck with other triptans.

Propranolol seemed to help, although it was giving me breathing issues (I was given it for covid triggered POTS, so my lungs were still a bit screwy). Bisoprolol had a lesser benefit.

I have found taking high doses of magnesium helpful though. 400-500mg of magnesium glycinate every evening. Glycinate is probably the best form since it won't cause the squits, which the cheaper oxide and citrate forms can in high doses. Glycine is also a muscle relaxant, and can be helpful before bed for any insomniacs out there, and is thought to be good for anxiety too.

I also quit drinking caffeine on a daily basis. This means I'm way more sensitive to its benefits when I do use it now - like during an attack. I also used to find some temporary relief with a can of Coke and packet of Hula Hoops (while waiting for the Zolmitriptan to kick in), but I'm off sugar currently. Instead, I'm finding two Anadin Extra just as effective as the Zolmitriptan had become, but without the side effects (including polyuria, which was always a nuisance). I'll still eat something salty, like salted pistachios, and generally aim to keep my salts up along with my fluids. Plain aspirin and caffeine taken together don't seem as effective for me as Anadin Extra.

I'm also taking Co-enzyme Q10 and N-acetyl-cysteine, both of which can have a positive impact, so maybe they're helping too. I'm curious to try riboflavin - it's another one recommended by the Migraine Trust (I think 400mg a day) - magnesium and CoQ10 are too. As is feverfew, which a few here have mentioned but which I'm yet to try.

Anyway, it turns out there are lots of little things we can try that have literally zero side effects and don't mean putting really strong meds into our bodies, which is all most GPs and neuros will suggest as a first course of action, despite the downsides to each of them. Definitely do try some supplementation. I was too cynical to do so for years, and rue that now. Mine halved in frequency and severity once I started trying this stuff, and I feel like there's plenty more than can be done still.

Go to ebay and put in Feverfew capsules 1000mg and the make is Herbology. It won't let me link, it just keeps taking me back to my purchase information.

It's this one here

There's lots on folic acid if you google but here is one...

www.nyheadache.com/blog/folic-acid-intake-and-migraines/

Thanks @ArtemisiaVulgaris
Thanks @Mn753

I will have a look.

Micro-dosing mushrooms stopped mine completely.