To want to cry from constant migraines?

[britespark1]

Been suffering for around 2 years now since I turned 40. Came on out of the blue, ended up in A&E back then as the initial pain was horrendous, I couldn’t see, couldn’t walk. CAT scan showed an arachnoid cyst/large fluid filled space, nothing to worry about. Various meds tried, previously on Amitriptyline which worked great for a few months then randomly stopped just before Christmas and now I’m on Candesartan. Min dose of 8mg worked for a few weeks then stopped, so a week ago it was upped by my Dr to 16mg. Previously seen by an appallingly arrogant neurologist who begrudgingly arranged an MRI, again nothing on there to worry about and basically said he didn’t understand why I had been referred.

Half term has been hard work, this is the worst I’ve felt for ages and I feel like I’m constantly pretending to be ok. Rizatriptan not working (neither did Sumatriptan before that), Migraleve not working, dispersible aspirin taking the smallest edge off. 4Head stick and tiger balm help for a while. Been sat crying in the dark room that has made no difference either.

I’m back at the doctors Monday for blood tests so obviously I’ll be speaking to them then but for now a just feel so shit. Sorry for the essay

Paediatrician recently recommended 400mg Ribuflavin Vit B2 for dd 15. He said there's been some very promising studies on it. Hope you find something that helps,

@MaggieMooh only my children I don’t work at the moment so am quite lucky as once they at school it’s very quiet here.

@stressedscot thank you, I’ll add that to my list!

Read a book called 'heal your headache' it's amazing and really helps.

My neurologist also advised I took magnesium and stopped caffeine, sweeteners as triggers.

@Peppermint81 thank you, I’ll get a copy of that book. Magnesium I’ve been reading about so will be adding that to my list. Caffeine really confuses me as so many people say it helps and then others say it’s a trigger. I do like coffee a lot so wonder if I gave it up would I then get withdrawal headaches ?!

We were told to cut caffeine so I'd try reduce coffee and see.

Zolmitriptan really works for me, along with two strong cocodamol. Only need a small dose of the triptan whereas sumatriptan and rizatriptan didn’t work for me - does make me feel spacey and then absolutely knackered though, that’s the only thing.
I still get quite a few a month, I just end up having to medicate every time unfortunately.
Hope you find a solution. I’m going to try the daith piercings next, nothing to lose.

Just to say thanks again for everyone who took the time to post. After (hopefully!) a decent nights sleep I can go through all the responses and sort out what i need to do. Just having a plan of action helps, even if it is just distracting me for now.

I take magnesium tablets as well as all the stuff mentioned.

@RandomDent is it a specific type of magnesium?

I tried magnesium and it make me feel so ill, I was sick with it and had a terrible headache. Might have been coincidence but I didnt try again

Along with B2, neuro also recommended coenzyme Q10 and magnesium citrate. That combination seems to have made mine less severe, but no less frequent. I tried feverfew but it made my already heavy periods worse, I think it can have a blood thinning effect.

I'm getting around 4 a month but am concerned about side effects with all the preventatives, although I may have to give one a go soon. Last night I was reading that melatonin 3mg per night is about as effective as amitriptyline as a preventative, and also that there's evidence that ginger can help as both a preventative and an acute treatment. I think I'm going to try both of those.

I take propranolol daily as a preventative, it really helps me. The side effects are odd, it has regulated my body temperature as I was always roasting before and now I feel the cold, but life is so much better right now.
Triptans don't help me at all if I do get a migraine, but dissolvable aspirin in coke seems to cut down the migraine and sickness.
I've also tried acupuncture which did help for a while.

My partner has had migraines for over 35 yrs. He's on
Topiramate, Naratriptan and Epilim (he's not got epilepsy)

My young teenage daughter has just been diagnosed with migraines aswell and is going to be put on Propanolol and is currently on Sumatriptan.

The daith piercing seems to help in few cases unfortunately I wonder if it's the type of migraine.

Sorry you are going through this

That sounds awful. I used to get them hem and all I could do was lie perfectly still, face down on my hands in a dark room and hope for sleep. I’d be reduced to a crying mess but then crying hurt too much. Horrible.

Acupuncture really helped me. Touch wood I’ve not had one that’s made me cry for years now. Traditional (rather than medical) acupuncture will take into account your whole body.

Good luck. Hope you find something that helps.

Contact the National Migraine Centre in London. They changed my life. Don’t get me wrong, I still get migraines but I’m much, much better. It’s a charity so you only pay what you can afford, and you can have appointments face to face, over the phone or video chat.

They recommended I take Dolovent which is magnesium, riboflavin and CoQ10. I, also, gave up all caffeine on their advice. They changed my Triptan from Sumatriptan to Naramig which suits me better.

I already take a lot of preventatives including Topiramate, Amitryptiline (but I use that for nerve pain) and I’m on Beta Blockers because I have a very fast heartbeat. My pain specialist gives me Botox every 3 months too.

I have an arachnoid cyst, too. Mine was found because I have vestibular migraines and tinnitus so they wanted to check there was nothing else going on. They said it would have been there since birth but I know it hasn’t because I had an MRI of my head about 15yrs ago and it there then. They didn’t seem bothered though.

I get you! They are the worst! Regarding medication there are so many to try! Don’t give up!.

Another thing that helps me, along with medication is putting a hot pack around my head and eyes! It reduces the pain just a little bit! For years I used cold packs but the hot one seems to help me 20x more.

Keep pushing with the doctors to get some help. I was very relaxed for a few years almost gave up on getting rid of my weekly migraines. Then I pulled myself together and started trying more meds! I found one that works for me! Life changing! 3 out of 4 migraines I can still function as normal, all be it with a bad headache and nausea, but at least I’m not lying in the dark vomiting for 3 days.

I’ve been on these meds for 7 months, now there is a supply delay at the pharmacy’s nationwide so I am without my medication for 2 months, the last 2 weeks have been beyond rough, I’ve tried other meds but they make me feel spaced out dizzy and tired. Don’t give up till you find something that works for you! Some meds are life changing. The last 2 weeks have been a reminder of that for me!

Coke helps me too

Definitely yes to Cefaly. Expensive but can be returned after a fixed period if it doesn’t work for you. I use it religiously every night. Also migracap stored in the freezer. So soothing when things are bad. Also Naramig….. lots of Naramig. Commiserations op. Migraines are the pits.

[quote britespark1]@RandomDent is it a specific type of magnesium?[/quote]
No, just tablets from Holland and Barrett. I double the dose and take 2 a day. If I get a migraine I’ll take an extra one.

Worth persevering with different triptans. I find Zolmitriptan works much better than Sumatriptan did. Good luck!

Hello!

What dose of amytriptaline are you on/were you taking? I saw an excellent neurologist last year after months of terrible migraines and there is a known link to migraines after the vaccines. It's not stopped me from getting my vaccines or boosters even after seeing the neurologist, but I've now got a plan in place for prevention and they're much more manageable now too.

It sucks, but find the right neurologist and you'll get it sorted. If you'd like details just PM me!

You need (in this order): an epsom salt bath for 20mins or so with a ginger beer or lemonade, a lie down in the dark with a diffuser using lavender or eucalyptus oil, syndol tablets that contain the additional muscle relaxant ingredient.

I've had migraines (along with hemiplegic ones) for 25 years and this is my method. You have my sympathies OP.

I've been reading up on open water swimming to reduce menopause symptoms. Quite a few mention reduction in migraines. (I'm not a migraine sufferer.)

You poor thing 💐 Migraines really are the worst.

I’m on propanalol twice as day as a preventative and have rizatriptan to take when I feel one coming on. I also have Botox every four months. This definitely helps, but I’ve started having more attacks again now that I’m 40. I’m making notes of suggestions above of other things to try!

My sister went to a migraine clinic where they recommended one coffee a day as they said caffeine in small doses is a preventative.