Help- migraine

[watermeloncrush]

Currently having the most horrific migraine imaginable.

I’ve been to the GP already for my headaches and been diagnosed with migraine.

This one started this afternoon and has progressively worsened. I just want to sleep and wake up with it gone, but I can’t do that because lying down makes it so much worse. It feels like my head is going to blow up with the pain. It’s on one side of my head and a sickeningly throbbing pain. All I can do is just sit and wait for it to pass. And my leg and arm are both numb from the pain of the migraine.

Does anyone have any tips for getting through this until the pain eases off? I’ve tried water, pain killers, ice packs and heat. If anyone has any tips or ideas they use to relieve their own migraine I would be hugely appreciative.

You need triptans.

Can someone go to a chemist and ask for migratran?

Triptans aren't painkillers. They work but changing blood vessels in head to reduce pain

Sumatriptan for when migraine strikes and cocodamol for the pain. Sumatriptan makes a massive difference for me to number of migraines and severity but you have to get it on prescription. You're only allowed max 6 per month.

You need sumatriptan, or any other triptan. YOu can order them online but your GP should prescribe them, however you wont be able to see a GP until tomorrow, if at all

In the meantime can someone go out and get you buccastem anti sickness, you put it under your lip so that you cant throw it up

My sympathies. I have one coming on and will have to go and take a tab and sit in the dark.

I would have a strong, full caffeine, milky coffee with 2 sugars. Alternatively, if you haven't taken ibuprofen, aren't asthmatic, and aren't prone to stomach ulcers, then 900mg (3) aspirin and a can of original Coke.

I sometimes tie a pair of tights around my head, with the knot over the bit that's most painful, then lie on the knotted side. The pressure helps.

You say that you've tried heat and ice, but have you tried them together? Heat on the back of the neck and ice on the forehead can help.

Have you tried to sleep?

You can buy sumatriptan OTC at pharmacy.

Agree with pp ref triptans. If anyone can go to a shop for you the neurofen plus highest strength also help me sometimes.

Sounds bonkers but tie your dressing down cord or a scarf as tight as you can around your head - I did it in utter desperation instinctively once and it’s a thing - the pressure helps. Also a hot water bottle on my forehead, weighted ice mask - same principle.

you poor thing, you have my sympathies - they are the worse

@Lougle tights! Never considered using them but yes exactly

Triptans are awful for me.

Aspirin, normal coca cola and ice xx
Ice contracts the blood vessels which helps reduce the pain

Pre peri menopause I was using about 3 a week, you can certainly get more than 6 a month if you need it

Thankfully my migraines have calmed right down although they now appear to be occular and stomach migraines with vertigo rather than a throbbing head, except today, when its the full monty spreading across my head

Sumatriptan works

I certainly used to be able to, but the last time I tried, couple of years ago, I was told they're not allowed anymore. I now make sure I have a massive stock in from the GP

If you can get the OTC, then OP needs to get someone to get her some

You can in some pharmacies. Not in ours anymore as they're too dangerous (apparently)

I tried Sumatriptan in the past and it made no difference at all to my migraines unfortunately 😞 also tried migrelief in the past and had no success. I took cocodamol earlier and will be due to take another dose soon so hopefully the next dose will take the edge off this pain. Thanks again for the suggestions. Never tried the tights idea but will try that, thank you.

@watermeloncrush have they offered you Topamax at all? Or Propranolol?

I want to sleep (I’m so tired) but I can’t, it hurts so much to lie down and it honestly feels like someone has inflated my head up like a balloon 😞

Tried propranolol but not topomax as far as I can remember. Sounds like that is worth trying x

I bought OTC ones on Friday. Sometimes they give you imigran, sometimes generic sumatriptan but I've always managed to get them if my prescription has run out.

Bizarre extras that make me feel better: full fat coke, very salty crisps (salt & vinegar preferably) those glucose tabs that you can get in chemists. Not the foggiest why they help, but they do. Best painkillers once the sumatriptan was working used to be syndol but they've dumbed it down now. I take paramol generally.

Triptans don’t work for me. I do get relief with ibuprofen lysine though, it’s the only thing I’ve ever tried that works.

No lying down isnt that great for migraine. I have to sit up in bed with my neck supported, hanging my head this way and that

Interesting hearing other people's experiences of pressure and sugar and caffeine I used to bang my head with the remote control on the exact pain spot, I must have looked a loon but it was instictive as someone said above

Also I used to find carbs/sugar helped, sometimes a coffee, not sure why. My OH always has to have something bready.

I've seen a neurologist recently about mine.

He said triptans are excellent but you need to be careful not to have too many (I was way over dosage and it had opposite effect)

Coedine is bad for migraines

He suggested strong dose ibuprofen

To get you through right now I do a cold pack strapped to my head and I just lie and listen to quiet podcast so I don't go mad.

But long term I'd look at what you can take to prevent. Propranolol is working amazingly for me.

Then can you sit on the sofa with your feet up and a couple of pillows to support your head? (Can you tell I'm a chronic migraineur?)

One tip that helps me is put your feet in warm water and something cold on your head. Blood flow is diverted to your head. If you can redirect it, it eases the pressure slightly. I usually have full sugar coke in as well as because I find that helps. It’s worth trying a binaural best video too. I use this one if one is brewing but there are much longer ones.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ns-5pSf33E8

Ah just saw that didn't work for you.

Do you have triggers?

Sorry to hear you are suffering, I have a bag of tricks so Ice and heat, triptans, pain killers, gua sha or facial massage. Chewing gum for the jaw, roller ball for neck, warming balm for neck ( I get in my face neck and back, forehead and sinus pain. Also full fat coke or caffeine and I eat salted crackers / pretzels when feel sick xx

I’ve had one for 4 days straight I feel like crap, triptans haven’t worked this time nor pain relief: I also have 39 Botox injections every 3 mths, sometimes they go when they want to:

I’m like you I can’t lay down; they wake
me from my sleep; I would wedge a hot water bottle and press down on the side with heat and be elevated and hopefully drift off to sleep x