Migraines

[Cupofteaandbiscuits]

I am on day ten of a migraine. I take my sumatriptan and it goes only to come back later that evening. I’ve tried aspirin, sinus tablets in case it was this, ibuprofen and paracetamol and the migraine does go but comes back. I’m exhausted with this now. I spoke to the GP on day 5 and she increased my dose of sumatriptan and gave me preventative tablets (propranolol) but I’m exhausted by this. Should I speak to GP again tomorrow or go to A and E? I feel silly to go to A and E but so sick of this pain!

loads of sympathy here as also been there. Now on topiramate as a preventer and sumatriptan attacks however had to push for those and had to try others first. Be strong with the GP that you need to try preventer medicine.
Also once I started HRT I found my migraines lessoned greatly; I don’t know your age but lack of oestrogen I was told is a migraine trigger I just wish I was told that years ago before I had to suffer through trial and error of medicine.

Kool Soothe migraine relief gel patch. My friend swears by flat coke and fizzy sweets, eg Haribo.
Hugs. Migraines are shite xxx

I’m having a similar issue at the moment. I think mine is a rebound headache from the sumatriptan. I’ve stopped taking it and just taking ibuprofen at the moment.

My DD12 wad getting migraines every day and missing hours of school. NHS GP wouldn't do anything about it. Took her to a private paediatrician who gave her topirmate as a preventative and she now doesn't get any at all. She's on 50mg. We tried to reduce down to 25mg and she got a 6-day migraine.

The only problem is that we have to keep going back to the paediatrician for private prescriptions as NHS GP won't prescribe it as its not licensed for migraines in children. This is despite it being 100% effective and preventing her daily migraines and no side effects at all except a bit of weight loss at the beginning.

As well as sumatriptan, I also use the 4head stick and a cold flannel. I put the 4head on my forehead but also on the back of my neck. I find the heat makes my worse, so the cooling effect of the flannel and menthol helps

I'm having a bout of them at the moment too.

Like you I don't like to take too many triptans, as I do get rebound headaches. When I can't take anymore I take antihistamines at bedtime, or aspirin in fat Coke. (Must be full fat tho). This often will break the cycle.

I've also got a migraine cold cap which doesn't stop it but does make you feel a bit better.

As a fellow sufferer i feel your pain (literally). Id go back to GP and push for a neurology referral because tbh what a GP and neurologist can prescribe are night and day. I (after years of going to GP and taking useless painkillers) now have scripts for toperimate, verapamil, prednisone, tripans and about 5 other things as a treatment

One thing I have found that helps is to chug and I mean chug an energy drink as quick as possible. I swear to god it can stop a migraine in its tracks. I know caffiene can be a trigger too but apparently a big burst of caffeine has vasocontrictive properties so can help. Id read it on a forum and tried in desperation one day and it stopped the headache in its tracks

Fellow migraine sufferer here, 50 years experience!
Started early teens when hormones kicked in. Then every 14 days for 4 days straight. Hell on earth.
Topiramate as a preventative works, start low tritrate up to 100mg daily
Sumatriptan in fact all the triptan family will cause rebound headaches as per OP current situation.
The absolute game changer’s are the newish biologics such as Ajovy, one injection each month. These preventative drugs are fairy godmothers. Most people find they stop all migraines ever happening. These are prescribed by neurologists so get your GP appointment and insist on a referral also ask GP for topiramate
most sufferers eventually have rebound migraines from taking drugs, sadly the way forward is stop the triptans, take a good over the counter painkiller like solphadine then get a preventative tablet like topiramate and insist on getting the monthly injection. That should stop you ever suffering another migraine going forward. 🙏

Obviously no one here can give you medical advice. But it's strongly not advised to take opiates for migraine (eg co cocodamol) as they tend to lead to rebound headache. Sounds like you're considering rebound headache may be a factor here anyway. The only acute migraine drug I'm aware of that doesn't contribute to rebound headache (aka Medication overuse headache) is Vydura ( rimegepant). This is newly available. You may be able to get this prescribed by the GP but may also have to go through a consultant.
The migraine trust has excellent information about migraine and a useful podcast, there's a whole episode on medication overuse headache.
You have my sympathies. Whoever came up with the "72 hours" diagnostic criterion wasn't really with it.

This is extremely misleading and giving false hope. Yes the injectable monoclonal antibody drugs are a great development but they are not the miracle cure you are portraying.

I use Biofreeze roll on on my neck and peppermint oil on my pillow which helps a bit. I've tried 2 different types of the monthly injection over a 5 month period but neither helped at all. I've recently started 12 weekly botox injections so have my fingers crossed. I've tried all the preventatives over the last 20 yrs and none helped

Try caffeine tablets. If mine goes on past three days I have to stop the triptans and go cold turkey. I do find the caffeine tablets (either pro plus or paracetamol plus caffeine) can be very effective. Also try some electrolytes as electrolyte imbalance can trigger migraines.

So I tried the cold flannel on the neck trick and realised that I couldn’t feel the back of my neck. It’s completely numb! Anyone had this with a migraine?

OP that sounds awful. I suffer too but mine are 1-3 days. Have you been prescribed Zomig ever? The trick is to take it as soon as you get symptoms (not sure if you get aura with yours but as soon as I feel my vision blurring I was advised to take it) but it made me really drowsy so I now take NSAIDS. I have been recommended to take magnesium as a preventative so maybe you could try that? I would ask for a scan though as 10 days seems far too long!

You can't insist on a referral to a neurologist or insist on having injectables in the UK.

Injectables are only prescribed if you've tried and failed 4 or 5 (I forget how many) preventer meds and you are still having a significant quantity of migraines a month.

Most people are going to find a preventer tablet that works for them, every region has it's own guidance for GPs on how to do this.

You just have to be very persistent about going back to your GP - tried this, didn't work, try a higher dose, didn't work etc etc etc.

I am on injectables but don't know anyone else who is and I know a lot of women with migraine! All of them bar one (oh and me) had successful management from their GP.

Agree with this. My migraines started turning into daily events. I was waking up with a migraine every day. It went with sumatriptan but was back the next day.

The doctor explained the sumatriptan was causing it. I didn't want to believe her because I liked taking sumatriptan as it is the only thing that's ever helped.

However eventually I went cold turkey and stopped the sumatriptan. Gradually in time the migraines improved to the point I only get them once a month now and so I am back on sumatriptan but only take it once or twice a month and NO MORE.

When I went back on the sumatriptan it was fascinating, if I took it 2 days in a row I could actually feel it bringing back the migraine.

At this point, I'd strongly urge you to call the non-emergency number (sorry I'm in Ireland and I don't know it) to get some medical advice. It sounds like a trapped nerve at this point because you can't feel the back of your neck and I'd let the triage nurse know that you're not able to feel the back of your neck and that isn't normal for your type of migraine.

That sounds absolutely horrendous! Poor you.

I stopped taking Sumatriptan years ago as it was t very effective and have settled on Almogran these days. I would take 2 pills when it was really bad some days.

Also, are you being careful with your diet? Mine were essentially hormone related but diet also affected them. Milk, tomatoes, coffee, fatty foods definitely affected me when at my worst.

I've definitely had fewer migraines since being menopausal. Hurrah!! 🤞

Get referral to neurology headache clinic. Have a look at migraine trust website
Some meds have bad side effects for some
It s trial and error to find the right one

You have my sympathy op. My longest continuous migraine was 3 weeks. It was horrendous, A&E won't be able to do anything in my experience. Propranolol really helped my migraines and it did for several years until I hit perimenopause. At the time of the migraine i was genuinely baffled as to why it was happening but looking back I was incredibly unhappy in my marriage at the time and started divorce proceedings later that year so stress was the main reason. Do you go to an osteopath? I find this really helps me along side of the meds. Also start keeping a migraine diary and speak to your gp about the possibility of being referred to a neurologist if they continue.

Yes, I also sometimes lose feeling in my hands and forearms.
I don’t know if you’ve tried caffine but I usually find three espressos in a row helps a bit.

They have been an absolute miracle for me and hundreds of people i have interacted with on specialist migraine forums
they are widely accepted as a breakthrough medicine and lifeline for people like me who have suffered decades of pain and hospital admissions.
if you feel thats misleading so be it. Im ecstatic to have a life free of pain and all the joy i have missed out on.

@DamnedIfIDoDamnedIfIDont they have been a miracle for me too but OP is not going to be prescribed them on the NHS, or even have a neurology appointment, if she hasn't tried a single preventer medication in primary care.

Thank you for your help.
I am under a neurologist already. I am at the urgent treatment centre as I just can’t take the pain anymore!