To ask what helps your migraines?!

[PitifulPrincess]

Since I had my second child 2 years ago I've been getting migraines on average 3 times a month. I get awful nausea and vomiting every time. I haven't pinpointed a cause but it's probably stress related. I have a busy life and a child with autism whose behaviour can be difficult, 'managing stress' isn't really an option.

Please tell me any miracle migraine cures you've found that actually have worked for you to lessen a migraine once it's started or prevented them!

Feverfew - I went from 4-6 migraine days a month to 0 just taking feverfew every morning.

For me it’s the following:

Stay hydrated
get adequate sleep
avoid extreme drop of blood sugar ie don’t skip meals
avoid excessive screen use (sometimes I do 14 hour days on laptop - bad idea
avoid stress

I have Mirena coil and I’m better since I don’t have PMT any more - hormone changes can be a trigger and that was definitely much worse after I’d had kids than before.

Im also triggered by sudden changes in air pressure like @TeenLifeMum so if there’s a thunderstorm I am careful to watch for migraine onset symptoms and then take pink Migraleve. I can sense when a headache is going to be a migraine.

And I’m triggered sometimes by severe sinus blockage so I’m careful about using steam inhalations during colds etc.

I’ve never heard of Feverfew - off to Google it!

I’ve suffered with migraines since I hit teenage years. Mine are hormone and stress related (and bizarrely the weather when it’s humid!). Monitor your migraines and maybe keep a diary to see if they happen after certain foods/triggers or at certain points in the month. 3 times a month sounds awful! My advice is get yourself to your GP and start trying some different prescription medications. I’ve found it doesn’t stop the migraine but lessens the time it lasts for (4-6hrs instead of 12+) stops me being sick (I just feel it instead), it’s not as bad as without the meds and I manage to fall asleep and sleep through the worst of it in a dark room. I don’t get the full on “migraine hangover” the next day either so I can usually get back to normal activity, whereas without the medication I’m laid up for another day just getting over it. I used to use Migraleve from the pharmacy and that worked really well alongside my prescribed medication but not sure they still do it as I haven’t managed to find it for a while - the pink and yellow tablet version as that’s good for sickness.

You can also take preventative medicine. I never went for it as I don’t get mine that often since having DS. But 3 times a month you may want to consider it as I imagine it’s really disrupting your life?

Also, maybe one to explore if you never had migraines and suddenly developed them… I worked with a guy once who started getting awful ones all the time out the blue. He had a trapped nerve in his neck (or something similar I can’t remember fully) and a physio diagnosed it and once he got treatment they stopped.

My gp recommended a can of coke and bag of chipper chips with lashings of salt and vinegar.

I always keep a can of coke in the fridge(this has lead to a diet coke addiction which I'm trying to battle) and a when I get the first hint of a migraine I put my sunglasses on even in the house and have can of coke and some salt and vinegar Pringles.

Do you get migraine aura before the headache? I haven’t been having too many migraines since menopause, but what really helped me was taking painkillers as soon as the visual aura started. I mean at the very first suspicion. Usually it reduced the headache drastically or completely stopped it. I still had all the other associated stuff like feeling kind of hollowed out and terrible fatigue, but it’s almost impossible to eradicate every symptom. I still had some fleeting nausea, but wasn’t actually sick.

• Triptans - I got a prescription meltlet so I didn't keep throwing them up but you can also get a nasal spray.
• Sugar, caffeine and sleep.
• Watching my cycle (pre menopause) and then realised they were better on the implant.
• I took Propanol for a while but it made my asthma worse.
• I now take amitriptyline as a preventer. It helps in that when I get them now a couple of paracetamol usually see them off.
• Yoga with Adrienne has a migraine sequence that surprisingly helps. Get in some lavender oil for it.

Mine seem to be hormone related too as I don't usually get a migraine the week of my period

Sleep.
But my body will literally put me to sleep during a migraine so I don't get a lot of choice in the matter.

So interesting hearing all your experiences, I'm taking it all in xx

Other than medication I have found the following things help:

Full fat Coke and salty crisps (seems to be a common one)
Running a cold tap over my wrists.
Electrolyte drinks (this one I learnt recently and it really helps)

Ice packs. I've got a gel pack that I can strap to my forehead which means I can move around/sit up with it on. Almost pain free with it on, bit pain returns as soon as its off. Other things that sometimes help are moving about (moves pressure from head to limbs) salty foods and antihistamine.

I seem to have (happily) found my triggers and haven't had a migrene for a good few years. Started when I was around 8 or 9, I think.

Hydration - drink lots, usually room temp water. I think back to when I was a kid and rarely drank during the day.

Constipation. The absolute main trigger for me, I'm very aware now of toilet visits and make sure I have a high fibre diet, daily Fruit and Fibre breakfast cereal sorts me.

A huge hit of caffeine as soon as I feel it coming on.

Mine are hormonal too. I find Solpadeine dispersible tablets good, but if it’s a bad one then Co codomol is the only thing that helps. A hot wheat bag on my forehead also helps a bit.
I’ve found avoiding wearing or being around perfume has actually helped, I realised recently it’s a trigger for me.

Oh I forgot perfume! Yes, that's a bad one. I've had to ask managers to get everyone not to wear perfume at work before. And to get rid of the reed diffusers.

Another air pressure migraine sufferer here! If I get in quickly with a couple of pink Migraleve tablets I can usually fend it off, but if not then that’s me in bed in a dark room throwing up for 12 hours. Sympathy to all who suffer!

Plain salty carbs, water, triptan medication and sleep

Sometimes lying in a very very hot bath and brushing my teeth for ages

Not sure if previously mentioned, but Feverfew is a herbal preventative, I get mine from Holland and Barrett on offer

Coffee! No idea why it works but it does.

Soluble aspirin and sugary coke at the first sign of the aura. I usually crave crisps at that point, interesting to see this is common. If it develops beyond the aura it will stop if I stick my head under stone cold running water. They almost never get beyond the aura now, which only lasts for about half an hour, thankfully. One blessing of getting older.

It depends how mine starts. Hand numbness and tingly tongue then it's 900mg of aspirin and full fat coke. If it's my speech and or vision then it's Triptans and a lie down to sleep. Both need anti sickness meds too.

It depends how mine starts. Hand numbness and tingly tongue then it's 900mg of aspirin and full fat coke. If it's my speech and or vision then it's Triptans and a lie down to sleep. Both need anti sickness meds too.

Coffee and a banana at the first signs. If that doesnt work, cocodamol does. Knocks me out though. You have my sympathy, a really bad migraine used to last for 3 days when I was younger.

Yes. I've had migraines for over 20 years and propranolol has really helped reduce intensity and frequency of them.