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!

Sumatriptan medication. It’s behind the counter in boots (you have to fill out a little form to be able to have it). Or get it on prescription. It’s magic. The only thing that stops my migraines.

zolmitriptain, but only if caught early enough otherwise it does nothing for me. Coke, aspirin and something salty can take the edge off at the beginning for me but rarely actually solves it

Cold helps mine. So menthol forehead stick/tiger balm and a cool cap from Amazon. Medications from the GP I have tried:

amitriptyline - helped day to day headaches but not exertion ones or migraines. Very drowsy due to them

nortriptyline - as above, slightly less drowsy

indomethacin - no negative effects. Relieved day to day headaches and helped a lot with exertion & migraines but only allowed to take them for 6 months as can affect kidneys

sumatriptan nasal spray - good if taken at onset of a migraine. Doesn’t stop it happening but makes it just ‘bad headache’ level

propanalol - just started them a week ago. Hoping for a miracle.

When I had IVF, was pregnant and for 6m post partum when I couldn’t take medications, I had acupuncture every 2 weeks which was amazing, completely controlled day to day headaches & migraines. Exertion headaches weren’t nearly as bad. I’ve moved house though & on no MAT pay now so can’t have it at the moment 🥲

Sumatriptan works for me. Mine are hormonal though so it’s worth looking at that. Not much you can do if they are, but they’re easier to predict. I didn’t get any at all while pregnant but don’t fancy that again at 45!

I was getting a couple of bad migraines a week which were not helped by medication when I happened upon a private physiotherapist with an interest in headaches and migraine. She uses a method developed in Australia by a physio called Dean Watson who regards some migraines as cervicogenic (caused by problems in the neck). She could stop a full-on migraine in its tracks and did this with me so often it couldn’t be placebo. I’m now in a position where i rarely get them, in fact I can’t remember when I last had one. Through my consultations, I also became aware that simply bending my neck downwards could trigger a migraine, eg when looking down at a book or screen on my lap. I had to stop using a laptop and bought a reading stand for my tablet which means I can avoid that trigger movement.

I think that the Dean Watson method is not widely known in the UK but there are some practitioners. If you’re at the end of your tether with your migraines, as I was, you may find it interesting to browse the website and you can search for a practitioner on it if you’re interested.

https://watsonheadache.com/watson-headache-clinic-1/

Has anyone had CBT for migraines? A friend's DD is on a waiting list for it and is trying melatonin.

Cocodomol, tiger balm or Vicks on my forehead and coffee.

I’ve just bought a cold cap thing off Amazon as well which helps a bit.

Mine are hormonal and I get them either side of my period.

Also has a student who had awful migraines. She had Botox injections in the neck once she turned 18 and it helped.

@drspousejust so you're aware my Doctor drilled into me that I must never ever take Propanol as in asthmatic.
The practice I go to is a training practice and a student had suggested it for my migraines and he told them no, not ever for asthmatics. Apparently there's a close link with deaths from asthma and Propanol. I said my asthma was mild and he said it didn't matter.
I hadn't been aware before then.

Original syndol as early as possible (but need to be at home as they can make me very drowsy).

Paracetamol/ibuprofen together if not possible to take syndol. But this isn't as effective and may get vomited up.

Hrt has reduced the number I get (early 40s, pre hrt, I could get a migraine a week). Now down to one every 2 months or so.

Darkness/sunglasses indoors.

Also fizzy drinks and any food I crave (for some reason as the migraine fades I crave a shit tonne of junk food- all the carbs, all the sugar, and all the salt!).

Propranolol for me too, been on it 5 years for migraine prevention...best thing I've ever done

Beta blockers taken 3 times a day for a few months and then as long as I take them now and then they keep them at bay. Nothing else worked.

Sympathies OP. i get cluster migraines a couple of days a month - usually triggered by tension and/or dehydration - so when travelling or working long hours for work

i take soluable solphadine plus and an then do an ice pack for on my head. and when feeling a bit better a can of coke and some ready salted crisps

good luck

I started getting them after having my first child. Naratriptan works when they come on, I tried Sumatriptan first but it wore off to quickly. A can of full fat coke and food, sweet and salty. Going on the pill helped too initially.

By the time I got to 40 I was getting about 2 a week. The list above helped the pain go quickly but for me the post drome is the worst bit and lasts 2 days where I feel fuzzy headed, tired and can't think straight, then a new migraine starts.
At 47 I went on HRT as I had a lot of perimenopause symptoms. Migraines have dropped to about 2-3 a month rather than a week. I wish I'd joined the dots earlier!

Every few months I get a period where I'll start getting migraines pretty much every day. When that happens I take pizotifen for a few days and that breaks the cycle.

Also soluble aspirin is what paramedics will give for migraines

I wrote a post about this under General Health. Have struggled worse and worse for about 4 years.

Someone suggested Sumatriptan. I made a GP appointment and explained the frequency, severity and how they were impacting my life. I actually wanted to see if I could try acupuncture, they don't do that on the NHS so I got Sumatriptan.

Absolute life changer. Completely. I can stop a migraine in 30 minutes to an hour as soon as it starts. Honestly I was thinking I would have to give up work.

It's not for constant use. I am seeing how often I need it and if not may seek a preventative.

They did say they'd refer me to Neurology but I've not heard about this, I'm not sure it's really needed now anyway.

zolmitriptan is working well for me as long as I take it as soon as the aura starts, I have hemiplegic migraines due to hormones and humidity,
I’ve also found after hitting mid 30s they’re less severe too so a bit worried how I’ll be in the menopause.

I tried propanolol and other daily ones but I had horrible side effects, I am tempted to try topiramate though and see if it’ll work.

Edited to add: I tried sumatriptan which made no difference for me and I was just lucky the GP had said there was more than one triptan to try!

Acupuncture for sinus

White tiger balm

Place marking

High fibre diet, and not too much stodge.
Also the suggested amount of water each day.
I find my migraines coincide with constipation or approach to constipation.

You are very lucky. I feel like someone is drilling a hole into my eye and sawing my shoulder in half. I wish I could sleep.

F

I didn’t have a single migraine after getting a hormonal coil put in. 4.5 years of bliss. I had a Kyleena.

amitriptyline taken around my period helps. A retainer has made a huge difference to how many migraines I get. Turned out grinding my teeth at night was the main cause.

Botox makes mine go away completely. I used to get them quite a lot and never get them now. I let my Botox wear off at the beginning of the year rather than getting it topped up and I had regular migraines until I got to the clinic for more.

To be clear, I'm getting Botox for vanity. It just has this lovey side effect.