Migraine - I'm desperate

[merrywidow]

doc put me on cezarette to stabalize hormones. I need contraception anyway however doesn't seem to stop migraine.

I take maxalt 10mg for attacks ( if I don't have them I will be vomitting bile and serious head pain for 12-14 hours straight )

Attack always wakes me between 4 - 6 in the morning so i take maxalt and try to sleep it off , sometimes it works , sometimes it just dulls all the symptoms and I can function.

I have got a very light period at the moment and have had a migraine attack three days in a row, today being the worst.

fed up as its every month and can sometimes get attacks up to 5 days in a row.

Any advice appreciated

TIA

Sometimes a full dose of soluble aspirin can shift a migraine if you don't normally take it iyswim. The sudden anti inflammatory action can work and often did with mine which were severe for years but stopped in my 40s

Doesn't the maxalt work? I thought the triptans were supposed to stop migraines immediately - I'm sure my GP said that.

Have you worked out your triggers?

I'm 43, my dad had them and they stopped in his late 40s I think.

sometimes take 2 paracetemol + 2 nurofen, that can help, will try soluble asprin.

got to go to work now though feeling terrible will check back later

Stream, its the hormones that trigger.

Triptan doesn't fully work always, only 80% of time

Def try it MW it has worked for me on a couple of isolated occasions when nothing else did.

I had a GP who knew what he was talking about!!

Your metabolism slows down with migraine so the reason painkiller "don't work" is they sit in your stomach dissolving too slowly to help.

You need a soluble painkiller (aspirin or paracetamol). I take paracetamol so I can also take ibuprofen as well (not available soluble). You need to take them immediately that you get the first symptom of migraine.

You also need to have a high caffeine drink like coffee or coke to help the painkillers into your system.

might be worth getting a book on it - I did but it said much the same as my GP!

Try soluble anadin with aspirin , paracetamol, and caffeine in it, if that doesn't start working in 15 mins, take nurofen plus - ibuprofen and codeine.

This combo usually works for me, although it's not something you should do too regularly I don't think.

Hope it improves.

my son has migraines the neurologist put him on pizotifen to prevent them, seemed to work so might be worth asking your doctor.

when i was younger i had awful migraines and was prescribed paramax powders, not sure if they still do them but they helped me.

sorry you are suffering so much i know how painful it can be and i really hope you start to feel better soon

Ps sorry should have said that aspirin and ibuprofen really don't dgo together, can give you stomach problems, I would only do that in a severe emergency, sorry .

I've been taking Diindolylmethane (DIM) supplements for a year now - they are derived from a substance found in cauliflower. Haven't had a migraine since starting on them.

I mentioned this to a friend who has also started taking them and she's only had 1 migraine when she forget the point in her cycle.

As an added side effect I've also stopped getting the pre period spots I've been getting since being a teenager - definitely worth a shot. Look for 200mg tablets I've bought mine from ebay or amazon normally.

This wdsite says more about DIM - may be lentil weaving rubbish but so far has worked for me!

Magnesium supplements can also help.

According to a few studies that I've Googled briefly, the most effective combination that is relatively safe (although not for chronic conditions where you need to constantly medicate) is ibuprofen and codeine.

If you were to start with a soluble paracetamol with caffeine such as panadol extra (paracetamol being less likely to cause side effects) then progress to nurofen plus if that doesn't work, I think that would be safe.

I have no real medical clue though - but the gp has not really helped either in my case. Amitrypilene (sp) in low doses did seem to break the cycle for a while - not used as an AD though, in low dose.

I really hope you get some relief - it is very miserable.

loler , how much are your supplements? Am prepAred to give the lentil-weavery stuff a go if its not too dear!

My maxalt stopped working after a couple of sachets. I found if one was starting eating a sandwich would make it last only a couple of hours rather than all day, mine sound abit different though to yours,
I go numb, everywhere
My eyes blur
Im sick, alot
I have the headache.
But by the time of the headache comes im grateful that that is it.
I know you can get put on some tablets that you have to take daily forever, maybe talk to your G.P :)

Has your GP said anything about SSRI's?

Might not be something you're willing to try, but since being on citalopram my migraines virtually stopped. It's only since lowering the dose and attempting to come off them that they've returned.

You've said you'r on Maxalts - is that the melt version? Agree with people who say to have a coke at the onset of an attack as well.

The only thing that ever worked for me to get rid of the pain was a full dose of neurofen (the gel ones absorb quicker) and a full dose of codeine.

I had to stop taking the pill, because mine were hormone triggered as well, so I can't take it now (just a thought)

Mine got better after i stopped taking the pill. They are definitely hormonal for me. Still get the occasional one but nothing compared to how it used to be

Ebay has them listed for £18 including postage.

I take a tablet every day but my friend only has them the week before her period is due. Hope they work for you too.

I found out about them from someone on MN can't remember what thread it was - so must be working for other people too.

Can you use a non hormone contraceptive? maybe you could see if there is some improvement being au naturel hormone wise for a while.
I've also had some improvement with upping magnesium and also B vitamins, but many of my attacks are stress related.
I shall also check out the lentil waeving idea so thanks loler. Also have you seen a neurologist?
Really hope you can get some relief. x

thanks, lots to try here.

My mum has diazepam (sp?) from the GP. She knows her triggers and takes them after whatever might set it off. I had Triptan once I think for my classic migraine and thought I was having a stroke... not pleasant and very scary.

My DP has suffered with migraines for years and thought he'd tried everything under the sun.

I got him to take two paracetamol then two ibruprofen when he had an attack when we first met - and it really helps him. He still feels washed out afterwards but if he takes them as soon as the scotoma (visual disturbance) starts, it nails the migraine in its tracks 9 times out of 10.

He's also been given Zomig, which he's used twice (and not taken painkillers). Once it was instantaneous in getting rid of the pain - literally seconds - the other, it didn't work at all. So not to sure on that one.

It's a miserable thing to go through. Have you had your BP checked? My stepmum's dad stopped having migraines once he went onto BP medication in his 40s and hasn't had one since.

i suffer from migraines

i take naratriptan which can take up to a couple of hours to work, but does if i take it as soon as i feel a migraine starting

the advice re soluble painkillers as mentioned above is also good. my gp also suggested this - soluble paracetamol really helps.

you can buy another "triptan" - sumitriptan over the counter - you should maybe give this a go and if it works, go to gp and ask for it, or another triptan, on prescription.

i totally sympathise with your migraines but hopefully triptans will help.

merry, the only way I stopped my hormonal migraines was to keep taking the pill (i.e. never to have that week break when the period comes). This way your hormones stay stable throughout. By stopping the pill and letting your period come, your hormone levels change thus inducing your migraine. I found that no medicine I ever took (triptans etc.) could stop a menstrual migraine and the only thing that ever worked was taking the pill this way.

I went to a gynae who suggested this and it worked.

Every 6 months or so, I let myself have a period and the migraine that comes with it otherwise I start getting cramps. It's the only way I can manage my condition.