tell me about your migraines and other superbad headaches please

[Alameda]

DEPRESSED to have had first one for about seven years plus it was completely different - no warning, went on for longer and I still feel shit (used to feel reborn once had slept it off) surely migraines cannot just reappear when they feel like it with a whole new set of rules?

and what do you take for them?

Thanks amillionyears I think I need to start keeping a diary of symptoms regularly to try and pinpoint it more. Its very hard because like you say somethings could be a coincidence as the migraine may have already started.

Not sure I like the idea of being full of stale air
Great advice though thank you :)

I am another one who seems to wake in the night with a migraine.I now have learnt never to go to bed with a headache - to take something before I go to bed - as if it progresses and wakes me in the night it's usually very bad.
I think those ones are often to do with not having drunk enough during the day.

I am on day seven now. and I have been sick twice. luckily I have work, so I get to make tea and coffee for old dears all day.

I think the link between PFO and migraine is controversial.

When deoxygenated blood returns to the heart, it is pumped by the right side of the heart to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood releases carbon dioxide but also other chemical waste products, and takes on oxygen. So, the lungs are seen as a cleanser of blood. The "clean" blood then goes to the left side of the heart, where it is pumped to the body.

If blood that has not passed through the lungs crosses to the left side of the heart, it is sent to the body without having the waste products filtered first. With a PFO, it's unlikely that blood will cross between the two sides if the heart, because of the flap of skin, unless there is straining or coughing. However, it is believed that chemical waste products may cross more easily.

This, as I said above, is not mainstream AFAIK, and has not been proven by clinical trials. There have been some trials done, but I think they have been inconclusive.

welcome to the quiche fuzzpig, hope appointment comes through quickly

day seven pilchard? that's unthinkable

this thread is full of interesting theories, triggers and treatments wish I hadn't started it in chat now, wonder if it could be moved to somewhere where it will live a bit longer?

teatimesthree, thanks, good to know the magic injections are still out there - only ever had them from the out of hours people

Interesting comments about waking up with migraine. Another trigger for me is tiredness, if I have been driving long distance etc. I then have really bad dreams, usually that I am in a huge argument or somebody dies - my sleep is disturbed and I wake up in a mess. If I can take a pill as soon as I wake, and sleep for 20 mins I am OK, have had a few where I have just tried to sleep it off and have had migraine for days afterwards.
I am not sure if the dreams are caused by or are the trigger for the migraine.

I take the magic injection for my cluster headaches. Still makes my nose tingle. hate having to do it myself, will get OH to do it if hes to hand when one strikes.

Hi, we've moved this into General Health, just so it doesn't disappear into oblivion. Thanks.

oh thank you kat, that was quick

oh just saw thread about cranial osteopathy and it reminded me about the dr suggesting I see an osteopath (just a normal one I suppose? was not really listening, was thinking 'shut up and give me the drugs') - anyone here seen an osteopath for headaches? what do they do?

Another late joining migraine sufferer here! First time on MN for a few days...as I was layed up in bed with a migraine! Worst one that I have had in a while as well. I used to get 12-16 migraines a month but since seeing a neurologist and being put on a daily course of beta-blockers they have reduced nicely to about 2-6 a month. I take rizatriptan (tablet form) and codeine when I get a migraine. I also take Gravol (North American Anti-nauseant) which is not available here as it is the only thing that works for me. I also need a cold, dark, quiet room with a large ice pack wrapped around my head and a bucket next to me. I can't usually get up and down when I have a full blown migraine as the movement almost guarantees vomiting. Oh joy!

I have a variety of triggers:
Lack of sleep, stress, time changes (when I travel long haul), not eating regular set meals, strong smells, period and weather. Oh and pregnancy was a big trigger!! Food or drink have never been triggers for me.

I have so many triggers it's insane; hunger, strong smells (especially chemicals), bright light, hormones, citrus, too much sugar, disturbed sleep, dehydration, the list goes on!

So far none of the kids have shown signs but both boys have been complaining of headaches with this might weather and dd has had a few headaches on the past few months. No migraine symptoms yet though thankfully

I was crippled for the first 6 months Óg pregnancy each time too... Horrific as I couldn't take anything

What annoys me is that people think its 'just' a headache. For me generally the headache bit is the easiest part to manage!! Some of you sound like you a dreadful time with 'em

Ooh, I've just remembered. On a couple of occasions, when I've been stressed and had a migraine, the wrong word comes out. So if I want to say 'table', possibly 'sideboard' or 'cupboard' will come out.

That was a bit freaky.

I get a hormonal one, the day before my period it feels like an elephant is sitting on my head.
Air pressure gives me headaches but not migraines. Perfume/air freshners/smelly stuff is a big triggger. Its almost immediate with one whiff.

I get a migraine on the right side if my head,down into ny eye and I can sometimes have a creepy crawly feeling down my face. I would often wake up with one that gets worse, I wonder if Im clenching my jaw as I sleep?

Syndol is my saviour because I get a very sore neck and the muscle relaxatant in it helps enormously.

I have found ostopathy to help, I carry all my strees in my neck, which in turn gives me a sore head. Getting my neck loosened really helps.

My migraines are triggered by 3D films, stress, dehydration (can be caused by heat), smells and food combinations - oranges and chocolate, pastry and caffeine etc. The foods on their own are okay (so it's not an allergy) but a few in combination are a guaranteed migraine recipe. Smells that trigger for me are cinnamon, citrus, mothball smells and musk.

I start by feeling chilly, then a bit shivery, then the light sensitivity arrives. At this point I can catch it with some pink migralieve and a few pints of water (literally, glugging away for 15 min or so - proper gulps. DP is trained to bring in pint glasses of it to form a queue - 3/4 is usually enough). Whatever time of day or night it is, I mustn't go to sleep at this point (even though super tired and yawning - the migraine manages to sneak up on me in my sleep, even if I've done the water/pills thing.

If I don't get to the water/pills point within about 20 min of the first light sensitivity pains, the aura arrives. By then it's too late, and I'll have disturbed vision and vomiting for 3-5 days and have to retreat to a dark, cold room. I'm torn between envy and sympathy for those who can go into work - not me!

By the last day, the visuals are back to normal, and it turns into a fairly normal headache, except that it can slink around to different corners of my head (like a big black panther!) It often tends to rest around either ear, or between/behind my eyes. On the final day, I can mooch about the house and attempt conversation - HeathRobinson's example above was interesting as my language gets confused too, but I use words that sound similar but mean nothing related (A recent example was "I put the pug of tea on the able.")

Apart from the combined pill/cerazette thing, I've never spoken to the doctor as Migraines have always been in my family (mum's side) and I've had them as long as I remember... maybe there's hope that I don't have to lose a few days every time. Will need to look in to the "magic injections".

Has anybody with auras made a link between migraines and TIAs (mini-strokes)? There are many overlapping symptoms and I just wondered what made it a migraine as oppose to a TIA.

ageappropriate,I am aware that the right side of me[the same side as my migraine ],is a bit weaker than my left.
But when I get visual disturbances with the migraine,I dont feel that my right side is any weaker than normal.

fuzzpig If it is CH you've got then you have my utmost sympathy.

I have suffered from cluster headache since I was about 18. I wasn't diagnosed until about 7 years later when I turned up sobbing in the GP's office in the middle of an attack. My GP suspected neuralgia and referred me to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

I currently have an episode once every two years, lasting for up to 12 weeks each time. Until a few years ago I was having two episodes a year, every spring and autumn. Research suggests it could be caused by the effect of seasonal changes on the brain's circadian rhythm.

As soon as an episode begins I start taking Verapamil, calcium channel blockers, every day. These are the prophylactic treatment. Until they start to take effect I also have Immigran injections to take when a headache occurs. They are indeed magic, I can actually feel the drug flowing up from my thigh, up my chest to my head and removing the pain.

Believe me, I have tried every painkiller, osteopathy, acupuncture, magnets (!), marijuana (!!) and nothing else works. I had an episode when I was pregnant and couldn't take Verapamil or Immigran. I had to endure 12 weeks of excruciating headaches, for an hour every morning from 4am and and, at its peak, every evening from 6pm with nothing but breathing exercises to relax me. It was utterly miserable.

Sorry, I've rambled on a bit. I hope you get a diagnosis and suitable treatment soon. If you need any more information have a look on the OUCH website.

Thanks quenelle that's all really helpful

HeathRobinson I also (rarely) can get 'communication problems' with migraine.

I am very lucky that I don't vomit with migraines.alistron1 for me the worst part is the headache.I can find the pain utterly unmanageable.

No problem fuzzpig. Am happy to help if you want to know anything else.

I use Imigran (Sumatriptan) and find it very good. I use the injections.

Used to have the nasal spray at work as more convenient nto use, but they are not as effective. For me, sprays are adequate if you can do the nap-in-a-darkened room thing afterwards. Pills I found I vomited up, but that might be a psycological thing.

The "bood sugar in the morning" I'm not sure about, but keep a jar of sultanas and some water by the bed, and it maybe seems to help.