Come talk to me about coping with MIGRANES while caring for small DCs...

[spicandspan]

Since the birth of DC3 4 months ago, I have had crippling migranes about 3 times a week. GP is great, taking it seriously, and has prescribed some strong NSAID and anti-sickness drugs (which so far I'm too scared to take as I'm breastfeeding - even tho she said it was safe!). I'm trying to manage the symptoms with ibuprofen and paracetemol, but still find the headaches and aura quite debilitating.

How do you cope with small children at home when you have a migrane? DC2 is inly 2, and dc1 is at school so there is the school run. Just after some advice or tips from anyone who has dealt with the same sort of situation.

I feel your pain.....I get terrible migraines since being diagnosed as hypothyroid. I've always been prone to them but they're getting worse. Thankfully my GP takes it seriously - but I can't cope with them and DD at the same time. My DH has to come home from work to collect her from school or take her to ballet etc

Have you tried an anti-hitimine with the ibuprofen, I read about this in The Times this year and tried it and it definitely helps me. Something like a Pitiron tablet, also taking vitamin d in the morning is supposed to help. Both fairly inert so may be worth a try. The Piriton additon really helps me,.

You could consider a prophylactic. My migraines were so debilitating that although I stopped taking the medication that prevents them during my second pregnancy I had to go back on it - and now I'm breastfeeding. There's no evidence that the drug I take (gabapentin) damages the foetus or enters breastmilk in significant amounts, and there are a number of prophylactics available - the first line drug is usually amitriptyline.

I'd never have been able to manage a second child if the migraines were still a problem. They took a while to be diagnosed (I have the silent variety) and made life a pure ordeal. Given they're hormonal in origin, I hope to be able to give up the gabapentin in time, but it's transformed my quality of life. You have all my sympathy! Have you visited the City of London Migraine Clinic website?

Alert for those on combined hormone contraception

Thought I'd post it in here, after reading your post as you may get a bit of traffic, so sorry for the high jacking.

I suffered terribly with migraines, often feeling and looking like I'd had some kind of stroke : All my left side was numb, I couldn't walk or use my arm (actually felt as if the whole of that side wasn't mine) and had numbness to my face, lips fingers and toes, on top of that my mouth couldn't follow what my brain wanted to say and I'd speak another language, not able to clearly communicate what I wanted...It was very scary and at first the GP put it down to typical migraine and treated accordingly and still prescribed me the pill.
It wasn't until a few years later and a new GP that I was told I must stop taking the pill, I'm not allowed anything with Oestrogen now and the diagnosis was Focal Migraine, apparently it can be dangerous and the stroke type feelings were pretty much what it was doing to my brain, damaging the blood vessels and nerves each time I had an attack. I still have the occasional migraine now but nowhere near as bad.

I really feel for you, it's hard work with small DC at the best of times never mind when you have a migraine.
Whenever I feel one coming now I drink a minimum 1ltr of water (along with the painkillers), a pharmacist once told me he had been part of some research and believed that a vast percentage of headaches/migraines in women were caused because of dehydration. It doesn't work all of the time but lots of times it has for me. Worth a try.

Currently I'm finding success with a glass of flat coke, 2 co-codamol and a domperidone for the sickness. Something in that combo seems to halt them!