Non-stop migraine.

[WanderingTrolley1]

Ever since having DC3 (13 weeks ago), I've been plagued with migraines - one lasted 8 days, some last 2/3/4 days.

I've tried alternating paracetamol/ibuprofen and GP recently prescribed co codamol alongside buccastem (for nausea). These drugs have little to no effect.

Today, GP told me to try Migraleve and if that doesn't help to go back.

Has anyone had any success with it or any medecine?

I'm really struggling with 2 babies and DP is working away for a couple days this week, so needing a miracle to get through!!

Thanks in advance for any replies.

I have Migraleve with me at all times because it works much better than anything else. Having said that it doesn't take my migraines away completely, it just lessens them enough to cope. The best way to describe it is - it feels like a blanket smothering the pain, but not taking it away. It's still there in the background but not as bad, does that make sense? It means I can get myself home to bed before things get too bad.

I hope you get some relief soon. I get migraines a couple of times a year, but have been in hospital with them before. I also had terrible week-long migraines when pregnant with both DDs.

Oh and fwiw, Ibuprofen does nothing for me either. The Dr also prescribed cocodamol and an anti-nausea for migraines when I was pregnant, they just made me feel really sick all the time.

This might sound odd, but does feeling cold help at all? I find being cold helps, even if it means a cold shower in the middle of the day. Really not sure why this works, but it seems to.

if you are getting headaches on more days than not, and some of your headaches have migraine features, then the chances are you have chronic migraine.

there are a few drugs that have been proven to help in this condition, but most of them would likely be prescribed by a specialist, rather than a GP. i dont know where you are based in the UK, but your GP should be able to refer you to a headache specialist, who will more than likely be able to help you.

if you are anywhere near london, you could do worse than to try the migraine trust: www.migrainetrust.org/migraine-clinics

also, beware that overusing simple painkillers that you can buy over the counter (including paracetamol and ibuprofen) can actually make the migraines worse.

good luck!

Thanks or your reply, Pounamu.

When I have these attacks, I'm usually shivery cold and shaky - cant even contemplate jumping in a cold shower!

Just taken 2 pink tablets and hoping for the best.

Is Migraleve not just cocodamol with an antihistamine?
And yellow just cocodamol?

Hope it works OP but sounds like what you've been taking already?

Hi, krone.

I did take paracetamol/ibuprofen for 3 weeks post c-section. So, perhaps that's messed up my system...

It certainly seems to be chronic - hardly a let-up.

I'm in Birmingham.

Chesty, the GP said to stop the co codamol as it can makemy symptoms worse, but, you're right,the migraleve is pretty much the same!

You should ask to try something from the Triptan family. They have changed my life - no exaggeration. There are a few. I started with Sumatriptan but have found that Naratriptan works best for me.

I get migraines that last for days and that can render me bedridden at worst - completely immobilized with pain and vomiting. NO painkillers touched the pain. Even co-codomol just made me feel more sick and spacey but didn't alleviate pain.

Now, if I get a migraine, I take one Triptan as soon as I feel symptoms start - sometimes (if it feels like it's a bad one coming, I add 2 x neurofen for migraine and a can of coke) and within 2 hours I am normal. No pain, no nausea, nothing.

Please ask your GP - I know two other people who take Triptans and we are all in agreement that they are miracle drugs.

Good luck OP. You have my full sympathy

I'm in bed, scared to get up as my head's not clear (after a good 7.5hr sleep). I'm scared to get up with that horrible, foggy, nausea.

I'm beginning to get quite anxious about all this and wonder if it's something more serious. The GP telling me it's migraine without any other investigations is worrying me.

I'm finding it hard to function and this hideous illness is getting me down :(

I'm sorry to whinge.

Wandering what you describe sounds like my migraines. Try not to worry. But DO ask to try Triptans. Please!!

If they don't work, then maybe you could ask them to investigate further.

Feel for you :(

I absolutely agree with SnB - one of the triptan drugs (naratriptan) also changed my life - can be free of pain in 2 hours.

The reason GPs don't prescribe them is because of the cost and that's the truth. I only found out about them because I saw a Homeopath for migraines and she was a GP too - the homeopathy didn't work but she said if I was her patient she would prescribe one of the Triptan drugs. She wrote the name down and I took it to the GP and explained about the homeopath and said she thought I she try this drug and he said "she's probably right" and lo and behold there was the prescription.

I was really annoyed because the same GP had consistently told me that all I could do was take paracetomol. The tablets run out at about £5 each and after I'd been having them for a few months (was getting migraines 2 weekly or sometimes weekly) the senior partner called me in and said I was having too many triptans and I needed to try a preventative medicine, and I said I assumed the concern was about cost and he "ummed and aahed" a bit and then said "well we do have budget constraints." He referred me to a neurologist and he prescribed a preventative but it didn't work, so I continued to have the naratriptan.

SO please ask your GP for one of these Triptans and don't be put off. You can actually but sumatriptan (trade name Imigram) over the counter now, but it's about £7.50 for 2 tablets.

Another recommendation for Triptan here...
Hope you find something that helps soon.

wondering - you aren't winging FGS - migraine on its own is horrendous without having to cope with 3 young children and one just a baby. Migraine is usually felt as pain on one side of the head, just above the eye and is a really bad searing sort of pain and nausea (or even vomiting) sometimes goes along with it. Mine start on the top of my head when I wake and travel over to my left eye, but the Triptans sort the pain in 2 hours (max) and I can carry on with my day.

I think your GP is hoping one of the over-the-counter meds will help so he/she doesn't have to prescribe the expensive Triptan. How are you feeling now? Please go to the GP and ask for a Triptan - they aren't pain killers as such. They reduce the swelling in the blood vessels around the brain (which cause the pain in migraine) Migraine is not "just a headache" - it's a horrendous neurological pain and it can be helped - you just need the right drug.

Come and tell us how you are.

Thanks for your responses.

Well, yesterday wasn't too bad. I felt foggy - almost hangover-like, but managed to function without any pills.

This morning I'm still a little foggy, but hopefully over it.

If/when it returns, if I can't see the GP, I'll get some OTC Imigran from the chemist.

Thanks again for your help.

Hi wandering. Just to add, Imigran isn't great for me - a bit hit and miss (might be brilliant for you), but if it isn't - I would still ask for your GP to try you on Triptans. Imigran is Sumatriptan, through process of elimination, we worked out that Naratriptan is the one that works for me.

And the key is to take it at the first sign on a migraine - so you may have missed the boat on this one but get some Imigran ready for the next time and don't despair if it doesn't work - there is a whole Triptan family to try out.

Thank you for taking the time, Snot; much appreciated.

Will definitely get some Imigran for the next attack - if I can't get to the Dr's before to ask!

It's so debilitating.

Update.

Migraine attack yesterday. Thought I'd give the Migraleve one last try. I took it at 5pm then had an hour sleep. Thankfully, my mother was here to look after the children. Felt a little better, but it didn't get rid of the muzzy head.

Managed to get GP appt this afternoon. It was a lady doctor ths time.

She thinks they are tension headaches due to chaotic life with a teenager and 2 babies under 16 months. She prescribed Amitriptyline 10mg, to be taken before bed.

Will start tonight and hope they work!

I found that an anti histamine and ibuprofen works for me when one starts