migraines - anyone tried anything new

[strawberryblondebint]

My life is being ruined by migraine or cluster head ache. Triptans work but I could easily use a months supply in a week. Amatriptaline worked at first to prevent them but I put on a stone in weight and kept falling asleep in the day. They are def worse around period time but not always. I am at my wits end. Normal painkillers don't touch them and I frequently end up in tears with the pain. Has anyone found a cure that they want to share. I can't identify any food triggers. I'm no more stressed than normal. I sleep well. If one takes hold and I don't take a sumatriptan in time I could be 16 hrs at least of pain and I swallow so many different tablets I could overdose bit I'm desperate. I had some success with soluble asprin but Again not always. Help please

Another Topiramate user here. I stopped taking them (as per doctor's instructions) and ended up in hospital as the pain was so bad.

I was on Triptans for years, which worked for me. My GP retired and the new one was alarmed to see I was averaging two a week, put me on Propranolol which has almost stopped them.

It does give me disturbing dreams so I take the last one about 4pm and not at bed time.

The other thing I do is monthly Osteopath to keep the neck and shoulder mobile.

BTW you mention Sumatriptan (Imigran)

The injections are faster and more certain than the tabs and snorts, I found.

If you're studying and working that's loads more desk time. Do please see a therapeutic massage therapist or an osteopath. Once every two months does me.

Woah Nearly, you ended up in hospital?

Was that from migraines coming back in the same way they were before?

Or pain as withdrawal symptoms?

And what happened? Did you go back on topiramate?

This is a great thread.
I also suffer with terrible migraines was on beta blockers for some time had imigran. Off the shelf tablets don't even touch the pain I suffer. Mine all seems to start from neck tension.

I'm hoping I can try the Botox if not I shall be getting the piercing that everyone has been talking about.

I do find having some sugary drinks and a bag of ready salted crisps really helps!!!

I take beta blockers and was initially given a low dose, which helps, but was told I could up it if it wasn't helping.

I am also better on progesterone-only contraceptives than off them.

I also find sweet stuff helps! DH laughs because I have a diet Coke and a bag of Haribo but he says "why not have full fat coke" (because it's yukky...)

I was able to give up propranolol and triptans when I learned to hit the acute episode hard as soon as I realise it's coming on. I get a recognisable aura most of the time, which helps.

I take 3 x 300mg soluble aspirin and 2 x 200mg ibuprofen as soon as I get an inkling of an attack. I lie down for half an hour if possible. I take buccastem if I feel at all sick - should really take it every time but it knocks me out, so I try to get away without it.

Attacks are fewer (by a long way). The meds work so well that I've been known to get the aura at 5pm and be ok to leave for a choir rehearsal at 6. More usually, I'd have to sleep and lose a half-day but I no longer get one migraine merging into the next over 3-5 days the way I used to. Migraine has lost its terror as it no longer has a hold over me. I think I had fewer than half a dozen in 2015

Sadly this is no help if you have a delicate stomach lining as aspirin and ibuprofen can cause GI bleeding.

By the way, mine got horribly worse at menopause and HRT staved them off effectively for a few years.

I am seriously considering a Daith piercing. They are avaliable at most tattoo and piercing places. Everything I have tried doesn't work.

Bollocksie-buggerie my neuro appointment was cancelled today - and rescheduled automatically for August 2016.

This an appointment rescheduled after the clinic was cancelled in December, with no notice so was told on arrival. Which was a 6- week follow up from my first one early jun last year.

Sigh.

So no finding out whether taking propanolol regularly may help, discussing pros and cons of Topiramate with other drugs I'm on (am disabled and migraines are just part of the fun and fabulous cocktail of joys I live with).

Screams pointlessly at the merciless sky.

... well I'm starting the year as I mean to go on - poetically. The NHS also appears to be starting the year as they'll be going on too.

although it will cost you money (£300, i think for an initial consultation), you could do worse than to make an appointment through the migraine trust (details here: www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk/becoming-a-patient/funding-your-appointment/)

they have clinics all around the country, and you will be guaranteed to see a physician with specialist knowledge in the management of migraine (and other chronic headaches). you do not require a GP referral letter, and can book an appointment directly.

might be worth considering if the NHS is letting you down.

I take lots of preventatives and, also, have Botox for my migraines.

Atm I take Atenolol and Topiramate and as I have other painful conditions I take Gabapentin and Amitriptyline. I take Sumatriptan when I get an attack and Zomig nasal spray if it goes on for days and I need to break the cycle.

I have had about 7/8 Lots of Botox treatments. It does make a massive difference to my migraines but there is really strict criteria to qualify.

i have used feverfew for a decade-i eat the leaves=works if i eat as soon as i realise what's coming. since last summer i use magnesium citrate + vit D + vit b2 = also works. Feverfew is cheaper as i grow it.

Have you tried or thought about Accupuncture? I've been having it for pregnancy migraine but do suffer when not pregnant too. So far so good! Went on the recommendation of a friend who was treated by her GP on the NHS - she has found it life changing.

I'm on Topiramate, GP's can prescribe it but not many are comfortable to I think. Mine was happy upto 100mg and then when that wasn't working effectively referred me to a neurologist. I'm on 175mg at the moment.

I'm also taking magnesium 600mg and 400mg vitamin B2 with vitamin D3 as well.

You should definitely push a referral to a headache clinic. For my area there is a GP led clinic in a local surgery that take referrals from other surgeries in the area. Failing that a referral to neurology but you need to see an expert either way.
It was this GP that told me to take x3 aspirin or ibuprofen and x3 paracetamol at the start of an attach as well as domperidons (can buy over the counter as Imodium I think) this is important as migraines make you gut work more (giving you nausea) and therefore the pain knees aren't as easily absorbed so need to take all this. I also take a beta blocker to prevent the attacks. I was on amitryptalline but not at the mo. You need to see an expert I think. I feel your pain (literally) you are not alone. Sometimes u feel so depressed because of my headaches but when they go it's like life is good again.

Auriga has your doctor suggested the aspirin and ibuprofen combo? The risk of stomach bleeds increases 6-fold when you combine NSAIDS.

I have just had my second botox treatment. I find it reduced the severity but doesn't change the frequency. My GP is writing to the neurologist to see if I can take daily triptans because I'm taking far too many aspirin. I'm on 75mg of nortriptyline.

Yes I wouldn't think it was advisable to take aspirin And ibuprofen as same class of drugs.

I agree aspirin and ibuprofen shouldn't be taken together. For me monthly oestopath and beta blockers have been great. Although I'm currently struggling with a bastard of a migraine that keeps coming and going. Day 18 now.

Magnesium oil rubbed into temples or epsom salts in the bath.

Boyfriend suffers from cluster headaches, he has nerve block injections every 4-5 months which are hit or miss successful - he can be pain free for 3-4 weeks sometimes. Next step is to try Botox.

sumatriptan in injection form, injected into the stomach. He halves the dose by decanting the prescribed injections into smaller needles which he finds better as a full dose would leave him feeling awful afterwards, and he was getting more headaches per day sometimes than the recommended limit to how many times you can inject. With the halved doses he can manage them much better by allowing him to inject more frequently if needed.

Other management techniques are using oxygen and energy drinks, taking vitamin d in high doses and daily preventative meds (I forget what these are called. You really really need to see a neurologist. Utmost sympathy x

'5 htp' is meant to be good...but can't be taken if person is on pharma anti depressants. Also Iodine is good too, I've read (I take Iodine for my thyroid problems), apparently most of us are massively Iodine deficient.

I have had frequent migraines for about 5 years. Initially tried propranolol which made me tired and fat. And maxalt melts which very quickly stopped working because of the frequency of the attacks.

Eventually gave up going to the GP as they seemed to think I was the problem. And I didn't want to go on the anti-depressants or the anti-epileptic drugs as the side effects would give me additional problems that I didn't already have.

Have tried all manner of stuff over the past five years.

These are the things that have worked in general: in the short term: hot bean bag applied to the face for as long as necessary. A coffee with my ibuprofen and omeprazole.
In the long term: Real improvement by cutting sugar out of my diet as much as I could.

And then at some point late last year I yawned in front of the mirror and I realised I had a much larger muscle on one side of my face. (Sounds ridiculous). I hadn't connected the two things before because I don't get a lot of jaw pain and I'd always thought it was a hormonal problem. However I have a fairly click jaw. Occasional stabbing pain. Chewing makes things worse. And facial numbness is the first sign a headache is on the way.

Anyway, long story short, trip to the GP led to a trip to the dentist and a dental splint. I have been wearing it as much as possible for two weeks and I have had one migraine. This is a huge improvement. I have even been able to socialise and have a couple of glasses of prosecco which would have been unthinkable before.