Migraine support thread

[VivienneWestwoodsKnickers]

A lot of us seem to have migraine here. Lots of different types, presentations, severities, symptoms and lengths of attacks.

Here's a place for support, empathy, questions, inspiration and ice packs for the pain.

OP first: I have suffered migraine since I was 12. They go in phases of frequency, from 3-4 a week to one every few months. I've had stroke symptoms (scared me silly) and been to A&E with the pain once. I get crippling nausea but never throw up. Light sensitivity, skin sensitivity and oh, the pain.....

I take sumatriptan nasal sprays, but rarely as I try to tough them out first (terrified of them becoming ineffectual). Buccastem for the nausea is a miracle cure also spectacular for hangovers. I use an old fashioned ice bag on my face, must buy another for my neck.

If I could invent anything to help (other than a magic medicine for us all) it would be a whole head ice pack to cover my neck and shoulders too.

Am currently on day 5 of a low-level migraine that just won't shift. May have to give in and use the sumatriptan.

The GP did offer me some medication, but I didn't take them at the time, but i'm thinking I might go back and ask for some so I've got them for the worst ones. Does anyone else get cluster headaches?? I developed them in my 2nd pregnancy they are awful feels like someone is trying to tear my eye into my head. I get a combination of the 2 sometimes in the same day! I was thinking of going to the opticians just to be on the safe side, as sometimes opticians can find things the GP's don't.

Magical fruit and batshit remedies are definitely not recommended when you're pregnant 😁

I wasn't thinking of that magical plant honest

Vivienne - heating doesn't come on till 6. We've moved him into the spare room at other end of house to see if that made a difference. It happened in a hotel too over half term so don't think its environmental as such.

He swears blind he is not stressed. The chiropractor I see and saw with DS yesterday suggested a counsellor st school who happens to be a patient of his. Or a private psychologist. But DS is adamant it's not stress. We had a chat in the week and he has said he is not bothered about the GCSEs. Just wants to do enough to be able to do his a levels.

Stress isn't an issue for everyone, just as diet isn't. Some people can't touch coffee, for example, others find it doesn't affect them. Some people have attacks that only occur if two or three triggers coincide. When there's a time lag of up to three days between the trigger and the attack, associations are hard to spot. And some attacks presumably occur spontaneously without any discernible trigger.

I have to remind myself not to over-think it, otherwise I end up blaming myself for every attack.

Another 3 day migraine here. Took the Imigran today, and after years of no side effects from the spray, it kicked me like a horse.

Back to the docs I think, my migraines are getting more frequent and more severe.

I get wavy lines and a blank spot
I was having 3 day migraines and had the medication that melts on your tounge, it made me feel very strange
GP said they last so long because i don't go to sleep but i have a SN child and unless DH is home nobody can look after her
Stress and sleep deprivation are my triggers
My life has been transformed by a daith piercing. I've had it nearly a year now and have had the early migraine signs only 3 times and paracetamol stopped it
No idea how it works or if it is psychosomatic and i don't really care. I feel like i have my life back
That are supposed to be most effective when the pain is over the eye rather than at the back of the head

I used to get migraines regularly, triggered by not drinking enough and stress.
After a break of 3 years I woke up with one last week that lasted 72 hours. Was vomiting so couldn't keep anything down and eventually resorted to putting my head under the cold water tap for as long as I could stand it, repeated every hour or so, keeping my head wrapped in a damp towel.
I've never experienced an aura but used to get the sensation that the hair on my scalp was crawling; waking up with one is new and worrying. Absolutely no idea what triggered it, certainly wasn't dehydrated, hungry etc.

I've had 2 auras today whilst out shopping and now am walking strangely and feeling really hungover. Torn between letting it take over and just passing out or getting my jobs done so I can have an early night knowing my ironing is done....

thehouseofillrepute I've been interested in getting a daith piercing but my fear factor of piercing pain has increased since I was a teenager. Does it hurt and how is it for healing?

The daith was painful for a moment, but not overly so. No issues with healing. Bloody sore having jewellery changed, and I cannot for the life of me change it myself.

No improvement to migraines since I had it done, but I like piercings anyway! Would recommend it as worth a go, but it didn't work for me.

I think I'll look into getting it done. Can't make them worse right?!

I hope not! And FWIW, I'd just get the migraine over with and feel better before worrying about ironing. Hope you're OK.

Thanks

My migraines started age 21 along with cluster headache. Mother and sister both suffer.
I have gone through most meds available....all normal painkillers are useless and not recommended. I have tried triptans, epilim, buccastem, sprays, pills - you name it i've tried it.
I am now on the prog only pill, topamax twice daily, and botox 12 weekly. When i have a migraine I inject summitriptan and cyclizine.

I have no aura to speak of, just a sense of doom....so I use caffeine to try to ward migraine off - coke/chocolate etc....

I avoid all trigger foods, but cannot reduce stress any more than I do - I parent children with additional needs. Neurologist recommends sleeping in a cold room, and having central heating on as little as possible.
As i suffer from neck pain/tightness it is thought this could trigger migraine - swimming is recommended - for 3 months i swam twice a week up and down the bloody pool, it didnt make a difference at all.

To get botox on the NHS you have to keep a strict migraine headache diary - in the months pre botox I was having 20-25 headache days per month. life was miserable, botox has changed my life! I can see lougle here has had botox too - anyone else? Lougle how have you found it? has it worked for you?

Ciderwithbuda - try this book - www.amazon.com/Migraine-Brain-Breakthrough-Headaches-Better/dp/1439150354?tag=mumsnetforum-21 I used it to look at triggers etc....found it useful. your DS may not recognize stress, he is young and probably can't vocalise whats going on.

I had a migraine on the day my daith was pierced so i didn't really feel it
It took a bit of healing but no real problems
I know 4 people who have had it and it's worked for 3 of us

I've been suffering from migraines since I was 12 (disposition inherited from both parents) now mid 50ies
I always had four types of triggers:
Hormones - all gone now (thanks menopause)
Some foods - since October last year including chocolate (lost 4 kg)
Changes in air pressure and certain types of stress (like having a day off work)
They last about 3 days, the pain is usually manageable with over the counter medication; then there is the nausea, the (on a normal day quite ordinary) lights, noises and smells I can't get away from, and my inability to follow people talking to me. Luckily my DC are teens and can take care of themselves.
It's almost nothing compared to others on this thread.

My current attack started on Friday at about 11 o'clock and will probably end in three hours because it aleady switched sides. I managed with pain killers taken to a schedule, a cold dark room, sleep, neck and shoulder massage (by DD) and very moderate excercise (think slow cleaning).
Best wishes to all of us...

I don't know if the Migraine Clinic has been mentioned on this thread? (Had a quick trawl, couldn't see it).

When DS was at school, he developed severe headaches, very probably migraines, following a RTA when he was younger. Went, for a while, to Southampton General's Paediatric Unit which had a specialist headache clinic, with physio support: www.uhs.nhs.uk/OurServices/Childhealth/Childrensneurologyservices/Childrensneurologyservices.aspx
very dedicated team, wanted to leave no stone unturned. We don't live nearby but were desperate to find specialist care.

Finally, ended up at the National Migraine Centre in London: www.nationalmigrainecentre.org.uk
Excellent care. If the suggested fee is unaffordable (and it's gone up a lot since we were there), you can ask for an additional subsidy. Again, staffed by experts in the field.

I've looked into the national migraine centre a little bit, what do they do there that a gp doesn't? Are there extra tests that they'd carry out there?

Currently on day 4 of my migraine, walking like an old lady due to my leg refusing to stay straight or cooperate and honestly thought I'd had a stroke this morning. My brain kind of shook for a few seconds and my hand wouldn't hold my computer mouse, decided to forcibly shake instead. Bit odd. Possibly worst one yet so am a bit desperate now!

I got my daith pierced today! Very hopeful it'll do something but if not I love it anyway! The lady suggested that I get the other side done too if not as my migraines affect both sides of my head.

She was fantastic and said she'd had a lot of clients have really good results. I'm pleased she seems to know what she was talking about.

Bit sore now though!

How is the daith piercing?

It's good! One migraine in the last month which could be complete coincidence but I'll take that! Still a bit sore though, not the best at cleaning it and quite fiddly to get to...

This site has helped me recently with migraine medication and breastfeeding queries... posting it here in case it would help others.

www.breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk/contact-me

I have had migraines for the last 2 years, first one came as a bit of a shock. I get nausea, light and sound sensitivity, and pain! I know my triggers are stress, lack of sleep and noise.
I was getting 5 a week until I asked to see a neurologist who said yes you have migranes why are you here . But did start me on meds. I was taking topirimate 50mgs twice daily as any more made me ill (but I have now stopped as want to TTC) With breakthrough meds of codeine, paracetamol, aspirin and sumatriptan not to be taken more than 10 days a month.
I had my daith pierced last summer and it worked wonders but now I am off meds its not doing so great. I'm getting 2-3 a week again and starting to wonder if I can really manage this for the next year plus.....

Is it a migraine if the pounding pain etc is at the back of the head? I also can't move my head/neck to the left or look up or down.

I've had no sleep for the past 3 nights (bloody kids) so wonder if this is the cause?

I've never had this before. Husband is whittering on about going to A&E but it's a migraine, isn't it? I've taken paracetomol but it's doing nothing.

Advice?

@StarUtopia How did you get on? Sorry I missed your post.

Massive migraine today. Imigran didn't touch it. Back to the docs for pizotifen I think, I'm so exhausted with all the pain. Hot weather guarantees a migraine, hope the pain is gone tomorrow so I can get some sunshine!