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Migraines getting worse

13 replies

NooNooHead · 21/09/2017 08:26

Last night it was so bad the pain was behind my eyes and literally throbbing on one side of my head.

I hate them so so much as they really affect what I do and are so painful. Anyone have any advice? 😖😢

OP posts:
2014newme · 21/09/2017 08:29

They are horrible. I take atenonol to block them, ask your GP for a migraine blocker. Gym have to sY I still get them but less often.
Know your triggers. So mine are tiredness and lack of drinks. So I go to bed at 10pm. Make sure I drink plenty.
No caffeine

2014newme · 21/09/2017 08:29

Keep a trigger diary. There is one on the migraine tryst website you can use. In general their website is very useful

Auspiciouspanda · 21/09/2017 08:29

Have you ever been to your GP about them? I take two pills a day to prevent migraines then have another medication I take when I have a migraine which stops them right away.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 21/09/2017 08:30

Ask your doctor about beta blockers.

monkeywithacowface · 21/09/2017 08:33

I had accupuncture and physiotherapy for mine (turned out to be an issue with my neck that was causing the headaches).

I was getting them fortnightly and once I started the accupuncture and physio I didn't have one for three months. I have had a couple of small ones the last couple of months but it has been 2 months since I've been for treatment and have been a bit lax on doing my stretches.

RubyGoat · 21/09/2017 08:37

Check out Migraine Action & Migraine Trust for info.
Do you know what kind of migraines you get - if not try to get this identified as it could help with treatment options.
Try keeping a trigger diary - note food, weather, illness, sleep patterns, your period, any stress. For at least a month.

I suffer with migraines too & mine have really got worse as I've got older. It's rotten isn't it.

NooNooHead · 21/09/2017 08:58

Thanks for all your replies - very helpful.

I've had migraines for about 10 years and they are slowly getting more frequent and worse - I had a referral to a very useless neurologist who said to just manage them as I can and get on with it..!

I'm not able to take certain medication as I have a drug induced movement disorder and I worry that pills will aggravate my involuntary movements so I only take paracetamol. I will ask my GP about acupuncture (can you get it on the NHS?) and other methods of treatment as I find them so debilitating and when my husband is away for work theee days a week, I can't look after my DD very well.

My sympathies to all of you who get them. They truly are very horrid.

OP posts:
AtlanticWaves · 21/09/2017 09:01

There's lots of different preventive medications you can take- I know I've tried loads! I've had them 20 years now and have finally found something which works.

Definitely try to see someone else - a migraine specialist. Changed my life finding a decent one.

FluffyNinja · 21/09/2017 09:45

How's your wee?
I've suffered from migraines for more than 20 years and take triptans to deal with them.
However, I recently had a urine infection (no obvious symptoms) and it was only picked up by my GP doing bloods and urine test because I couldn't cope with the fourth day of having the migraine. It seems that the infection had made my migraine ten times worse and the triptans had zero effect on relieving the pain. (I took 6 tablets in 24 hours which is not recommended.)
I took the antibiotics for the infection and my migraine subsided.
Apparently, there is some correlation between kidney function/urinary tract infections and headaches but most GPs won't know about it.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 21/09/2017 09:47

I get them when I'm dehydrated so have to make sure I drink water.

But I'm sure you know that.

InappropriateGavels · 21/09/2017 13:31

Ask to see a neurologist - you have every right to.
Seeing a neurological headache specialist will take a very long time. I waited seven months to see one because I have a separate headache disorder along side 'normal' migraines.

Most neurologists will not put you on a migraine preventer unless you're having migraines almost every single day. Why? The side effects of the preventative medication can be worse and more disabling than the migraines.

I was having migraines at least five or six days out of seven and was eventually put on epilepsy medication to control it. This method of treatment isn't yet licensed by NICE. It took a year to find the right dose to control them though. The side effects are horrible. They include the possibility of kidney stones, it causes extreme fatigue, visual problems, hearing problems, memory problems (so bad at times I have forgotten my address, my phone number, even where I was at that exact moment). I've had periods where I've had diarrhoea and vomiting for days on end, even being unable to keep down water - all in the name of trying to stave off migraines. And it's not foolproof. If I accidentally miss a meal, or if I don't manage to drink 3+ litres of water each day, or go to bed a bit too late then I'll still get a migraine. It became a case of asking myself whether it was worth the trade-off, do I want to sacrifice feeling "okay", to get rid of the pain? I if do sacrifice being "okay" all it will enable me to do is work, I won't be able to have any fun. I do very little else now.

If you're able to take triptans they can be an option for a lot of people. Never take more than two of any type in 24 hours. You need to find one that works for you. I've used so many that none of them work for me. Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan seem to be the most common. They don't just come as tablets either - if you find that tablets don't work fast enough, ask to try an orodispersible (if you haven't already).

But, you can't take medical advice from someone on the internet - you need to find your triggers because you might actually have some and not even realise it. After extensive research it turned out I didn't, I just seem to have vascular problems that need to be controlled medically. And, you need to see a neurologist. Now that I've finally seen two, I have a headache specialist who is helping me deal with my more serious headache disorder and life might actually come together for the first time in years. But again, you need to work with a neurologist to find out what the cause may be and find a solution that suits you.

2014newme · 21/09/2017 13:33

Only paracetamol won't touch it! Get some medication that you can take.

stirling · 21/09/2017 20:46

I suffered for two excruciating years with daily chronic tension headaches. I must have spent about £3000 on osteopaths, chiropractors, acupuncture, herbs, pillows, mattresses, physio etc. Neurologist found absolutely nothing but insisted I take epilepsy drugs which I refused.

In the end, a few things that I changed simultaneously which did it: I cut myself off from socialising to have a proper break. I found a physio who very gently (no clicking) carried out neck traction - v v gently pulling on it. And most importantly, I believe this is what really did it - I began juicing organic carrots daily and cleaned up my liver.

I hope you find your solution. Flowers

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