I need help from migraine sufferers please

[Satsuma1234]

I have had them since I was about 8, however usually in cluster form of about 3 or 4 over a short period of time and then nothing for several months even a year.

Paracetamol, nurofen etc don’t work. Nurofen plus do because they contain codeine. The dr has prescribed meds before but they can go out of date and don’t last to the point when my next cluster starts.

I can no longer take opiate based medication as I now have sphincter of oddi which is cases horrific pain. Can anyone suggest anything over the counter that has worked for them. I may just go back to the gp though. Thanks.

I'm trying to pluck up the courage to get a daith piercing which is meant to help some people.
I get hormonal migraines, a week or so of them every month. I use sumatriptans which do help a bit. Aspirin seems to help more than ibuprofen and trying to get more sleep although the dc make that difficult.

Ok, chronic migraineur here! Disclaimer: I know nothing about your other medical issues.

You can go to any chemist and ask to buy sumatriptan. Triptans are specifically for migraine treatment.

Avoid codeine - it's an opiate. It's also prone to causing rebound headache which can put you into a spiral of migraine.

The daith piercing is a red herring. I had mine done on the basis that I like piercings. Just as well as it's done sod all. It seems to be a placebo effect, as there is zero science behind it.

If, however, you're having actual cluster headache (they are excruciating - had them too!) then you really need to see the GP. Migraine is ABSOLUTELY an emergency / same day appointment at my GP surgery, so maybe start the.

Sumatriptan for me, I never leave the house without it

Sumatriptan, 4head stick, Epsom salt bath, forehead tens stick on pads from amazon, can of coke + ibuprofen, 9 hours sleep a night for at least a week, lots of tepid water, beta blockers from GP, if they increase in frequency then you may be referred to a neurologist to try occipital nerve block injections, or try the migraine trust & headache clinics for Botox for migraine

Oh and some swear by 2 alka seltzer in a pint of water

I used to take syndol tablets after everything else failed.
They were discontinued, but someone recently told me that they have been reintroduced.
They have something in them that helps me sleep migraines off or at least cope with the worst bit.
I'll have a Google now....

Thanks all.

I can’t take syndol as it has codiene in it. I’ll look at the other one though.

Sumatriptan ... I also avoid caffeine

I got a daith piercing; it has reduced the attacks I get, I now only get them around my period but I was getting them 4/5 times a month for roughly 3 days at a time

Right I've just had a look, sorry I forgot syndol had codeine in it. Doxylamine succinate is the muscle relaxant symbol used to have, I think it's an antihistamine.
It's found in something called Kirkland sleep aid but at a higher dose.
I'm going to see if I can order some on t'interweb.
It's been the only thing that has ever helped take the edge off migraine for me.

2 Pink Migraleve and a big mug of Tea, lots of water, bed and a massive sleep. Mind you that’s usually after an hour or so of throwing up first if it’s a bad one.
When Migraleve aren’t available I take 2 Nurofen plus and a can of Coke, usually does the trick.

Christ..duh..sorry OP just read you can’t take opiates
I can definitely recommend Cola though with whatever you can take, works a treat, not sure why.

I have sumatriptan on prescription. You can buy it OTC but it's rather pricey - £8+ for 2 tablets at my local pharmacy.

I take it with a cup of tea and a slice of toast with marmite, although invariably I just nibble it. It's the salt that helps I think. Sit in a quiet darkened room, not lying down as the instant I do I start vomiting. It's drastically improved my recovery time now that I know not to lie down, no matter how much I want to.

Just had three in a row for first time in life. Otherwise none since puberty until a few years ago - a few a year - clearly due to stress have suffered death of both parents. These three have been horrendous pain.
Sumatriptan now on prescription works for me if taken early enough.

Doctor yesterday told me to monitor and if they continue he may suggest nightly tablet prescription - not sure what this would be - others may know ? Decades ago when I had lots I had a daily tablet trying to reduce them.

Cool wet cloth on head had a surprisingly good effect plus dark room and as much sleep as possible.

Good luck op. They can be horrendous. I put one of mine this weekend at a 9 for pain - was sobbing. Try to remember they will pass.

Hi OP,

I have regular migraines (15-25 a month when not taking a preventative) so have a long term prescription from a neurologist.

If I get a breakthrough one, as I can’t take codeine or triptans (answers to the name of Lucky 😁) I find the best “home made” approximate help is 3 aspirin (with some form of cracker or carb - hard if you are being sick) with a full fat coke AND a non-painkiller containing Sudafed which can damp one down until I can sleep it off.

Cool packs and get getting sleep as other replies said.

Migraines hate routine, decent sleep but love caffeine, stress, alcohol, chocolate, bright light, cheese and dodgy bloody sugar in me so even with daily medication I need to be good to myself.

Sumatriptan here if I can get them on board quick enough they will prevent one

Currently taking Topamirate as a preventer
have taken propanolol and pizotifen before as well. I’m waiting to see a neurologist too.

I take tramadol daily for another condition so they don’t help. I’ve found 3 aspirin and 2 ibuprofen sometimes help.

Not me, but friend who has suffered really badly has found the following really helpful:

Giving up dairy
Wearing a teeth guard to stop jaw pressure/grinding when sleeping
Being careful with lighting and eye strain
Going to bed and getting up at around the same time everyday including weekends.

I've just managed to get my doctor to prescribe sumatriptan as I can't get them over the counter any more, every where seems to have pro lens with suppliers. Pink migralieve have done them same which is a nightmare as they are the only thing which stops the nausea / sickness.

I've started taking solphadiene as it works quite quickly, but that's codeine so no good for you. I so agree full fat coke for whatever tablets you take is amazing and I also buy migrastick which is like forehead but I think it's works much better.

Another vote for sumatripan from Me, having tried so many different codeine and non codeine based medications. It almost always gets rid of my migraines. I do find it a bit sweating though so if possible I take it in the evening or before bed.

*sedating not sweating!

Thanks everyone. You’ve been very helpful.

My mum used to have horrific debilitating migraines had so much treatment etc then a friend recommended acupuncture- she put it off but eventually tried it and it was amazing. From full on migraine symptoms to nothing within a few months. Definite recommend trying it.

I treat my migraines with lorezepam - it sends me to sleep and when I wake the migraine is gone. Unorthodox I know, but it works.

Full fat coke

3 slluble aspirin

Boots Migraine relief is Sumatriptan, you need a consultation with a pharmacist who will give you a card for future. You can also buy Sumatriptan from an online pharmacy....it's a lot cheaper!

I've found the best way to stop a migraine in its tracks is to take a sumatriptan at the very first sign of a migraine, I get really weird symptoms before the migraine hits.

If I don't have sumatriptan then I take aspirin, drink an espresso and eat carbs which works 90% of the time.

Will speak to boots.

Up until this last cluster I knew what was coming. All the signs were there. The last 2 have come from nothing. I was woken by it at 3.40 am this morning.