Migraine help please!!

[Ouchmyheadhurts]

So I always had migraines but not regularly. I always kept migraleve in the cupboard and take them and I’d be fine. Earlier this year I had a hemiplegic migraine and it really scared me and we thought it was a stroke. The neurologist wasn’t remotely concerned which of course is good.... however since then Iv had them more regularly. I managed to get migraleve but only the pink tablets and you can only take 2 in 24 hours...... they also last longer. I had one last night and couldn’t sleep for hours, woke up with it today. Iv taken one migraleve as I don’t know how I’ll manage the rest of the day??

What else can they prescribe? I know stress and lack of sleep are triggers for me but I’m fine at the moment and don’t know what caused this one.::

I was surprised too, I had an mri and bloods as it was a suspected stroke.... it was so scary! I was seen on the stroke clinic but the neurologist wasn’t remotely concerned. Just gave me a leaflet about lifestyle (healthy diet, excercise, no smoking etc etc) and that was it?

Hi I 2nd what others have said about Anadin Extra, I'm sure it's the aspirin that helps me. Also you can buy sumatriptan in the pharmacy

As I said, I can’t take aspirin or ibuprofen tomorrow. I’m going to be chemist later so will speak to the pharmacist as well whilst I wait for a gp appointment.

Has anyone had that darth piercing? Whatever it’s called? The ear one that’s meant to help migraines?

I was coming on to say meds are pretty useless in my experience.

They help a very little bit, I'm allergic to NSAIDs and codeine so I'm left with tramadol which barely takes edge off, I also take with caffeine (which I'm otherwise caffeine free) plus paracetamol with them (as this boosts the effect).

But what I was REALLY coming on to say was some "natural" remedies have helped too:

Try and work out if food/drink/toiletries are triggering them. Food & drink are common triggers, I'm ok with them but certain perfumes can trigger mine.

Consider/try essential oils, herbal remedies and massage/acupressure - I found almost by accident that if I massage a certain spot just right to the nape of my neck it can help and sometimes shortens duration.

Heat/cold packs/compresses - for years I thought compresses didn't help me, then someone suggested I try a warm one rather than cold (which I found made the pain worse) and a warm compress definitely helps.

Sometimes a combination of meds plus natural remedy can do the trick.

Sometimes something odd is a trigger, I went through a phase of getting them more than usual and couldn't figure out why and neither could dr, then an impacted wisdom tooth flared up, I hadn't had noticeable toothache until that point but after the tooth was removed I didn't have one for ages! I do think my body was reacting to the issue just not in a way that was obviously pointing to it.

I don’t have any triggers for food or drink, Iv tried tracking them and nothing stands out at all..... ?

Stress and lack of Sleep are my triggers but that has not triggered this one which I don’t understand. Iv also never ever had one come on as I was trying to sleep and last all night and still be the same in the morning. I’m guessing the heat could’ve triggered this one but why now and not end of last week when the heat began... odd.

Got some of the yellow migraleve so taken that now. I won’t take the sumatriptan as was discussing with the pharmacist and they said it’s to ‘knock you out’ and I don’t want something like that when I’m sole carer of dc (one disabled) plus one sleep walks etc so just not worth the risk for me...

Ouch there are other triptans that don't have that effect. For example, I take frovatriptan,which doesn't have any discernible side-effect - apart from (usually) getting rid of the migraine!

But you do need to get them under prescription.

I've also used my TENS machine when I've been desperate. Sometimes on the back/base of my neck, which gets very tense and stiff....and also on my temples. Interestingly, I think it helped.

I know you said you can't tolerate cyclizine but can you take domperidone (also known as Motilium) for sickness? My GP prescribes that for me and it does help.

You can't take triptans if you have hemi plegic migraines!

Op: best thing I've found is 3 x 300 mg dispersible asprin in full sugar, full caffiene coke.

No aspirin??

Bugger.

Prob best bet is soluble co codamol.

Do make sure your contraception (if you are on any) is not making your symptoms worse.

I was told triptans are a no no for hemi plegic migraines

I’m on cerazette (progesterone only) because the combined pill ironically gave me migraines and I was a risk of stroke......

This one hasn’t been a hemi one.... Iv never had one as severe as that one and it scares me for it happening again. This one is the pain and feeling very sick/not with it, so just a normal one.

Yeah definitely can’t have aspirin or ibuprofen. Why would dissolvable codeine be better than a tablet?

You have my sympathies OP...I suffered for over a year before I was diagnosed with chronic daily migraine. They thought mine were hemi to start with and tried lots of different drugs and tests.

It was only after upping my amitriptylene doseage that they settled...my neurologist said he would expect 50mg to make a difference but actually I got 35mg and it finally worked. I literally cried after months of pain.

Hope yours settle and you find the right medication.

Thank you, amitrip was mentioned but I don’t want to go on them. Iv been on anti depressants before and had so many problems and side affects. If migraines were daily I would take anything but I don’t want to go back on them.

Years back I’m sure my old gp mentioned beta blockers but no way am I going on them! Migraleve is keeping the pain dull, the nausea manageable but only because I’m laying on the sofa with a wet flannel on my head

Another recommendation for Sumatriptan from me. You need to get your doctor to prescribe it for you.

I actually ended up in hospital for four days with my last migraine, nothing shifted it. The consultant prescribed 900mgs soluble aspirin with 10mg (I think) of Domperidone for the nausea/vomiting. I realise you can't take aspirin op, perhaps pharmacist can suggest something similar.
I can't tolerate co-codamol at all unfortunately.
Dehydration often triggers mine but this last one was something else, simply horrific. Even morphine failed to help.

Four days?! Wow and I thought I was bad with mine lasting two! Poor you! Mine were only lasting one day, go to bed and would wake up fine but now they last all day go to bed and I wake up the next day with what feels like a hangover.

I’m not dehydrated as I drink mainly water and have drunk a lot more due to heat...

You need to go back to your GP.

Migraleve is just cocodamol and an anti sickness drug. You could try otc cocodamol and a travel sickness tablet for now but you need to go back to your GP because there is stuff you can try.

If your pee is pale and clear I'd cut back on chugging water because it can make your worse. I keep a few cans of red coke in the fridge and drink that if I feel one coming on.

There's also ondansetron and metoclopramide for anti-sickness, and numerous triptans which are available in auto-injector pens and work in a couple of minutes. All these from your gp.

I’m glad there are other things I can try. I forgot the clogging power codeine has on the stomach this morning...

Pain and sickness is still lingering today but will be able to get on with the day thankfully.