Migraine--hand hold needed

[Bookworm84]

Hi, I've started having bad migraines. Always used to get them as a teenager but found they became infrequent in my twenties. I'm terrified about what this could me. I have severe health anxiety so please be gentle. Doctor has given me Sumitriptan but too scared to take it as one of the listed side effects is severe chest pain. I also have stomach issues so not too keen on medication. Worked myself up into a bit of a state. Thanks.

Take the Sumtripitan. Honestly, it’s life changing. I could be bed bound for 3 days before having it. Only side effects I had was feeling a bit like I had a hangover (but some food and caffeine sort that).

Sorry you're having bad migraines

I also get them & try to avoid triggers to minimize them. Maybe you can spot things that trigger for yours. For me tiredness, stress, and sometimes the weather are the main ones. Also some foods. Drinking lots of water helps.

Be kind to yourself & try not to be too anxious about them as that probably makes them worse

Thank you Sunshinelollipops1. When did your migraines start? Do you mind describing them to me? Severity? Presentation etc? Hate HA. Started when I had second born (now nearly 4).

Take the Sumatriptan. It's the only thing that helps my migraines. All drugs have a list of potential scary side effects.

Thanks HappyGoLuckyLuLu. Was going to ask if stress can be a trigger. Keep getting numb face and weirdly lower leg on same side although that started a year ago and is on and off. It can appear and disappear in the same day. Waiting to see a neurologist. Absolutely terrified. Managed to convince myself I've got everything going over the last few years. Been as the hospital having tests on an almost weekly basis. Really affecting work life as I have to keep taking time off. Really need to get a grip on this. Been on Fluoxetine in the past and it was brilliant but I ended up with gastritis.

Sumatriptan work really well for me too.

Thanks everyone. Sorry to hear you're all suffering too but glad the Sumitriptan worked. Anyone else got health anxiety too?

Bookworm I think a lot of people have health anxiety. Last year I had a spell of ill health where I convinced myself I had all sorts of different serious illnesses. Unfortunately I have always been like this, maybe a bit better now I'm older but occasionally the distressing anxiety is back. So if you are worried just keep seeing the GP, in my case it helps a lot to be reassured on a regular basis.

Thanks Oldmum55. Sorry to hear you're suffering. It seems to be so resistant to any intervention. Seems to be a case of just keeping it in check. Do you get any physical symptoms? I get so many, which doesn't help.

Bookworm last year when I was unwell I developed all sorts of physical symptoms which I became convinced were symptoms of something serious. I had headaches, pins and needles, stomach problems which were all checked and nothing sinister was found. After that they seemed to disappear or maybe I didn't take so much notice. I guess I made myself a nuisance at the doctors but the symptoms were real enough. If the Sumitriptan worked for you perhaps you could go back on it while taking something to protect your stomach?

@Bookworm84 mine started when I was a teenager, but I’ve had periods when I don’t seem to suffer with them and then periods when I have loads. Mind usually start one side, often feel full in sinuses, quickly they become over whole head. I usually am sick as well. At their worst all I can do is lie in a dark room and it’s still painful.

I also suffer with generalised anxiety so I understand the concerns, but honestly just take the medication.

@Bookworm84 if it reassures you I have been hospitalised 3 times with migraines where they thought I was having a stroke because I had such severe physical symptoms (slurred speech etc)

The problem is people think a migraine is a bad headache and they minimise how debilitating it can be.

Is it hormone related? Mine are linked to my cycle. Sumatriptan takes the edge off but doesn't eliminate them.

Thanks for all your replies. Took the Sumitriptan last night. Migraine seemed to clear within the hour. A very mild but of migraine type pain today but nothing in comparison to yesterday. Had no side effects (after all my worrying).
@Sunshinelollipops, thanks for that. Mine are always one sided. Very painful. Don't sound as severe as yours. For the first time I felt quite sick with it.
@Oldmum55, sounds like a similar story to mine. Lots of investigations and all mostly fine. I did have an issue with sudden heavy bouts of bleeding whilst on a Mirena and ignored it for a while. Turned out there was an issue and unfortunately keep reminding myself of that.
@Tartan333, that's given me food for thought. Second period started following change to Copper coil..

@Bookworm84 glad you are feeling brighter today and the medication helped.

Thanks @Sunshineandlollipops. Starting with one again so will be trying the Sumitriptan again. Saw a recommendation for Aspirin and a can of coke. Can't say I've tried it though.

Since 2013 I have suffered from what I thought were migraines that last 2-3 days, been through various hospital departments and turned down numerous doctors wanting to put me on daily preventative tablets, my symptoms were a muscle stiffness in neck and back and headaches were under my skull and regular tablets just didn’t help. In six weeks of going private and having an MRI scan I have a diagnosis, I’ve got a prolapsed disk in my neck and the headaches are cervicogenic headaches. Try to get to the bottom of what’s causing/triggering your headaches x

@Nononoandno Thanks. Should have neurology appointment soon.

Sorry to hear you’re suffering. Migraines are the worst. As pp said, you could try some lifestyle changes to attempt to prevent some of them. Mine are lessened by 2-3 litres of water a day, the same sleep pattern every night, avoiding too much sugar so my blood sugar isn’t too up and down, minimising stress (hard I know!) amongst other things. Hope it’s just a bad spell and they go away soon!

I've taken triptans and propranolol over the years for migraines that started when I was a teenager.

I was worst during my first pg and hospitalised many times (migraine led to high bp, or vice versa). Have also been hospitalised (without any pain relief 🤯) when they thought I had meningitis.

I started taking ADs after DC2 for PND and my migraines have been much better ever since. I think they keep a lid on my stress levels which helps the reduce the frequency of the migraines.

Ibuprofen with lysine also makes a big difference. If I wake with a migraine and get these in early it really reduces the duration of a migraine. I can almost go straight to the postdrome stage.

@Nononoandno do you mind me asking what treatment you can have for your neck problems? Your headaches sound very similar to mine, start with neck discomfort and stiffness and then quickly progress to a full blown awful pain in my lower skull that lasts 72 hours. I have chronic neck problems anyway and have been to see various physio and osteopaths in the past.

Sorry to high jack your thread OP - glad that your meds are helping and I have had HA in the past - I found CBT extremely helpful.

Ella
I’ve got a prolapsed disk between C5 and C6, I’ve had initial consultation with neurosurgeon who recommend i have an operation (planned soon) which from what I gather will result in a sort of block/bracket that joins the two discs that no longer contain the jam, he said the operation although comes with risks the headaches should improve by about 70-80%, the thing is I have hardly any back pain, just stiffness in neck/upper back and headaches under skill that make me feel miserable and unable to function/brain fog too. I was mountain biking at the weekend, the headaches are caused by the muscles that spasm and then stiffen. The nhs MRI I had last year spotted a slight disc deterioration and they recommended no treatment, the private MRI I had in June was clearly visible on screen so I could see the spine/disc bulging into spinal cord. It was my bupa physio that recommended I saw the Bupa orthopedic specialist who then requested MRI then referred me to neuro surgeon. Google Cervicogenic headaches. Good luck x

Thank you.