Migraines - what can I expect from my GP?

[Tarrarra]

I've been suffering with migraines for years now. I'm managing them with Sumatriptan on the whole, but taking a fair amount of it. I've been proactive in looking for remedies - daith piercing, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, physio and osteopathy. I have had bloods and hormone levels checked . I have also had eyes and teeth checked. I've had food intolerance tests and eliminated and gradually reintroduced foods and not found any obvious trigger there. I do clench my teeth at night and wear a mouth guard to stop damage to teeth. I am also taking supplements as recommended - riboflavin, coenzyme Q10 and magnesium. It's costing me a fortune and I am on an agency contract so don't get paid for time off so when I can't work I don't get paid.

My GP has prescribed topiramate (couldn't function on it, felt like a zombie), beta blockers (complete lack of energy and strange effects in my legs and finally I am amitriptyline (drowsy in mornings and a bit lethargic, but ok otherwise). None of these have had an impact on the frequency or severity of the migraines. I don't want to continue the amitriptyline as after 6 weeks, it hasn't improved things for me and in fact things are a bit worse. I feel like the GP has pretty much given up on me and suggested that they are "stress related".

Am I missing something to try? Is there anything I can do? I feel like life is just passing me by as I hate making plans that I usually have to cancel and seem to be missing out on family time and just having a level of quality to my life.

What more can I do, or ask the GP to do? I think his next idea will be to refer to another GP with an interest in migraines who runs a headache clinic and I'm happy to do this, but I just want to go to my appointment with a bit of an idea of where to go next - Help please!?

Thank you!

I had migraines because of neck pains, too. You could try one of these www.talkaboutsleep.com/best-mattress-for-neck-pain/ mattresses. My husband bought me a foam one and things become a little bit easier

tararra would you consider seeing a nutritional therapist? They are wonderful at this sort of stuff. BANT registered.

So off the top of my head - again - the magnesium in the multi vits ks nowhere near enough. You need about 400mg daily and I recall there is only a little on them. Same with the CoQ10. Has all this started since menopause? If so, there is another clue about needing to balance your hormones. The high folic acid is unlikely to be methylated and thee are other things you need to take to balance it. How much processed food do you eat? Is your liver getting rid of the oestrogen ok...that depends on so much. Finally, there is gluten free and there is gluten free and for migraines I really would consider a proper elimination diet and keep a diary. But you need to check labels and not revert to gluten free bread as it’s full of additives. Finally blood sugar levels are key for you. A good NT can deep dive into all this. Check your local BANT NTS and maybe post on a local FB group for a recommendation. There is lots you can do.

My friend with migraines (not in the UK) was prescribed high dose of magnesium which she had to drink in water over the day. It worked. I think this was from a neurologist though. Worth asking for a referral?

I get hemispheric migraines, the only thing that works for me is sodium valproate and pizotifen.

I take 3mg of pizotifen, the advised does is 1.5mg. With sodium valproate you need 30mg per kilo of body weight. A huge issue is that a lot of GPs severely under dose their patients, mine tried to prescribe what worked out as 1mg per kilo of body weight until I read him the dosage information.

I have awful migraines, definitely get a referral to the migraine clinic! I have tried 10 different triptrans none that worked. Aspirin is the best treatment for migraines and not to much as they will say you’re getting migraines from too much pain relief 🙄 I am now receiving Botox treatment which has worked miracles, I’ve got from average 22 migraine days to 4 a month. I also go to a chiropractor every 4 weeks to keep on top between Botox treatment 😊 hope you get your referral & feeling better.

Thanks all, I've had a weepy appointment at the GP surgery and got a referral to the migraine clinic. He wrote the referral letter whilst I was there and listed all the things I have tried out taken. Then he did say he was sorry he hasn't managed to help so far and he is sorry it had taken so long, but he had to ensure we've tried all the meds before referral. I am now going to come off the amitriptyline and wait for the referral before trying something else, mainly because I need to wait until payday!!!

My daughter takes Maxalt wafer & it stops the migraine. He usually sleeps then wakes up a few hours later much better

My husband gets a lot of migraines, and think a lot comes from tension in his shoulders. He has recently bought a tens machine he uses and has noticed a great reduction :)

@NauseousNancy honestly - a chiropractor! Life changing!

Get referred to a migraine clinic or neurologist as this will be your best course of action.
I have been in same position as I have been experiencing on average 4 migraines a week. I have tried most of the preventative medication which toprimate was the most successful for along time but then in the words of my neurologist I had just reached the end of its effectiveness as due to time on it, this is common.
I met all the criteria at the pain clinic then for BOTOX injections. Had one lot 3 months ago and though not an over night cure it has reduced the frequency a little. Going for my second bout soon. Only thing I will say is the few days after are horrendous but fingers crossed it will turn out ok in the long term.

I have been on everything, too. Things that haven't been mentioned:

My neurologist prescribed Melatonin to promote sleep. Nortriptyline instead of amitriptyline. Frovatriptan because it's longer acting. Naproxen rather than Aspirin to protect my stomach. Prochlorperazine to help with nausea.

I used to have Sumatriptan injections because my stomach shuts down during a migraine, but I got to the point where I couldn't stand the click of the auto- injector.

I have botox. Gabapentin and topiramate made things worse. Beta blockers dropped my blood pressure too much and propranolol gave me vivid nightmares.

I have a Cefaly machine, but I find it only works while I'm wearing it, rather than the preventative effect they claim.