Migraine

[Pupster21]

I’ve suffered with migraines for 25 years but the last 7 weeks have been horrific. One every fortnight lasting up to 6 days. The headache goes the next day usually but the nausea and vomiting persists. I’m currently taking zolmatriptan spray when it comes on and have buccastem and cyclizine for the nausea and vomiting.
It seems to be worse since I had the AZ vaccine and since then my periods have been every 2 weeks which is my main trigger. I’m not on any contraception and found they made my periods worse but may have helped the migraine.
I’m going to get a GP appointment to discuss treatment but find they’re not always that helpful for migraine so thought I’d ask for other advice here. I’ve had propranolol previously which did help so that’s currently my 1st choice.

Well, I feel like I invented migraines. I’ve been on every - and I mean EVERY - prophylaxis going with no success but at least it means I can tell you the general process.

GP will want to try you on prolanolol again if it worked before. If it doesn’t work, they might try topiramate. I think GPs can also try you on amitriptyline for migraines (but I can’t remember if they’re licensed for that). If they don’t work, ask for a referral to a neurologist.

S/he may then try you on the prophylaxis that’s unlicensed for migraines - in no particular order, candesartan, gabapentin, Flunarizine. There are also nerve blocks they can try (injections into the base of your skull that makes it feel like the back of your head has dropped off for a day) and localised TENS machines (Cephaly or one that you hold up against your neck whose name escapes me). If none of those work for you, you might ‘win’ cranial Botox. If that fails, some sites are now offering the monoclonal antibody injections. That is actually the one thing I haven’t tried because they’ve only just become available on the NHS - I’m starting on them imminently. Suffice it to say I’ve lost all hope, given I’ve failed on everything listed above, but since migraines make my life an utter misery, I still hope for a miracle.

Less/non-pharmaceutical - cut caffeine completely, eliminate all painkillers for eight weeks including your triptan spray to rule out rebound headaches (yes, just ride out the migraines on nothing...done it many times...awful...), keep a diary to identify any other dietary or behavioural triggers, daith piercing, hot bath with ice pack on the back of the neck, ketogenic diet, magnesium and the MN old chestnut, full sugar Coke with three aspirin at first sign.

I’m sure I’ll remember five other things that have worked wonders for others but have failed for me as soon as I hit post...

Oh - pizotifen is another one a GP can try you on and sodium valproate is one a neurologist might like to try but they’re not always keen on the latter in women of childbearing age due to its association with birth defects.

Aware I might sound like a twat and a bit woo, but Magnesium really helps my migraines. If I catch them in time, two magnesiums and a drink of water really helps.

However, what's really made a difference to me is moving to a rural location (from a bus route). Was around 15 attacks a months and now one every few months. Other ways to minimise exposure to pollution are available.

Could you be peri menopausal? My migraines were really bad when my periods were getting irregular. Some weeks I felt like I had a permanent headache.

I’m on regular Amitriptyline for migraines, prescribed by a “headache specialist”, locum who did clinics for the hospital because the hospital neurology waiting list was so long. I also take magnesium at bedtimes which seems to help my PMS. Mine have been worse recently, I’m trying a slightly higher dose of the Amitriptyline to see if that helps. Not totally sure why they’ve increased but it’s frustrating.

@ElphabaTheGreen has pretty much covered it, but try to get a referral to a migraine specialist neurologist.
I've had migraine since I was 6 - they are a bloody misery. Currently getting between 18 - 28 per month.
Unfortunately, the new monoclonal antibody Ajovy hasn't helped much which has been devastating (some changes in severity but not in frequency).
I take a daily anti-convulsant, which at various times has worked really well (Zonegran).

Unfortunately I have also tried pretty much everything. The only thing that helps is a daily triptan (Naramig) used as a prophylaxis. If I do get a migraine (about 4 per month I take another Naramig. I've also found that using Cephaly at night is helpful. I'm prescribed Naramig 56 at a time. It was approved by a neurologist but is unusual and tends to freak the Pharmacist out if they don't know me! Migraines just suck.

I found as I hit peri menopause my migraines increased dramatically. My gp started me on amitriptyline (thought it was the best bet as I was also having trouble sleeping) and they have worked fantastically to prevent them. I hope your gp can find the right thing for you.

Ive had migraines for 25 years. When I had covid last year I had a mega non stop migraine for 5 weeks. It was unbearable- maybe its linked to the vaccine?

Also if you're taking a lot of crisis meds then that can cause rebound migraines. The only way to stop that is to go cold turkey on the crisis meds (not easy - my dr once had to send a guy to hospital to get him to stop)

Amitriptyline definitely worked best for my migraines and knocked my chronic insomnia on the head, but it gave me a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia so had to come off it. I was SO pissed off.

My mum’s migraines went with menopause and my periods/ovulation are both a trigger for migraines and getting increasingly heavy and painful so I’m guessing I’m getting peri-menopausal. I would love a hysterectomy/oophorectomy just to bring it all to a halt and get some life and energy back while I’m still under 50 and my kids are small and energetic.

@Hellvelyn Have you had the chance to be put forward for the antibody injections? (Would need to be via a neurologist.) They work on the same channel blockers that triptans do. A once a month injection may be less hassle and not put the wind up your pharmacist in quite the same way!

I had something similar at Christmas. I was vitamin d and b12 deficient.

Due to the winter lockdown many people are. Few weeks after being on the tabs to get my level up, I've returned to just my Friday headache

@ElphabaTheGreen have you tried going on the mini pill that stops ovulation? You just take it daily without a break. I’ve just started taking it again and really hope it stops my migraines, have started having them just before my period and just after ovulating, even down to the same time of day, it’s bloody weird! Whilst I was breastfeeding and pregnant (twice) over the last few years they almost stopped altogether and I’m guessing it’s because I didn’t have a cycle. I deprived myself of all chocolate over Easter which took HUGE restraint and still got a bastard migraine 🙄

[quote hazandduck]@ElphabaTheGreen have you tried going on the mini pill that stops ovulation? You just take it daily without a break. I’ve just started taking it again and really hope it stops my migraines, have started having them just before my period and just after ovulating, even down to the same time of day, it’s bloody weird! Whilst I was breastfeeding and pregnant (twice) over the last few years they almost stopped altogether and I’m guessing it’s because I didn’t have a cycle. I deprived myself of all chocolate over Easter which took HUGE restraint and still got a bastard migraine 🙄[/quote]
I’m 42 so no doctor would put me on the pill now. But when I did try it when I was younger for contraception, it made zero difference to the migraines (although they were less frequent and severe then) and absolutely wrecked my skin - acne like running sores on my face when I’d barely had a pimple before in my life.

OP I had the AZ COVID vaccine and I had a fortnight of migraines. Another friend had the same. I really sympathise, it was awful. In the end I rang my doctor, who upped my daily propranolol from 40mg to 80mg. This has helped to break the pattern for me. I hope you can get it sorted.

Thanks for all the advice. I’ve tried other options in the past such as amitryptalline which didn’t work. I feel like I’ve been really lucky the last few years after making some lifestyle and job changes and I’ve only really had one develop every 3 months as my rescue medication usually works. But I’m due back at work next week after 5 months off and so I’m really worried about migraines causing an issue. I think I’ll try the propranol again so I don’t mess with my hormones. I suspect/hope it’s a short term thing from the vaccine and hope it will pass.

Hi - I had the AZ vaccine about 3 weeks ago and seem to have a daily migraine all day with attendant visual and light sensitivities. Worse in the morning. It is interesting to me that a few others have found this.

(I have only had migraines at onset of periods and menopause)

I would be interested to hear how others get on.