Migraines - end of tether

[ProcastinationStation]

I am 46, I have suffered with migraine for 23 years. I go through 12 sumatriptan per month (50mg). I get no aura, just intense pain in temple and lump in back of neck and cannot lie down as pain much worse. I can walk about when they're not too bad but I'm miserable and had enough.

I get them in the middle of the month, during my period. If I sleep in, without the window open or the heating on. Wear too tight clothing (especially bra). If I drink alcohol (but not every time). And other random times.

I have tried:
Acupuncture
Propanalol
Domperidone
Rigid sleep pattern (heating off, window open)
No alcohol
Mini pill to regulate hormones
2 litres of water
Keeping active (I am a healthy weight)
Magnesium
Herbal hormone tablets
No tight clothing
No paracetamol (apparently these can trigger a migraine)
And probably more things that I can't remember.

Seen several neurologists and GPs they all differ in opinion but now on blood pressure tablets in the hope that they would help, but I've been on them for a year and I don't think they do.

I'm still here, with the same amount of migraines per month, the pain has not increased. They haven't really changed enough for it to be sinister.

I just want this to change and I don't think they will. Anyone else in my boat or has some amazing fix???

You’ve probably tried this already as you’ve suffered for so long but I get hormonal migraines usually on day 2/3 of my period and also at some random times and the only thing that helps me is a triptan nasal spray

Like you I don’t get an aura, just severe pain down the right side of my head and face and back of my neck. I wake up with it in the morning so I can’t take the sumatriptan tablets as my stomach is empty amd I feel nauseous already. I keep a nasal spray beside my bed and if I use it immediately it almost always clears it. Feel quite drained and fragile after but it worth it.

I used to get Imgrain but last few times I’ve been prescribed Zomig, both work well

Topiramate is not that horrific - each preventer suits different people.

FWIW I can't tolerate propranolol, amitriptylline, wouldn't even touch the other BP med with a barge pole and am fine with topiramate.

I would be concerned you have rebound headache though. I was given strict instructions of no more than 2 triptans a week or 6 a month or I would get rebound headache and it was true

The Channel 5 programme is good. I've tried the Cephaly and it is really good but Botox is better. Paid for both myself as no chance on the NHS.

Check out forks over knives, whole foods plant based diets. You can watch the documentary on YouTube free. Loads of success stories on the website for health issues including lowering blood pressure w out medication (I did this w this diet), reversing heart disease and diabetes, and helps w migraines. Try it for a month and see if it helps. Loads of yummy recipes are online. Or you can keep it simple as well.

Do you have foods high in nitrates like gammon? This is a massive trigger for mine, I'm guaranteed a migraine after eating gammon. Mine haven't been as bad since nipping them in the bud with paracetamol, aspirin and a strong coffee.

I'm a vegetarian (name changed slightly which is why I don't look like the op!)

Going to dig out the Channel 5 documentary and I'm going to go back to the gp and maybe up my bp tabs - I looked at the mag and my dosage and

Posted too soon! The dosage is more than I take.

I'm also going to ask about changing a triptan - might not make any difference.

I occasionally go 2 weeks without one, so could that still be medication dependence?

I suffer with migraines. I can’t recommend contacting the national migraine centre enough. They’ve changed my life.

I was already taking a lot of preventatives. I take Topiramate, Amitryptiline and I was taking Atenolol. They stopped the Atenolol but since then I’ve developed a heart issue so am now taking Bisoprolol. They changed my Triptan from sumatriptan to Naratriptan.

She recommended I take Dolovent. It’s got magnesium in it but you need the other bits too. If I don’t take this I really notice a difference. I have cut out all caffeine apart from the coke I use to dissolve 3 aspirin and 2 paracetamol in when I get the initial symptoms of a migraine. I have Botox too.

My GP was adamant I couldn’t have HRT but the doctor at the migraine centre sorted out a regime for me.

I had telephone appointments because I don’t live near London, and as it’s a charity you just pay what you can afford. I really wish I’d contacted them years ago.

My chronic migraines only stopped after a higher dose of amitriptylene. The neurologist suggested it and thankfully it worked.

I did also have a decent physiotherapist who manipulated my head/neck so it may have been a combination of both.

I take a BP medication as preventative after many many tries of everything else (mostly mentioned here).
I moved to zolmitriptan due to feeling awful on the sumatriptan which is better.
Did you mention stopping or limiting caffeine?

It's fucking awful though. I have been in the territory you were in 20ish migraines a month and it was hideous. A bit better now but I never drink, never have heating on at night, never sleep without an open window. Basically never have fun.!

Daith piercing worked amazing for me no bad migraines since I had it 3 years ago. Only time I have had anything close to a migraine was when I was pregnant so hormones gone mad, even then I could still see wasn't sick just had a strong headache in the same place as a migraine if that makes sense x

Having ended up in hospital on morphine for a 5 day migraine, the neurologist prescribed 900mg soluble aspirin with Domperidone and it is a life changer for me. I also use ice packs on the back of my neck and forehead (or stick my head under the cold tap)
Before that I had tried everything my go prescribed or the pharmacist suggested.
It’s utterly miserable, I totally commiserate.