Severe migraine attack- advice appreciated

[MBJ15]

Thank you for reading, hoping someone could offer advice. This is all very new to me and I’ve tried to reach migraine relief but the call centre was busy. I can’t believe I’m asking online for advice, but here I am.

I’ll try and break down what’s happened briefly.

11 days ago (Sunday) I awoke to neck and back of head pain like i haven’t experienced before - felt different. Standing or sitting worsened

10 days ago speak to a gp they think muscular and see how I go. Prescribed Amatriptalyn for 6 days at night.

9 days ago worsening and getting dull aches down arms and heaving the pain bad- didn’t vomit, I’ll do anything to not vomit. 3 bad pregnancy with sickness has left me with a fear of it. The nerve pain that would shoot across head is enough to make me drop to ground

8 days ago (wed) I wake up and my left side is like it’s not mine. Walking hard and speech slurred. Go a&e and end up on their day ward and given morphine. Discharged later that day with codeine, Amatriptalyn and usual pain killers alongside 5 days rest. Come back if nothing is better. Not slurring now and movement a bit better. The morphine took the edge off and closer to feeling bearable

6 days ago (Fri) no improvement and hubby takes me back. This time a fab dr suggests a severe migraine attack and starts with acute relief, I had a high does of sumatriptan, naproxen, anti sickness etc. start to respond after a couple of hrs. They did a ct scan that shows no bleeds and give me second dose of sumatriptan as still feel pain. Discharged with the mentioned meds and told to rest and get gp to put care plan etc in. If no improvement get help

4 days ago (mon) gp call and I’m told to continue with sumatriptan, Amatriptalyn etc. see how we go. I also get bupa with work and have spoken to them and have a neurologist booked for mid Aug.

Taking us to today. I’ve been having to have sumatriptan twice 50mg a day still- I know this is not ideal and this worries me. GP suggested on Monday to carry on with it, as long as not over 300mg in day, but from what I’ve read this isn’t something I should take daily and I don’t seem to be improving which surely I should by now?

It’s like I’m in limbo. Last night the pain came on bad and I was gutted as I had managed with only 1 sumatriptan in the morning. But I had to have the naproxen etc too.

I’ve also realised that in the past 11 days i have lost just over 2kg in weight, food is going through me and I think perhaps the sumatriptan?

My mum suffered badly with migraines and was on varied meds around same age as me. Both grandmothers also suffered, so I guess at 40 im now following the pattern.

My ask is I feel totally lost on what’s normal, what’s not and I’m worried. The pain thank god is nothing like it was consistently at when it started (I’d take labour over that), but it’s not completely gone. The standing and that whoosh of what I can only call nerve pain over my head is still there, again not as severe as it was when I would drop to floor but I need a min. The neck pain still lingering. I haven’t had a sumatriptan this am and my body has that heavy not mine feeling.

I have been struggling with my ears and have been referred to ENT for this and on a steroid spray, but the buzzing is now awful. My ears do an underwater like thing occasionally through day too.

I’m usually a fit and healthy person, eat well, don’t smoke/vape, barely drink and run 4 times a week. This has come out the blue.

Based on belly and things not improving I’ve asked for a gp apt, but they have given me a phone apt on 19th . Does anyone have a similar experience or can offer any advice on what I should be doing? I’m at a loss. The dr at hosp said come back if not improved, but don’t want to waste people’s time. My body feels heavy and like it’s not mine if that makes any sense? But I have strength to move.

Can anyone offer any similar experience?

It sounds horrendous.

Given it seemed to start with your neck maybe a chiropractor or osteopath would help. Years ago I got a random attack of almost daily migraines over the course of a week and one definitely felt like it was more in my neck. I was living in Hungary at the time and our local medical clinic had a chiropractor on staff and I had a session with him and it sorted it out. I do know that not everyone agrees with chiropractic treatment though. I have had it for years and never had any bad experiences. If you can find a McTimoney chiropractor near you it’s a more gentle form than the more traditional I think. Or an osteopath might help too.

My DS also had good experience with acupuncture for migraine. And my sister saw a really good sports physiotherapist who helped with hers at one point.

I can't advise you on the migraine aspect but Naproxen is not be underestimated in terms of side effects. It can cause stomach issues including diarreah and it makes me feel completely disorientated, exhausted, dizzy and sick if I take it for more than a couple of days, sort of off my face weird.

Hope you find a resolve soon.

Thanks will look into this. It’s like a nerve pain and not muscular, I have always been able to lift arms, move neck etc. but will look into it

Yes this is why I’ve been trying to not take much of this either. Last night I had to, but prob only taken 2/3 tablets over last 7 days of this, so felt this may not be contributing? I’m desp to be normal

Sumatriptan is not a standard painkiller. It is not designed to be taken regularly. It should be taken once at the start of a migraine and once again if needed. Are you sure you have been prescribed it regularly?

Had anyone mentioned bounce back headaches which can occur through overuse of painkillers?

They just keep telling me take it when symptoms come on and you should improve. I’ve questioned taking it and they keep saying as long as not over 300mg in 24 hrs, but it doesn’t sit right with me. The symptoms all subside when I take it, but yes I know it’s not a painkiller in itself.

I just don’t feel like I’m on the right medicine.

I am purposely not taking anything today to see if it’s too much in my system, as whilst no one has told me about it, I wondered if what I have read about post drome (?)

Edited to add

yes saw about too much and that’s why I have been careful not to take unless bad and why I want to stay off anything today. Advice I’ve had is awful. GP call was essentially call back and we will do another apt as I can’t do it all in this call. I was also on Yasmin a combined pill and she said we need to get you off that, I asked if I should stop straight away and she said we will cover later! I read the leaflet in box and it said stop, so I have!

Have any of the Drs mention excluding viral meningitis?
Did anyone suggest a lumbar puncture (sorry if you’ve covered this already)

Acupuncture works like a miracle cure for my extreme migraines. Mine are neck /shoulder triggered.

No, but bloods were ok. Would this show?

Definitely something I’ll look into, thank you for the reply

Re pain relief - I vomit profusely with migraines so was prescribed zolmatriptan nasal spray as he said any gastric upset & you don’t absorb oral meds. The sprays have been an absolute life saver & if taken at start of an attack it will be 60% gone within the hour. I’m also on a preventative too. Other things I’ve found useful - tiger balm on temples, cool gel strips on forehead, anadin extra. It’s awful, hope you get some relief.

Thank you.

feels like whT I’ve been thinking in respect of headache and symptoms should be gone would be the case with the migraine meds.

im wondering if I should go back and push harder. Im worried its not a migraine at all

Hi OP. If it is a migraine then I would think that you could well be having withdrawal headaches having taken that much sumatriptan. I would suggest you try some caffeine tablets (with paracetamol or on their own). Also, get some electrolytes into you as some people think migraines are caused by electrolyte imbalance. You could also ask to try beta blockers. Amitriptyline doesn't do much for me but propranolol helps.

Thank you. So frustrated and confused as I knew that taking them wasn’t right longer term, but following drs advice. I’m worried something else has been missed and I’m so confused on what to do

Oh lovey, I've just cleared a 2 week one so can understand how you're feeling

GP told me 50mg sumatriptan is "basically homeopathic" and starting it that far in would likely have no effect (absolutely didn't for me). Tried a couple more and frovatriptan seems to have worked for me. Don't know why they haven't offered you different ones tbh as I was told when given the first dose of sumatriptan that if it didn't work after the second dose then they'd give a different one.

I feel horrendous and no one seems to be able to help me. I’m going to get my husband to take me back like they said. Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate