Migraines/headaches

[RubySlippers]

have had 2 migraines in the past week

today, i have had a headache that i cannot shift

i also feel sickly

i wouldn't usually post about health stuff, but DH is away tonight, and i just feel uneasy about not feeling well, if that makes sense

any tips?

kiddiz, I have recently started having migraines again. I'm nearly 45 and definitely going through the menopause

Mine swap sodes too. It is usually on left, but can be on the right. One time not too long ago I had one on the left. When I recovered from it a few days later, I got one on the right the next day. I was soooo pissed off.

Rosylilly, you sound like me, thought it wasn't about breastfeeding:

"I was getting more and more frequent migraines a few months ago and went to the dr who suggested a preventative medication compatible with breastfeeding -some sort of betablockers (forgot the name). I didn't want to go on such strong medication so am continuing to experiment."

Try a really mild dose. Like 10mg and see if it helps. I think it even comes in 5mg.

The headache part is actually not so bad for me IF I can take my meds and sleep. That's why I find the glucose tablets/sweets useful, they can extend the time I have to get home to my bed.

The worst part is the nausea, which will rapidly escalate to vomiting, and the horrendous visual symptoms.

I have white spots (like reflections from sunlight), flickering lines/swirls and blind spots (so I have to turn my head to fill in the blanks).

The worst attacks though have led to almost stroke like symptoms - my mouth and one eye droop at the side, slavering (gross!) and numbness extending down one side. Very scary.

Mine is always right hand side and I can feel it coming for a few days as I can touch a spot on my temple and it feels bruised almost for a day or so before it starts.
My sumatriptan is 50mg.

Mine are almost always on the left side! I also get the sore/sensitive spots but a couple of inches back from my temple.

You have my sympathies, StGeorge. How scary!

Cheers Athene (love the name btw).

Not happened for a long time . The first time was at high school and seriously freaked me out.

My headaches, when I have them, are more right sided. Strangely they used to be more left but seemed to switch over after I had viral meningitis a few years ago. They do seem stronger since then too.

Sympathies with you all - from a fellow sufferer (dreadful menstrual migraines).

I cannot recommend this place enough. You don't need a referral from your GP (but it helps) but you are asked to make a donation. Lovely people who really listen and give you a personalised course of action.

My migraines have definitely got better - and I'm getting very skilled at heading them off before they start.

Soluble aspirin and domperidone (anti-sickness drug) with a fizzy drink: v effective as a first line course of action...

Interesting - I am going to have to go to GP and look into these triptans, its been years since I tried anything on prescription, after 4 failed (expensive) attempts I went back to codeine and ibuprofen.

Interesting about the flickering lights - I find they can trigger migraie, or sometimes just make me feel ill without the headache, I think because they remind me of the flickering 'aura' I get, and so set my body off by 'tricking' it iyswim.

Other triggers for me - carrying heavy things on my back or around my neck (camera etc), bra straps that cut close to me neck (like on a cross over back, or halter neck style), oranges and orange juice, soft cheese (sob - though thankfully wine doesn't seem to be an issue), tiredness is probably the biggest factor, along with hormones.

Astrophe, neck pain is a common trigger.

If you look at the site I linked to,you'll find a useful leaflet with triggers on..

hope you get it sorted soon ruby.
i always get headache with sickness just before period starts, i do get migraines and they seem to be stress related, i take syndol which helps.

Imigran nasal spray often works for me - but I can't function properly for at least 24 hours after the pain has gone - I get Hyperdysphasia, visual disturbances and numbness down one side - have had MRI and CAT scans to see if is a stroke as had one the day DS was due and they thought that is what it was.

Am going to have to start taking the betablockers - although I have been trying not to for years!

Try the nasal spray instead of the tablets - it makes you feel less sick - but I do agree high sugar drinks and a mars bar often helps for me!

i get them during menstruation, they went almost completely in pregnancy but had the worst one last month for the first return of period.
Also i get them if i eat sausages - too many nitrates!

Oh yes, syndol is a magic over the counter one I take if I haven't got my sumatriptan handy, and sometimes it works. Paramol is another good OTC one.

Ruby, the way the migraine specialist explained it to me goes a bit like this:

You've probably always had a disposition to get migraines but, until now, you haven't had enough triggers all at once to set you off.

The key then is to identify your triggers and try to adapt your lifestyle accordingly.

Some triggers you may not be able to do anything about - getting your period,for example,or feeling stressed.

But others you can. These might be getting over-tired, for example, or skipping meals.

For most people, it takes a COMBINATION of triggers to push you over the migraine threshold.

So, if you tend to get them before your period, for example, you need to try to take real care in the week before you're due to eat properly and go to bed early.

Does that make any kind of sense?

Bucharest - I rarely get migraines now but Xmas before last I have 5 in a week. Not bad ones but unusual for me. I went to the GP at a clinic I go to and she gave me meds to take if I got one and also recommended the magnesium.

Next day I got another one and when it passed I was left with feeling it was all in the back of my head and down into my neck. So I went to chiropracter in same clinic. He also recommended the magnesium - both he and the GP had been to the same conference on headaches a few months before. A specialist from the States said that there had been some good results with migraines and headaches with a 500mg supplement of magnesium a day. I took it for a while but then forgot. It's an easy thing to try. Take it for a few months and see if it makes a difference.

The chiro reckoned my neck was very tense at the time and I haven't had another migraine since his manipulations.

My sis gets really bad migraines and I got her magnesium - she takes it sometimes but often forgets but does seem to be getting less migraines. Hers were def hormonal.

Oh, thanks for that...I'll definitely give it a try!

seems a lot of us suffer with migraines ...

Porpoise - it does make sense and i have been very stressed at work, late nights, early starts - i don't deal with stress well at all (never have)

have had migraines since i was around 13 and lighting has always been a trigger and often before travelling

i am worried about getting a migraine whilst driving as i have a 2 hour commute most days and if the flashing lights start i am fit for nothing

My DH has migraines and has just been diagnosed with migraine associated vertigo too. Basically he's been living with some awful after effects, visual disturbances, exhaustion and dizziness for 7 months. He had another two migraines at the weekend one after the other and is still in a very fragile state. He takes a 10mg (I think) dose of amytriptilline (sp) every night but it hasn't prevented the recent two migraines. Dr told him to double the dose but he couldn't even get up this morning.

I'm sorry to hijack but does anyone have any advice. He's taken proprananol before but is a total zombie on them. What are the other options aside from amytrip.? How can we find a trigger? I think tiredness is a factor and I try to let him lay in as much as possible. If he's ill with anything else it's always much worse too. Sorry to hijack but we're getting quite desperate. I just wish we could find out what causes them.

gingerninja - you poor dh - that sounds dreadful.

Can't really help about medication but...

Re tiredness: early nights are better than lie-ins. Apparently, it's important to get up more or less at the same time every day.

Try the magnesium gingerninja - it can't hurt.

Can he try a chiropracter too? Again - it can't hurt. Or acupuncture.

I would try all of those and see if any relief.

The magnesium can take a few months to kick in but is worth a try.

Bucharest - can I ask why you are called that? I am in Budapest hence my name!

Buda, I was so busy pontificating ,I missed your post about magnesium - sounds interesting

That's OK - cross posted I think!

Thanks very much. He sees a chiro regularly and has had reflexology and acupuncture but with no positive results. I think he's tried the magnesium but probably didn't stick at it so I'll give him a prod and tell him to try it again. It has been really awful for him. He gets the migraines with auras and I don't think anyone has a clue how debilitating migraines can be unless you have them or know someone with them. Unfortunately people often describe a particularly bad headache as a migraine which doesn't do real suffers any favours.

Buda- I did laugh at Budapest messaging with Bucharest! I'm actually in Italy (but English) and just wanted a totally random name, Romania were playing football at the time so I changed to that!