Fellow migraine sufferers - can I have some advice please?

[CharCharGabor]

I'm sitting here with the lovely migraine hangover headache and thought I'd ask for some advice. I had a migraine yesterday, luckily it didn't get full blown until DD was in bed. Mine are usually a massive headache, sensitivity to light, touch and smell, and nausea and vomiting. I went to bed and managed to sleep it off.

I was just wondering if there's any migraine related painkillers I can get prescribed while bfing? I used to take Migraleve but it never worked. They really knock me out and I have to go straight to bed, which isn't really practical with DD to look after.

Also, any tips for coping with migraines when you have a young toddler? I usually force my way through them but any tips would be helpful.

Finally, has anything helped you to ward them off? I.e. avoiding particular foods or doing anything to prevent them?

TIA

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Thanks christiana I don't think I've had one for a month or so. It was the smell of a burnt pan that set it off and it just gradually worsened through the day. Thanks for the tips, will give them a go next time. The worst thing about having one is having to cook for DD, can't handle any smells.

You can get extra strangth co-codamol from your GP (only on prescriptionl, not the ones you can buy). That is the only thing you can get while pregnant/breastfeeding - I know....

And if you haven't had any proper painkillers for a while, they might do the trick as your body won't be used to it...

Other than that,I let dd (3) watch as much tv as she likes, lie on the sofa with sunglasses on (sensitivity to light) and eat dry crackers and lots of water....ds is usually asleep...

If you can manage it - go to sleep! I know it's probably not likely, but that's all I do.

Now i've stopped breastfeeding, I have migraleve on prescription as it works for me. Have also tried immigran in the past (others say its fab)

Thanks for that jnss. I've only been taking paracetamol but I'll make an appointment with the doctor to get those. I haven't taken strong painkillers in forever so they should do the trick I'll try some of your tips out next time too, might take her in the bedroom with me with some toys as it has a gate on, and just doze while she plays. Thanks again

Do you know when you are getting one? I've learnt now that my vision starts to go funny so that is when i dose myself up with Anadin Paracetamol. I've not had a full blown migraine for a few months now thank god.

Hi CharChar

few things that helped me...

one thing was figuring out some of the causes (annoying I seem to have a few grr)

for me soft cheese and lots of sugar are huge triggers

when i get sugar out of my tea and forced myself to have regular meals, I cut down my migraines by half. If you have a sugar high intake, I'd urge you to look at this.

Other cause for me was hormones. This took longer to figure out.

Also, someone on here told me to try a full fat coke when I felt one coming on and that has helped tbh

many many sympathies, it is truly truly awful having them especially when you have to force yourself up to look after the kids. Please do go back to the docs. Took me years to get them to take me seriously.

when I cut sugar out of my tea (seem to have lost the ability to type grr)

Ground Liquorice root in capsule form from a health shop if the migraines are related to your cycle.

Take a few every day. It has worked for me and I still can't believe it. I stopped taking thme because I didn't really believe it. But I got a migraine the following month, so I'm back on them again, and last month, no migraine.

The woman in the health food shop 'prescribed' them.

For me my migraines are nearly always caused by not drinking enough water. I do usually drink a decent amount but can guarentee when I do get one (not often now) I always realise, I'd been rubbish at drinking the day before.

So long as I dont leave it too long I find OTC Co-Codamol is ok . I gave up on the expensive Migraleve when I realised it could be substituted much cheaper.

TV IS Godsend if you have toddler + Migraine