Ideas for coping with migraines and two small DCs

[bethylou]

I have two DSs aged 2.1 years and 13 weeks. I used to have two migraines per month (related to hormones) before DS1 was conceived but they stopped when I got pregnant (and I thanked my lucky stars!)

Yesterday, I had an almighty one whilst out shopping in a town 15 miles from home with only DS2 for company. It took me a while to work out what was happening because it has been 6 years since I had a really bad one (and I thought maybe I had low blood sugar as it was nearly lunchtime). I lost sensation in both hands and feet and felt like my mouth had swelled up (it hadn't) and couldn't speak properly. I managed to get myself to Boots the chemist where I was looked after for two hours whilst waiting for my DH to come and rescue us.

My question is what do any of you do if you have a bad migraine when in charge of DCs? I was lucky yesterday to only have DS2 with me. I don't have a lot of reliable family support locally and my lovely friends are great, but have big families of their own to look after. I can't expect DH to take time off frequently but can't see how I could look after the DCs in such circumstances.

The GP has suggested preventative treatment but I will have to stop breastfeeding to go on it (we are discussing this). I will definitely try acupuncture which helped a bit previously. Just need a 'what if..' plan really to help me feel more confident sa yesterday's events were really quite frightening, particularly as I was in charge of the baby and a good distance from home.

Sorry for long post and thanks in advance.

Sorry for typos - brain still not back to full capacity!

Hi bethylou.

OK, I a not going to be much help here but would love to see some responses. Like you, I suffer from migraines which are also hormonal (totally migraine free when pg/bf) and tbh they are knocking me sideways at the moment. I have 3 under 5 and like you, don't have family nearby and like you, most of my friends have children and I don't really feel able to impose (plus they are not too local). Actually, I could have written your post! Som, sorry not to be helpful, but you are def not alone! Are you on triptans btw?

Not on triptans at the mo as GP says not to have them whilst breastfeeding. I tried them a few years ago and hated the side effects of some that I tried. However, now I have to be able to carry on, I may have to try them all again and find the least bad one!

Sorry to hear that you are struggling too. Let's bump this a couple of times and see if we can get some more responses.

Just a quick post to say that I know that GPs often say that certain meds are unsuitable with BFing when in fact they are ok.

I recommend you post in the BF section and ask someone to link you to the online resource which is the "bible" for BF/meds.

i get them weekly and find i hardly venture further than the local shops with DS.

anything else is a major expedition and needs contigency planning as i have no family here.

slightest twinge of a migraine and its straight home and feed and water DS so he will be ok for a bit watching TTTE.

I love sumatriptan - it's my wonder med so I'm praying I don't get any bad migraines whilst pregnant (GP has said I need to go to A&E if I do - yikes!).

The side effects aren't fun, especially with the injectable (works faster but is stronger with worse side effects) but for me it's worth it to know I can get rid of a migraine.

Unless you're having them frequently and have ruled out all the possible causes you can think of, I wouldn't personally consider preventatives at this stage. Neck/shoulder tension, dehydration, low blood sugar and sun in my eyes are my main triggers, but I used to have to avoid a lot of foods also.

I just found this info on rxlist.com (a usually extremely good website for med info):

Nursing Mothers
Sumatriptan is excreted in human breast milk following subcutaneous administration. Infant exposure to sumatriptan can be minimized by avoiding breastfeeding for 12 hours after treatment with IMITREX Tablets.

Thanks for these tips.