So fed up migraines & nausea what helps?

[SummerCyclist98]

I just keep getting migraines and this morning was retching like morning sickness with nausea. I’ve run out of sumantripan and paracetamol isn’t helping much. I’m just so so fed up of how debilitating they are on my mood and confidence. I’ve had to have decapepty injections whilst I wait for op on fibroids to try shrink them, and despite still being on oestrogel just feel crap and an utterly fed up tired 50yr old. It does feel like we just get forgotten in this world and expected to solider on.

Daily pizotifen changed my life, it's to prevent migraines. I went from 4 migraines a week to 1 in about 6 weeks

I’ve not heard of pizotifen I’ll google it to find out more. I’m not at the daily stage but weekly and they leave me exhausted, last weeks migraine took 3days to lift and here I am in bed again 5d later curtains pulled doing MN with one eye shut. Had hoped to go to beach as such a beautiful day.

The common side effects listed for pizotifen include headache and nausea plus appetite increase all the things I’m trying to reduce sadly..
Anyone have a good magnesium supplement that helps? Plus I’ve just read aspirin may be better perhaps I should try that?

I was given propranolol by the doc. I'm meant to take it a week before my period is due. It did work to start with but then my periods became so bloody erratic that I never know when a week before my period is! Might help if yours are fairly regular though.

How many migraines do you have a month? If it is more than 4 you should have a preventative treatment.

There are absolutely loads of them so there will be something out there to suit you. Try not to get too hung up on side effects as they affect everyone differently.

There are drugs that people on here swear by that I couldn't tolerate. Equally I heard a GP describe the one I got on with the best as 'I wouldn't prescribe it to my worst enemy'. She was surprised when I told her I was on it and loved it.

I have been lucky and not experienced any side effects. Any side effect is likely to be significantly less than your usual migraines but of course only you can decide the risk:benefits for you

I am taking propranolol twice a day and have come off HRT and haven't had one since. Oestrogen is a known cause of migraine apparently.

Ok thanks I think I need to go back to GP as it’s debilitating me far more than I realised. But I just feel fobbed off as it’s definitely hormonal I’ve been bleeding for 10mths now pretty much most weeks, waiting months and months for scans/hystocope and now finally have a Aug date for fibroids op but the decap injection is supposed to stop my ovaries working and oestrogen production. Just fed up really that I can’t keep all life’s balls juggling, clinging onto my job, parenting teens whilst worn out.

How many sumatriptan and pain killers are you taking. You might be taking too many which could have put you in an overuse cycle.

I’ve not taken too many was only prescribed 10 at a time it’s my last resort taking sumatriptan, those 10pills lasted 3 months. I don’t like relying on meds prefer to swim, cycle, rest and eat well etc.

Absolutely what @Marlowqueen said.

Never more than 6 triptans in a month or 2 in a week. Overuse headache is hell, going cold turkey did fix it but also left me a miserable wreck.

Sorry Op, yes they are grim and life blighting. My game changer was finding someone, not Nhs, who tested me for food and drink intolerances. Ive had to give up tea and coffee but oh so worth it.

It’s definitely not overuse of pills as they are my last resort not my first choice. I’m trying hard to balance my lifestyle to not rely on meds as much as possible, just my frigging hormones are so out of whack sadly. My mum also struggled with awful migraines through her 40-50s but she didn’t have to juggle a job on top to pay the mortgage.

That’s interesting @Villagetoraiseachild as in the last six weeks I’ve gone GF and felt so so much better digestively. I’ve also lost weight without trying much just eating healthier. I very rarely drink alcohol as can’t tolerate it well. My sister has been GF for 20yrs I just wish I’d done it sooner actually.

They’re v pricey, but since I got a Cefaly device, I haven’t had a single migraine. I use it daily.

Your hormones seem to be all over the place and until that gets sorted I think it will continue like this. I know my migraines are hormone related so AF is hell for me, so if your continuously bleeding I can't imagine how awful you must feel!
Sumatriptans are a lifesaver for me but realise you said you don't have any. What about aspirin? I had to use it recently in a pinch and it did diminish it a bit so I could cope until the pharmacy opened the next day. Cold can of full fat coke helps also. 💖

Thanks @Daniki i tried an aspirin an hour ago and it’s taken the edge off. I might actually try the coke I don’t normally drink it but DD has some for exam revision I’m off to nick one now but think it’s Pepsi max I’ll try anything as so wanted to be outside enjoying the last sunny day of Halfterm /work leave not stuck in a dark bedroom!

Yea I wouldn't normally drink but it has helped me some times. They are so debilitating and I find the good weather can bring them on aswell 😫 hope you get some relief--and answers!

I would advise you to take the medication as soon as you need them rather than as a last resort. I take rizatriptan and a double espresso the second the aura starts and not having the migraine at all breaks the cycle. I went from having two a week to once every 2–3 years.
Don’t be put of by the listed side effects, more people will have the benefit rather than the side effect otherwise the medication wouldn’t be on sale.
If you are not getting on with the medication ask to try another. There’s a whole new generation of meds now.
Are you keeping an eye on your blood pressure? That can be another factor.

My BP & heart rate are normally low. I had covid 2weeks ago so kept my garmin watch on overnight HR was 50 but average resting HR normally 55-58. BP was in normal range. I’m not worried by either of those at the moment but thanks for mentioning. I’ve found a sports hydration tablet so I’m sipping that now as it’s got salts & magnesium in it as they can help. Just fed up as spent last Sat-Mon with 3d migraine grrr!

Rizatriptan looks like it might be the next step up from Sumatriptan I’m going to ask my GP to try that. They are pretty good in the online consult they come back to you within the day mostly.

In that case I think you are underusing them!

The point of Sumatriptan is to take it as soon as the headache starts and cut it off immediately. No rest is going to get rid of the migraine once it is in motion, all you can do is wait it out in misery.

I found Sumatriptan made me very drowsy so I still lost half a day at least. Have changed to Almotriptan and it's more like losing a couple of hours.

Have you tried rizatriptan? I feel normal within about 30 seconds (and my aura is aphasia, so I have a complete inability to talk, so it’s clear when the episode resolves).

Do you take magnesium ?

Botox was life changing for me. I couldn't go back to life before Botox.

On the odd occasion I have a migraine now I either take 1000mg aspirin or 2 propranolol