Migraines

[Littlehopeful]

I've suffered from migraines for years since I was 4 I'm now 24 but since getting pregnant I've had one nearly every day and if I don't have a migraine hangovers!

I know it's normal for the frequency to increase but has anyone else had one nearly every day since becoming pregnant? I'm only 10 weeks and they're so debilitating I tend to faint and have to be in bed for the entire day... Productive!! I'm allergic to most painkillers incl. paracetamol so bed is my only option.

And I don't mean headaches; headaches and migraines are different!

Hello and OMG I feel your pain!

In the first few weeks I was completely debilitated once a week for 3 days! plus a day of migraine hangover meaning I had 3 lovely days a week of normal nausea and extreme fatigue!

Did you take triptans pre-pregnancy? Because research in Sumatriptan (Imigran) doesn't show any statistical significant in risk if taken during pregancy and my friends neurologists said that once or twice a week during pregnancy and breastfeeding is ok if they get really bad.

It is normal for migraines to increase in the 1st trimester. If it is any consolation, I am now 14+4 and I haven't had a 'put me to bed' migraine for a week and a half. I also started taking pregnancy vitamins in case I was deficient in something

Apart from that I can suggest cold compress on neck, warm compress on forehead or vice versa. Trying to keep your blood sugar steady, drinking plenty, sleeping regular hours etc etc... however if you have suffered for 20 years like me..... I am probably trying to teaching you to suck eggs.

ANYWAY, my mums useful comment to me was that even a difficult labour is a walk in the park compared to a bad migraine..... so maybe labour will be a nice change of pace

I had this during early pregnancy too. At least I could take paracetamol, although it didn't really help!

I found they just stopped one day at around 15-16 weeks and I didn't have another one for the rest of my pregnancy. Only had 1 or 2 since too (in 4 months)

Hang in there and hopefully yours will suddenly stop too.

In the meantime, I'd look into Sumatriptan as mentioned by PP.

Hi there, I suffer terribly with migraines too but funnily enough I don't get them when pregnant. Ive had a few mild headaches which have been bad but nothing like a fully fledged migraine. I feel ur pain. Stay strong. Xxx

I sympathise. I've suffered with migraine with aura since I was 7 (now 31) and know mind are affected by hormones. Anyway, for me weeks 8-10 were the absolute worst, I think I had about 5 in one week and mine 'only' last about 6 hours each time but still meant I had to keep phoning in sick. I had one really, really horrific one about week 11 and then thankfully not one since then, and am now 35 weeks. So i really hope yours stop just as suddenly. I was also taking the lifesaver that is sumatriptan before but decided not to take it whilst pregnant. But as PP said, I don't think there's any evidence of harm so if mine had carried in i might have changed my mind.

Hope you get over this unpleasant blip soon

You poor thing, exactly the same here. I took sumatriptan through both of my pregnancies when I had a migraine (and yes, frustratingly they were more frequent). My GP advised no increased health risks and no other medication has ever helped.

Best of luck

I also have had migraines all my life and they were very frequent (nearly daily) for a few weeks early pregnancy, fortunately not as severe as normal, but still debilitating! They seemed to ease off though, and I'm now 22 weeks and have only had a handful since about 10 weeks and they've usually been when I've not slept well or am dehydrated.

That sounds awful - I do sympathise. One simple thing I find that relieves symptoms a bit is to reduce your light exposure by wearing sunglasses or a hat (I wear tinted contact lenses and a hat all the time, and it makes a big difference in preventing but also easing symptoms.) Not that that's much use if you're at the lying in bed stage... I have also found that food triggers have been a big factor for me - it might be worth trying cutting out some of the more or less likely culprits if you're at the stage where you'll try anything. For example, for me not only cheese, chocolate, caffeine and red wine are bad, but also some random ones like gluten, mushrooms, spinach and aubergine.

Its rotten isn't it! I increased in frequency during the first trimester - took rizatriptan twice and paracetamol the other times (like that helps!!!). Second trimester I haven't had any so far. Mine are often linked to low blood sugar and disturbed sleep. My nightmare is having one during a prolonged labour - would it even be possible to push a baby out when you can't lift your head without puking!

Thanks for the replies! I've had a migraine since I posted this so unable to reply

I'm going to have to give something a go I'm losing too many days due to them. I'm used to two a week pre pregnancy but this is so annoying! I have a funeral Tuesday hope I can manage without one then atleast!

Mine aren't related to food triggers mine are sleep deprivation and my eye sight. My sleeps been terrible the last 5/6 weeks too. Hopefully they'll ease in the next few weeks like a few of you have said.

Thanks

Heidi I have the same fear about getting one during labour. How would that work? I think they'd have to knock me out and give me a CS! Fingers crossed that doesn't happen to any of us. More likely to get one after labour apparently - deep joy.

Sorry you've suffered another one OP. Really hope they stop for you soon. They are such a curse.