Migraines

[n0ne]

I'm currently on day 6 of the worst migraine cycle I've ever had. Averaging 2-3 migraines in each 24-hour period, day and night. Also 37w pregnant so can't take anything but paracetamol. My GP said nothing could be done. Got so much baby prep to do but literally cannot function like this. Poor DH is trying to do everything while working full-time and looking after DD(4). Has anyone been in the same boat? Is there anything I can do??

Definitely invest in some Kool'n'soothe gel sheets for your forehead. Best thing I did for my pregnancy migraines.

Besides that, dark room and lots of rest/water. Hope you feel better soon.

Your migraine cycle sounds a little different to mine. This pregnancy seems to be increasing my sensitivity to triggers, especially sulphites,msg. Without meds is so painful, i really feel for you, it's very debilitating. My recommendations for pain relief system without the strong meds is two paracetemol, two pints of water, a coffee with sugar or a can of coke for caffeine, a carbohydrate boost like two slice of toast with jam or digestive biscuits or lots of oatcakes, then if possible, lie down in dark room with a bag of frozen peas on the back of your neck/base of skull for at least twenty minutes. I use biofreeze roll on on my temples and sides of face additionally and get my partner to massage my shoulder and neck. If you try and do as much of this at the same time it will help a bit, the frozen peas being most effective as they constrict blood vessels luke triptan meds

I had a similar migraine cycle at 39wks and was allowed to take sumatriptan. My now almost 1yo DD was fine. Could you see a different GP? As an aside mine continued like this postnatally until I started taking anitriptilyne 30mg a day. Touch wood it's been very good at controlling them so far.

Hope that helps a little. It's not nice when they go on for days on end. I hope you've come out of it. If you didn't have regular migraines pre pregnancy it's recommended you see gp/midwife asap to discuss the headaches as can be sign of pre eclampsia x x

Try nortitrypline

In the end I was referred to a consultant during my third trimester for very debilitating migraines and I was given a preventative drug which is well tolerated and very old basically so they know it is safe in pregnancy, it worked and gave me my life back, had some difficulties since then with episodes of migraines and now use a different preventive drug in conjunction with it. The GP won't necessarily know what's safe in pregnancy, if you are unable to function then asking for an urgent referral or paying for one yourself to see a neurologist who can advise on pregnancy/post-partum drugs may be really helpful, especially if you are planning on breastfeeding.

I should say my pregnancy was a decade or more ago and newer drugs have come out in this time, I just wanted to challenge the idea that paracetamol is all you can take in pregnancy, this is not the case.

I took codeine for my pregnancy migraines, with no ill effects to my children. Saying that though, the pain wasn't the worst part, it was everything else.

DH also had to do everything for me, it was a miserable time. Worst was crying in the OOH doctor with my eyes closed because of the damned fluorescent lights.

Salt & Vinegar crisps with coke helped a bit.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pnp.137/pdf

This suggest you can take propranolol and possibly amitryptaline (but not in the third trimester so only after birth now) as preventive/prophylactic drugs if you have severe migraines/nothing else works, I used one of these and it really works, the relief was tremendous.

Thanks all. I ended up going to the walk-in at the hospital as I couldn't bear it anymore and was taking paracetamol around the clock which isn't great either. The dr prescribed me the lowest dose of sumatriptan possible and said not to take it every day. Day before yesterday I got a migraine, took 50mg and it was gone within 15 minutes. I felt rather woozy for the next 24 hours, but no pain, and I've been pain-free ever since! I'm ecstatic! Can actually get on with preparing for my baby now!