Almost constant migraines at 16 weeks

[PinkPrittStick]

I had almost constant migraines since I was about 14 weeks, they vary from annoying headache to full on "light bothers me, can't keep anything down" migraines. I did suffer from them before being pregnant and was on medication but I have spoken to the doctor and it is not really safe for me to take them. I keep missing work so the Gp has offered me a sick note for time off.

I was wondering if I should be worried about the migraines? And is there anyway to treat them except for just waiting it out with a cold cloth on my head?

Also my last blood test showed a low PAPP-A and I'm due to see a consultant about this, but could it be causing the headaches?

I like the 4 head cool patches they are better than flannels. Dark room. Paracetamol, I know it's ineffective but I'm guessing that's the best that can be taken when pg. It sounds utterly horrendous I do sympathise

I had horrendous headaches at the same stage I thought it was never going to end. Only paracetamol and the head4 patches or whatever they are called, they do take the edge off slightly but as for the sickness just try to stay hydrated and it will go away! I read up about it a lot and and this time your hormones are changing a lot which apparently causes the migraines. Hope you feel better soon

It's shit isn't it. I'm 19 weeks and it's just started easing off. My solution was same as non pregnant solution. Paracetamol and cold full sugar/caffine coke. Takes the edge off. I also found stodgy food helped too and eating less per meal but earing more frequently to prevent the dips in energy.

Make sure you are drinking enough water too. Try to have a glass when you get up in the morning, even if you are having tea or coffee.

Thanks, I'm definitely going to try the patches. I think I used them before a few years ago. I never tried drinking Coke during a migraine, I usually go for ice water and a sugary tea afterwards especially if I haven't eaten.
I'm trying so hard to stay hydrated but it's hard with the nausea it brings.

I really hope it eases up in the next few weeks x

I had about 3 weeks or pretty much solid headaches from 15-18 weeks. It was AWFUL, worst part of my pregnancy so far. I read about the paracetamol/coke solution too and it was the only thing that helped even a little bit. Preventative measures that stopped it getting worse included making sure I laid flat (so no big pillows / baths etc) and staying really overly hydrated.

It was awful, OP, I really feel for you. But mine have now almost completely gone so hopefully yours will too!

I was prescribed some painkillers from the GP that were safe in pregnancy. The migraine makes it harder for the body to absorb the paracetamol so these have a chemical in to allow it to be absorbed easier. Pretty sure they're called Paramax.

I take Imigran nasal sprays. .
There is absolutely no evidence that continuing to use them during pregnancy can affect the baby at all. .
I suffered all through my last pregnancy and new Dr said he would have let me continue to use them (too bloody late!!)
Ask your Dr not your mw for advice on this one as she will be reluctant to agree!!

Don't know what Papp-A is so can't comment on that.

But hospital prescribed me 10mg day Amitriptyline during my first pg due to severe migraines & it was like a wonder cure. V safe drug apparently, has been in use for 30+ yrs.

I was told not to use triptans in pg.

This pg was not nearly so bad. Dr advised 75mg day aspirin to thin blood.

Also - reinstating caffeine helped me a lot. 2 shots coffee max per day.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant now and have suffered from headaches since April! It's awful, isn't it? I was told ibuprofen was safe in the 2nd trimester, if that helps?
I was also eventually prescribed codiene, although it was ineffective and made me sick! But there are things that can be prescribed in pregnancy, you just need to find a Dr willing to explore options.

What saved me in the end was osteopathy - I was pretty sceptical, but after a month of weekly sessions, with daily yoga in between I was down from 4-day, wipe-out, 'put me in a dark room and leave me alone' migraine stretches, to an ongoing mild headache which can be managed with paracetamol.

Good luck, it's bloody rotten, isn't it?

@dustpan I used to take Amitriptylene before pregnancy but was told to stop as there were no clear studies on the effects it can have on pregnancy. They said only use it if necessary which I'm assuming was your case? I think coz mine only came back it's not deemed necessary.

@PerpetualStudent I can't take codeine as my body reacts really badly to it but will definitely check out osteopathy. I did consider yoga but still haven't found classes near me at suitable times, I'm not sure about trying it at home as I've never done it before.

I posted on another thread very recently about this- but there are preventive medicines which are prescribed, usually by a consultant, in pregnancy for migraine, propranolol and amitriptylene (not sure about up to birth with the second one). I would say once you are off sick, it goes into the 'necessary' category but obviously that's a choice for you and your doctor but it is not true you can't take anything, and as someone else said, I was told that these have been used for a long time safely in pregnancy and have a good safety profile, and the propranolol worked for me.

There are no clear studies on pretty much most drugs in pregnancy as no pharma company would test drugs on pregnant women on purpose, would they? That's why well -tolerated, used for 30 odd years drugs with good safety profiles are used and not newer ones. I saw a neurologist who prescribed them, you could go private for a one off consultation- I was given an urgent consultation as I was unable to care for my first child as the migraines were so bad in my second pregnancy.

@PinkPrittStick 1st of all congrats on bump,

first off I'm not a medic nor will I pretend to be, I'm sadly not a mum as it didn't work out for me but I am a chronic migraineur,

I fully recommend a website with info on how to help headache and migraine written by a consultant neuro who is specialized in headache and also based my local hospital so I am willing to vouch
for quality of the info -

google severe headache expert Dr Raeburn Forbes, all his info is free and you can take or leave it, no pressure but nothing to lose, I'm not selling just highly recommending

Definitely cold flannel on back of neck while plunging your feet into a basin of hot water, as hot as you can bear, the heat will draw all the blood from pumping around your head
(passes you eye mask and soft snuggly pillow and blanky)

Being sick a lot in the early stages caused me to have constant headaches. I'd wake up every morning and be like oh.. here it starts again. They were awful, just try to get as much sleep as you can, get a water bottle and make sure you drink at least 3 full bottles of water a day to keep yourself hydrated, or more if your being sick often. Also take 2 paracetamol, paracetamol mixed with loads of water seemed to solve it for me long enough to get a good extra few hours sleep which makes you feel better anyway xxxx

@Summerswallow thank you, I will go back to the GP and see another doctor (the one I saw wasn't my usual) and ask about amitriptylene again and hopefully now that I have had to take so much time off work they will reconsider. I'm sorry your migraines were so bad xx

@smurfy2015 thank you! I will check out dr Raeburn, can't hurt to look! And thanks for the foot bath tip, I'll definitely use it xx

@sophiejayne96 I have increased my water intake but as you said sleep really does have an impact on it a I will also try to regulate my pattern and sleep at the same time every day (earlier than I do now) so hopefully that will make a change.xx

I've been having the same issue so it's been weirdly reassuring to see this thread. Sending you lots of sympathy though. I'm 16 weeks and have had two migraines in a the last two weeks. One lasted 4 days which was grim. Before pregnancy I used to get migraines a couple of times a year so I've been worried that this is going to become a regular pregnancy thing. Great. I went to see my gp who checked my blood pressure and couldn't off much else tbh. He said it's fine to take paracetamol and ibuprofen is ok in 1st and 2nd trimester. Neither of those really shift my migraines though so I'd rather not take them unnecessarily. I've been using the 4head stick which is surprisingly effective and I bought a gel eye mask that I put in the fridge and is bliss for 10 minutes. Then it's back to the traditional cold flannel and dark room.

Hope we both grow out of this phase soon like some of the other posters, fingers crossed xx

Hope it gets better for you xx

@Brook450 it's horrible isn't it?! I was really hoping it wouldn't become a regular thing in pregnancy. I was told not to take ipubrofen though. I hope it goes soon for both of us xx

Thank you @Sophiejanyne96 xx