Migraines and headaches

[heatherxo]

Advice on making them go away?
I won't take paracetamol because every time I do, they make me feel sick and dizzy.
Been sat in a dark room all day and that's not helping either.
Most probably a stress-headache 🤔

Been feeling "off" all day though... sore head/eyes, head feels very heavy, feeling so hungry but when I do eat I feel sick.
Just can't win today at all. Any help?

Poor OP.

I take paracetamol and ibuprofen at first sign.

If that doesn't work I take migraleve (which does contain paracetamol) and/or ibuprofen lysine (which seems to work just as well as migraleve)

If they don't work (I.e. After a half or full day) I take sumiptran which works brilliantly. You can get it prescribed. The odd chemist sells it OTC but you seem to have to give your life story and claim you've had it before. And it's pricey.

Obviously I can't vouch for how safe any of those are for pregnancy so definitely see your doctor asap and before taking anything.

Just a bit iffy with medicines right now.
Paracetamol makes me feel awful, and makes me sick... which is odd because when I'm not pregnant I would literally have to overdose with it to have desired effect (yes - stupid I know)

Just dunno what else to do 😭

I suffer horrendous with migraines and this pregnancy is awful for them. There's very few things that don't involve medication that make them go away but here's a few things that help eliviate the pain.

Ice packs - I generally have 3 or 4. One for base of my neck. One for my forehead and top of my head.

Migraine cool strips are brilliant, they last about 8 hours and stay super cool. I put these on my forehead and lay down in a cool dark room with ear plugs in.

One of the best things I discovered was putting my hands and feet in hot water and an ice pack on the base of my neck, sounds will but it helps.

Also ice cold coke helps. Also this little roll on thing called 4head helps sometimes. Its hard to deal with migraines especially when your expecting, but cold dark silent room and breathe.

Dont take ibuprofen without doctors advice, its not recommended in pregnancy. I'm sorry your struggling I hope these ideas help.

Woah, Limon, ibuprofen is not recommended during pregnancy, especially not in the first and third trimesters, so be careful giving that advice out.

Have you tried cold things on your head, I find Migraine 'Cool n Sooths' or whatever they're called soothing, or I have like a band that I keep in the fridge and get it out and put it on my forehead. I do that and basically lay in a dark room and have a sleep really if I've got a full-on migraine, and if the pain is really bad I take paracetamol & codeine, the lowest dose effective, but this was on the advice of my GP as codeine should not be used during pregnancy without the supervision of a doctor.

How far along are you? I suffered quite badly in first trimester or up until about 16 weeks or so but since then today is the first migraine I've had and I'm 24 weeks now and only had the odd mild, temporary headache in-between. First trimester is meant to be the worst for headaches and migraines so if you're quite early on things should improve with time. I feel for you, it's awful I know.

Ibuprofen isn't recommended in pregnancy so avoid that. I suffer terribly with migraines even more so been pregnant I've been so poorly with them,I had all last week of work because of it. It got that bad last week I actually took 2 pink migraleve tablets as I thought I was gonna pass out in the pain. Xx

Would you consider a Daith piercing? I had mine done in September and haven't had a single migraine since. Not guaranteed for everyone but some very good results - and it really didn't hurt!

Definitely don't take ibuprofen or migraleve when pregnant! I suffer with horrendous migraines and unfortunately all we can do is ride it out in a dark room. I do use forehead as it's soothing but it only last for about 20 mins but sometimes it helps me fall asleep. I didn't even risk taking paracetamol for my last ones but my midwife said it's fine to take it. Feel your pain 😔

How many weeks are you Op?

Please do not take ibuprofen or any other NSAID in pregnancy.

Migraleve is paracetamol and codeine which are not automatically contraindicated in pregnancy BUT you should consult your GP before taking them. GP might also be able to prescribe a triptan which might be safe to take under medical supervision.

Otherwise you need to take a holistic view. Can you identify any triggers? How about alternative therapies like craniosacral therapy? When did you last have your eyes tested?

I have asthma and am advised not to take ibroprofen anyway.
It's just hard finding the time to relax in a dark place when I've got a demanding 2yo running around my heels.
I'm 30 weeks

Wouldn't mind a piercing but of course I wouldn't whilst pregnant.
Last eye check was last year I think.. I get my eyes tested every so often and my sight improves each time, so I know it's not that

I used a migracap - it's a hat with gel packs in it that you keep in the freezer. 4head helped a bit, as did full fat coke. Magnesium taken daily seems to help reduce the frequency and severity in some people, and is safe in pregnancy.

I get chronic migraines, medical advice can be googled 'Walton centre chronic migraine' prevention not cure basically. Coke?? FFS you guys!!

Staying hydrated - very very hydrated, carrying a water bottle around with you all the time helps. I'm known at work for my mahoosive water bottle.

As does an ice pack. Sometimes you can cut off a migraine at the first pass by drinking loads and applying an ice pack the second it comes on if you are very lucky. I find Gaviscon helps settle the sickness for me or you can ask your GP if metoclopramide is OK for you in pregnancy.

The reason you feel so sick is migraine slows down how quickly your stomach empties - metoclopramide is an anti-sickness that helps speed it up again. It also makes any painkiller you do take work faster rather than just sit in your stomach not moving or being absorbed.

For me I find just taking some Gaviscon helps settle the churning and I'm happy waiting until my triptan works - but I'm not pregnant!

Identifying triggers helps - but you may find that you have loads and not all are avoidable. For example, you can't do much about 'being pregnant' as a trigger! But things like religiously going to bed at the same time everyday, making sure you have enough sleep, hunger is a v common trigger so carrying snacks. Keeping your asthma under control so you aren't under the weather with that which then makes you tired and then you have a migraine...

I've also installed Easyeyes and F.lux apps on my home laptop which have made a huge difference in terms of light triggers.

I’ve really struggled with migraines this pregnancy which I’ve recently discovered was partly down to anemia so it could be worth asking for a blood test to rule that out.
I was prescribed sumitriptan(sp?) earlier on in the pregnancy which is safe to take but this made them a lot worse. After seeing a neurologist I was prescribed codiene which he advised was safe as long as I don’t take it for more than 9 consecutive days. Though I do believe that the iron tablets to resolve the anemia and staying overly hydrated has been the most helpful thing for me.
Hope they get better for you soon OP, they really can be so debilitating.

See if you can get some anti sickness medication - my migraines were worse due to hyperemesis and at least that will help with the paracetamol .

It could be dehydration at this point too and that also makes you feel sick - dioralyte , lemonade , plenty of water as well .
I’ve got a hot lavender bag that again was my saviour when I couldn’t take any of my normal medication .

have you had your blood pressure checked recently? Headaches can be a sign of pre eclampsia so worth getting your BP checked to rule that out!

I got a gel filled eye mask from amazon and keep it in the freezer for migraine emergencies

I suffer with headaches all the time. The only thing that works for me is the 4head stick. It's the only thing I ever use for headaches and migraines. I used during active labour so it's perfectly safe.

Treating chronic migraine is very tricky, sling pregnancy into the mix and you complicate it by a factor of 10. It's likely to have a hormonal component and will settle post Parton but that of course does not help you now.

I'd highly recommend that when all physical aspects are investigated you look at CBT for managing techniques.

LimonViola, are you fucking mad? The clue is in the board title! Pregnancy changes everything and your advice here is downright dangerous.

The odd chemist sells it OTC but you seem to have to give your life story and claim you've had it before. There is a reason that healthcare professionals ask questions, and it's not to frustrate you.

I've suffered from more migraines than usual this pregnancy, not helped by not being able to take usual meds and like you a toddler! I know you said paracetamol makes you feel sick but what about co-codamol - you'll need to see your GP/nurse practitioner but apparently the amount of codeine in it is very small. It's not been a miracle cure but just takes the edge off them.

I've also got a forehead stick and the migraleve cooling strips which again just take the edge off things.

Agree with LJ8893; have you had your blood pressure checked?

Headache that won’t go away and sickness can be signs of pre eclampsia so as you’re quite late into pregnancy it might be worth getting checked out just to be safe.

Sunglasses, cold compress on neck and forehead and lay down. Getting glasses also helped a lot! I would also get checked with being 30 weeks and suffering with them. Hope you feel better soon