Migraines making me miserable

[Leafy2018]

Hi,

I'm 26 weeks today and for the past month I've started getting migraines. I started off by getting four in the space of a week - one which was absolutely horrendous with aura, vomiting and splitting headache. The others have all started with the aura (sparkling lights, zig zag lines etc) but have gradually turned into largely silent migraines (aura but either a mild

Posted too soon... sorry.

So either a mild headache or no headache at all. I went to doctors twice but neither doctor was concerned. Just said to come back if I'm getting more than five a week. And even then they wouldn't be concerned but would just be a case of finding a way to manage it. No protein or sugar in urine, no high blood pressure - it's a bit low of anything.

Am I the only one suffering like this? I had to call my husband to pick me up from town today as I was in the shops when I got the aura and couldn't drive home. It's making me lack confidence with going out as I don't know when they will strike.

Don't know why I posting really, I just think I'd like to think I'm not alone.

I've had a break of a week between today's and the last one which is the longest I've had but was obviously hoping they'd finished. Feel a bit down to have had another one.

Hi! I suffer from everything you have described, so severely that I genuinely thought I was dying. I saw a consultation neurologist who said sumatriptan is safe to take in pregnancy (well as safe as any drug) and can be used to treat a migraine attack.
I have also been put on beta blockers to control the migraine attacks, as they as largely silent migraines with aura roughly 20 days out the month. I am now pregnant with DC 3 and still taking my beta blockers but a reduced dose. They have controlled it amazingly so much that I’m down to 1 or 2 attacks a month.
Beta blockers would be a big step as it can affect baby’s growth but if you can’t function then maybe worth an ask? Good Luck! Migraine is a truly terrible condition x

Hey Leafy,

Sorry to hear you're suffering like this, your recent migraines sound exactly the same as mine. I'm 22 + 1.
I've never had the nausea or vomiting with them, but I've had the zig zag lines.

After the first week of them I went to triage, the midwives called me in and they tested my bp and urine, just like yours, clear, so they aren't worried about preeclampsia.
I also went a week without having one, only to have two in the space of two days. Mine are now silent, so no headache, and the zig zag lines last for all of ten minutes and then disappear.
The midwives just said to take paracteamol it helps when there is a headache and that was it.
I really do wonder what it is, as it is quite nerve wracking when it happens. I'd wondered if I'd developed some kind of light sensitivity.
I'll be watching the thread in hopes of an answer!

Hope you feel better soon!

Dear Lord, more than five a week? See a different GP if you can. I had them in both pregnancies from 9 weeks up to 28 weeks and I had to take amitriptylene eventually with both. I could take a triptan when I really needed to and ibruprofen in the second trimester. I had a day of build up to them where I would be confused, dopey, dizzy; a day or half a day of headache of varying levels of severity and then a day of being completly knocked out after. Then if I was lucky I might get three days before the next started, sometimes a day. The doctors I saw were great and took them really seriously - they thought two a week was too many!

I am not a doctor! But read lots of medical papers, spoke to loads of GPs and saw a specialist for them. Does co-codamol work for you to ease the pain? It is safe in pregnancy and is prescribed for pain. Also try a cup of coffee, it works on migraines the same as a triptan. That is why some people swear by Coke as it has caffeine and sugar. Good luck

Chronic migraine sufferer here. Check with your GP whether you can take magnesium and B2 as well as any meds you can access xx

Thank you so much for those replies - I'm sorry to hear you have been suffering too but it's comforting to know I'm not alone.

To be honest it's the auras that are the most disturbing part as they headaches are now very little. I just feel a bit washed out and sometimes nauseous afterwards. So I don't think I need stronger painkillers - I'm just taking solvable paracetamol as soon as aura appears. I just wish I could stop the frequency of the attacks. I've got SPD too and I just don't feel I'm able to enjoy what is likely to be our last pregnancy (this is dc3 for us too!)

I actually used to take beta blockers for an overactive thyroid and they were brilliant for reducing feelings of panic but I hadn't heard of them being used for migraines. I guess they are a last resort though if they can affect baby's growth (although this is a whopper by all accounts so might be ok!)

I have seen two different doctors - first one said come back if they continue, I went back and second one said don't come back unless more then five a week. It did seem rather extreme to me too! I can't carry on like this though - I wish I just knew how long it would go on for!

Soluble not solvable! Autocorrect... 🙄

Thanks @elpreggo27 - I'll ask about those. Has that helped you?

I get migraines, although mine actually went away during pregnancy. One thing you can do to cope with attacks is to keep "emergency" taxi money in a few places - i.e. a tenner in your phone case, wallet, maybe a pocket of your coat, & your bag. Make sure you always have some with you, at least you don't have to worry about getting home if one suddenly comes on.

Another option as a PP mentioned is amitriptlene - it’s not a pain killer but is very effective as a migraine control. I’m in the same boat in terms of the aura - I find the loss of vision etc so scary and debilitating.
I used to be on ami to control my headaches and they were very effective as well. They are considered safe in pregnancy and have been offered to me to help boost the reduced beta blocker dose.
I know the beta blockers are a radical option but the benefit outweighs the risk for me. I couldn’t function - couldn’t drive or hardly walk due to the aura, so I really do understand. I would go back to GP and ask for some help - you don’t deserve to be miserable or scared to go out. It can be controlled.

So sorry you’re going through this OP, migraines are horrid. I suffered prior to pregnancy and had tried lots of things to manage them- finally settled on a small dose of amitriptaline. When I got pregnant a gp just told me over the phone to “stop all medications”, which I thought was a bit rash but followed their advice. Migraines came back with a vengeance - so so severe. Got through 1st trimester before it all got too much and managed to get an appointment with a consultant obstetrician, who put me back on the amitriptaline (10mg), and I didn’t have another attack for the rest of my pregnancy. I’d struggled with sickness in the first trimester so I don’t know if that contributed as I wasn’t eating regularly and things - but the amitriptaline was amazing.

That's a really good idea @AwdBovril, thank you. That would at least take some of the stress out of being out on my own. I felt really vulnerable today trying to make my way back across town to my car when I could hardly see out of one eye.

I read that migraines without aura are likely to be improved with pregnancy but it is like clear cut for migraines with aura. I hadn't suffered since being treated for an overactive thyroid but suddenly seem to be suffering again.

I forgot this! Don't know how!! Acupuncture made a massive difference to my migraines. Less so for me in pregnancy unfortunately. But it would be worth a try. I didn't go to acupuncture for ages after it was suggested to me as I thought it was nonsense but it honestly worked. It is also soooo calming - 45 mins or so a week where all you can do is lue back and do nothing. I was fortunate enough to have community 'multibed' acupuncture near me at a really low cost. And after trying beta blockers recently which dont seem to have worked (I think lack of sleep and a very stressful time has increased them) I will be going back. I would really consider trying it OP.

@Leafy2018 I'm under a neurologist for migraines (pre pregnancy) and he recommended these :)

@Thishatisnotmine thanks for the suggestion of acupuncture. I've had it once before (can't even recall why!) I guess it's a case of finding someone reputable. I've been here for 4 years but not sure on things like that. I'd give it a go though!

@elpreggo27 Thanks for that. I hope you have some relief soon too. I'll definitely investigate those supplements.

I am wondering how much is to do with tiredness/stress. We are in the middle of selling our house so there's a fair amount of stress and uncertainty. I'm not even sure where we will be living at Christmas as our new house won't be built until Spring next year so we will need to rent.

Hope everyone has stayed migraine free so far today!