MIGRAINES...Cant handle it anymore

[My3boys9910]

Im coming up for 15 weeks pregnant...Suffered hypermesis from week six0..One hospital stay for fluids...but generally just laying on the sofa with horrible nausea & vommiting a few times a day sometimes & i just makes me feel lifeless.Body aches..And every few weeks im debilitated with 3-4 day migraines...people talking just makes it thump...Paracetamol doesnt touch it...Ive put vicks on my forehead...(helps for a while) but im going to bed with the headaches and waking up with it...ontop of the sickness its just killing me.Im on ondansetron for the sickness which helps a bit...But what to do for the headache?!...Im waiting for my 16 week check up to mention it as getting out the house in this state is really not going to happen...Any magic old wives tales that will help?...Im keeping hydrated...dark room...cold flannel...Just doesnt touch it...Miserable right now!

You have my every sympathy. I suffered from migraines with DC1 (though thankfully not with anything else - sounds like you're having a dreadful time).

When you take paracetamol, are you taking it at the very first sign of a headache, or are you waiting? Your system shuts down with a migraine so you need to take it as soon as you can.

I don't know if there are any drugs they can give you - things have changed a lot since I had DC1! - but there might be something stronger that would work.

The only other thing I can say is that mine did stop - I had them from around week 11 to week 18, and then they stopped. Hopefully that will also help you.

Thank you for replying...It really is getting me down...I do wait until the pain is unbearable tbh as i want to avoid taking medication if i can...I will try to take one as soon as it starts if thats the case...its making my nausea 100 times worse...I have 3 sons already and never felt this awful...Was not prepared to be this unwell...X

I feel for you as I had they pre pregnancy big time so I know how debilitating they are. I know caffeine is limited in pregnancy - but sugar, specifically chocolate use to help me.

Have a look at the Cefaly device. It's expensive, but was recommended to me by a Professor of Neurology and is (I think) safe in pregnancy. I use it for chronic migraine (I'm not pregnant) and for daily prevention.

No idea on efficacy on numbers yet, its not been long enough, but it's a huge help during a migraine.

Also, MigraCap on Amazon - buy two, keep them in the freezer and rotate as they defrost.

Take meds immediately on noticing symptoms - the longer you leave it, the less effective they will be.

I'm taking ALL of these: www.migrainetrust.org/living-with-migraine/treatments/supplements-and-herbs/ alongside prescription meds. Also recommended by neurology! Well worth checking what you're allowed in pregnancy from that list.

I gather the evidence says that triptans CAN be used in pregnancy though - please look at the research and maybe go back to the GP?

www.migrainetrust.org/living-with-migraine/coping-managing/pregnancy-breastfeeding/

I'm prescribed Sumatriptan for migraines, it's the only thing that has ever worked. I haven't taken one whilst pregnant but just thought I'd suggest them to you in case your doctor might say they are ok to take. I feel for you and hope you feel better soon.

The only other thing that helps me is ice pack on whatever side of head hurts and one on back of neck too.

I will try to take one as soon as it starts

Only one? Why not take the full dosage?

I'm on beta blockers for horrendous migraines, my ex step sister gave up dairy and said that made a big difference to her x

You can take co codemol in pregnancy.

I agree with MyDc... I'm sure you can take codeine in pregnancy- I would phone GP though rather than wait for midwife.

I also use caffeine when mine start to cut them off before they settle in. So a full fat coke as you feel one starting. I would probably try that before the codeine.

I find pregnancy and the effect on our bodies so fascinating. I usually have migraines about once a month, but have not had one at all in either pregnancy! So weird that they make mine better, but others get worse.

Agree with last post, ask gp for codeine. I just got some prescribed on Thursday. Mine is more cluster headaches with migraine type pain - had them from about 6 weeks daily until now (11 weeks), I also took codeine all the way through my first pregnancy for the same thing and for spd pain at the end. I came off it a week before due date as there’s a dependency risk with baby and they like to keep you in hospital to monitor and I didn’t want to stay in after the birth so I stopped, luckily the headaches eased after 27 weeks. So codeine and paracetamol together as and when needed, supermarkets do non medicated patches too which are just ice cold patches - they definitely act as a distraction, I go to bed with one most nights. I feel for you, they can be so debilitating and make you feel like absolute pap!

Re caffeine in pregnancy you can actually have six cans of full fat coke a day, not that it’s healthy to have that many. 200mg of caffeine max in pregnancy and a can of Coke has 30g.

You have my sympathy!
Go and see your GP - but consider doing some research beforehand. Look at the Migraine Trust website and their section on pregnancy: www.migrainetrust.org/living-with-migraine/coping-managing/pregnancy-breastfeeding/
They suggest sumatriptan can be a safe option to treat migraine attacks, or propranalol as a preventative. It may depend if you had either of these before pregnancy.
Ask your GP about ibuprofen if you've found that helpful in the past - it may be safe at this stage in your pregnancy.

Hope yours improve soon!

So sorry to hear you're suffering OP.
Have you considered seeing a chiro or osteopath in case something is trapped in your neck/shoulders/back and triggering them? Just trying to avoid the pills route for you. Good luck

Take two paracetamol at the slightest hint of one starting, it’s safe don’t worry, it’s what my GP advised, she called it ‘starving the migraine’. But it has to be as soon as you know or you miss the window for it.

Thankyou all so much for replies...couldnt bare to look at my phone last night because of the pain...woke up today & its still there...took 2 paracetamol straight away...still there...i have to drag myself up tomorrow as my son has nursery so im going to go to the g.p i cant handle this any longer.X

Try a vitamin b6 supplement. I was prescribed one (along with other meds) for hyperemesis gravidarum and they really seemed to improve my headaches/migraines too.

I went to maternity triage at 23 weeks because I'd been stuck with one for five days in a row and couldn't cope anymore they gave me liquid paracetamol and prochloperzine which is an anti nausea drug and used for migraines too.
Maybe try phoning the doctor and getting an appointment instead of waiting for the 16 week appointment because they can't prescribe anything.
Fellow hyperemisis sufferer too so I know how bloody awful it is and hope you get some relief soon xx

My consultant prescribe my dihydrocodeine (not sure if that's how your spell it!), For mine as I couldn't function or sleep properly they were getting so bad. They knock me sideways though, so no driving! It's worth asking about getting something stronger, though if you have HG, it's worth looking at what you're managing to eat/drink, because although migraines can be hormonal during pregnancy, they can obviously be triggered by dehydration and associated things!

I had horrendous daily migraines when I was 7 months pregnant with DD (now 10). I had to see a neurologist who put me on a short 5 day course of steroids. Apparently it can work as a circuit breaker for migraines. It worked wonders.

I had this very badly with DD1. Also have had migraines since age 7ish but they got worse after I got pregnant and obviously I couldn’t take anything good. Under doctors supervision I was recommended aspirin which did- in quite high doses- did help, although not as well as sumitriptan which is my normal drug. Also a bag of ice/ice pack on my head and hot water bottle on the back of my neck helped too.

Thankyou all so much...im so anxious to take anything stronger...but im at the point where i feel like im getting really unwell with it all...Does the hypremesis ever go?!I had sickness before...So im not dramatic....but this has bed ridden me...i cant drive...i do my shop online...no family days at the weekends...my hair hadnt been brushed in 4 days & my partner had to sort it out yesterday and it was matted!!Im usually very appearance & house proud & this has totally trampled over me....i walk my 2 year old 5 mins to nursery & back 3 times a week...And thats it & thats a struggle i worry il throw up in the street..i get breathless & my head spins...i feel useless...The migraines are the last straw...if i wasnt pregnant i would believe something was seriously wrong with me & i was potentially dying!Its horrific...I must try these b6 tablets?Ive seen a lot about this online...wonder why i havent been offered them...Im drinking at least 2 liters of flavoured water a day...I eat enough aswell...though prob not as healthily as i should...dry toast...Cereal...love salads tho when my partners at home to make one...in the week im pretty crap...toast or cereal or cheese sandwiches sausage rolls...picky stuff...the kids have been having beans on toast...or micro meals...oven pizza ect & i feel so guilty...but if i stand up too long...or smell the oven...im heaving...dizzy...I never knew it was possible to be this horrible!

Have you had your blood pressure checked?

When can you get to the GP?

Had my blood pressure done a few weeks ago & was fine...And i felt like crap then...think il go to g.p tomorrow

Hyperemesis can peak at 20 weeks with the hormone surge then taper off until nearer the end, or, like me and countless other women on the Hyperemesis board, will suffer throughout the entire pregnancy. Many of us are on more than one type of anti genetic.

Are you sure you're as hydrated as you think you are? It's good you're able to keep fluids down at least!