Migraine - 8 days and counting

[KittyKatSmile]

Hi all

I was woken up last Friday around 3am with an absolutely pounding head. Sitting up was difficult; I could hardly move. Since then it has been pretty consistently like that. Saw my GP on Monday who said I could actually take codeine which I thought meant it would be the end of it but made no dent in the pain at all. I called NHS direct on Wednesday who asked me why I'd left it so long and told me to get to a hospital within an hour in case I had preeclampsia (I had no other symptoms and my blood pressure was actually low). Hospital implied I was time wasting (don't disagree) and sent me to an out of hours GP who diagnosed me with a bad headache and said I could only take paracetamol. I thought I had shaken it yesterday and went into work for the first time all week and felt great after a slow start but it came back with a vengeance around 4am this morning. Even the thought of leaving the house is too much for me as my head throbs so much.

I'm 14 weeks and just finished tapering off steroids this week for immune issues following 4 miscarriages in the last year. I've had headaches coming off the steroids before but never this bad, never prolonged and never when tapering.

I've also now started getting a numb hand and foot on the same side.

Just wondered if anyone has had anything similar, did it go, what did you do?

Sorry for the long post: can you tell I've been on my own in the house all day (apart from the plumber who actually took me to hospital on Wednesday, bless him!)

@KittyKatSmile I had severe headache around 14-18 weeks, I actually thought id got pre eclampsia it was so bad! The only thing that helped me was constantly drinking water and rubbing on 4HEAD constantly as well as keeping up with paracetamol, thankfully it passed after 18 weeks and now I just get the odd one x

I suffered with terrible headaches when taking fertility drugs. Unfortunately taking paracetamol regularly for a headache can make it worse or last longer so read up on that. Water can only help so much. You could try an ice pack or those cold forehead strips. The only other thing that sometimes helped my headaches was seeing someone for a massage/sports massage as stiff neck and shoulders can give you a persistent headache. Hopefully it's just your body adjusting to the hormones and it will settle down soon. I really sympathise xxx

@HJWT @janey15 thank you both so much. I've got the 4head so have slapped some more of that on. I've stopped taking a lot of paracetamol really as it's not doing very much so I take one lot in the night to see if it will shift it then none in the day. Have just arranged to see an acupuncturist and they seemed confident they could do something about it (and so lovely that I sobbed as soon as I got off the phone!)

Thank you so much. As much as anything else I wanted to know I wasn't on my own...

I'm almost 15 weeks & I have been suffering horrendously with headaches/migraines too. The only thing the doctor told me that I can do is rest, drink plenty and take paracetamol! Very hard when none of those things help. 😣 Have you tried tiger balm? It doesn't get rid of my headache but it's a good release for an hour or so. Hope you start to feel better soon X

@KittyKatSmile you are definitely not on your own. The other night I was feeling so sick and had the worst headache. I fell asleep cuddling a bucket with one of those eye masks you can put in the freezer tied around my chin. Pregnancy in not glamorous 🙈

I had one for 2wks was so ill i was about 22wks im now 31wks and havnt had another.
Drink lots of water,sleep alot,cold cloth on your face,ice pack on your head. I get migraines but when your pregnant its harder to clear them. Hope u feel better soon x

@KittyKatSmile I've also been getting bad headaches, although they don't seem as bad as yours. Are you having neck pain as well?

I think mine may be due to changing sleeping position as I'm a back sleeper and I'm actively trying to sleep on my sides which is hurting my neck. The pain last night was awful, other than 4head I'm at a loss. I'm thinking of booking a neck and shoulder massage to see if that helps.

@maybenextmonth I have got quite a sore neck but I think mainly because I've been spending most of every day in bed!

I found the answer to my prayers! Went to see an acupuncturist yesterday. I wasn't quite sure if it would work or do anything but I was so desperate. (I've been before, during IVF and it was lovely but I just put it down to a nice relaxing experience really). Anyway, she checked my 'flows' or something like that through my back and then put needles all over my back and one in my head and then I had a little snooze on my tummy. Afterwards she took my pulse again and said it was noticeably clearer now. She also stuck these little gold 'seeds' onto my ears which allow you to activate your own acupuncture pressure points. The headache was a bit better than it had been all week but was certainly still there. I felt bright enough to go out for a coffee and walk round the shops which in itself was huge progress. And then after 5 hours or so, I realised the headache had completely gone!!! I had it slightly again this morning when I woke up but it's passing again now.

The relief is just huge. I'm going to live every minute to the fullest until at least, oh, lunchtime, as I'm so grateful!

Sorry for the ramble, thought it might be useful for anyone else either suffering or googling this topic in 8 years (or is that just me?!)

Thank you all so much for helping me out with your insights and experiences x

@KittyKatSmile that's amazing!! I'm booking acupuncture! Thanks for coming back with what helped you!