migraines - please give me hope......

[silvermum]

i've just found out i'm pg again and am absolutely dreading the migraines i suffered every few days in my first pregnancy. they lasted till i was 16 weeks gone and then they disappeared. it was absolutely hellish - paracetamol seemed to be the only thing the GP could recommend, and it didn't even scratch the surface. anyone found any miracle cures??
unbelievably i have a migraine coming on now and im not even five weeks pg yet! apparently it is due to the huge surge in hormones or something. hardly dare tell DH as he will probably say it's psychogical ... if only ....

I totally sympathise silvermum. Didnt have them first time around but theyve hit me with a vengance this time

I too would love to know other people's tips and advice.

Congratulations on your pregnancy

thanks. it really is awful isn't it? last time i had one that lasted almost three days! and when they strike they really are the closest thing to agony i've ever known. i'd rather go through childbirth - seriously! and childbirth wasn't fun!
the only thing that worked a bit last time was something called a migrastick (or similar name) - it was a kind of tiny tube of strong pepperminty stuff that you roll on your temples and neck when you feel one coming on. it was way better than nothing. the other thing i used last time was paracetamol extra, which is basically paracetamol+caffeine, which is safe i think, and it worked a bit better than paracetamol alone. (the caffeine component is no more than you'd get drinking a can of coke or something.)

I had them for the entire 4th month, i went to see a homeopath and they went within a few days. Had never seen a homeopath before, was very sceptical. It worked for me, can't explain it. A lot of people think its rubbish but you get to a point where you'll give anything a go!

If they are bad and you don't mind giving it a go i would recommend it. Not for everyone but i would have tried anything.

Fingers crossed you might be lucky and not get them this time!

The person i saw was in Elstree, Hertfordshire. if its close and you want the details i'm happy to pass them on.

Good luck.

thanks, i'm in london so there is sure to be someone good within a tube ride. i will DEF give that a go- like you, i'll do/try anything to avoid this happening again

You have all my sympathy. I suffer from migraines and with this pregnancy they got dreadful, 2-3 times a week for the first 15 weeks. You can get co-codamol on prescription, might help a little. I've heard good things about cranial osteopathy, might be worth trying. Mine also got worse and more frequent if I didn't keep my bloodsugar very constant and kept myself calm. (not the easiest thing as a teacher =))

I use the evian water sprays you can get from Boots (or Magicool - in the holiday section of Boots) it doesn't help with with the pain itself, but it does help to keep my temperature more even and so make me a bit more comfortable.

You can have codeine in pregnancy and if you have migraines this may be more helpful than paracetamol. Go see the GP and ask for some. Also, avoid caffeine - it can constrict the blood vessels in the brain and increase migraines in pregnancy.

I found one of the only things that helped when I couldn't take my migraine drugs during pregnancy was to use very hot flannels on my face and neck with DP helping to keep a constant supply. Even better if possible was to stand under the shower with water as hot as I could manage hitting my head.

You have my sympathies-it was the worst part of pregnancy for me.

paracetamol and cocodamol are ok in pregnancy- i.e. migraleve. HTH

Pregnancy and being on the pill stopped my migraines... I used to get 2 or 3 per week when not on the pill and before getting pg but could take Imigran. I cannot imagine not being able to take something like that and having to suffer through it - only done that a few times when meds ran out and it was pure hell, so I definitely empathize!

But on a more selfish note, I was SO happy to hear (as this is my 1st pregnancy) that migraines are worse than childbirth!!!!!!!! I've survived Migraines!!!!! I can survive childbirth You've given me new hope!

You can get a quick GP referral to the Homeopathic hospital in Great Ormond Street on the NHS. I did this but it didn't really get on top of my migraines. Cranio sacral therapy got rid of it overnight and has helped me immensely through a troublesome pregnancy. It's a little different to cranial osteopathy but very powerful and after years of intense, sometimes 8 day migranes, I swear by it. Great to have baba treated soon after birth too! There's a college in West London, my therapist treats me here in Hackney. Good luck.

Just read other posts. Try not to take migraleve or anything else containing codiene as the withdrawal has been proven to exacerbate migraine, I speak from experience too! A pack of frozen peas on the head was the best I could manage whilst pregnant until I found CST.

We've just been talking about non pregnancy related migraine on a Health thread...I'll link in a moment.....people have also recommended magnesium supplements and co-enzymeQ10 as preventative measures.....(but as none of us are pregnant we can all pop the triptans....)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/138/554757

thanks, i'm willing to try anything. i'm less than five weeks pregnant and got the first killer migraine since my last pregnancy last night. it seemed even worse lying down - i was in absolute agony. i really don't know how i can go through this again for 16 weeks so i will definitely try the cranio sacral therapy and the homeopathy referral. there also seems to be a migraine specialist clinic in central London so i will try to get an appointment with them.thanks for the tips

I hardly ever take the migraleve yellows- if you ttake the pink quickly enough you won't need the full on codeine knock out drops. No 'withdrawal' issues here

My migraines were terrible during the 1st trimester of my first pregnancy. I went for a series of head and back massages at at sport and health treatment type centre as opposed to a beauty clinic, and it really did help.

hi again everyone - i just had a piece of luck and wanted to share it with you. i found something called the London Migraine Clinic on the web and by chance they had a cancellation so i was able to see someone today! It is a charity staffed by migraine experts - they are all fully qualified doctors and work as NHS GPs or hospital doctors when they are not at the migraine clinic. It was absolutely fantastic - i got about 50 minutes with someone who really knew what she was talking about and there was no question of fobbing me off with "just take a paracetamol." She went right into all the details about migraines and pregnancy and all the options available. She has given me a plan of action with lots of helpful tips and i'm going back in three weeks. The best thing is that because it's a charity it doesn't cost the earth. they ask for a minimum donation of £50 which i was very happy to give (the appointment costs them £180 as they write to your GP etc, as well as give their time) but i am sure they would see people for less if they can't afford it. for anyone who lives in London i really, really recommend it.
it's just by the Barbican tube station.

That's great! Glad you sorted something out! Wish I was in London!

BTW - just some thoughts

1. Migraine slows down you system so you need a fast acting painkiller immediately you feel the migraine coming on - the only option in pregnancy is soluble paracetamol (ask the pharmacist for it. It works quicker as it's already dissolved).

2. if you have other triggers for migraine check them out and avoid them... obvious I know but 95% of my migraines are 'avoidable' ones (lack of water, stress, caffeine)

3. acupuncture can really help so worth a try (I have a colleague who swears by it)

fymandbean, thanks - i came away from the consultation at the migraine clinic with some very good ideas about how to avoid getting them in the first place. although there's clearly a strong hormonal link which i can't do much about i do feel really positive that if i avoid the triggers i will have a chance of not getting as many. it was great to have it all spelled out - things like having a small healthy snack every two hours. they also recommended having soluble paracetamol with a glass of Coke. (not diet coke.) the caffeine and sugar gives the paracetamol a sort of boost.
am feeling quite optimistic now - it's great to have been given some hope and to have had the problem listened to seriously by someone who didn't just say "bad luck, grin and bear it, the baby will make it all worth it." !
star6, yes, seriously, even when my labour was at its absolute worst, - and it really wasn't fun - i remember thinking, i'd rather be going through this than a migraine! so you'll be fine.

silvermum I'm glad you got such good attention and advice. I think the healthy eating thing, and keeping hydrated, really helps, for me at least. I had bad migraines during my first pregnancy but was probably not so good at looking after myself then. I was far better when pg with ds2, and this time round I have only had one the whole time (39 weeks now). So there is hope .

yep im 27wks and had a continued migraine for 5 days now and paracetamol doesn't work, is coedine really safe?

I'd second fymandbean - acupuncture is the way forward - no drugs to worry about for a start!

It's worked brilliantly for me! I had 3 sessions with an acupuncturist who is an NHS anesthatist (sp?) by day and does acupuncture privately a couple of evenings a week - and have not had a migraine since. It's brilliant and I'd definitely recommend it!