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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Ill husband

10 replies

crazycatladie · 01/11/2023 19:09

Hi. Just looking for a little advice. My husband is on average in bed Ill for two full days a week with migraines. He's having treatment and it's been like this for about four years. We have two children. This situation impacts on our daily lives, and I feel bad saying this but it's getting me down a bit. I can't see it getting any better, how do others deal with the ups and downs of living with someone who is out of action every week? Thanks

OP posts:
Epidote · 01/11/2023 21:02

I can't offer you advice because I don't know anyone with migraine. I offer you my hand hold an a post to get some traffic.

frozendaisy · 01/11/2023 21:03

Is he researching every possible solution there is a big gulf between someone desperate not to be ill or to be as well as they can be and someone who spends two days in bed because that is just how it is.

Has he looked into diet, alcohol intake, exercise, lighting, everything basically.

SoddingWeddings · 01/11/2023 21:07

What treatment does he currently have? What acute meds v what preventative meds?

I'm a chronic migraineur, and am under neurology. I've gone from 28 days a month of attacks to 8 or so. That's an enormous and life changing difference. I also only need to take to bed once or twice a month and can suffer through most attacks, because life has to go on. The only time I can't manage is when I get cyclical vomiting.

What's his medication regime? Lifestyle, special sunglasses (I live in Migralens glasses), work, food - it all plays a part. Has he identified any triggers? Most people think they have triggers, but actually huge proportions of them are early warning signs rather than causes. For example, I used to think perfumes set me off - actually, it's an early sign I have an attack because I get hypersensitive to smells. They don't cause my attacks, I just notice the issue when I'm brewing a migraine.

crazycatladie · 01/11/2023 21:40

Hi. He has an injection once a month at the moment, he's had Botox previously. He has also tried the triptans but he doesn't like how they make him feel. I think he's just accepting that, this is how it is now. I've suffered periods of migraine with aura on and off over the years and I've had to lie down for a few hours and then just get on with it when the flashing has gone and I've been left with just a headache, I think this is why I can't understand why he's in bed literally all day.

OP posts:
masking123 · 01/11/2023 22:15

"I've suffered periods of migraine with aura on and off over the years and I've had to lie down for a few hours and then just get on with it when the flashing has gone and I've been left with just a headache, I think this is why I can't understand why he's in bed literally all day."

I suppose that's because it's not one size fits all when it comes to migraines and their symptoms. I have hormone induced migraines, just like my mum did, however, our symptoms, longevity and severity of them are different. She vomited a lot with them and would sleep on the bathroom floor because of that, however, I have never vomited with mine. I get crazy nausea but don't actually get sick. I get aura, she didn't. I get dizzy, she didn't. We're all built differently and react to pain in different ways too. Some have a high tolerance, some low. So while you might be alright after a couple of hours in a dark room, your husband obviously isn't. I understand that it might be impacting you, but you need to think of how it's impacting him. It can cause depression and anxiety in someone experiencing migraine - fear of an impending attack, feeling disbelieved when experiencing a flare up "It's just a headache, get on with it". It's disabling, so he has my entire sympathy there. But I also sympathise with you too. It's hard when the brakes are applied due to health conditions, but that's just life. Try and encourage him to try the triptans again. I take mine with cyclizine to quell any nausea or stomach upset. If he doesn't like those, he can go for a prophylaxis approach - propanolol, topamax. I can understand your frustration if he's not helping himself, but as someone who has lost jobs and friendships over the crippling effect migraine has had on my life, I can also understand why he's in bed a lot.

Sorry if this wasn't useful, and good luck!

determinedtomakethiswork · 01/11/2023 22:58

Do you feel he's staying in bed when he doesn't really need to?

Toomanycaketins · 01/11/2023 23:02

Has he looked into probiotics, can help some people?

Mammyloveswine · 02/11/2023 00:11

This must be impacting on his work?!

SoddingWeddings · 02/11/2023 09:25

So he's on a CGRP injection and under neurology? He can ask for a review. When will he have had them for 12months? Because they'll force a 3 month stoppage of injections on him....

There are 7 triptans - he can go through them all to find some / one that works for him. Several don't work at all for me, others have different side effects. I have frovatriptan tablets and zolmitriptan nasal sprays.

There comes a point with chronic migraine where you have to get up and keep going. He's not there yet. The scale of my migraine and side effects from topiramate (Topamax) in particular made me absolutely suicidal. I'm glad you don't feel too bad with your headaches 🙄 but chronic migraine when so many happen in a month, isnt the same. At two a week, you're barely recovering after one attack before the next begins.

This timeline is one example of an attack - my aura can last days or even week at a time. My worst migraine was 23 days long and screwed me up for weeks afterward with slurred speech, blindness in one eye etc.

Ill husband
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