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Original poster

Talk to me about migraines

30 replies

YukoandHiro · 27/05/2023 19:47

Always been a headachey person. Had a few migraines a year at school, escalated to at least one a month with my cycle as an adult. Now I'm 40 (almost 41) and it's becoming a massive problem. Was maybe a couple a month a few years ago, now three a month on average but often coming and going for a few days.

I'm on day 4 of painkillers this week.

I know I need to see the GP to make a plan. What medications should I discuss?

Before I had children (still breastfeeding) Syndol used to work, the one with the muscle relaxant in.

I know that caffeine and dehydration are probably playing a part. Lack of sleep is another big issue but I have two young children.

I'm worried I'm now causing rebound headaches due needing painkillers but if I don't take them it escalates to extreme pain, sometimes vomiting, unable to look after family etc.

OP posts:
Barrysmintybiscuits · 27/05/2023 19:50

Sorry you're going through this, I'm the same and the older I get the worse/more frequent my migraines get. Ive finally been to the doctor's and been prescribed Sumatriptan (not sure on spelling!) but I've yet to take any so can't advise on if they work for me yet! My mum has the same ones prescribed and she said they help her but she can't stay awake when she has them.

Hope you get something sorted!

Original poster
YukoandHiro · 27/05/2023 19:53

Thanks @Barrysmintybiscuits

Is Sumatriptan a preventative or a drug you take during an attack?

I'm already totally exhausted so I'm not sure crashing out on meds is entirely the solution!

OP posts:
SouthCountryGirl · 27/05/2023 19:55

YukoandHiro · 27/05/2023 19:53

Thanks @Barrysmintybiscuits

Is Sumatriptan a preventative or a drug you take during an attack?

I'm already totally exhausted so I'm not sure crashing out on meds is entirely the solution!

It's one you take during an attack. You can also buy at the chemist

ChocHotolate · 27/05/2023 19:57

Pizotifen to prevent migraines has literally changed my life. Gone from 4 a week to one in 7 weeks

Flowers12345 · 27/05/2023 19:59

I had issues with migraines on and off for year which came to a bit of a head when I was pregnant with my little one and completely lost control of them 4 years ago. At my worst point when he was about 1 I was having 3-4 cluster migraines a month each last around 3 days.
With regular medication I'm now down to around 2 migraines a month which at worst last 2 days.
I've found the best treatment for me is 20g of Amatriptyline every night (this does take a bit of getting used to due to the sedative aspect) and then sumatriptin as early as possible into the migraine.

I've also tried propanol as a preventative measure which is quite a popular choice but I found this didn't suit me.

spurs4ever · 27/05/2023 20:01

Hi, I was put on Amlodipine (no effect), Pizotifen (minimal effect) then finally Sumitriptan which has been brilliant. Luckily my cycles were very regular so I could almost predict an attack so I took a tablet as soon as I felt a twinge.
Your GP might try a couple of options but it really does help if you recognise the migraine signs so you can take something asap.
Hope you get something soon, migraines are awful and so debilitating x

spurs4ever · 27/05/2023 20:02

Not Amlodipine. Amitryptiline!

heartbreakhotel20 · 27/05/2023 20:09

I have had a piercing called the Daith piercing done it goes through the vagus nerve. It has changed my life. I still get headaches but I have had one migraine in 6 years and that like you was due to a new baby. Even then I wasn't sick or half as bad as I used to be if that makes sense.
Hope you feel better soon xx

Needapadlockonmyfridge · 27/05/2023 20:11

I havechad a very similar increase in regularity as I have got older. Similar triggers, too.

Years ago Syndol worked for me.

I then went on to Sumatriptan. It then stopped working. Gp reckoned it was my gut not absorbing it properly so I now use a nasal spray version. It does work very well, though leaves me feeling zonked afterwards.

I would definitely see your GP.

VintedoreBay · 27/05/2023 20:28

Another vote for sumatriptan. I had awwwwful migraines that would come on as my cycle started, every month since cycles started! Sumatriptan is the only thing that would touch the sides.

Funnily enough, I haven't had a migraine at all since I had a baby!

Madamecastafiore · 27/05/2023 20:53

heartbreakhotel20 · 27/05/2023 20:09

I have had a piercing called the Daith piercing done it goes through the vagus nerve. It has changed my life. I still get headaches but I have had one migraine in 6 years and that like you was due to a new baby. Even then I wasn't sick or half as bad as I used to be if that makes sense.
Hope you feel better soon xx

Me too. Changed my life. My migraines looked like I was having a stroke as I got weakness in one side of my face, speech went and my hand went numb. Was a pain being rushed into hospital to finally be able to tell them it was 'just' a migraine.

freelancefreda · 27/05/2023 21:02

heartbreakhotel20 · 27/05/2023 20:09

I have had a piercing called the Daith piercing done it goes through the vagus nerve. It has changed my life. I still get headaches but I have had one migraine in 6 years and that like you was due to a new baby. Even then I wasn't sick or half as bad as I used to be if that makes sense.
Hope you feel better soon xx

Did this hurt? Was it expensive? did it take ages to heal?
Did you have it done in a tattoo shop?

onlyamam · 27/05/2023 21:03

YukoandHiro · 27/05/2023 19:53

Thanks @Barrysmintybiscuits

Is Sumatriptan a preventative or a drug you take during an attack?

I'm already totally exhausted so I'm not sure crashing out on meds is entirely the solution!

Works really well for me when I feel it coming on - not so much if it's already in full swing. But it has been a lifesaver.

TaraRhu · 27/05/2023 23:02

It's the kids that cause then I think. I'm 40 with two under 5s. I had pretty much hit mine under control until I had them. It's the same triggers for me. Can't get enough sleep= migraine. Drink too much caffeine because of lack of sleep = migraine. Too much screens also does it.

I'm getting them every couple of weeks. I need a cocktail of things. Either 2 migraleve pink and 2 ibuprofen at the start. Washed down with lots of water. Or sumitriptan and a combo of painkillers.

Prevention is the best thing but not easy with kids. Cupping / acupuncture really worked for me and massages. But I can't afford tgem now. So going to bed early, yoga and meditation podcasts help.

In the past I took propananol but it gave me night terrors and amitriptiline made me really drowsy. So I went for prevention. Definitely worth trying meds though.

BeautifulBirds · 27/05/2023 23:05

Have you tried a no medication route such as a Cefaly.
I think there are cheaper options around now, but it was a game changer for me.

Givemeahigh · 27/05/2023 23:09

I have exactly as you describe and was prescribed zolmitriptan of which I take 1 and the pain goes away!

VikingLady · 27/05/2023 23:13

I had a daith piercing too down from losing half of every week to migraines to one per month. Life changing. I can't often take medication that dopes me up - I generally in sole charge of my two kids with SEN and no other childcare.

I don't care if it's placebo, I don't know anyone it hasn't worked for. I was desperate enough to take the placebo.

VikingLady · 27/05/2023 23:15

@freelancefreda I had mine done by a piercing specialist in a tattoo studio. She's been piercing fur years, knows what she's doing, is very paranoid about cleanliness and was keen to point out several times that there's no clinical evidence of it working. All good signs.

JazzTheDog · 27/05/2023 23:22

I have a daith piercing which worked for a few years but as I head towards perimenopause I'm getting 2 a month generally. Exacerbated by stress so this week it lasted 4 days.

I also use sumatripan as soon as I can at the onset and head to bed and sleep it off, it works really well for me.

Polkadottyas · 28/05/2023 05:10

I really suffered monthly
Migraines until I got Botox. It's just aesthetic stuff but seems to have totally worked for me
Before that I managed with Rizatriptan but had to take at very start (and does zonk me for few hours) or aspirin and full sugar coke if taken early enough can work
To take the same combination as the old Syndol, you could try the Kirkland sleep aid tablets which have the muscle relaxant in. Take with co codamol- check dosage though as I'm not qualified , just got desperate. Also if you know anyone in South Africa I believe they sell the original Syndol. It's horrible. I really feel for you.
Oh ~ a coil also disrupted my cycle which helped the hormone ones. HTH

BritInAus · 28/05/2023 05:49

Sumatriptan has made a huge difference to me, too. My triggers are bright light (tricky in Australia! I wear sunglasses everytime I go outside, even to pop to the bin or washing line), stress (especially relief after stress, I often get a migraine after a big deadline), too much screentime, too little OR too much sleep, and dehydration.

Magnesium is also meant to be good for general prevention.

Original poster
YukoandHiro · 28/05/2023 06:11

Thanks everyone - so many recommendations. I am tempted by a piercing just to see if it helps. Will also discuss with GP if I ever find a minute to go!
At the moment I just use nuromol which works after about an hour with some sleep but doesn't get rid of it altogether.

Obvs hormones are an issue - has anyone found that being post menopause relieves them?

OP posts:
spurs4ever · 28/05/2023 07:19

Mine are reducing in peri menopause- but periods are too. GP told me they would get worse upto the menopause (started having them at 35 and I'm 49 now) and he was right. Over the last year I've noticed them reducing so fingers crossed x

Stellawella · 28/05/2023 09:18

I have sumatriptan on prescription. If you do go down that route, it needs to be taken the instant you think you’re getting a margarine. It can make you feel sick so I also have a it sickness meds to take at the same time. I have a huge carb craving after though. Bread, crisps, toast you name it I will inhale it.

cryinglaughing · 28/05/2023 09:23

Ask about Frovatriptan, you take it on the first day of your period for I think 7 days.
A neurologist prescribed it when I was menopausal and my migraines changed their pattern, lasted longer.
I took them alongside Sumatriptan and Propranalol as a preventative.

Now I am post menopause, I have stopped the Propranalol (and Frovatriptan as no periods) and just have Sumatriptan. I have maybe 1 a month now, at my worst I was getting 2 or 3 a week.