Talk to me about migraines

[YukoandHiro]

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.

Cut out dairy and had forehead Botox. Have barely had a paracetamol in years.

I take amitriptyline as a preventative and then I've tried a few different triptans if one starts. Sumatriptan didn't really help me, but there's different ones you can try

I have tried several medications over the years and currently have topiramate daily as a preventative and rizatriptan when I have a migraine. I also have a daith piercing, which seemed to move headaches in general to the other side of my head. I also use a head tens machine which helps a lot. Acupuncture is the thing that helps the most, although I don't really like it.

Had migraines since a child and they ramped up to 2 x weekly when I turned 40 so seemed peri related. I used to take Pregabalin which was the only drug in a long string of experiments to work for me.
I weaned off it a couple of years ago as was only having maybe 1 migraine every 9 months.
I'm now 45, had a Mirena put in 6 months ago and boom, I'm back to having one migraine a month. It seems cycle related but no other meds worked for me so I just suffer.. Daith piercing sounds really interesting but I'm a total wimp- for those who have had one, how bad is it? I'm a side sleeper and reeeally need my kip!

Btw my triggers seem to be not eating regularly enough, dehydration/caffeine intake, sun dried tomatoes and citrus fruit.

I can second Sumatriptan, but it works best if you take it when it's just coming on, it's no good once the migraine is in full swing. Works really well.