Migraine sufferers, advice please.
Discussion
I get migraines a lot, some lasting several days (usually as a result of broken sleep). I get loads of pressure behind my eyes which makes looking at an object very hard, I have to keep an eye closed to avoid double vision. Motor control gets a bit wacky too so I wouldn't drive. I think that a lot of people who've never had one can't really appreciate how rubbish they are and how it totally stops you from functioning.
I find the tablets are rubbish but I take them anyway in a belief that at least I'm doing something, sometimes it's so bad I take ah whole box in one go just to try and make it stop, which although makes me feel a little sick it's better than the bad head. Only thing I've found to help is to drink a lot of something sugary like Coke or Lucozade (the migraine sends my blood sugar tumbling) and go to sleep in a dark room, I find I'll sleep really deeply and for quite a while, when I come round it's like being hung over, very shaky and not really with it but by the following day I'm back to normal.
I've been to the Doctor's about it several times but unless you've got a broken leg they can reset they never seem to have the slightest clue as to what could be wrong regardless of what it is so I don't bother with them.
I find the tablets are rubbish but I take them anyway in a belief that at least I'm doing something, sometimes it's so bad I take ah whole box in one go just to try and make it stop, which although makes me feel a little sick it's better than the bad head. Only thing I've found to help is to drink a lot of something sugary like Coke or Lucozade (the migraine sends my blood sugar tumbling) and go to sleep in a dark room, I find I'll sleep really deeply and for quite a while, when I come round it's like being hung over, very shaky and not really with it but by the following day I'm back to normal.
I've been to the Doctor's about it several times but unless you've got a broken leg they can reset they never seem to have the slightest clue as to what could be wrong regardless of what it is so I don't bother with them.
NickyTwoHats said:
Ask your GP to prescribe you a Triptan (Zomig is one). They cure most (including mine) migraines. Take the prescribed dose and go to bed in a dark room with the window part open.
Zolmitriptan (sp?) often called Zomig works perfectly for me 
I have to take 2 x 300 mg of Epilim chrono each day to reuce the frequency and severity of them, that works very well too as now I only get one (or a custer) every 3-4 weeks and they're not too bad.If I catch it early enough then a couple of Syndol work well (paracetamol and codeine), if not then a Zomig tablet. Often don't even need to lie down in a dark room anymore, between Epilim, Syndol and Zomig I got my life back . . . before that a migraine every 7-12 days and it was bad enough to have to stay in bed for.
I find that a lot of physical work (even a track day) can also trigger them but an Ibuprofen 200mg before and another during the day can get rid of that too.
qube_TA said:
I get migraines a lot, some lasting several days (usually as a result of broken sleep). I get loads of pressure behind my eyes which makes looking at an object very hard, I have to keep an eye closed to avoid double vision. Motor control gets a bit wacky too so I wouldn't drive. I think that a lot of people who've never had one can't really appreciate how rubbish they are and how it totally stops you from functioning.
I find the tablets are rubbish but I take them anyway in a belief that at least I'm doing something, sometimes it's so bad I take ah whole box in one go just to try and make it stop, which although makes me feel a little sick it's better than the bad head. Only thing I've found to help is to drink a lot of something sugary like Coke or Lucozade (the migraine sends my blood sugar tumbling) and go to sleep in a dark room, I find I'll sleep really deeply and for quite a while, when I come round it's like being hung over, very shaky and not really with it but by the following day I'm back to normal.
I've been to the Doctor's about it several times but unless you've got a broken leg they can reset they never seem to have the slightest clue as to what could be wrong regardless of what it is so I don't bother with them.
Same here. Doctors don't have the in-depth knowledge of migraines and you'll find that once you start seeing different neurology consultants, you'll know more than them. I'd advise asking to be referred to a specialist consultant. However, they aren't really interested in finding out the cause (as there are too many triggers) but they will try various medications and you may be lucky and find one that is effective. I'm waiting for an occipital nerve stimulator to be implanted as I have chronic migraines regularly and affect me virtually every day. No preventatives have ever worked (after trying many different ones over 15 years), but as said before Zomig (a triptan) sometimes helps. Good luck
I find the tablets are rubbish but I take them anyway in a belief that at least I'm doing something, sometimes it's so bad I take ah whole box in one go just to try and make it stop, which although makes me feel a little sick it's better than the bad head. Only thing I've found to help is to drink a lot of something sugary like Coke or Lucozade (the migraine sends my blood sugar tumbling) and go to sleep in a dark room, I find I'll sleep really deeply and for quite a while, when I come round it's like being hung over, very shaky and not really with it but by the following day I'm back to normal.
I've been to the Doctor's about it several times but unless you've got a broken leg they can reset they never seem to have the slightest clue as to what could be wrong regardless of what it is so I don't bother with them.
Same here. Doctors don't have the in-depth knowledge of migraines and you'll find that once you start seeing different neurology consultants, you'll know more than them. I'd advise asking to be referred to a specialist consultant. However, they aren't really interested in finding out the cause (as there are too many triggers) but they will try various medications and you may be lucky and find one that is effective. I'm waiting for an occipital nerve stimulator to be implanted as I have chronic migraines regularly and affect me virtually every day. No preventatives have ever worked (after trying many different ones over 15 years), but as said before Zomig (a triptan) sometimes helps. Good luck
Dilligaf10 said:
Used to get them regularly especially at weekends. Something to do with the body relaxing after a week's stress at work.
I don't tend to suffer from any of the usual triggers, but generally i am at risk of having a migraine attack if I have had a lack of sleep. I certainly find that after a period of severe stress, I'm susceptible, but it's normally after the stress has finished, as if the body does what it needs to do and then gives up!!
My migraines tend to follow a typical pattern:
1) 'Aura' - visual disturbances, most nocieably difficulty on focussing on text. Numbness in left hand and left cheek
2) Severe, aganising headache, sensitivity to light - pain appears to be just above the eyes.
3) Vomitting - Severe pain induces vomiting, but once I have physically been sick then I start feeling better
4) Recovery - 24-48 hours of slight headache, feeling slightly dizzy etc
Normally, whatever tablets I take don't seem to have much effect, and all I can do is get to bed as soon as possible after getting the first symptoms.
A few weeks ago, I had an interview to go to, managed to take 2 of the pink Migralieve tablets and drunk lots of water, and got through the day without progressing onto 2-4 above.
I have also heard good things about 'Migril' tablets, but no doubt there are a variety of things that work for different people.
Migraines = not nice....
Sidicks
I'd never get booked again!sidicks said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Christ, how do you guys function having to drop everything and take time out when you get these?
I don't think I could keep working if I got them.
I don't think I could keep working if I got them.
Fortunately I only get 2 or 3 a year.
Sidicks
Me too. I always worry that one will hit one day when I'm on a long drive. Becasue I don't get them often, I've never been able to work out the trigger.
Is the OP's headache really a migraine? Not wishing to belittle your pain, ChrisH, but the worst thign about a migraine for me is the visaul disturbance and you didn't mention having that.
Zod said:
Is the OP's headache really a migraine? Not wishing to belittle your pain, ChrisH, but the worst thign about a migraine for me is the visaul disturbance and you didn't mention having that.
I didn't get any visual problems other than light sensitivity. Looking at other peoples migraine issues, I'm thinking mine was probably something else. I hope so anyway because an actual migraine looks bloody awful!!!
Zod said:
sidicks said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Christ, how do you guys function having to drop everything and take time out when you get these?
I don't think I could keep working if I got them.
Fortunately I only get 2 or 3 a year.I don't think I could keep working if I got them.
Sidicks
Is the OP's headache really a migraine? Not wishing to belittle your pain, ChrisH, but the worst thign about a migraine for me is the visaul disturbance and you didn't mention having that.
Anyway I arrived at my friends, basically said "I feel awful" and he suggested driving to Sainsburys for some food etc and in his car I felt like I was going to be sick - we got to Sainsburys, I almost threw up in the car park, got inside Sainsburys and the whole thing just ended there and then
I felt fine for the rest of the weekend! I have no idea how or why I felt better but after feeling so awful it went as quickly as it arrived!!
sidicks said:
My migraines tend to follow a typical pattern:
1) 'Aura' - visual disturbances, most nocieably difficulty on focussing on text. Numbness in left hand and left cheek
2) Severe, aganising headache, sensitivity to light - pain appears to be just above the eyes.
3) Vomitting - Severe pain induces vomiting, but once I have physically been sick then I start feeling better
4) Recovery - 24-48 hours of slight headache, feeling slightly dizzy etc
Normally, whatever tablets I take don't seem to have much effect, and all I can do is get to bed as soon as possible after getting the first symptoms.
That is my pattern too 1) 'Aura' - visual disturbances, most nocieably difficulty on focussing on text. Numbness in left hand and left cheek
2) Severe, aganising headache, sensitivity to light - pain appears to be just above the eyes.
3) Vomitting - Severe pain induces vomiting, but once I have physically been sick then I start feeling better
4) Recovery - 24-48 hours of slight headache, feeling slightly dizzy etc
Normally, whatever tablets I take don't seem to have much effect, and all I can do is get to bed as soon as possible after getting the first symptoms.
Red wine, plain chocolate, fish, milk, oranges and certain perfumes all set me off, so I know to avoid them. But so does stress, lack of sleep and 'hormones'
Generally have about 1 a month, no tablets work unless i catch it early enough - which is rare
Drink LOTS of room temperature water, sip at a time - it will help.
Edited by ali_kat on Sunday 18th May 20:10
I think everyone reacts different,
I used to be physically sick just as the headache hit, not been physically sick for years when I have one- yet I know what I get is a migraine.
I get auras all the time, about 1 a fortnight, but I have never had an aura and a migraine on the same day
That 4head stuff used to work for me, but I was using it so much it made my eyes water, now I find that a tap cold damp towel totally around my whole heads eases the pain
I used to be physically sick just as the headache hit, not been physically sick for years when I have one- yet I know what I get is a migraine.
I get auras all the time, about 1 a fortnight, but I have never had an aura and a migraine on the same day
That 4head stuff used to work for me, but I was using it so much it made my eyes water, now I find that a tap cold damp towel totally around my whole heads eases the pain
Edited by missdiane on Sunday 18th May 20:26
qube_TA said:
I get migraines a lot, some lasting several days (usually as a result of broken sleep). I get loads of pressure behind my eyes which makes looking at an object very hard, I have to keep an eye closed to avoid double vision. Motor control gets a bit wacky too so I wouldn't drive. I think that a lot of people who've never had one can't really appreciate how rubbish they are and how it totally stops you from functioning.
Interesting you say that, i had a migraine recently (my first one) which involved or was triggered by reading the same thing for an hour or two, i work with computers for a living. My vision disapeared in one eye as well as peripheral vision for about 30 minutes and i had to lay down for a while, no pain at all though.
Edited by scorp on Sunday 18th May 20:28
My dad and brother both get migraines about once a month(inherited from my dads mam), and they have both tried every tablet going and nothing at all touches their migraine.
The only thing they can do is go to bed in a cold, dark room and sleep it out. My Mam once found my dad asleep in a cold bath in the darkened bathroom as it was the only thing that would reduce the pain slightly.
The only thing they can do is go to bed in a cold, dark room and sleep it out. My Mam once found my dad asleep in a cold bath in the darkened bathroom as it was the only thing that would reduce the pain slightly.
Computer screen set me off, but I think I had a virus at the same time. Poor lighting behind he screen didn't help.
I got the headache and he flashing rainbow auras at the same time. Had to lock myself in a darkened toilet until the tablets kicked in.
Not convinced I should have driven home.
Sleep helped, but I had another about a week later. Swapped the monitor to a sharp one - bosh - problem solved.
I got the headache and he flashing rainbow auras at the same time. Had to lock myself in a darkened toilet until the tablets kicked in.
Not convinced I should have driven home.
Sleep helped, but I had another about a week later. Swapped the monitor to a sharp one - bosh - problem solved.
Mrs. Tunku has the occasional migraine, and when Migraleve isn't enough, she has a supply of Naramig which always sorts her out. Minf you by this time she is vomiting and needs a dark bedroom with black out blinds. Worst case was when I had to get the GP in to give her a jab to stop her being sick so she could keep the bloody tablet down long enough.
I symaphise fully with any migraine sufferer, it looks awful.
I symaphise fully with any migraine sufferer, it looks awful.
I have had them for years. Usual dosage of drugs and lay on the bed in a darkened room with the ceiling fan on with a pillow over my eyes and wait for the sickness to go.
Does anyone else who suffers find that even with your eyes covered the light is still 'too bright'? I find this hard to convey to other people.
One small thing I find that does help when using computers is to have an angle poise lamp pointed towards the screen.
Bastard things
Does anyone else who suffers find that even with your eyes covered the light is still 'too bright'? I find this hard to convey to other people.
One small thing I find that does help when using computers is to have an angle poise lamp pointed towards the screen.
Bastard things
Edited by morningside on Sunday 18th May 21:41
For thoses migraine sufferers who have 'Auras' and visual disturbances prior to an attack of migraine that occurs at least once every fortnight should discuss with a cardiologist to see whether you have a small 'hole in the heart' which can be closed very easily and reduce the attacks of migraine considerably.
The 'hole in the heart' is called a PFO in medical terms.
SS
The 'hole in the heart' is called a PFO in medical terms.
SS
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