Migranes - how to stop them?
Discussion
I mentioned about my migranes and how I stopped them in another thread.
Basically between the ages of 8 and 14 years old, I would get migranes once a month that would last for 3-4 days. They would completely wipe me out and the doctors didn't have a clue.
I had CT scans, food tests, allergy tests, eye tests ect and nothing seemed to cause them.
I was given Migraleve, pain killers, everything and nothing would stopped them.
One day during a particularly bad migrane my mum took me to the doctors. That week my usual doctor was on holiday and I ended up seeing a young, relief doctor.
He offered to try something a bit different and gave me a session of acupuncture around my neck and temple. Five minutes after the treatment I passed out briefly. Apparently it was normal to feel faint after but he'd never seen a reaction as strong as mine.
11 years later, I have never had another migrane.
Now he put mine down to stress. Apparently I was so stressed and tense that the muscles around my neck and head were causing me to have migranes and all the acupuncture did was release the tension. It might not work for everybody as there are different causes, but it's got to be worth a go...
ETA: I've just found this online Acupuncture 'cure' fot Migranes
This talks about having a few sessions over a couple of months, I must have gotten very lucky with mine.
Basically between the ages of 8 and 14 years old, I would get migranes once a month that would last for 3-4 days. They would completely wipe me out and the doctors didn't have a clue.
I had CT scans, food tests, allergy tests, eye tests ect and nothing seemed to cause them.
I was given Migraleve, pain killers, everything and nothing would stopped them.
One day during a particularly bad migrane my mum took me to the doctors. That week my usual doctor was on holiday and I ended up seeing a young, relief doctor.
He offered to try something a bit different and gave me a session of acupuncture around my neck and temple. Five minutes after the treatment I passed out briefly. Apparently it was normal to feel faint after but he'd never seen a reaction as strong as mine.
11 years later, I have never had another migrane.
Now he put mine down to stress. Apparently I was so stressed and tense that the muscles around my neck and head were causing me to have migranes and all the acupuncture did was release the tension. It might not work for everybody as there are different causes, but it's got to be worth a go...
ETA: I've just found this online Acupuncture 'cure' fot Migranes
This talks about having a few sessions over a couple of months, I must have gotten very lucky with mine.
Edited by The Beaver King on Wednesday 16th November 09:16
Dibble said:
I find as soon as I get the blurred vision thing, two ibuprofen, pint of water, quiet dark room.
Doesn't stop them, just reduces the impact.
Same for me, although I go for 4 ibuprofens/paracetamol the moment I notice my vision going. Beyond what the packet says you should have in one go, but it seems to stop the full-on pounding headache from materialising and just leaves me feeling a bit groggy for the rest of the day. Doesn't stop them, just reduces the impact.
Still have absolutely no idea what triggers them for me.
Paul Dishman said:
The doc will probably prescribe one of the Triptan class of drugs such as Sumatriptan which are very effective at stopping migraine attacks.
Triptans are made in oral form and as nasal sprays
Wife takes naratriptan - but unless she takes 'the cocktail' (naratriptan, ibuprofen & aspirin all at once) she will have a 3 or 4 day migraine.Triptans are made in oral form and as nasal sprays
How she copes with this s
t I don't know! She is one tough cookie.Been in hospital 3 times with them, once for an emergency brain scan as my GP got called to house by my neighbour (a nurse) who thought I had a bleed it was so severe - very frightening too. They are horrid things and the symptoms can manifest themselves in different ways with different people - mine, I get paralysis of my arms, legs and face on my right hand side, loss of speech/slurred speech, vomiting, extreme light sensitivity, smell sensitivity and excrutiating headaches for days.
Nothing has ever been identified as a definite trigger or cause although certain perfumes will make me feel vile, and you will hear many examples of things to avoid which you could spend a lot of time on.
You should definitely see a specialist to discuss a treatment plan that works for you.
I use Zomig which is brilliant at onset, no painkillers ever work (apart from pethedine when it's been really bad). on 4 occasions I have also taken beta-blockers for 6 month courses which have resulted in entire year or two year long periods without them.
http://www.migraine.org.uk/
Nothing has ever been identified as a definite trigger or cause although certain perfumes will make me feel vile, and you will hear many examples of things to avoid which you could spend a lot of time on.
You should definitely see a specialist to discuss a treatment plan that works for you.
I use Zomig which is brilliant at onset, no painkillers ever work (apart from pethedine when it's been really bad). on 4 occasions I have also taken beta-blockers for 6 month courses which have resulted in entire year or two year long periods without them.
http://www.migraine.org.uk/
parakitaMol. said:
I use Zomig which is brilliant at onset, no painkillers ever work /
I completely agree with this. Imigran never really worked for me as I would often end up vomiting it up, where as the zomig dissolves on the gum. I have suffered with them regularly since I was 12years old, unfortunatley mine are mostly hormone related, so there is very little I can do to prevent them, though I have identified a few other triggers.
Certain smells will trigger mine off, mainly perfumes - especially ones with vanilla in them or that horrible cheap one that old women always seem to smother themselves in.
The worst ones I get are if I go without food/drink for any length of time and especially if I get dehydrated. Whenever I have had to have an anaesthetic I will always come round to a killer migraine due to fasting. Fortunately when I had my op last week they were very understanding and allowed me breakfast 6hrs before my op, plus I was allowed to drink water until 2hrs before so I was blessed at coming round felling not too bad.
If I recognise the sign of an impending migraine, taking the zomig will normally stop it in its tracks. If I am not quick enough the zomig just takes the edge off the pain, but significantly reduces the length (from originally 24/48hrs to 4/6hrs).
I hope you get some medication that works for you, and you find what your triggers are so you can avoid them.
AJI said:
Thanks for the replies everyone.
Good to see that different medication is working for different people. Hopefully this will give me options if one doesn't work.
Would I be correct in saying that some of the triggers are not just based on what might be in your diet?
Or is food/water(or lack of) always a primary trigger?
Caffeine was my trigger, or so we think.Good to see that different medication is working for different people. Hopefully this will give me options if one doesn't work.
Would I be correct in saying that some of the triggers are not just based on what might be in your diet?
Or is food/water(or lack of) always a primary trigger?
I'm surprised to see Migraleve worked for people, it literally did f
k all for me. Both pink and yellow were useless! parakitaMol. said:
Been in hospital 3 times with them, once for an emergency brain scan as my GP got called to house by my neighbour (a nurse) who thought I had a bleed it was so severe - very frightening too. They are horrid things and the symptoms can manifest themselves in different ways with different people - mine, I get paralysis of my arms, legs and face on my right hand side, loss of speech/slurred speech, vomiting, extreme light sensitivity, smell sensitivity and excrutiating headaches for days.
Nothing has ever been identified as a definite trigger or cause although certain perfumes will make me feel vile, and you will hear many examples of things to avoid which you could spend a lot of time on.
You should definitely see a specialist to discuss a treatment plan that works for you.
I use Zomig which is brilliant at onset, no painkillers ever work (apart from pethedine when it's been really bad). on 4 occasions I have also taken beta-blockers for 6 month courses which have resulted in entire year or two year long periods without them.
http://www.migraine.org.uk/
I suffer too, around every six to eight weeks for very severe ones. I've never known anyone suffer as bad as me, but you've almost described the way I feel and the symptoms. Wretched things. Nothing has ever been identified as a definite trigger or cause although certain perfumes will make me feel vile, and you will hear many examples of things to avoid which you could spend a lot of time on.
You should definitely see a specialist to discuss a treatment plan that works for you.
I use Zomig which is brilliant at onset, no painkillers ever work (apart from pethedine when it's been really bad). on 4 occasions I have also taken beta-blockers for 6 month courses which have resulted in entire year or two year long periods without them.
http://www.migraine.org.uk/
I've had them since age eight. I can remember the first one, being violently sick on my parents driveway on a sunny day.
No specific triggers for me, though I know certain perfumes and others as soon as I smell them, same with other aerosols. I wore Angel for years, yet a six month break and a new bottle triggered several migraines.
I've had doctors called out in the middle of the night, been prescribed various medicines to no avail. I haven't looked in to treatments in the past five years though. I just wrap a cold wet towel around my head and lie screaming and vomiting either in the bathroom or on my bed. Thankfully my children are older now and know to leave me or take off to my parents when I have a migraine. I really could just put myself out of my misery sometimes if a gun were to hand, they're that bad. If I feel the onset occasionally I can stave it off, despite my speech beginning to slur and my head thump, if I eat a certain food (this varies) and am still and quiet for an hour or so I can stop it, sometimes it's only deferred for 24 hours though.
Once it's cleared though I feel very refreshed, like I've been detoxed. And often like to have a curry!
AJI said:
Thanks for the replies everyone.
Good to see that different medication is working for different people. Hopefully this will give me options if one doesn't work.
Would I be correct in saying that some of the triggers are not just based on what might be in your diet?
Or is food/water(or lack of) always a primary trigger?
I've narrowed mine down to dehydration and lots of lighting + tiredness.Good to see that different medication is working for different people. Hopefully this will give me options if one doesn't work.
Would I be correct in saying that some of the triggers are not just based on what might be in your diet?
Or is food/water(or lack of) always a primary trigger?
I've had regular headaches, along with an average of 3-4 migraines a year for about 10 yrs. Over the last few years we've narrowed it down to being tension related, not just through my back and shoulders, but also round the muscles up my neck, which then stretch round above your ears and down towards your jaw.
A couple of years of orthodontic work (including a mega op to realign my jaw) and they are generally a whole lot better. For about 6months after the operation I didn't have any headaches and no migraines at all, but they have slowly come back over the past 3 yrs, so i'm now going down the route of drinking no alcohol, keeping hydrated, going to the gym to help lower my stress levels. I'm also about to get some more physio and try some accupuncture to help my muscles relax.
As for dealing with a full on migraine when it does come. I take Syndol(Paracetemol, Codein and a muscle relaxant) and also a half dose of Ibuprofen. Then a dark room, and sitting fairly upright, with a cold flannel on my forehead. Generally they are pretty unbearable for around 3-6 hours, with the last 2 or 3 involving my screaming at family members to turn the lights out (we were in a pitch black room!) throwing up, and being incredibly restless, as well as intense pain in the head and shoulders.
My one consolation is that they're not as frequent as before, and that they don't come on too quickly, so generally I have an hr or two to get home. It's a horrible feeling though when you know one is starting and you know you're just going to have to ride it out.
Never been offered anything other than migralieve from the Dr, so maybe it's worth going back to ask about any other help they can offer.
A couple of years of orthodontic work (including a mega op to realign my jaw) and they are generally a whole lot better. For about 6months after the operation I didn't have any headaches and no migraines at all, but they have slowly come back over the past 3 yrs, so i'm now going down the route of drinking no alcohol, keeping hydrated, going to the gym to help lower my stress levels. I'm also about to get some more physio and try some accupuncture to help my muscles relax.
As for dealing with a full on migraine when it does come. I take Syndol(Paracetemol, Codein and a muscle relaxant) and also a half dose of Ibuprofen. Then a dark room, and sitting fairly upright, with a cold flannel on my forehead. Generally they are pretty unbearable for around 3-6 hours, with the last 2 or 3 involving my screaming at family members to turn the lights out (we were in a pitch black room!) throwing up, and being incredibly restless, as well as intense pain in the head and shoulders.
My one consolation is that they're not as frequent as before, and that they don't come on too quickly, so generally I have an hr or two to get home. It's a horrible feeling though when you know one is starting and you know you're just going to have to ride it out.
Never been offered anything other than migralieve from the Dr, so maybe it's worth going back to ask about any other help they can offer.
Im a sufferer too.
I have Imigran (sumatriptan) in nasel inhalor form. I have to take one of those then two co-codomal, two tramadol and two diclofenec if i've any chance of getting through it.
Age 18-25 I used to get one to two a year
Age 25-29 I used to get four to six a year
Age 30-33 (after two kids) one to two a month
Age 33-35 one to two a week
Age now: three to five a week!!!
Just been perscribed Betablockers. Been on them 5 weeks and thought I had had a breakthrough, didnt have one untill last week when had the mother of all migrains :-(
Docs have suggested I actually suffer with cluster headaches after being hospitalised twice this year. But the medication is mostly the same. Fingers crossed i dont have anymore.
I have Imigran (sumatriptan) in nasel inhalor form. I have to take one of those then two co-codomal, two tramadol and two diclofenec if i've any chance of getting through it.
Age 18-25 I used to get one to two a year
Age 25-29 I used to get four to six a year
Age 30-33 (after two kids) one to two a month
Age 33-35 one to two a week
Age now: three to five a week!!!
Just been perscribed Betablockers. Been on them 5 weeks and thought I had had a breakthrough, didnt have one untill last week when had the mother of all migrains :-(
Docs have suggested I actually suffer with cluster headaches after being hospitalised twice this year. But the medication is mostly the same. Fingers crossed i dont have anymore.
Lemmonie said:
Im a sufferer too.
I have Imigran (sumatriptan) in nasel inhalor form. I have to take one of those then two co-codomal, two tramadol and two diclofenec if i've any chance of getting through it.
Age 18-25 I used to get one to two a year
Age 25-29 I used to get four to six a year
Age 30-33 (after two kids) one to two a month
Age 33-35 one to two a week
Age now: three to five a week!!!
Just been perscribed Betablockers. Been on them 5 weeks and thought I had had a breakthrough, didnt have one untill last week when had the mother of all migrains :-(
Docs have suggested I actually suffer with cluster headaches after being hospitalised twice this year. But the medication is mostly the same. Fingers crossed i dont have anymore.
3 to 5 per week!! I have Imigran (sumatriptan) in nasel inhalor form. I have to take one of those then two co-codomal, two tramadol and two diclofenec if i've any chance of getting through it.
Age 18-25 I used to get one to two a year
Age 25-29 I used to get four to six a year
Age 30-33 (after two kids) one to two a month
Age 33-35 one to two a week
Age now: three to five a week!!!
Just been perscribed Betablockers. Been on them 5 weeks and thought I had had a breakthrough, didnt have one untill last week when had the mother of all migrains :-(
Docs have suggested I actually suffer with cluster headaches after being hospitalised twice this year. But the medication is mostly the same. Fingers crossed i dont have anymore.
Darn....I couldn't cope with that at all.
Even a few per year has got me in a state that I have gone to the doctor for the first time about it.
Hope you get something that works.
If beta blockers don't work for you then ask about the triptan family of drugs, particularly Zolmatriptan aka Zomig. Taken in the early stage of an attack it can completely avert it. I has totally transformed my OHs life as she was suffering from week long attacks every couple of months. It has reduced bad attacks down to once a year or so now thankfully.
Small update for anyone wanting to follow this.....
Had a dose of the cold over the weekend (I'm not having a good run of health at the moment it seems), which gave me a sore throat, so I took the usual Hedex Extra and Lemsip.
Totally forgetting that Hedex Extra (and I think Lemsip) has a good dose of caffeine in it. Caffeine, I strongly think, is a main trigger for any migraines I've had in the past. And again this morning I had a migraine start on me on my way in to work.
As soon as I got to my desk I took one pill of the Zomig that the docs gave me on the last visit and wow......it worked!
I got the usual starter signs of vision problems, which luckily enough started near the end of my commute. I took one zomig pill and waited.
The vision problems continued to get worse for a while (maybe 15mins) but then after closing eyes for a short number of minutes I noticed the vision flickering and missing areas were starting to ease.
I was then waiting for the usual intense headache to start.....but it never!
The only downside I can report....... well the best way to describe it is, you know when you go out for a night on the town and you maybe get drunk, you keep on drinking but then you find you reach a point in the night where you feel like you are becoming sober again, even though you continue to drink and you know you are pi$$ed. Well its the sobering up feeling at that part of the night.....its not the morning after when you have a banging headache.
So all in all its a huge thumbs up for Zomig on this particular Migraine.
Had a dose of the cold over the weekend (I'm not having a good run of health at the moment it seems), which gave me a sore throat, so I took the usual Hedex Extra and Lemsip.
Totally forgetting that Hedex Extra (and I think Lemsip) has a good dose of caffeine in it. Caffeine, I strongly think, is a main trigger for any migraines I've had in the past. And again this morning I had a migraine start on me on my way in to work.
As soon as I got to my desk I took one pill of the Zomig that the docs gave me on the last visit and wow......it worked!
I got the usual starter signs of vision problems, which luckily enough started near the end of my commute. I took one zomig pill and waited.
The vision problems continued to get worse for a while (maybe 15mins) but then after closing eyes for a short number of minutes I noticed the vision flickering and missing areas were starting to ease.
I was then waiting for the usual intense headache to start.....but it never!
The only downside I can report....... well the best way to describe it is, you know when you go out for a night on the town and you maybe get drunk, you keep on drinking but then you find you reach a point in the night where you feel like you are becoming sober again, even though you continue to drink and you know you are pi$$ed. Well its the sobering up feeling at that part of the night.....its not the morning after when you have a banging headache.
So all in all its a huge thumbs up for Zomig on this particular Migraine.
AJI said:
Small update for anyone wanting to follow this.....
Had a dose of the cold over the weekend (I'm not having a good run of health at the moment it seems), which gave me a sore throat, so I took the usual Hedex Extra and Lemsip.
Totally forgetting that Hedex Extra (and I think Lemsip) has a good dose of caffeine in it. Caffeine, I strongly think, is a main trigger for any migraines I've had in the past. And again this morning I had a migraine start on me on my way in to work.
As soon as I got to my desk I took one pill of the Zomig that the docs gave me on the last visit and wow......it worked!
I got the usual starter signs of vision problems, which luckily enough started near the end of my commute. I took one zomig pill and waited.
The vision problems continued to get worse for a while (maybe 15mins) but then after closing eyes for a short number of minutes I noticed the vision flickering and missing areas were starting to ease.
I was then waiting for the usual intense headache to start.....but it never!
The only downside I can report....... well the best way to describe it is, you know when you go out for a night on the town and you maybe get drunk, you keep on drinking but then you find you reach a point in the night where you feel like you are becoming sober again, even though you continue to drink and you know you are pi$$ed. Well its the sobering up feeling at that part of the night.....its not the morning after when you have a banging headache.
So all in all its a huge thumbs up for Zomig on this particular Migraine.
That's almost exactly my experience of beating them, although replace Zomig for 4x ibuprofen. Provided the tablets are taken asap when the aura starts, the headache never materialises and I'm just left with that slightly hungover groggy feeling. Had a dose of the cold over the weekend (I'm not having a good run of health at the moment it seems), which gave me a sore throat, so I took the usual Hedex Extra and Lemsip.
Totally forgetting that Hedex Extra (and I think Lemsip) has a good dose of caffeine in it. Caffeine, I strongly think, is a main trigger for any migraines I've had in the past. And again this morning I had a migraine start on me on my way in to work.
As soon as I got to my desk I took one pill of the Zomig that the docs gave me on the last visit and wow......it worked!
I got the usual starter signs of vision problems, which luckily enough started near the end of my commute. I took one zomig pill and waited.
The vision problems continued to get worse for a while (maybe 15mins) but then after closing eyes for a short number of minutes I noticed the vision flickering and missing areas were starting to ease.
I was then waiting for the usual intense headache to start.....but it never!
The only downside I can report....... well the best way to describe it is, you know when you go out for a night on the town and you maybe get drunk, you keep on drinking but then you find you reach a point in the night where you feel like you are becoming sober again, even though you continue to drink and you know you are pi$$ed. Well its the sobering up feeling at that part of the night.....its not the morning after when you have a banging headache.
So all in all its a huge thumbs up for Zomig on this particular Migraine.
Luckily caffeine isn't a trigger for me - I'd never get any work done otherwise!
I find just thinking about one,,even thinking ive not had one for a long while can trigger one,I find Im inclined to get them in extremes of de stress ie just going away on holiday the first few lazy days or times of extreme stress or training.
My best tip is upon aura commencement take 2 pink migraleve after 4hrs take 2 yellow ones then I can "function" even go work but feel hungover the next day or 2.
Ive tried everything and had many tests IMO you just have to get on with them mine have gradually lessened over the years,aspartame or artificial sweeteners dont help I notice a reduction when I avoid.
I am convinced though that they arent good for you (despite my docter saying they are just headaches)and shouldnt be ignored I would like to find out more about long term effects of them on the brain optic nerve and eyes.
My best tip is upon aura commencement take 2 pink migraleve after 4hrs take 2 yellow ones then I can "function" even go work but feel hungover the next day or 2.
Ive tried everything and had many tests IMO you just have to get on with them mine have gradually lessened over the years,aspartame or artificial sweeteners dont help I notice a reduction when I avoid.
I am convinced though that they arent good for you (despite my docter saying they are just headaches)and shouldnt be ignored I would like to find out more about long term effects of them on the brain optic nerve and eyes.
I used to get a couple of migraines a week about 8 years ago so my GP tried 2 x Epilim chrono 300 once a day. It's meant for epileptics but there is a suggestion that both epilepsy and migraine are centred in the same part of the brain. They certainly worked - they reduced the frequency to once every two weeks and the intensity of that one was also reduced.
Over the years they have reduced naturally and now I've stopped talking anything and not had one for months.
I can also say that Zomig is the only thing guaranteed to take away my migraine headaches, a wonderful drug, awesome
Over the years they have reduced naturally and now I've stopped talking anything and not had one for months.
I can also say that Zomig is the only thing guaranteed to take away my migraine headaches, a wonderful drug, awesome
parakitaMol. said:
Been in hospital 3 times with them, once for an emergency brain scan as my GP got called to house by my neighbour (a nurse) who thought I had a bleed it was so severe - very frightening too. They are horrid things and the symptoms can manifest themselves in different ways with different people - mine, I get paralysis of my arms, legs and face on my right hand side, loss of speech/slurred speech, vomiting, extreme light sensitivity, smell sensitivity and excrutiating headaches for days.
Nothing has ever been identified as a definite trigger or cause although certain perfumes will make me feel vile, and you will hear many examples of things to avoid which you could spend a lot of time on.
You should definitely see a specialist to discuss a treatment plan that works for you.
I use Zomig which is brilliant at onset, no painkillers ever work (apart from pethedine when it's been really bad). on 4 occasions I have also taken beta-blockers for 6 month courses which have resulted in entire year or two year long periods without them.
http://www.migraine.org.uk/
If it affects speech ect that sounds more serious in fact perhaps a T.I.A incident so the specialist told me.Nothing has ever been identified as a definite trigger or cause although certain perfumes will make me feel vile, and you will hear many examples of things to avoid which you could spend a lot of time on.
You should definitely see a specialist to discuss a treatment plan that works for you.
I use Zomig which is brilliant at onset, no painkillers ever work (apart from pethedine when it's been really bad). on 4 occasions I have also taken beta-blockers for 6 month courses which have resulted in entire year or two year long periods without them.
http://www.migraine.org.uk/
Had a killer one this week.
Started on Monday after breakfast and having spent a few hours throwing up, with a headache twice as bad as before, screaming about the brightness and not being able to control my arms or legs (that was scary!), it ended up with me getting taken to the outpatients at hospital and begging for mercy from the doctor. Out came a concoction of triptan tablets (can't remember which ones), and diclofenac, and paracetemol.
There wasn't any spare rooms to go lie down in so once they were sure I wouldn't have a reaction to the triptan, I was able to go back to see if a dark room would help.
18hrs later I managed to get out of bed, have a bit of food and return for another 14 hours. Woke up today with less pain but still very tense muscles so scurried off to the local docs.
Was given some Zomig as a precaution if I felt another one coming on, and now have some strong co-codamol and diclofenac as well.
bd bd things.
Started on Monday after breakfast and having spent a few hours throwing up, with a headache twice as bad as before, screaming about the brightness and not being able to control my arms or legs (that was scary!), it ended up with me getting taken to the outpatients at hospital and begging for mercy from the doctor. Out came a concoction of triptan tablets (can't remember which ones), and diclofenac, and paracetemol.
There wasn't any spare rooms to go lie down in so once they were sure I wouldn't have a reaction to the triptan, I was able to go back to see if a dark room would help.
18hrs later I managed to get out of bed, have a bit of food and return for another 14 hours. Woke up today with less pain but still very tense muscles so scurried off to the local docs.
Was given some Zomig as a precaution if I felt another one coming on, and now have some strong co-codamol and diclofenac as well.
b
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