Migraines

Author
Discussion

Hugo Stiglitz

37,148 posts

211 months

Tuesday 9th March 2021
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Gary C said:
12 hr shifts in a control room. Our shift pattern is 2x12hr days then 2x12 hour nights then 5 off, but last set I was training for 2 days, then straight into the shifts and that doesn't help.

My problems have always been sleep and hydration related. Lack of fluids tend to give me normal headaches, but if I push it, it will develop, but sleep is the real killer. and its not always being tired but the upset to sleeping patterns. If I try and force a sleep, it hurts.

Mind you, I have worked shifts for 20+ years now so have a pretty good handle on it, but it gets harder as you get older.
I'm currently in a control room. I take in a 2lt bottle of water otherwise I never get the chance to get up and go outside to the water fountain.

I find that if I concentrate on hydration just after midnight, I sleep better at 7am. Plus I'm not waking up at 10am dying for a piss...

Gary C

12,458 posts

179 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
quotequote all
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Gary C said:
12 hr shifts in a control room. Our shift pattern is 2x12hr days then 2x12 hour nights then 5 off, but last set I was training for 2 days, then straight into the shifts and that doesn't help.

My problems have always been sleep and hydration related. Lack of fluids tend to give me normal headaches, but if I push it, it will develop, but sleep is the real killer. and its not always being tired but the upset to sleeping patterns. If I try and force a sleep, it hurts.

Mind you, I have worked shifts for 20+ years now so have a pretty good handle on it, but it gets harder as you get older.
I'm currently in a control room. I take in a 2lt bottle of water otherwise I never get the chance to get up and go outside to the water fountain.

I find that if I concentrate on hydration just after midnight, I sleep better at 7am. Plus I'm not waking up at 10am dying for a piss...
Problem is, I have always (since being a child) had a problem with drinking water frown

It makes me retch, though I can now gulp a bit from a tap when its really cold, but drinking from a cup or a bottle I just cant do it. Fizzy water I can now do, but thats not ideal for the stomach on a night shift either.

I might steel myself to doing it and getting to a habit, but we tend to do all the wrong things. Eat curries, drink lots of tea smile

But if we are not starting up, or refuelling a reactor, a night shift can drag a bit.

Hugo Stiglitz

37,148 posts

211 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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How about a NUUN flavoured hydration tablet in one 1.5lt bottle of water. I love this in hot weather.

You won't taste water and you won't have high sugar drinks.

sherman

13,308 posts

215 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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Can you drink water with squash(cordial) in it?
You can get littlebottles that give set doses out. You could keep a few in your desk for diffrent flavours.

Hugo Stiglitz

37,148 posts

211 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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Problem is sugar. Or even sugar free by accident. On a shift sometimes you forget to eat. I hardly touch sugar at all. None. So when I have a small treat I get a sugar crash

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,407 posts

209 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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I am still thankfully migraine free. Almost 12 months since my last one. I am now fully off amitriptyline but continuing to take Magnesium Oxide tablets each day.

I still haven't had any drinks containing aspartame in a few years now. I am tempted to try it, but I don't want to experience a migraine!

Gary C

12,458 posts

179 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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Hugo Stiglitz said:
How about a NUUN flavoured hydration tablet in one 1.5lt bottle of water. I love this in hot weather.

You won't taste water and you won't have high sugar drinks.
Interesting, will have a look.

Certainly, using cordial and the like has far too much sugar to be able to drink enough liquid so these might be spot on.

cheers

Edited by Gary C on Thursday 11th March 16:54

jimmythingy

312 posts

62 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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I suffered with migraines of and on for years until about 3 years ago I was diagnosed with kidney stones, these were sorted and not had a migraine since.

When I had a migraine it was horrendous, they knocked me out for about 3 days the first day of my migraines would be in bed.

I was also very light sensitive, I really struggled with the bright LED lights and I'm sure they were a trigger but had no problems since the kidney stones went.

Ructions

4,705 posts

121 months

Saturday 13th March 2021
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I’ve been on a run of migraines for a number of weeks now, they tend to blend effortlessly from one to the next. Went to see my new doctor on Wednesday and they magically disappeared on Thursday morning. I had a blissful 48 hours, ‘twas truly wonderful.
This morning, Mrs Ructions, who isn’t known for her prowess in the bathroom, decided to clean the en-suite, with various sprays from Tesco.ie

It’s back with a vengeance. I can’t taste, I can’t eat, I can’t smell. Luckily I can drink. This is awful. Truly awful. I’ve used both sprays that are supposed to last me a month. I only saw the doc on Wednesday night and she isn’t the type who will issue a repeat prescription on a whim.
It was good while it lasted.

thatsprettyshady

1,824 posts

165 months

Saturday 13th March 2021
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Ructions said:
I’ve been on a run of migraines for a number of weeks now, they tend to blend effortlessly from one to the next. Went to see my new doctor on Wednesday and they magically disappeared on Thursday morning. I had a blissful 48 hours, ‘twas truly wonderful.
This morning, Mrs Ructions, who isn’t known for her prowess in the bathroom, decided to clean the en-suite, with various sprays from Tesco.ie

It’s back with a vengeance. I can’t taste, I can’t eat, I can’t smell. Luckily I can drink. This is awful. Truly awful. I’ve used both sprays that are supposed to last me a month. I only saw the doc on Wednesday night and she isn’t the type who will issue a repeat prescription on a whim.
It was good while it lasted.
The sprays are expensive so most GPs only give you a couple, ask for the tablets instead and you should get 6/12 at a time. take one as soon as you feel the twinge and you should head off the main attack.

Your doctor should be willing to issue a repeat prescription every week, mine certainly was.

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,407 posts

209 months

Monday 15th March 2021
quotequote all
Ructions said:
I’ve been on a run of migraines for a number of weeks now, they tend to blend effortlessly from one to the next. Went to see my new doctor on Wednesday and they magically disappeared on Thursday morning. I had a blissful 48 hours, ‘twas truly wonderful.
This morning, Mrs Ructions, who isn’t known for her prowess in the bathroom, decided to clean the en-suite, with various sprays from Tesco.ie

It’s back with a vengeance. I can’t taste, I can’t eat, I can’t smell. Luckily I can drink. This is awful. Truly awful. I’ve used both sprays that are supposed to last me a month. I only saw the doc on Wednesday night and she isn’t the type who will issue a repeat prescription on a whim.
It was good while it lasted.
I might have missed it, are you taking anything to try and prevent them? If not speak to your gp about amitriptyline. My gp considered 3 in 4 weeks to mean I had migraine problems hence the meds.

thatsprettyshady

1,824 posts

165 months

Monday 15th March 2021
quotequote all
TheAngryDog said:
I might have missed it, are you taking anything to try and prevent them? If not speak to your gp about amitriptyline. My gp considered 3 in 4 weeks to mean I had migraine problems hence the meds.
I ended up with a script for Amiltripyline too

Hugo Stiglitz

37,148 posts

211 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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I thought I'd wait quite a number of months before posting...

I've suffered from migraines since my teens.

First the massive ones then aura migraines.

After years of research I tweaked and tweaked and landed on a daily dose of iron and Vit D tablets (2,000 mg? dose of D).

Voila.

Cleared. I can eat chocolate (gone off it to be fair), Red wine, under drink water and overdrink coffee..

Nothing. Zip.

Just incase this helps anyone.

Ice_blue_tvr

3,105 posts

164 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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I started reading about tyramine and there's a strong correlation between when they occur and if I've eaten some of the foods that contain tyramine the day before.

https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/tyramine...

parakitaMol.

11,876 posts

251 months

Wednesday 8th March 2023
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Seeing this thread bumped I thought I would add a bit more in case it helps anyone

I've always had severe hemiplegic migraines (described in a previous post).

I ended up suffering a stroke 3 years ago. The cause was raised Lupus Anticoagulant (sticky blood). I now have a diagnosis of Anti Phospolipid Syndrome.

I've been on 75mg asprin since my stroke and I have not had a migraine since. This is my longest period migraine free in my entire life.

My brother has also always had severe Aura/sickness migraines, he also suffered a stroke 2 years ago. But his was due to a hole in his heart (this is something we are all born with but it should close naturally - some people it doesn't). Thankfully one of his best cycle mates is a heart surgeon who he got referred to and who operated on him.... he's not had a migraine since his heart surgery!

As mentioned before there are many triggers to migraine, and different underlying medical causes, so do try to get to the bottom of your cause and triggers. There are migraine clinics who specialise. Looking back on the years I have suffered, I wish I had spent more time investigating.

Zolmitriptan always worked for me and so did regular short courses of Propanol (a Beta Blocker) - Beta Blockers are known to essentially put migraines into remission.

My sister also suffers and so does her young daughter (acutely) and they actually spoke to the Migraine Trust this week who she said were absolutely amazing.

Best of luck to anyone suffering - I hope you get answers smile