Migraine sufferers, advice please.
Discussion
Well, I'm 55 years old and never suffered a migraine in my life. However, yesterday morning I woke up feeling a bit groggy, nauseous and headachey. The night before I'd had three glasses of red, four squares of dark chocolate and a lump of cheese. Throughout yesterday I had this headache until last night at about seven it became severe!! It was behind my eyes and all I could do was go to bed in a dark room. Just after midnight it started to subside and I got up and watched Stir Crazy (love that film).
Today I still have a background headache and still feel groggy. So, at 55 have I started getting migraines? I've since read that the three things I ate the night before are all triggers!!
Today I still have a background headache and still feel groggy. So, at 55 have I started getting migraines? I've since read that the three things I ate the night before are all triggers!!
Almost certainly the triple whammy of the goddies you consumed yesterday. Just one of those would have set me off.
Migraleve are good. First signs for me is usually throwing up then followed by the crushing headache which last for ages. Migraleve are about the only thing I can take as once it's full blown I can't stomach anything else. They do ones which stop the up-chucking and ones to calm the head.
Never been to the docs with them as I just avoid the trigger foods which i've found cause it.
Migraleve are good. First signs for me is usually throwing up then followed by the crushing headache which last for ages. Migraleve are about the only thing I can take as once it's full blown I can't stomach anything else. They do ones which stop the up-chucking and ones to calm the head.
Never been to the docs with them as I just avoid the trigger foods which i've found cause it.
turbobloke said:
......this sounds like a red wine headache to me. Some reds will do it, others won't.
This was what I was wondering. Seems strange getting to my advanced years and suddenly developing migraines. However, the wine was one I've several bottles of and have drunk more than this in a session before with no ill effects. Very odd!Migraleve is good but in the last few months Sumatriptan has been made available over the counter. It's sold under the brand name of 'Imigran Recovery' which you'll have to buy from a Pharmacist but take two of those and within 45 minutes any migraine you may have had will be gone. They are about £8 for 2 though, so if you're a frequent sufferer I'd contact your GP to get them on prescription.
I've recently started suffering from them... had one last about 5 weeks ago and it totalled me for a whole day! (Amazingly, I only get them at weekends!)
I just pop a couple of Nurofen and stay in bed til I feel better, which isnt' normally for about 12 or so hours.
A cold wet flannel on my forehead really helps too.
I just pop a couple of Nurofen and stay in bed til I feel better, which isnt' normally for about 12 or so hours.
A cold wet flannel on my forehead really helps too.
I've suffered horrendous sporadic migraines since the age of seven, when my parents once called the doctor out in the middle of the night.
Have had various medications over the years (until a few years ago when I gave up), nothing has ever worked. Have never found a main trigger - although some scents (air freshners/perfumes) set them off.
I know when they are coming on, pain on the left temple and side of face, aversion to light, violent sickness follows, then paralysis, and screaming in pain ensues. Have never found anything to help. I just try and make it home asap, lay on the floor in a dark room, crying in pain with wet towels on my head. Most last for atleast 12 hours +
The next day however, I feel fantastic!! Like my body has had a major detox, i'll be up early and can take on the world...Oh, and a curry, always have a curry the day after!
Thankfully I only have Migraines maybe three times a year, at one point they were down to once a year.
Sorry I can't help, but I do feel, and live with, your pain.
Have had various medications over the years (until a few years ago when I gave up), nothing has ever worked. Have never found a main trigger - although some scents (air freshners/perfumes) set them off.
I know when they are coming on, pain on the left temple and side of face, aversion to light, violent sickness follows, then paralysis, and screaming in pain ensues. Have never found anything to help. I just try and make it home asap, lay on the floor in a dark room, crying in pain with wet towels on my head. Most last for atleast 12 hours +
The next day however, I feel fantastic!! Like my body has had a major detox, i'll be up early and can take on the world...Oh, and a curry, always have a curry the day after!
Thankfully I only have Migraines maybe three times a year, at one point they were down to once a year.
Sorry I can't help, but I do feel, and live with, your pain.
Edited by Gretchen on Sunday 18th May 14:16
Chris_H said:
turbobloke said:
......this sounds like a red wine headache to me. Some reds will do it, others won't.
This was what I was wondering. Seems strange getting to my advanced years and suddenly developing migraines. However, the wine was one I've several bottles of and have drunk more than this in a session before with no ill effects. Very odd!Sumatriptan (Imigrain) work for me, knock it totally on the head, without them, I'm out for 8-12 hours and am very ill.
They may not work for everyone, but there are many other drugs available from your GP, it may be a bit trial and error, but once you get something that works it has to be a lot better than suffering.
Martin
They may not work for everyone, but there are many other drugs available from your GP, it may be a bit trial and error, but once you get something that works it has to be a lot better than suffering.
Martin
mph999 said:
Sumatriptan (Imigrain) work for me, knock it totally on the head, without them, I'm out for 8-12 hours and am very ill.
They may not work for everyone, but there are many other drugs available from your GP, it may be a bit trial and error, but once you get something that works it has to be a lot better than suffering.
Martin
They may not work for everyone, but there are many other drugs available from your GP, it may be a bit trial and error, but once you get something that works it has to be a lot better than suffering.
Martin
I have chronic migraines. Have full-blown attacks every couple of weeks where I'm between the bed and bathroom for 1-3 days. In this case, no tablets have any effect. However, I do have background headaches and the beginnings of a migraine virtually every day and take Zolmatriptan (Zomig) which sometimes work. Imigran do nothing for me, nor do most over-the-counter medications, although Midrid sometimes clears the daily headache. I don't drink alcohol as I would get a migraine, especially wine. Probably part stress-related but otherwise unknown. Tried everything. Being admitted to The National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery in London during June for at least 2 weeks to try a different approach. I would say don't go down the preventative mediation route as it's a downward spiral once you start, but then they may work for some.
Gretchen said:
I've suffered horrendous sporadic migraines since the age of seven, when my parents once called the doctor out in the middle of the night.
Have had various medications over the years (until a few years ago when I gave up), nothing has ever worked. Have never found a main trigger - although some scents (air freshners/perfumes) set them off.
I know when they are coming on, pain on the left temple and side of face, aversion to light, violent sickness follows, then paralysis, and screaming in pain ensues. Have never found anything to help. I just try and make it home asap, lay on the floor in a dark room, crying in pain with wet towels on my head. Most last for atleast 12 hours +
The next day however, I feel fantastic!! Like my body has had a major detox, i'll be up early and can take on the world...Oh, and a curry, always have a curry the day after!
Thankfully I only have Migraines maybe three times a year, at one point they were down to once a year.
Sorry I can't help, but I do feel, and live with, your pain.
Have had various medications over the years (until a few years ago when I gave up), nothing has ever worked. Have never found a main trigger - although some scents (air freshners/perfumes) set them off.
I know when they are coming on, pain on the left temple and side of face, aversion to light, violent sickness follows, then paralysis, and screaming in pain ensues. Have never found anything to help. I just try and make it home asap, lay on the floor in a dark room, crying in pain with wet towels on my head. Most last for atleast 12 hours +
The next day however, I feel fantastic!! Like my body has had a major detox, i'll be up early and can take on the world...Oh, and a curry, always have a curry the day after!
Thankfully I only have Migraines maybe three times a year, at one point they were down to once a year.
Sorry I can't help, but I do feel, and live with, your pain.
Edited by Gretchen on Sunday 18th May 14:16
I am sooo glad someone else feels the same as me, after a proper migraine, I feel 10 years younger!!
I get them, more so recently, and the past 3 times I have drunk red wine a headache has followed.
I get two types of migraines, one is as described above, the other is a on off bad head for 3 days- always 3 days and usualy over the weekend, feel totally crap in those 3 days and NOTHING works, pills/rest is useless. They get me down more than the painful ones do as they make me feel so weak and I cannot plan anything.
People do come down with ailments later on in life, just one of those things I think, you could always 'test' it again- have those pills recommended above, ready to hand just in case. You could be like me and sometmes drinking wine casues it, sometimes it doesn't, so I never know
Hope you find a way to make it better- or even more, I do hope it does not affect you too much
A lot of analgesia such as many NSAIDs (aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc) will often not work during a migraine due to the gastric stasis that usually accompanies the condition. There is a strong gastro-intestinal link to migraine- hence the nausea, the food/drink triggers to migraine and the gastric stasis.
Some of the most generally effective medication around for migraines are triptans ( including sumatriptan, imigran, imitrex,etc) which work by helping level serotonin and reducing activity of the trigeminal nerve and with minimal side effects.
From a purely personal perspective as a migraine sufferer, NSAIDs don't touch the condition, even tried Beta-blockers many years ago to ill-effect but sumatriptan is excellent.
Some of the most generally effective medication around for migraines are triptans ( including sumatriptan, imigran, imitrex,etc) which work by helping level serotonin and reducing activity of the trigeminal nerve and with minimal side effects.
From a purely personal perspective as a migraine sufferer, NSAIDs don't touch the condition, even tried Beta-blockers many years ago to ill-effect but sumatriptan is excellent.
Used to get them regularly especially at weekends. Something to do with the body relaxing after a week's stress at work.
Went to the Doctors about 4 years ago and he put me on a preventative tablet called Corguard, 80mg dose. Take one of these every morning and have never had another one, absolutely brilliant.
I Think they are some sort of beta blocker but not sure.
Went to the Doctors about 4 years ago and he put me on a preventative tablet called Corguard, 80mg dose. Take one of these every morning and have never had another one, absolutely brilliant.
I Think they are some sort of beta blocker but not sure.
mine were triggered by orange juice, cheese and strong smells (such as bleech and cleaning products). Also energy saving bulbs have triggered them recently
Best cure I found was to drink plenty of water, try to sleep in a dark quiet room and have a damp warm towel over your face as it relieves some of the tension
Best cure I found was to drink plenty of water, try to sleep in a dark quiet room and have a damp warm towel over your face as it relieves some of the tension
Dilligaf10 said:
Used to get them regularly especially at weekends. Something to do with the body relaxing after a week's stress at work.
Went to the Doctors about 4 years ago and he put me on a preventative tablet called Corguard, 80mg dose. Take one of these every morning and have never had another one, absolutely brilliant.
I Think they are some sort of beta blocker but not sure.
Yep, Corgard is a Beta-Blocker - (also known as Nadolol) Went to the Doctors about 4 years ago and he put me on a preventative tablet called Corguard, 80mg dose. Take one of these every morning and have never had another one, absolutely brilliant.
I Think they are some sort of beta blocker but not sure.
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