Migraines

[Natasha]

I have always suffered from frequent headaches since I was a child, but as I got older they progressed into migraines. Fortunately, I only get a migraine a couple of times a year...but as anyone else that suffers from them will tell you, it's a couple of times too many. Yesterday was the worst migraine I've had in a long time. I woke up w/ it and immediately took my Zomig. It took longer than normal to go away, but after a couple of hours it was gone. That lasted for about 4 hours before it came back full force. I took 2 Aleve while at work and then I came home on my lunchbreak and took another Zomig and laid down w/ an ice pack on my head. For some reason, it didn't help at all. I was already most of the way through the workday, so I decided to finish it out. By the time I finished the day, I was sick to my stomach and could barely open my eyes w/o wanting to vomit. I finally came home and crawled into bed w/ an ice pack. I slept for 13 hours...but thank God, my migraine is gone now!!!

Does anybody else suffer from migraines??? Have you sought treatment for them and, if so, what did your doctor prescribe???

Since mine are infrequent my doctor went w/ Zomig. It has been a God-send!!! Only twice has it not helped (w/ yesterday's 2nd does being one of those times).

 

[AUDRAA]

I get migraines quite frequently actually and I take Relpax for them and was put on 3 daily preventitives but I stopped taking them I hate being required to take drugs daily. not fun Natasha I feel for ya hun Im glad youre feeling better

 

[Natasha]

Thanks, Audra. My doctor said that since my migraines weren't very frequent he didn't want to put me on a preventative. The Zomig you can take when you feel one coming on...it usually kills it w/in 20 minutes.

 

[Stella]

I don't really get them as often as I used to. But I do take Excedrin Migraine in excess. The minute I feel anything at all, I pop 3. Medicine doesn't scare me lol. That might be why I don't get the migraines that often - dunno.

But I do not miss curling up in the fetal position with a pillow over my head that I keep switching to the 'cool' side while playing mind-over-matter with the nausea. Horrible. Glad you're better today.

 

[FreeWorkVest]

I get headaches fairly frequently. Aleve cold and sinus is a blessing. But no migraines

 

[SYN]

read this of tips how to get to get rid of em or lower the pain...

Migraines Treatment Tips
1. Conventional treatment focuses on three areas: trigger avoidance, symptomatic control, and preventive drugs.
2. Moderation in alcohol and caffeine intake, consistency in sleep habits, and regular meals may be helpful.
3. Triptans are a mid-line treatment suitable for many migraineurs with typical migraines.
4. Ergot drugs can be used either as a preventive or abortive therapy, though their relative expense.
5. Sumatriptan and related selective serotonin receptor agonists are now the therapy of choice for chronic migraine attacks.
6. Anti-emetics by suppository or injection may be needed in cases where vomiting dominates the symptoms.
7. Amidrine is sometimes prescribed for migraine headaches.
8. Intravenous chlorpromazine has proven very effective in treating status migrainosus—intractable and unremitting migraine.
9. Diet, visualization, and self-hypnosis are also alternative treatments and prevention approaches.
10. Massage therapy and physical therapy are often very effective forms of treatment to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.
11. Massage therapy of the jaw area can also reduce such pain.
12. Botox is being used by many headache specialists for patients with frequent or chronic migraines with encouraging results.
13. Try to avoid any factors that have triggered a migraine in the past.

 

[SRC]

My mom has them and I do occassionally .. she has Naprosyn (Naproxen) and if you take it right when it first starts .. it works great.

 

[Natasha]

I get headaches fairly frequently. Aleve cold and sinus is a blessing. But no migraines

Aleve is the only thing that works on my regular headaches...I take 2 and it usually knocks them out.

2. Moderation in alcohol and caffeine intake, consistency in sleep habits, and regular meals may be helpful.

Unfortunately, that would require me quitting my job. In our line of work regular meals aren't a guarantee.

3. Triptans are a mid-line treatment suitable for many migraineurs with typical migraines.

Zomig = zolmatriptan. Way ahead of you on that one.

10. Massage therapy and physical therapy are often very effective forms of treatment to reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines.

Got a Chiropractor that helps w/ that, too.

13. Try to avoid any factors that have triggered a migraine in the past.

Also done. Whenever I do ride-alongs or go on SWAT callouts I always avoid looking at the lights on the patrol cars as much as possible. I had a rather nasty migraine triggered about 2 years ago after humoring a Sergeant that said "hey, have you seen my lights???"

My mom has them and I do occassionally .. she has Naprosyn (Naproxen) and if you take it right when it first starts .. it works great.

Aleve = naproxen sodium. I take it when I have my regular headaches, but it usually doesn't touch my migraines. I did take 2 yesterday when it came back, but it didn't help. I *do* love me some Aleve, though.

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

I had them frequently as a teen, not so much in my 20's but maybe once a year I will get one now. I always took immitrex, though I don't really have anything to take for it now...btu that is what I used to to take. Have you gotten a CT scan done before?

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

ooo also, pressure points REALLY help. Look up reflexology and you can find a chart with a pressure point for each spot in your head. Mine were always optical migraines and I'd get to where I couldn't see I think the point for that is in between your thumb and first finger if I remember right.

 

[Natasha]

I had them frequently as a teen, not so much in my 20's but maybe once a year I will get one now. I always took immitrex, though I don't really have anything to take for it now...btu that is what I used to to take. Have you gotten a CT scan done before?

Actually, I have not.

ooo also, pressure points REALLY help. Look up reflexology and you can find a chart with a pressure point for each spot in your head. Mine were always optical migraines and I'd get to where I couldn't see I think the point for that is in between your thumb and first finger if I remember right.

That's always been fascinating to me...I really do need to look it up.

 

[SRC]

Aleve = naproxen sodium. I take it when I have my regular headaches, but it usually doesn't touch my migraines. I did take 2 yesterday when it came back, but it didn't help. I *do* love me some Aleve, though.

aleve = a much lower dose than a napyrson too .. they may be made out of the same stuff, but they definately do not behave alike

 

[Mike_is_God]

My sister gets a lot of migranes, I've never had one thank god!

About the only thing that works for her is night strength Myrcindol (sp?) and dark quiet. Also, if she can get in to get a shoulder rub from a chinese massage place before it sets in, she says that helps a bit too.

I feel bad for anyone who gets them a lot, they look like one of the worst things.

 

[Natasha]

aleve = a much lower dose than a napyrson too .. they may be made out of the same stuff, but they definately do not behave alike

Valid point. Anybody that suffers from migraines will tell you...if someone told me crack cocaine would get rid of the killer I had the other day, I probably would've said "let's do it." And THAT is coming from someone who has never even smoked marijuana!!!

My sister gets a lot of migranes, I've never had one thank god!

About the only thing that works for her is night strength Myrcindol (sp?) and dark quiet. Also, if she can get in to get a shoulder rub from a chinese massage place before it sets in, she says that helps a bit too.

I feel bad for anyone who gets them a lot, they look like one of the worst things.

Sounds like your sister has them really bad. I have to do the dark quiet room, too, and it has to be cool and I have to have an ice pack on my head. That is the only way for me to get through them.

 

[AUDRAA]

hey Natasha I thought of something else too I always take a couple excedrin with my Relpax at the same time. I was on Zomig too for awhile until it stopped working ,my son gets them too and the peds neurologist suggested he take advil liquigel with his Zomig you can try that and see if it helps keep it away longer

 

[Natasha]

Thanks for the tip, Audra. Usually it works for me, but those 1 or 2 times it didn't were just HELL. I'm down for anything that helps.

 

[Natasha]

Had to leave work today after 2 hours due to a migraine that wouldn't go away. I thought it was gone about an hour ago but now that I'm up I can feel it coming back. Time to crawl back into darkness.

 

[Natasha]

(w/ yesterday's 2nd does being one of those times).

Just realized this typo...that should've said "dose" instead of "does." That really bugs me and I'm itching to edit it, but I'm gonna leave it. LOL

 

[Mystic]

Migraines are a nasty thing.:yuk

I sometimes but not always, get one every month just from hormonal changes.

Usually I know they are coming on when I see the 'sparkles' so I take a few Advil and that usually keep it at bay so I can at least not puke...If its real bad I'll just lay down and sleep it off with the covers over my eyes, they usually don't last more then three hours.

I had a doctor who wanted to give me some migraine med's but after reading the side effects I thought, 'ya puking is by far better then some of those effects...plus it only lasts for a couple of hours for one day out of a month so no big deal I can deal with that.:nod:

...and speaking of...I haven't had one in two months so thast pretty good...I've been avoiding dairy products thats why.... most crap that effects your body is a food allergy anyway...I know mine is lactose so I try to avoid it....however I did have ice-cream today so we'll see how I have now incerted my foot into my mouth.D

 

[Peter Parka]

I used to be allergic to chocolate when I was a kid, if i even had a bite of some I'd be in bed for three days with terrible migraine. Seemed to wear off when I got older though I hardly eat chocolate now anyway. These days it usually comes from the effect of too much booze.