Chronic Migraine Sufferers...How do you cope?

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  • FreedomReigns
    FreedomReigns Posts: 195 Member
    Bumping to read replies later due to the fact that i have a migraine right now (only awake cause i have to get my kids from school :(
  • CincinnatiDEIFan
    CincinnatiDEIFan Posts: 188 Member
    Migraines is half the reason we moved from Ohio to Florida. Our 9 year old daughter was getting up to 18 - yes 18 - a MONTH. She was on Periactin 4mg twice a day and Zomig (it's like Imitrex) when she got a bad one.

    We found out rather by accident that when we would be on vacation...they would go away. My husbands too.

    Traced it back to changes in barometric pressure.

    Her neurologist at Cincinnati Children's told me I was crazy and that moving would NOT fix the issue...but we have been moved since June 1, 2012 and she has been taken off ALL medication and has had ONE - only ONE - since.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I have just been diagnosed officially with chronic migraine and started seeing a pain management specialist. He has me taking nortryptalin (spelling?) which is an older anti-depressant that is supposed to prevent migraines. I have Imitrex for them and that works but I only get 9 per month. And he is seeking approval to start Botox. It has been approved by the FDA for migraine treatment but I had never heard of it. Honestly I'm scared to try it but with 16-18 migraine days per month I'm willing to try almost anything.

    I also find that sometimes hot tea, hot baths, icy hot applied to the neck and temples, and a heating pad on my head/neck can all help reduce the severity. But none of those things actually make them go away. :(
  • HypersonicFitNess
    HypersonicFitNess Posts: 1,219 Member
    Keep in mind all migraines are not equal. What works for one person might not work for another. My migraines for instance are like something is squeezing my head, whereas most others experience the exact opposite - their head feels like it might explode; therefore the treatment is different and yes, the neurologist mentioned the botox shots were an alternative for my type of headache but we never had to go there.
  • clydethecat
    clydethecat Posts: 1,087 Member
    i have had chronic migraines since i was 12years old... right now the only thing that makes them go away is sumatriptan nasal spray... my stomach is so bad it hard to take pills. i do take motrin if i catch it early but i have to eat a lot before i take it...

    i tried topomax it was ok. i didnt see a difference, but it had a great side effect of helping to lose weight. i've tried medical marijuana and that just made them worse for me. the nasal spray is the only thing that makes them go away most of the time. i also do toradol when nothing else works. but thats a hard drug you shouldnt take that often.

    ice also works. i get a few ice packs and ace bandage them to my head, works most of the time.. really helps the nasal spray work better.

    good luck with this.. i feel for you.. migraines are terrible, i hope you get help soon
  • GreyEyes21
    GreyEyes21 Posts: 241 Member
    I get migranes maybe 3-4 times a year, nothing I take works and as another on here said "Hemiplegic Migraine Headaches" is what I have as well. I have to go to the doc and he gives me a shot, I'm scheduled for an appt that is supposed to teach me how to give myself something like those "easy shots" like what diabetics use. When I know the brand I will post it on here.
  • Jwithrow4
    Jwithrow4 Posts: 21
    I have migraines pretty frequently, sometimes up to 15 a month. I have been on many different kinds of meds for them, but nothing works like 2 Goody's powders as soon as I feel one coming on. They are somewhat hard to find and the orange flavor is a must. They are a combination of Aspirin, Acetaminophen, and caffeine. I carry them with me all the time and highly recommend.
  • perfectingpatti
    perfectingpatti Posts: 1,037 Member
    I've tried Maxalt and Imitrex, but the side effects were bad. When I first feel one coming on, I start with 800mg ibuprofen every 4 hours (sorry liver). Once it's a full blown migraine, Toradol shots IM help me. I won't take prescription pain meds, but I also take Celexa.
  • jlwbeans0823
    jlwbeans0823 Posts: 178 Member
    I have chronic migraines. I'm taking Imitrex, which doesn't really stop anything for me. I also take a daily medication which is supposed to help prevent. I can't take over the counter migraine medicines...they make me feel funny, like I've had 20 cups of the darkest brewed coffee. I usually start to feel better after I throw up which always happens. My boyfriend is a massage therapist which helps sometimes. I've heard of Botox as a treatment, but I'm not sure about that treatment for myself. I've been thinking about trying acupuncture.

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