Migraines

I feel for you.. I've suffered migraines since I was 12 and I'm now 50. My mum also suffered so badly in the end her GP gave her injections to use at the onset of an attack.

I think you just have to work out what's best for you, find your trigger if you can. Sometimes it's hormonal and there's nothing you can do.

For me none of the 'migraine' treatments worked. I had to prevent rather than cure. I have to eat regularly and make sure I drink plenty of water. Sleep is also a biggie, if I'm really tired it can trigger an attack. Since low-carbing I've had one migraine which was when I tried a 24hr fast...... possibly not the best idea but hey ho!

As for medication, I'm not recommending you do this but for me if I feel an attack I take 2 paracetamol and 3 ibuprofen tablets and that staves off the worst. Stops the vomiting and flashing anyway.

Try keeping a diary to see what triggers you have or even what combination and then go from there. Good luck

You might want to search our a chiropractor who has experience with headaches and migraines. There is a sign in my chiro's office that says "Migraines are not the result of a shortage of asprin." I was chatting with one of his migraine patients and she told me he had made all the difference in the world for her.

Have you been checked out by a doctor? If you have problems with your blood sugar or blood pressure, that could be the culprit. Sometimes, migraines are an indicator that something is wrong. Hope you feel better, and take care.

I was having awful migraines about every two weeks. I took the tip of someone on MFP and started taking calcium and magnesium every day. Since then, I get one maybe every 6-8 weeks, and it's really mild and manageable. I'm so relieved, because they were getting really terrible, and NO pain meds were helping at all. x

Sumatriptan work if taken early for me. More than one for each migraine is pointless so don't bother wasting them if it comes back. Unless it's a completely different migraine - i.e. it's gone completely and then you get another attack.

Ask about Diclofenac. I was prescribed it at the hospital when I was taken there from work with a migraine with aura.
Take it as well as the sumatriptan.

The Pill can help - is this an option? Sorry if it's already been mentioned.

Since I've been working out and eating better - 18 months - I've had significantly fewer migraines than before.
Could it be something you're eating which contributes?

PMT is another issue for me.
I take Flax seed oil or Evening Primrose and when I take them regularly I get no PMT and no migraines either.

Water water water, as mentioned.
Erm... good quality sleep.

go and see a local chiropractor, they are wonderful with treating migraines


ETA: Natural treatment, without drugs if they can't help you they will refer you to a neurologist

Cranial osteopathy might help (just thought of that, as someone mentioned chiropractors). I don't have migraines, but I have a lot of sensory hypersensitivity and dizziness and processing difficulties as a result of being on the autism spectrum, and I find cranial osteopathy tremendously helpful. And I know my cranial osteopath also works with people with migraines.

And general things that help me control sensory processing difficulties and brain fog are: plenty of sleep, walking a lot, swimming and steam room and hot tub, eating a lot of fruit and veg, and natural foods. And avoid fluorescent lights where possible - they're a nightmare for both people on the autism spectrum and people with migraines. That includes longlife lightbulbs in your home - try to get the old fashioned incandescent ones, or else halogen ones. When you're in a situation where you can't avoid fluorescent lights, maybe see if you can wear a peaked cap.

(I know ASDs are very different from migraines, but they're both neurological, and research has found links between the two, and just anecdotally, there seem to be quite a lot of similarities in the sensory experience and what can help.)

You definitely need to be under a Dr's care for these, first and foremost.

I have had migraines for almost thirty years. It wasn't until I was prescribed propranolol (the generic of Inderal) for another health problem that I noticed some relief.

Propranolol was originally used to treat blood pressure issues but used in small amounts it is very effective in helping to prevent migraines.

You do need to be careful of dosing because if like me, your blood pressure is great you certainly won't need a very high dose.

I simply take one very tiny pill once a day. I'm not saying that I never get migraines anymore but they have been lessened greatly.

God Bless You and good luck!

Blind guess - read the leaflet of your contraception pill. I am sure it mentiones migraine as possible side effects. Mine stopped 3 months after I stopped taking the pill and switched to other methods.

I tried a few of the prescriptions that you have mentioned and nothing worked for me as well. Caffeine actually helps my migraines. I take Fioricet. Fioricet has caffeine in it and two other ingredients. Although, I have been taking that one for a few years now, i think my body is getting use to it. Now i need to take 2 of them at a time. If all else fails, I get a non fat latte from starbucks with my pills and works in no time!!

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sa=X&ei=g-owUPGqE6j00gG3o4CwBQ&ved=0CEsQBSgA&q=fioricet&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=c16687c3ba6c6c80&biw=1280&bih=687

copy and paste that link for info about the Fioricet. Maybe mention it to your doctor to see if it would be a good option for yourself.

Migraines suck! No other way to put it. I wish anything to be able to go migraine free forever! I have had them since elementary school.

See a neurologist who specializes in migraines.

I had them for nearly 30 years and tried EVERY drug out there with no success. He had me log everything I ate, what I was doing, what the weather was like, my blood pressure, stress levels, any meds I took, etc. I was able to pinpoint triggers and learned how to avoid them if possible. Some of my triggers were smoke, perfumes, foods like citrus and alcohol, sunlight, loud noises and believe it or not Tylenol. Tylenol was a big one because it's in a lot of meds that you take for migraine relief. It causes rebound headaches/migraines that you will have daily. I am on a pain med that I only take when I have one now and it still has tylenol in it but it works so I deal with it. I call the nagging headache that it gives me for 3 days afterwards, my migraine hangover. You also need to find out what type of migraine you have. I have both regular migraines and cluster migraines. The only thing that works on the cluster migraines is pure oxygen and sometimes very strong meds in the ER to calm me down and help me relax, rather than bang my head on the wall. Yes, I really did bang my head on the wall!
One day when I was having a migraine, my blood pressure went through the roof. It was 209/109! My neurologist put me on prednisone and Verapamil. I took the prednisone for just a week. Verapamil is a drug that is used mainly for high blood pressure but sometimes works for prevention of migraines. I ended up on the highest dose to control my crazy blood pressure but it worked! I have since lost 40lbs and am on a lower dose but I will tell you that it changed my life. I am able to exercise and make my heart beat like crazy and not get a migraine. I'm happier and I don't fear weather changes or sunlight anymore. I still have to avoid smoke of all types like the plague but it's worth the trouble.
Again, see a neurologist who specializes in migraines! They changed my life and I sooo wish I would have gone sooner!
Good luck and I pray you get relief soon! <hugs>

I used to have migraines from the time I hit puberty and increasing in frequency and severity until about 15-16 years later. At their worst I had severe headaches, often with nausea and minor to moderate visual impairment along with the other sensory discomforts, probably 3-5 days per week. Obviously there were hormonal triggers, but like another poster, I also have sinus issues that can bring on a migraine when the sinus problem gets severe enough. The thing that changed the headache frequency to only occasional was when I stopped taking birth control pills. That just left the sinus trigger for most of my headaches, maybe 2-3 per month of only 24-36 hour duration. I had chronic sinus problems leading to bronchitis 6-8 times a year and pneumonia once every year or two. A doctor put me on Triamcinolone nasal steroid spray and Singulair (montelukast), and as the worst of my sinus symptoms were controlled, I dropped to 1 headache or less most months. Since I improved my diet and water intake (though I did drink mostly water before and was already aware that dehydration could precipitate a headache) a couple of months ago I think I've had only one headache. I still occasionally will have a headache tied to hormones one day a month, and it can be during my period or at ovulation.

Point of the post... if you use hormonal birth control, look into other options. If you have sinus allergies, try to think about whether they come and go or if they hang around most of the time and you've just gotten used to living with them. If it's the latter, talk to your doctor about options to improve that problem and see if the headaches will follow.

Best of luck... I know how miserable it can be.

Migraines can also be caused by low potassium levels. Make sure you are getting plenty of potassium rich foods.

Maybe you are addicted to caffeine.. I saw you cut that out? I still have coffee or an energy drink everyday because without it, I get headaches...

I'm not sure if related but I started to take starflower supplement for Pre- menopausal flushes. My migraines diminished considerably, sometimes I get auras for 40 minutes or so but no lasting headaches. It may just be coincidental but it might be worth a punt.