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I've suffered from migraine for years, and have gradually tailored the pain relief I use to combat them. Avoiding NSAIDs as they seem to make them worse, codeine & paracetamol taken in conjunction with a double espresso or high caffeine gel as soon as I can after getting the aura seem to reduce the severity of the actual headache if not the visual disturbance & limb numbness I get.
I just don't seem to be able to do anything about the residual pain & lethargy.
Had a migraine yesterday afternoon for example & now feel drowsy, headachy and just generally fatigued, has anyone had any joy dealing with those sort of after affects beyond the usual 'mtfu'? Losing effectively 2 days of my life sucks monkey balls...
I'm completely knackered and very fuzzy after a migraine so you're not the only one. I don't MTFU comes into it.
My Migraines are 60hrs in duration. Worst pain is around 20-40 hour period. Take some comfort that you're not alone.
I feel pretty vacant and knackered for a day or two after and if I'm not careful the migraine comes back. Only thing I've found helps is to try and be extra careful to avoid usual migraine triggers for a couple of days, and I tend to eat more sugary things than normal - but not chocolate - and eat what and when my body wants to rather than when normal mealtimes dictate. But otherwise, I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. Going for a swim sometimes really helps - I think the exercise plus the floating your head in the water means muscles that have tensed up can relax a bit. Can be hard to find the energy to do it, but usually find it's worth it.
FWIW I find exercise relieves the pain.
If i take migraleve as soon as i get the slightest hint of spots in my eyes I can avoid the headache but my head still hurts if i cough or sneeze for a couple of days afterwards (or shake my head too violently). I also tend to feel like I've been kicked in the stomach.
I don't think there's much you can do to reduce the after-effects. I've had migraine with aura for many years now, and I feel pretty wiped out for a day or two afterwards. I also tend to feel ravenous for about 24 hours after the main symptoms subside, and just listen to my body and eat eat eat
Sadly, not found much that helps with this either 🙁 You have my sympathy, sometimes just getting out for an easy bike ride helps make things less fuzzy, at least I dont feel like Ive wasted a day that way!
Other than cocodamol sleep was pretty much the only thing to work for me. Preventative was sleep or something very sweet such as Coca Cola or lots of chocolate. Since I started Omeprazole 2 years ago I've had maybe 2 or 3 as lack of made was my main cause. That said I also changed jobs around then too as well as changed my sleeping pattern.
It's very common to feel drained after a migraine, unfortunately. I try to drink plenty of water and go for a walk to get some fresh air.
Could the codeine be making the fuzzy feeling worse though?
I don't tend to get visual stuff with mine. I get sensitivity to light, and nausea. If I catch it early; caffeine, aspirin, paracetemol, and a couple of hours snooze in a dark room will sort out the main symptoms. If I'm too late it will be with me for about 36hrs. I always feel pretty drowsy and spacey afterwards. I had a good few months of not feeling right after one once.
Horrible things.
So glad I don't get these, they sound awful.
I went for a steady 25 mile spin on the road earlier & felt 'OK' whilst on the bike but back to feeling rubbish by the time I'd showered after.
Now just trying not to fall asleep until later so I can try & maintain normal sleep patterns as I'm working all weekend.
Maybe the codiene doesn't help with the groggy feeling, although it's been paracetamol only today.
Gah.
Identify triggers! I finally worked out that mine were brought on physiologically by neck strain. I used to get them every fortnight or so, always whilst playing cricket. I tried all sorts, constantly eating sweets (thought blood sugar was the issue), constantly drinking isotonic (thought might be dehydration), wearing sunglasses (was glare the problem?)
Eventually went to see a physio. She diagnosed very tight muscle around the base of my skull and neck. A few neck stretches made them far less common. Giving up cricket means I barely get them any more.
A couple of times, I have really jerked my neck (slipped on wet grass in the garden running around with the kids) or put stress on my neck (carrying bike on shoulder) and managed to bring on a migraine, but never otherwise.
Find out what causes them and avoid/mitigate/correct. And don't dismiss obvious physiology!
My ex used to get migraines, the mini stroke type. We found a solution that would stop them fully developing.
All it took was a couple of capfuls of apple cider vinegar. It's not that nice tasting but a lot better than a full blown migraine. Hope it helps someone else and definitely worth a try. You can get the cheap stuff from the supermarket and then if it works buy a nicer tasting one a healthfood shop or off the internet.