[Closed] Migraines..

Get referred to a specialist?

tried that...im not stupid, its just a migraine problem..

I can sympathise. Having suffered for the past 15 years or so, I've found a couple of "triggers" and try to avoid these. One is stress - or more accurately - the relief of stress. Basically, that means I cope well while under stress but suffer form the come down. Bank Holiday weekends and holidays in general can see me suffer. The other major trigger is beer. There's apparently some chemical created by the malting process of barley which sets me off. A couple of pints is all it takes. Wheat Beer is better.
I've found the best pain relief to be hard exercise. Unfortunately, the pain re-appears after a while, but otherwise I get 60 hours of nausea and incredible headaches.

So - try to work out the cause. Try a few different remedies. Don't just accept it and sit in a darkened room.

Suffered for years (since my teens). Went through the usual neurological investigations (diagnosed with dysrhythmic migraine), tried cutting out different foods (dairy-free for a year was hell), keeping hydrated on rides, you name it . . . but nothing made a difference. Doc finallly agreed to prescribe me Imigran (Sumatriptan) back in the early 90s (it was a relatively new and very expensive drug then) and I've not looked back. I could probably count on one hand the number of debilitating (and non-alcohol related 😉 ) attacks I've had since then. Still get the symptoms but once they start I take a tablet every 3-4 hours or so over the course of a couple of days which keeps the attack at bay.

I have suffered from them for a long time - but luckily they have reduced in frequency as I have got older and now only suffer from a few attacks a year. We have a family history of them and my mum is still on permanent medication to prevent them re-occurring.

Best thing to do is keep a diary and see if you can spot triggering events. Mine is usually associated with large changes in the weather and often when there are storms around. When I see a change forecasted I then try and drink more water and avoid chocolate, rich foods late nights and most importantly stress, which means I can now often get through one with just a bad headache.

Not nice and I feel sorry for you.

Like Mamadirt - I also have Imigran on prescription for when I do get bad attacks - Mine is 200mg (you can buy 50mg over the counter now). However I also have to have Buccasten as well which is an anti nausea drug as I am often violently ill and can't keep the drugs down long enough for them to take effect.

To me prevention is far better - but I still get the attacks every now and again.

Tried anti-depressants? They reduce stress significantly - the whole world just washes over you rather than bothering you. Much prefer life on them myself.

NB I used to suffer from Migraines, but about the age of 30 they just stopped and I've never had one since, used to be triggered by bright light and sunny days. No idea why they stopped.

thanks for the sensible replies!

Yes, ive tried to find the triggers, but lately it seems like even when i have done everything to the T they still come with avengence.

Im going to try yoga, and also see an osteopath as ive read that these could help, and they're new to me.

I get them, average once a year. its hereditary. When I get them I cant even speak or see properly. Can't predict when or where and have given up trying to find the trigger.

Ony thing that works for me is to stash Migreleave pinks all over the place in case I feel an attack coming on, in the car, office, kitchen, first aid bag. If I start to feel an attack coming.....tingling in my left hand, then weird vision, I take 2 pinks straight away and stop whatever I am doing and find a dark place.

Never had an attack whilst on the bike..........

Bright light, or more specifically, moving from dark to bright areas. the biggest trigger in this respect seems to be looking at a computer screen and then looking at sunlight. It's like a switch has been flicked. Less commonly are the ones that just creep up on me for no apparent reason.

I've found that as soon as the eye flickering starts, it's time to chug some ibuprofen (I found the migraine specific tablets made little difference), get myself into a bed in a dark room and ride it out.

Thankfully, as i've got older they've got a lot less common although they do appear to have increased in severity (although could just me getting old and wimpy). I used to get one a week, now I only get one every month or so but it takes me longer to recover.

Terry...once a year??! wow..that i could live with.. i currently have one from monday.. and thats maybe the 10th this year..

There has been some research into the link between migraine and a (fairly common) heart condition called Patent Foramen Ovale (aka PFO). If you read up on PFOs you'll find a lot of stuff relating to scuba divers as it can cause decompression illness from non provocative dives. PFOs can be treated relatively easily once they've been diagnosed - as an ex diver I know at least half a dozen people who've had this done - and one side effect was that migraine sufferers seemed to report a reduction in migraines after closure - certainly the case with a friend of mine. Suggest you do some Googling on the link between migraine & PFO, find some decent papers to refer your quack to and take it from there.

Link from the BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4180455.stm - just so's you know I'm not spouting BS. Dr Peter Wilmshurst that they refer to here is the 'main man' in the UK for diving related PFOs - a few of my friends were seen by him - in some cases he managed to detect a PFO that had originally been missed.

My mum had terrible problems with migraines that she finally solved by having accupuncture

I get one every week badly, the only way to get rid of it is sleep... I normally crash out for 20 hours + triggers for me are bad diet, beer, red wine. Stress and tiredness are my big triggers

Suboccipital and/or Trapezius Trigger Points are a common cause of migraine symtoms [with my clients,at least]
The Osteo might be a step in the right direction,as long as he does soft tissue work and has knowledge of referred pain panterns [and how to deal with them!]

Imigran (Sumatriptan)

+ 1

Transformed MrsJulianA's life.

Prscription - not over the counter unless it's urgent, although I think you have to be able to prove that you are already being prescribed it or at least know what you're talking about before they will let you have it in Boots or wherever.

i'd prefer to get to the bottom of the problem, rather than have a pill all my life...especially as for me, if i take the pill a little too late im screwed..

scotia - Member
i'd prefer to get to the bottom of the problem, rather than have a pill all my life...especially as for me, if i take the pill a little too late im screwed..

Sure - but why suffer in the meantime? Imigran is not a pill to be taken every day - you just take it when you feel the symptoms coming on. Does no harm if you take one when you didn't need to

especially as for me, if i take the pill a little too late im screwed..

If you take it too late you are just as screwed as if you hadn't taken it!

Win / Win: it can only improve matters.

But hey, they're your migraines... It's no skin off my nose either way! Good luck with it though; I have seen how debilitating they can be.

I used to get them, i kept a diary and yeah it was certain foods setting them off, and i think sometimes it was buildings with certain types of light in there that also set them off.

If one has started beer will make it much worse

Too much caffeine sets them off but strangely sometimes when i feel one coming i drink a can of red bull and the caffeine seems to make it go away again. I cant explain that one.

Caffeine is good as pain relief.

Had a mate who used to get them if he had chocolate or oranges...

Although I don't suffer from Migraines, the abortive relief I take for my Cluster Headaches is primarily used for your type of headaches.
As mentioned by mama and others its called Sumitriptan

Also available as a nasal spray which acts faster, but that is only obtainable from a doctor and if really urgent can also be adminstered as an injection.

Best bet would be to see a neurologist who could suggest other treatments