Any Migraine Sufferers?

[MyBoySamson]

I went to my doctor yesterday and he gave me a relpak. I was only supposed to take one, but it got so bad last night I took the other. Woke up this morning and the pain is still there. I also have a head cold and he put me on some other med so here I am at work about to fall asleep. I should have stayed home, with a cold and a migraine, but I just started this job in October and I don't want my boss to be mad because I am forever leaving early etc for these migraines. I had a cat scan done when I first started getting them, and there ended up being nothing wrong there. I don't know. Are there any specialists out there for just migraines??

 

[Adelle]

I know your pain, I have also been suffering from Migraine's for a couple of years now, usually once a month when I have my period I also find that bright lights and stress also contribute.

I have tried various meds that didn't help and had some odd side effects, I now take Relpax which helps provided I take it soon enough. But once I get a migraine I am done for the day, and end up in a dark room and usually end up throwing up also.

Lately with my doctors recommendation I have been skipping my periods by not taking the placebo pills in my birth control and this has really been working for me and I have not had a really bad Migraine for several months now. However later this year I plan to come off the pill so that we can hopefully start a family so I am nervous about how that will effect my migraines. I hate them so much :(

 

[magoo's_mama]

Are there any specialists out there for just migraines??

I don't know specifically for migranes, have you seen a nuerologist? I have been to every kind of doctor there is for Migranes, had the MRI, went to a nutrionist and homeopath, tried biofeedback, went the prescription route. The only good news I guess is there are so many prescriptions out there you can try maybe you will find the right one. If something isn't working go back and bug your doctor again. =)

My mom takes the Midrin for hers but only if she has to- says they make her feel "funny".

I could be wrong but ti think midrin might be a narcotic. I can feel it working it's really bizare, and yes it makes you feel very funny. If I take it feels like each muscle is loosening up until I feel really relaxed and then I notice my headache is gone. I would never take it and try to drive or go to work.

 

[Coco'smommy]

I too was going to suggest a neurologist. That is the specialist that you should see for the migraines. Ask your doctor for a referral. I get severe migraines about once every 2 mos, thank goodness it's not any more than that. They are awful and mine don't respond to medications. I simply have to go to bed, get the room as dark as possible and cover my eyes and hope to fall asleep. They never go away until I have slept them off. I have bad visual disturbances and get very sick to my stomach so I'm pretty much non-functional until they go away.

 

[2BoxersnOhio]

There are migraine specialists out there.. whether there's one in every state or city is another story.

I had seen a tv commercial a few years ago about mini strokes. They mentioned the symptoms and suddenly a light bulb went off in my head. Every single one of my migraine symptoms.. was also a symptom of a mini stroke. I started freaking out. My migraines had gotten so bad a few years ago that I felt helpless. I couldn't talk, and sometimes one side of my body goes numb. Those are stroke symptoms.

I mentioned it to my dr and he played it off. I happened to have an MRI done for my ears and had my regular dr check the results, apparently you can tell if there have been any previous strokes from an MRI. He said there was nothing but if my migraines continue the way they have been.. I'm going to my new dr and mention it to her.

 

[MyBoySamson]

I have made another appointment with my doctor. I hope she'll have something else for me to try. Oh, the doctor I saw yesterday wasn't my primary physician so I hope my doctor will have some better ideas. My migraines aren't linked to my period, because they come long before, during and after. I haven't really been stressed out at all. I am VERY careful what I eat. And I work out twice a week.
Also, the doctor I saw yesterday put me on this medication for my cold and one of the side affects are headaches. So I am wondering if this is why my migraine didn't go away with that relpax? Who knows.
I tried imitrex a while back and I got really sick on it. Then they had given me imitrex that you squirt up your nose. (Crazy, right) That made my head hurt worse.
I hope that there is something that will help. I can't stand them! My new boss is slightly starting to understand...I hope I can get rid of this!

 

[ljnash]

I get migraines, and some of mine are triggered by certain foods like bananas, citrus fruits, chocolate (I eat it anyway), nuts, aged cheeses, and processed meats with lots of sodium (bacon, etc.) I also quit drinking caffeine, and that has helped very much!!

Another factor in frequent migraines (more than 1 or two a month) is the rebound effect from painkillers. So the very thing people take to help them get rid of the pain can cause them pain when it wears off. Imitrex does that to me. It will get rid of the pain for a while, then the headache comes back. One also has to be careful about not taking too many NSAIDS, like Motrin, Ibuprofen, etc. because they can cause rebound headaches, too, if you are taking them real often.

Some days there is nothing you can do to prevent a migraine. If enough triggers are present (stress, weather, foods, etc.) you are going to get one!! You just have to try to find a medication that works well for you.

A headache specialist (neurologist) would probably have you go on an elimination diet to find out of certain foods trigger your headaches. And there are medications that can help prevent migraines, too!

Good luck. It's taken me many years to finally get some control over these headaches. The best thing I've done is quit caffeine!!

I hope you get some relief soon!

 

[momstaxi]

I get a"monthly migraine " too. I haven't been to the doctor yet.I take 800 mg ibuprofen which helps somewhat, but it can still last a couple days at times. Definitely not fun.

 

[Elyse]

Maxalt

I have to post it again. DH has tried everything and nothing worked. He would be in laying in a dark room for hrs (sometimes as many as 10 times a month). He tried Maxalt and his migrains are under control. He takes a pill at the onset of the one and it goes away.

I suggest asking your Dr.'s about trying it.

http://maxalt.com/rizatriptan_benzoate/maxalt/consumer/index.jsp

I don't want to seem pushy but It was horrible seeing my hubby feel so sick and this pill has made such a difference for him.

 

[pluto1415]

Migraines

OK, I used to get at least 1 migraine a week until I left my old job, have now only had one in 2 years!! My mom still gets them fairly frequently though. She is an ER nurse and the doctors there have told her to take a "migraine cocktail" of over the counter stuff meaning, 1-25mg Benadryl, 2-500mg Tylenol (acetaminophen), 2-Aspirin and a cup of coffee (for the caffeine) to make your heart beat faster and spread the drugs faster. She says it doesn't always work, (sometimes nothing does) but if she catches it early enough it works for her. When patients come in to the ER w/migraines, the first thing they give there is Benadryl and Phenergan(for nausea) and a narcotic (dr's choice).

BTW - Those of you who pay for Excedrine Migraine - read the bottle, the ingredients and dosage are EXACTLY the same as Excedrine (maybe x-tra strength). You are just paying extra for the nice Migraine box!