Migrane suggestions

[frogpond1]

It has been over years since I suffered from these, but they have come back full force. I have ones that are so strong I can hear the blood rushing through my head. When the migraine is gone I still have a dull ache that I cannot seem to throw. It is right over my eyebrows. For some weird reason these headaches are interfering with my ability to think. My brain is really hazy. I was walking around Costco just getting basics and I dropped my card somewhere and didn't even realize it had fallen out of my hand. I keep asking my husband the same questions repeatedly and he tells me that I just asked that question. I don't think I'm losing it, I think the headache is just putting me in a fog. Any good suggestions for things to try to relieve it. I'll go to the doctor soon if I cannot get it under control, but you know how busy a home school mom is. It is hard enough just to get the daily work in and the orthodontist appointments and groceries.

[Plaid Dad]

I wish I had some good advice for you, but the most I can offer is commiseration. Sometimes I can head off a migraine with judicious applications of caffeine and 800 mg. of ibuprofen, but if it gets too far, I'm stuck with Vicodin, or, in extreme cases, a trip to the ER for morphine. It's not pretty. I know there are some migraine medications that people take on an ongoing basis, but I can't speak to their effectiveness.

I did want to reassure you (if that's the right word!) that the disorientation you're experiencing is pretty common after a migraine. I'm usually not "right" for at least 24 hours after a bad headache, and it often takes two full sleep cycles before I feel more or less normal.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, and I hope your MD has some more helpful answers for you! :sad:

[Christy B]

The brain fog is normal with migraine . . . in fact, I sometimes will have migraines that have all of the symptoms (nausea, light and noise sensitivity, disorientation, etc) EXCEPT for the headache. That is really weird and I often don't recognize it for what it is (because of that disorientation).

Regular visits to my chiropractor have been life-changing for me. This has reduced the severity and frequency of my migraines, and I highly recommend it! Of course, it will depend on the cause of your migraines, mine were related to an old neck injury, and of course the day to day neck and back strain of sitting at a desk, at the computer, at the piano, etc -- all unavoidable "job" related activities with homeschooling!

As far as meds for the day-to-day management of mild migraine paid -- a double dose of Excedrin Migraine, taken with a huge diet soda (caffeine!) helps during the day, and two tablets of Percogesic at night keep the migraine monster relatively under control when it does rear its ugly head (chiro visits have not yet "cured" my hormone-related migraines).

When all else fails, I will take a prescription Amerge -- it is sure to knock the migraine, though not usually until the second dose. I am very, very stingy with my Amerge. First, because it's about $10 a pill. Secondly, I developed a high tolerance for one prescription pain killer already, rendering it ineffective. I don't want to have a list of prescription meds that are no longer effective for me (that, and I have an incredibly addictive personality and I could easily -- very easily -- develop a problem). But, I do highly recommend the Amerge for your "big gun" med. It doesn't have (for me) the horrid side effects of Imitrex.

Oh, and Vicodin is always lovely. Just . . . lovely . . . yeah.

[Natalieclare]

This is what helps me:

2-3 sudafed
3-4 ibuprofen
coffee, coffee, coffee
hot pack on neck

But I don't think I suffer from the classic migraine type headache. I hope you are soon feeling completely restored. :grouphug:

[Mekanamom]

Yep- what Plaid Dad said.

Best over the counter thing for me is Excedrin and coffee or soda... Before the worst of the pain starts. It helps stop the pain from getting as bad, but I go all fuzzy anyway. It's awful. My BIL saw me during a migraine one time and he has it stuck in his head that I was stoned. :glare: (I don't do drugs. Well, Excedrin and caffeine are drugs, but you know what I mean!)

This next thing might sound a little weird. I don't know exactly how it really works myself. But it doesn't hurt to try it. And it did help me. I don't care whether it's the technique that really helps or if it's the placebo effect. Either way, it has actually helped my headaches. It's a biofeedback technique that you can do on your own. (You don't have to be hooked up to a biofeedback monitor to learn this.) Here it is: Lay down or sit in a relaxed position. Focus with your mind on heating up your fingertips. Visualize them getting very hot. Try to make them actually get hot just with your mind. Do this to the best of your ability for 10 minutes.

10 minutes is a very long time to try and heat up your fingertips and keep them hot with your mind. ;) But... the most you can lose is 10 minutes. It's a good exercise in concentration if nothing else. :)

[Lisa in Jax]

I've only had a couple of migraines in my life, but what works for me is GABA. The last couple of times the visual auras started, I popped 500mg GABA and rested for about 20 minutes. The migraine never happened. If high glutamate is the cause of your migraines, GABA may work for you, too.

HIH,

Lisa

[In The Great White North]

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[Janet in WA]

BTDT -- for years. I take prescription meds for my migraines (currently Maxalt). I used to think the meds were what were making my brain foggy, but I now believe it's an after-affect of the migraine itself. I can't do math, can't solve problems, can't drum up any enthusiasm for conversation or much of anything else. The worse the migraine gets before the meds stop it, the worse the fog. I find that massive doses of caffeine help sharpen my thinking somewhat.

[Lolly]

Dd has a history of migraines. When one is coming on she drinks caffeine, takes a large dose of Excedrin, and heads to bed. Until she sleeps, she has the migraine. She usually can get to sleep pretty fast if I go to bed with her.

For prevention, we have found that a daily supplement of magnesium has helped. She was actually taking it for something else (trying anything to find some help) and she stopped having migraines. Within a month of stopping the supplement she started having migraines again. Back on them and she hasn't had one yet.(Need to find wood!!!)

[Michelle in MO]

They generally happen at a certain time of the month (kwim?) and what I do is take extra calcium, magnesium, and potassium. I don't know if it's just my body chemistry, but I find that boosting up my intake of all three minerals has been very helpful. My migraines haven't been eliminated, but their frequency and intensity has been greatly diminished. I take Citracal (I think!) with calcium and magnesium in it, plus I take extra potassium supplements every day. About a week or two before, I start eating a banana every day, and for about a week or so afterwards (so, I guess in reality I should be eating a banana every day, anyway, right? :) ). Anyway, this has helped me, and hopefully it'll help you.

When I do get a migraine, I take an Imitrex tablet and try to go back to bed. If that doesn't do it, I drink lots of Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer tea. For some reason, that seems to help---I don't know if it's just the name that makes me feel better, or if it really helps, but it seems to.

HTH!

[Lisa in Jax]

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GABA is Gamma-AminoButyric Acid, a neurotransmitter. GABA is a calming neurotransmitter; its opposite is glutamate. Drinking a glass of alcohol increases GABA; drinking coffee increases glutamate. Higher GABA levels are associated with calm, relaxed feelings (though GABA is not what makes you lose inhibitions...) Higher levels of glutamate are associated with anxiety and nervousness. When you've got the jitters from one too many cups of coffee, your glutamate is too high.

GABA/glutamate are on a see-saw: when one is high, the other is low. So, if you take a GABA supplement (available at a health food store), your glutamate levels ought to go down.

There is a theory that links migraines and epilepsy to high glutamate. If this is the case, taking GABA at the onset of symptoms may sidetrack the migraine (or seizure, as the case may be).

In my case, when I took GABA, the auras stopped and the migraine never happened. It may not work for everyone, but it's worth researching, IMO.

Obviously, it's important to check with a pharmacist before taking GABA if you're on any meds that might interact with GABA.

HIH,

Lisa

[Karin]

I've been getting classic migraines for about 40 years, so I commiserate. Mine are rarely very bad anymore because I'm very careful, and I have also had some with no pain (and some with lots of pain).

The Rx I had when in high school was so nasty that I swore off them (that was in the mid-1970s before all these new "wonder" drugs.) I do things as naturally as I can and will list some suggestions and give you a link.

The disorientation is normal. I'm kind of spaced out for 72 hours with a migraine. During a true migraine there is seizure-like activity going on in the brain (but causes no brain damage, thankfully).

Regular sleep is good, neither too much nor too little. I avoid as many triggers as I can, and triggers can vary by person. Relaxation during a migraine is very helpful, although it can be difficult to get with kids around. There are many food triggers, mine include cranberries, which is not a common trigger. Also, certain chemical solvents. My aunt gets them whenever there's a Chinook (she lives in Calgary, AB), and I've had some from weather. I won't list all my triggers, but will include this website: http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/common/common/757.htm

[Laura K (NC)]

I would get them as often as every day, and more recently as little as 4-5 times a month. :thumbup1: Preventatives don't help... I've tried over 40 different prescriptions/hormone supplements/herbals/minerals/homeopathic drugs/chiropractors/biofeedback. Diet helps, but I think I'm just growing out of them hormonally.

I rely heavily on Maxalt and Amerge, and less often on Axert and Zomig (Zomig's nasty). These triptans all work differently. I honestly can't imagine living without them. I get really nervous if I don't have any around.

There's an OTC drug called Percogesic (or Genesec) that does a good job on them, but there's a real danger of rebound headaches with that drug. It makes you sleepy, though, so be careful with that one.

[cin]

Zomig and Imitrex are both good Rx drugs for Migraines. DH and I both get migraines and we've tried homeopathic, herbs, & vitamins, but honestly, these pills kill the headaches for both of us within a couple of hours. Depending on the severity of the headache, and how far it's gone, we have been cloudy afterwards. Some of DH headaches are only manageable with narcotics. If it were me, I'd be down and out, but he is the breadwinner.

[frogpond1]

I am ingesting all the information and it appears quite helpful. I especially feel more relaxed knowing I'm not alone in these symptoms. Thank you.

[Janet in WA]

I rely heavily on Maxalt and Amerge, and less often on Axert and Zomig (Zomig's nasty). These triptans all work differently. I honestly can't imagine living without them. I get really nervous if I don't have any around. I can't imagine living without prescription migraine meds anymore either. They gave me my life back. Without them, I'm out of commission literally half the days of every month.