I just survived a 19 hour migraine ....

[hippiechick]

This has to be my record.

16 Excedrin Migraine, 6 Advil, 4 Contact Cold n Flu pills ...
3 cold showers and a couple sporadic scalp massages.

ARGHHHH ! I wanted to tear my ears off.

I used to take Feverfew daily, but can't find it on the market anymore. Imitrex makes the symptoms more intense but the overall duration is shorter, and vicodin makes me puke.

Anyone else get 'em ? Whaddya take ? Does it help ?

[benburch]

1. You need to take LOTS of Magnesium Chloride.

Trade name SLO-MAG

Take six per day, every day, and very likely you will never have another migraine.

This was what my doctor (who is very non-traditional) told me to do years ago, and it worked!

[KaliTracy]

23. that's a lot of Magnesium Chloride! I suffer "phantom smells" that were

diagnosed as migranes (never with the pain *knocking on wood*) -- and self medicate with 250 miligrams a day after a health care professional told me about Magesium. I used the net to research, and found that for those Suffering during a migrane were getting IV treatments of Magnesium, but that there weren't many recommendations for a daily dose.

Interesting side item, is that I was Extrememly low energy prior to taking it, (and had been for some time) -- and within 2 weeks felt like me "old self" PRIOR to pregnancy (which had been 3 years earlier.


I still get the phantom smells, (mostly cyclical or in times of high stress) -- but not as intense as in the beginning -- are there any studies out there you know about where I could find recommnded dosages? And is Magnesium Chloride different than a regular magnesium suppliment?

[benburch]

27. Well, my doctor told me to take six, which is 2X the MRA of Mg

MgCl is a salt which is absorbed in the intestine. Virtually ALL of it is bio-available.

Magnesium Carbonate, however, is so tightly bound that the stomach acid can only liberate a tiny percentage of it. Most of it passes unchanged through the body.

[benburch]

28. Oh, and he said I should take a dozen if I have a migraine.

He says that women in labor are given 40 or 50 times that IV and it is perfectly safe for mom and child, so I shouldn't worry about taking the oral MgCl. He also used to give me IVs if I was having a migraine series. But since I started taking it daily, about 15 years ago, I have had less than a half-dozen migraines, and only one bad one.

[KaliTracy]

29. yeah, i was given Magnesium Sulfate when they gave me my

C section 'cause I had high blood pressure (luckily I was due). It is supposed to keep you from having seizures. It made me sicker than a dog though (the dosage is much higher). That's why I really tried to research it before I started it. Made me loopy too.

I hadn't thought of trying a double dose the week before my period. I'll try it next month. I was on Naproxin for that week before, but, as that and Aleve are about the same, I take Aleve when needed -- not all week long.

[benburch]

30. Let me know how it works for you! nt

[KaliTracy]

32. will do... *smile* n/t

[auntAgonist]

2. I used to get BAD migraine headaches

My Dr prescribed Topamax. An anti-seizure med. 1 before bed every night and the frequency and severity of the migraine has been greatly reduced.
Now I get one about once every 6 weeks or so, I can live with that, and a couple of extra strenght tylenol will take the edge off.

good luck, glad the headache is gone.

aA

[liberalitch]

3. Aaahhh, the dark rooms, the cold compresses...

and if they get bad enough... the dry heaves.
People who don't get them may not understand..... like men and PMS.

Luckily vicodin doesn't make me puke......
Most of the time I do yoga and take a sleeping pill....try to sleep it off

[mike_c]

4. Maxalt is my life saver....

Works great for me, zero side effects. 10 mg when I feel a headache starting and it just goes away in all but a VERY few instances. I suffered for YEARS until one day I went to the doctor during day 3 of a killer migraine. I've had them all my life, but stopped doing anything about them years ago because I didn't want to take narcotic pain meds-- Maxalt changed everything.

[bertha katzenengel]

11. That's what Mrs. V. takes. Sometimes it takes two of 'em, but they

work, by god. Do you use the little melty tabs?

[mike_c]

26. I've used both, but usually the plain tablets....

Best thing since vitamin I.

[elehhhhna]

5. fioricet w/ codeine (or without) and a bag of frozen corn on my head.

Try both. Ask Dr. about fiorinal--if you can't handle codeine, they make it without it as well.

[Zuni]

6. I had viral meningitis (a potentially fatal headache!)

it was like several days of headaches more intense than any migraines as my brain actually swelled up in my skull. The pain was practically blinding. I could barely move. It was agony so intense the hospital fed me morphine drips

[Parrcrow]

7. I get migraines too.

Nothing has ever worked very well. A dark room and cold compress supplimented by lots and lots of Advil or Extra Strength Tylenol seems to be the only treatment that works for me. And it doesn't work that well.

Well, I'm glad that this one is over for you hippiechick. I imagine that you are feeling a little shaky right now. I would suggest that you not spend a lot of time on the computer today.

I hope that the next one never happens.:-)

[BuddhaGirl]

8. try butterbur!

I have had pretty good success with the herb butterbur. I take one made by Enzymatic Therapy, a very reputable supplement company. Their product name is "Petadolex." You can order it from their website, I believe. I think you can also read about medical studies of butterbur on their site as well.

http://www.enzy.com/


The recommendation is to take it everyday, until you've gone through three bottles. Supposedly it has eliminated migraine attacks in some people.

I am on my third bottle and I haven't had another migraine, thank god.

Unfortunately, Excedrin, Advil, and the like can wreak havoc on one's liver!

[Susang]

9. Topamax

50mg when I get up, 50mg before I go to bed. Not a perfect solution, as there are side effects, but the migraines are fewer and of much shorter duration.

[zann725]

35. My neurologist just prescribed Topamax too. Haven't taken it yet.

She also suggests Relpax?

Migraines are awful though. Poor thing.

Then there are also the days directly before one, or after one...when I can't seem to focus or coordinate anything. I didn't correlate until recently these days to the painful Migraine days, but my doc says the two are connected, and one is a prelude to the other.

[livetohike]

10. Imitrex

I'm sorry you have a bad reaction to it. In 20 minutes, I am totally better - nausea is gone, head pain is gone. I do the injectable Imitrex. It has been a lifesaver for me. I used to end up in the E.R. for every migraine before Imitrex came on the market.

Tuinal, demerol and Phenergan.....glad those days are over.

[bertha katzenengel]

12. hippiechick

:hug: I'm so sorry!

Mrs. V. takes Maxalt. I use Fioricet for my bad headaches but thankfully have not had a full-blown migraine for many years.

Best wishes to you. :hug:

[Arianrhod]

15. "Cat Angel"?

Cool. :)

[bertha katzenengel]

16. I'm a little stuck-up about it maybe...

love/rescue cats, love the Angels (baseball)

:hi: Arianrhod.

[Arianrhod]

39. I like cats, too.

But I haven't followed sports for years. My sister's an Angels fan, though.

[bertha katzenengel]

45. Your sister's good people.

;) Be well.

[legally blonde]

13. Imitrex works okay for me

During the school year, I usually get a migraine every week, and Imitrex usually works. But, you have to catch the migraine early or it probably won't help much. I've also recently started taking magnesium supplements (in addition to my regular multi-vitamin), which seems to help decrease the severity and duration.

I hope that you are feeling better, hippiechick. :hug:

[Arianrhod]

14. I empathize. :(

I get migraines infrequently, maybe once every 6 months or so. They're distinguished from "normal" headaches by bright yellow spheres of light that block the center of my vision and make it impossible to see or move or act. In fact, I had one 2 days ago.

I have no cure for them. I take 2-6 Bayer 500 mg aspirin, along with 1-2 Claritin-D 24s, set myself into a Zen meditative mode, and just ride them out.

[Nikia]

17. That sounds horrible

I'd go see your doctor again. Being in that much pain and having to take that much medicine to find relief, which I am guessing wasn't near complete sounds horrible. I hope that you can find something that works.

[hippiechick]

18. Thanks for the suggestions everyone !

I've bookmarked this so when I'm on steadier ground I can give the info to my doc.

And yeah, I'm shaky ... feel real ... 'hollow' like it took all my energy to fight this one off. Am going to have some Gatorade and try to get some sleep.


:grouphug:

[Sgent]

19. My personal favorite

is Mepregan Forte. Its a caplet which mixes oral Demerol and Phenergan. Eliminates pain, nausea, and knocks me out for about 6 hours (phenergan does that to almost everyone).

Demerol can be kinda iffy -- it has mixed strength when taken orally (affects ppl based on digestion). That being said, the doctor could also try a hydrocodone and give you a sepearate script for phenergan.

Finally, even if your throwing up, phenergan is available as a suppository, or at a compounding pharmacist as a gel you rub on the inside of your wrist.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Sweetie, next time one comes on, please get your blood pressure

checked. My migraines were earsplitting until it was found I have high blood pressure with sporadic spikes, inducing the bad migraine. I put cold packs right on my occipital bone and it helps. Glad you are better. :hug:

None of the meds worked for me.

[shanti]

31. you're right

my boss had bad migraines and never checked his blood pressure. when he finally did, come to find he had HBP and now he's on meds. he has had no more migraines.

[undeterred]

21. Go to a neurologist!

There's lots of options. I've had them for 25 years and I am on daily meds to reduce the frequency, but I have Imitrex to take if I feel one coming on.

When I had no insurance I suffered for days- but the one OTC drug that worked the best is ALEVE. Take 3 as soon as you feel it coming. I haven't had much luck with the natural remedies.

Also, I have frozen vegetables in the freezer that are for headaches only. Snow peas conform nicely to the head...
Edit: Lay your head on the bag, don't eat them!

[elehhhhna]

24. I prefer corn, since the day I melted a spinach bag on my noggin

and awoke to a green stain on my face.

Note: Wrap the bag in a damp washcloth--conducts the cold & VOILA! No labels or veggie-cooking directions on your head!

[KG]

22. sorry.

hope you're feeling better soon.

[gkhouston]

25. Topamax for prevention, Maxalt and Phenergan

when the "prevention" doesn't work. :-( It's worth taking the preventive, though; I've gone from having six 3-4 day headaches per month to having 1 or 2. (Yes, they still last 3 days -- the Maxalt only kills 'em for about 18 hours.)

[BamaGirl]

33. I take Motrin, Midrin or Maxalt

I'm allergic to aspirin, so Excedrin is definitely out lol. I'm also allergic to Imitrex and Celebrex, and I won't dare try any of those "ex" drugs anymore lol. Glad you're feeling better. Migraines suck.

[China_cat]

34. My record is 2 weeks

Ended up hospitalized.

I know it might not help much, but they've dropped to 2 or 3 a year now that I'm no longer having periods and the duration (which used to average 2-4 days) has dropped to about 18 hours.

Nothing ever helped them. Sorry.

[warrens]

36. Try a BIG cup of HOT BLACK coffee

It's the only thing that helps me. I take a couple of Aleve, then rapidly sip the coffee. Within a couple of minutes, the pain recedes enough that I have a fighting chance at getting to sleep. Over the years, I've learned to sort of hypnotize myself and it's like time stops. Eventually, I fall asleep, which is the only thing that really helps.

[ofrfxsk]

37. Do you have any warning signs?

I have had a couple like you've described every year for the past 25 years. Almost every one starts as a twinge of pain over my left eye. If I can take enough aspirin before it gets horrible it usually wards the migraine off. I'll have a massive headache then but it isn't the flashing light, nausea inducing migraine and it ends much quicker. Also, drink lots of water.

[BlueIris]

38. Relpax is the best migraine med I've ever tried.

I hate giving out random "advice" to people with issues I can't, as a non-MD, fully, appropriately understand, but for my migraine type, IT WAS THE BEST HELP EVER. Apparently, (talk to your provider) it isn't for everyone. I feel so bad for the people who can't use it, because it saved my life. I don't have chronic migraine, but if one of my "triggers" gives me one, and I don't get either Imitrex or Maxalt in time, I'm screwed. Neither one of those drugs will fully take my pain and nausia away if I take them after the second phase of my migraine starts. Fortunately, at this point, the only thing that will assuredly trigger a migraine for me is forgetting my 3-5 cups of morning coffee. I was forced to do that on vacation a couple of weeks ago (before that, I hadn't done it in two years because I'm familiar with how that fucks me over) and by five p.m. I was in phase two of a hideous migraine (nausia/sensitivity to light and sound/the beginnings of abominable pain). I managed to get ahold of some Relpax and within about ten minutes, the symptoms were almost GONE. They didn't return, and when I had the beginnings of a bounceback forty-eight hours later, (yes, caffeine withdrawal will screw me THAT bad) I took the Relpax tablet before the migraine really formed and I was saved. No side-effects that I could detect, not even the wooziness I've had with the pain relief provided to me by Imitrex and Maxalt. Good stuff.

[NMMNG]

40. 19 hours?

My record is just over 10 days.

I use a slew of things including Topamax and Verapamil as preventives, Imitrex and Amerge as abortives, Vicodin as a rescue med, chiropractic, Ibuprofen, magnesium, ice therapy, massage and exercise.

[Robeson]

41. Been there, feel for you...

...I've also had the accompanying vomitting to go along with all the rest of the fun. NOT a good time.

[Skittles]

42. I feel very bad for you people

I did some grocery shopping and other errands for a friend of mine during his 12th hour of a migraine - I wish I could have done more but he had to do the dark room thing.

[REP]

43. Mine Last 72-96 Hours

I take amitryptiline and Topomax to prevent them; when that fails, I try, in this order:

Excederin with pseudoephedrine
Fiorinal
Maxalt
Imitrex Stat Dose (home injection)

Since starting the Topomax, I hardly ever get them (1 or 2 a month from 2 -3 per week).

[bleedingheart]

44. wow that sounds awful, I am glad your okay now

my neighbor got such frequent migraines that she ended up having to self inject some drug to make them go away faster.