MIGRAINE HEADACHES! ARGHHHHHHHH!

[Deja Q]

More like "Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!" since I'm a big baby... :crazy:

Can someone help me make my headache go away and feel better?

[Shine]

1. Lavender essential oil rubbed on the temples does wonders.

try it sometime.

Hang in there.
:hug:

[undeterred]

2. There a lots of good meds available

but nothing over the counter really works for migraines- I use Imitrex that is prescribed by a neurologist.

[jhain]

6. to further confuse

Excedrin Migraine can be a miracle.
worth a try- best results if used at the very beginning...any caffeinne in a pinch...

Migraines SUCK-

I hope yours is short lived.

I will happily add that a good homepathic practioner can make a tremendous difference- do it.

[alarimer]

8. Interestingly, Excedrin Migraine is exactly the same

as extra-strength Excedrin, just relabeled. Same ingredients, same price.

[elehhhhna]

3. Bag of frozen veggies, wrapped in a damp dishtowel, works wonders.

Corn niblets, especially.

[skygazer]

4. Well, being on the computer won't help, I'm afraid

Lie down in a dark room, put something over your eyes, curl up in a ball and whimper softly.

[pdxbecca]

5. I feel for you

I get bad migraines myself, I just had one the other day and none of the migraine meds work for me. I can't even look at a computer or t.v. or anything when I have one, I don't know how you do it. My only solution is to lie down in a dark room. Hope your headache goes away soon!

[fight4my3sons]

7. I feel for you too. I had them for over a year before finding

something that worked. My neurologist prescribed Topamax and it has worked great for me. The only side effect I get is numbness in my fingers and toes. I can't take anything that has side effect of stroke due to a blood clotting disorder, so I was limited in my choices.

Hope your migraines go away soon.

[flamingyouth]

9. I just saw a headache specialist yesterday.

She started me on Topamax and Maxalt. I've tried everything else up to this point, believe me. She's also sending me for biofeedback, but I can't get in for two weeks. Headaches suck. :(

[REP]

15. Topomax Rules

I take Elavil and Topomax to keep mine down (from 2-3/week to 1-2/month) and throw handfuls of Fiorinal at them when I feel one coming on (which they do, about every 28 days - have to wait for menopause to wipe that bit out!).

[Redstone]

18. They still make Fiorinal? Haven't heard of that in years...

Watch the Topamax. I tried that for nerve-damage pain, and it had some NASTY side effects. And do not have even ONE drink of alcohol while you're taking it.

Redstone

[REP]

21. My Tolerance is Very, Very High

Plus my dose isn't that high (50mg). I do not react the way most people do to many drugs; I have to take the Topomax when I wake up as it keeps me awake; most people it makes sleepy. I have a lot of nerve damage (C6&7, ulnar neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, etc), and the Topomax hasn't helped that a bit, but maybe it's because I take such a small dose. I was a consecutive stone-former before I started the Topomax, and I don't think it's possible to form any more kidney stones than I did already (every 30-45 days).

Yes, they still make Fiorinal. My kidneys are failing, so I can't take any NSAIDs, but narcotics are cool.

[Redstone]

25. Narcotics are a lifesaver, if used right.

Meaning to a schedule, with periodic breaks to reset the "tolerance clock."

And I mean lifesaver in the very literal sense. They've kept me away from the bridge.

Redstone

[REP]

26. You Mean I Should Stop Rubbing Them In My Hair?

Crap! I wish someone had told me this earlier.

[flamingyouth]

29. That's good to hear.

I'm glad you've gotten some relief and hope I will too. I've been getting 2-3 a week on top of my ever-present tension headache. And yeah, I hear you about the hormones... :pals:

[IcyPeas]

10. Vitamin B 2

There's been studies that this vitamin helps to ease the duration of migraines. (sorry don't have a link, but if you google "migraine and vitamin B" you'll see a lot of info.) Try it, there's no harm in it.

I also second Excedrin Migraine - usually makes them go away and stay away.

feel better!

[Mz Pip]

11. Here's what I do

and it worked well for years:

4 Ibuprophen and 10 mgs of Valium.

Then I went into anaphylactic shock with aspirin so I can't take the ibuprophen anymore - no more NSAIDs ever again.

So the last migraine I go I tried Tylenol with the valium. NOt as good as the ibuprophen but good enough.

Good luck with migraines I've had them for over 40 years. There are drugs out there like Imetrex but the side effects scare me away.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[pdxbecca]

13. I suffered for 40 years too.

I have heard about the vit B2, that is what I am trying next. The B2 was not easy to find either. I took Topamax last winter and didn't drink enough water so ended up with kidney stones. It also made me feel like my mind was turning to mush and I was very emotional on it. It didn't help the migraines either but I know some people have good luck with it. I'm feeling doubtful that I will ever find a drug that works.

[Mz Pip]

14. I remember the

cluster headaches I got in high school. I thought I'd go insane but fortunately they went away. I was just left with occasional (maybe 6 times a year) migraines.

One of my friends took Imitrex and had a heart valve rupture.Whoopee. Of course the Drs said there was no correlation but she had no history of heart problems. Read the insert, geez it's all about heart related shit. I won't touch that stuff.

I find that most of my migraines seem to be triggered by stress so the valium seems to work very well. I shut the blinds, use an ice pack and ultimately go to sleep. I may way up a bit fuzzy headed but at least the pain is gone.

I doubt I'll ever be completely rid of the beasts.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Redstone]

20. But don't overdo the Tylenol, please.

Liver damage and death from an overdose of that stuff. Current guideline is no more that 4000 mg per day, and even that seems too much to me. I'd be safe and cap it at 2000 mg/day.

Redstone

[miss_american_pie]

12. Massive amounts of caffeine, advil, and a dark room

I hope you feel better soon.

[KitchenWitch]

16. I get both migraines and cluster headaches

I will try the lavendar oil, since nothing else seems to work.

[Redstone]

17. Are sure they're not cluster headaches?

They're more common to men than migraines are.

But no kind of headache is fun. Try the advice others have offered in this thread. Can't hurt.

Redstone

[purr]

19. When I was getting optical migranes my doc gave me Frova.

Worked INSTANTLY. Ask your doc bout it.

[Patiod]

31. Frova is also good for menstrual migraines

although that's not the OP's issue, I don't think...

[purr]

33. LOL I dont think so :)

[hopein08]

22. York Peppermint Patties & Coca-Cola...

the sugar and the caffeine will help. I had a HORRIBLE migraine once and my mom got me a bag of peppermint patties (which I ate most of) and then told me to drink some Coca-Cola. It really does work.

You can also (to go with the other suggestions of frozen veggie bags and things like that) run your wrists under cold water or put freezer stuff on them, your blood vessels are so close to the skin there that the coldness will cool your blood and ease the migraine.

Hope you feel better soon!!!!!

[AngryAmish]

23. I can offer no advice

I had 2 about 12 years ago (about the same time I had some siezures). Peace and good thoughts are all I can offer. Good luck.

[Jamastiene]

24. No big baby, migraines are cruel and unusual punishment,. For what?

I don't know. I get them too. It's not good to feel like you are a big baby over it. If you have lived through at least one full fledged true migraine in your lifetime, you are definitely an adult after that. The ONLY "cure" I have found is a good toilet hugging session followed by Eckerd Brand PM medicine and bed rest. Also, although most medical types will tell you not to do it, I use a heating pad on my forehead right over my left eye where the little fucker always shows up.

[Spider Jerusalem]

27. THC is the only thing I ever found that worked.

Not even opiates would put a dent in my migraines, but a few tokes made them evaporate. And I can understand why you'd want to cry; hen I'd get them (haven't had one in years) I had to lie in a dark room with a pillow over my head to blot out all sound. Agony is too mild a word for it.

[emmajane67]

30. I found the same...

well, it doesn't make them go away but relaxes me enough to possibly sleep it off.
If not, a nice trip to the doctor and a couple of shots in the bum (imagrin and pethadine) and you'll be right in no time.

[NMMNG]

28. I've run the gambit with mine

What didn't work? Prophylactics Prozac, Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Atenelol, Zoloft.
Abortives Phrenelin Forte, Fioricet.

What works to some extent? Prophylactics Topamax and Verapamil.
Abortives Imitrex/ Amerge/Relpax in combination with Ibuprofen
Rescue Med Vicodin.
Adjunct therapies Chiropractic, ice, lavender and peppermint essential oils to the temples, massage


I have yet to come upon the exact group of meds/therapies that will control my migraines, and instead merely reduce them with my current ones.


Your best bet is to work with your doctor/neurologist to find what works for you. I've been working on it for over 20 years and still don't have the perfect thing.

[Patiod]

32. I interview doctors for a living

and one of the products I work on is for migraines.

Buffy knows what she's talking about - everyone's ideal therapy is different -- docs tell me that a drug that basically sucks for 9/10 people will work wonders on person #10, who has tried everything else.

Many of the docs who sign up to talk to me have migraines themselves (those who are interested in the topic are more likely to agree to be interviewed), and it's the same thing: they juggle meds (they give out a LOT of samples) until they hit on the right combination of propyylactic therapy (if you're getting them more than once a month), abortive therapy, resucue meds and adjunct (I think melatonin is the latest craze).

IMPORTANT ADVICE: Whatever you hit on, take it the MOMENT you think you MIGHT feel a headache coming on. Good research has proven that any type of pain meds work best when used before the pain has had a chance to settle in. The problem is that a lot of HMOs limit the number of pills you're allowed in a given month, so people hoarde them, and are reluctant to use until they're sure this is going to be a Big One. Big mistake, because you may end up taking more medicine because you waiting.