Finally over a three day migraine

[skygazer]

Started at work on Friday morning. I ended up leaving early, had it ALL DAY on Saturday (my day off), and most of Sunday (I called in sick - I NEVER call in sick). It's finally gone today but I still feel a little hungover.

Migraine's suck. :nuke:

[Oeditpus Rex]

1. Dayum, girl

That blows. :hug:

[skygazer]

3. It's the weather

Something about the air pressure and the heat. Thanks for the hug. I needed that. ;)

[tinfoil tiaras]

2. I HATE migranes

Yes, even at my young age, I've had a few horrible ones. Really bad as in nausea, light headedness and going to bed at like 3:30 in the afternoon with a cold washcloth over your head while being all doped up on Tylonol. BLEH...

Here's a hug for you :hug:

[ikojo]

4. Yes they do. I had one yesterday

Did you know that you can use a provision within FMLA (family medical leave act) when you are forced to call in for a migraine. My doctor had to complete some paperwork which was then reviewed by the HR drones. Since my migraines are well documented my case was approved. Now when I have a migraine at work I can call in and not worry about the absence being counted against me. If I have sick or vacation time available I am paid but it is not counted against me.

I've had migraines in the past couple of months but have not had to miss any work since May!! That means most of my headaches have, unfortunately, been on the weekend which is a bummer.

[skygazer]

5. That's interesting and no, I didn't know it

I very rarely get them since I moved to California but when I lived in Vermont, I got them as many as 3 or 4 times a week because of the humidity. This was the first in several months, I'd say. Still, that's good to know.

I have the utmost compassion for anyone who suffers from migraines. They're almost impossible to describe to someone who hasn't experienced them - so much more than just a "headache." :hug:

[txwhitedove]

6. Migraines suck. Find a way to recognize when one is coming on

so you can take something, relax your body, relax your mind, anything to
keep it from becoming full-blown. I don't have near as many nowdays...

[skygazer]

7. Oh, I'm an expert at recognizing an impending migraine

In fact, I knew I was going to have one Friday morning before I ever went to work and before any aura or anything started. Just by the way I felt - a little fuzzy and strange. I take prescription migraine meds that usually knock it out at the first sign but though it helped at first, the pain came roaring back and by that time, there's not much to be done.

I've had them all my life (I'm 45) and I can't say that I'm used to them (I don't think you ever get used to them) but I do know them pretty intimately. Unfortunately.

[pink-o]

8. Have any of you tried "Feverfew"?

It's an herb and you make a tea to ease migraines. I haven't tried it, but I took Imitrix once and hated the side-effects. I was told that HRT would ease my monthly, peri-menopausal migraines, but I'm reluctant to do that too. I've also had one for three days--it comes in waves, so you think you're over it and it smacks you down full-force a few hours later.

Anyway, I'm glad you feel better. We feel your pain, Grrrl!

[skygazer]

9. I have tried feverfew

I had no luck with it and suspect it's only helpful for people who have less severe migraines. I didn't like Imitrex either and in fact, all the prescription meds I've tried have side affects that make me feel really spacey (and I've tried quite a few).

One thing I have found that helps though is an aromatherapy eye pillow that I found in Santa Cruz. Lavender and several other herbs and it has a silky side and a soft, flannel like side, both of which are comforting. I like to lie in a dark room with that on my eyes and find it does help some.

Here's a link about it -

http://www.spiritdreamsgr.com/spiritdreamsgr-store/dreameyepil.html

[Sanity Claws]

10. You poor dear

:hug:
I get migraines too, and they differ in intensity.
Have you ever tried acupuncture? It really helps. I find that the acupuncture decreases the pain almost immediately and that in a few hours, it's gone.
My acupuncturist also has given me Chinese herbs that have helped.

[skygazer]

11. I would LOVE to try acupuncture

Unfortunately my health insurance doesn't cover it and I can't afford it on my own. Maybe someday...

Thanks for the hug. :hi:

[nosillies]

12. I feel for you. You're right, you never get used to them.

Here's hoping you're completely rid of it.

I'm going to whine now. I've had a pretty damn bad, though not migraine status, headache for three weeks now. I'm pregnant. Last pregnancy, they were bad during, but the ones I had after having the baby kept me in the hospital. And since I'm pregnant, I can't take any really effective medicine! GRRRRR!

[flamingyouth]

13. Yes, they do.

Even the migraine hangovers suck. Glad you feel better, but sorry you had the horrid headache at all. I can sympathize.

[bigwillq]

14. Glad it's finally over!

Hope you are feeling better. :hi: :hug:

[Duer 157099]

15. Migraineures united

They suck, they suck really bad. Glad to hear this one is over for you.

I've tried most of the migraine meds too, and have found that for me, the tried n' true treatment is to take 2 Excedrin PM and get into bed and try to fall asleep immediatelyly. If it works, I usually can sleep through the worst part (mine only last several hours, never multiple days -- can't even imagine living through days of a migraine).

It's worth noting that the various meds work differently, and should be taken accordingly. Some have to be taken as soon as the aura hits but before the pain, and others must be taken AFTER the aura, and after the pain has begun. I learned this after I gave up trying the various meds.

Have any of you noticed this: after a migraine, I am ravenously hungry, like starving! It's like there's some connection with the appetite center of the brain somehow. Do any of you have this effect?

Oliver Sacks has a migraine book that has drawings/paintings of people's "auras" -- I was astounded when I saw this book, to learn that other people were seeing the same thing I did! It's so hard to explain to people that don't get them.

[skygazer]

19. I have noticed the hunger thing

I tend to eat during the migraine because it seems like having something in my stomach helps with the nausea but definitely after it's over, I'm famished.

I'll have to check out that book - interesting. It IS hard to explain - there are times when I wonder if it's really a migraine or if I'm having a stroke. It's so intense.

[Duer 157099]

21. aura images

http://www.kopzorgen.nl/nieuws/auras.html

::shudder:: this one (below), taken from the link above, is close to what I experience. Even just looking at these pictures is uncomfortable for me.



edit to add another very horrible link: (caution!)

http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/amigraineaura.html

[spinbaby]

16. I've had good luck with a calcium channel blocker

You have to take it every day but it seems to do a pretty good job at preventing migraines. The thing is though, this time of year when the weather contributes to migraines, I get sort of a semi-migraine. I get really hungry and gain about five pounds of water weight like I always used to do right before migraines. Then I pee a lot like I used to do right after migraines. But the actual headache and aura doesn't happen. I think the basic mechanism is still there but interrupted, if that makes sense.

[grannylib]

17. Oh you poor thing...I can totally empathize. Been a while since I had a

more-than-two-dayer, but they're hell, aren't they??

Most of the time Imitrex works pretty well for me, unless I am so nauseated that I puke it right up...I really have to get the injectible kind for those days.

Actually had the dry heaves so long and so hard once that my boss threatened to call the cops on my good hubby since it looked as though I had been beaten, I broke so many blood vessels around my mouth and nose...

What do you normally take for them (if anything)?
I do find that the reuseable ice packs (the kind in the blue cloth wrappers, get 'em at almost any pharmacy) really help a LOT, since mine tend to be mostly over one eye, almost always the left one.
Have you tried any herbal remedies, or chiropractic??

Hope you will feel ALL better SOON! Migraines do indeed suck ass.

[skygazer]

20. Right now, I'm taking Frova

Normally, it seems to work quite well if I take it right at the onset. I never had any luck with Imitrex - didn't work at all for me. I've tried -

Feverfew
Caffergot
Ergot
Imitrex
Zomig

and now the Frova

There have been times I've had to go to the ER where I've been given a shot of Phenergan (for the nausea) and Stadol (for the pain). It knocks me out so fast I have to have someone else drive me - within ten minutes, I'm out. But it works.

I also take a blood pressure pill daily which seems to help prevent them. I've always found warm works better on my migraines than cold. Cold seems to make it worse for me.

It's always a comfort to talk to other migrane sufferers because there really is nothing quite like it.

[grannylib]

26. I had never heard of warm vs cold being helpful, but I am glad you found

that out for your migraines!
I used to take high BP meds as well, for prevetive purposes, but they were not effective.
I am going to try chiropractic, 'cos I need it anyway for a pinched nerve in my back, so I am hoping that might help.

Hope you are feeling MUCH better today.

[undeterred]

18. Yup.

:hug:

[Duer 157099]

22. Oh boy! Something more to worry about!

I have never heard about this before!

http://www.neurocast.com/site/content/sessions_12_2003.asp

"Migraine with aura is a common condition that frequently co-occurs with a small vessel disease called cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). Due to the high prevalence of migraine, CADASIL is often overlooked as a potential cause and may therefore not be diagnosed until the first stroke, a symptom more commonly associated with CADASIL.1 As the disease becomes better understood, migraine with aura is proving to be a common early manifestation of disease in CADASIL patients.1,2,3 Thorough evaluation of patients experiencing migraine with aura, including family history of headache, atypical prolonged aura or MRI white matter abnormalities may indicate when it is necessary to consider CADASIL."

(snip)

"CADASIL is an uncommon, but underdiagnosed, inherited small vessel disease caused by mutations in the Notch3 gene characterized by small artery strokes and vascular dementia.2,9 Migraine with aura is a remarkably common early manifestation of CADASIL, reported in 38% to 60% of affected individuals.1,10,11 In CADASIL patients, migraine with aura is often the first symptom and is expressed at a mean age of 25 years.1,2 CADASIL is further characterized by white matter abnormalities on a brain MRI (during the second through fourth decade), ischemic attacks (in the fifth decade), subcortical dementia (in the sixth decade) and other neurological features including pseudobulbar palsy, gait disturbance, and pyramidal signs.2,12 While disease presentation in CADASIL patients is highly variable, all patients, regardless of symptoms, have white matter abnormalities on MRI by age 35. These MRI typically show diffuse T2 hyperintensities of the cerebral white matter with hyperintensity of the temporal pole but no other temporal lobe involvement.2 Subtle hyperintensities have even been seen in individuals in their early twenties."

*************
More at link. Just what I need, something else to ask my doctor about so he can roll his eyes at me....

[NMMNG]

23. I feel for you

Status migrainous bites. x(

[BlueIris]

24. Relpax.

Saved my life once; next to no SEs. Great stuff.

[emmajane67]

25. I can totally sympathise.

They are awful.
I got imigrin injections I could give myself when I got one, worked a lot better than pills and less expensive/embarrasing than crawling into the emergency doctor to shot full of painkillers.
I would have the shot, lie down for about an hour and a half (cos the feeling of the drug working is horrible) and hey presto, all better, with the slightly euphoric post-migraine feeling.