Discussion
Anyone else suffer with thease and what do you take?
I have had them for about 10 years and initially they were very bad but very infrequent, maybe one a year.
Since having kids they have become more frequent maybe one every 4-6 weeks and are manageble with Sumatriptan and Solpodol pain killers.
However at the weekend I had a massive one that two Sumatriptan didnt touch and ended up in hospital with voltorol and a tramadol injection.
What do other people use and does anyone else not really understand the triggers and not recognise when one is going to start untill its almost too late?
I have had them for about 10 years and initially they were very bad but very infrequent, maybe one a year.
Since having kids they have become more frequent maybe one every 4-6 weeks and are manageble with Sumatriptan and Solpodol pain killers.
However at the weekend I had a massive one that two Sumatriptan didnt touch and ended up in hospital with voltorol and a tramadol injection.
What do other people use and does anyone else not really understand the triggers and not recognise when one is going to start untill its almost too late?
Doesn't sound fun!
Mine haven't ever been bad enough to need a trip to A & E but I know how little fun they are
I guess to a degree that people have different triggers, symptoms and thus cures (of a fashion) so it can be hard to come up with a cure all. Mine get triggered by a combination of lack of sleep & any form of alcohol - even a couple of tinnies (although as you can guess, people I know take great fun in mocking them as soft lad hangovers).
I don't get any actual warning as such (dunno if that limits the effectiveness of traditional migraine tablets
), I just wake up & within about a couple of minutes I know I have one, can't focus properly and then throw up. I then spend the next few hours chucking chunks every 10-15 mins, no matter what I do. Can't keep anything down (even water) so this goes on until I bring up bile and occasionally blood (
), but once I can manage to take something, I take Alka Seltzer and then some form of co-whateveramol painkillers, which in combination are enough to stop the hurling and get me to the heady heights of just feeling s
t for the rest of the day.
The advice of the medics on this kind of things doesn't strike me as being all that great. When I went, I was given a choice of beta blockers or the temporary alternative (that I took), which was anti nausea pills (more fun for others - morning sickness pills!). These at least stop the hurling a bit quicker so that I can get something useful down my neck.
I suppose the only thing is that they seem to be periodic of sorts. I haven't had a proper one for a while, for no apparent reason, and my old man, who used to get your kind of nasties, hasn't had one for ages, no real idea why in either case.
In your case, the interesting bit is the influence of the kids and whether it is coincidental or not. Unless you are inadvertently hitting your trigger more often (whatever it is) then are you having a bit of what I have - i.e. are the kids meaning you have less sleep and are more susceptible in a similar way to me, just a different additional trigger and different symptoms???
Mine haven't ever been bad enough to need a trip to A & E but I know how little fun they are
I guess to a degree that people have different triggers, symptoms and thus cures (of a fashion) so it can be hard to come up with a cure all. Mine get triggered by a combination of lack of sleep & any form of alcohol - even a couple of tinnies (although as you can guess, people I know take great fun in mocking them as soft lad hangovers).
I don't get any actual warning as such (dunno if that limits the effectiveness of traditional migraine tablets
), I just wake up & within about a couple of minutes I know I have one, can't focus properly and then throw up. I then spend the next few hours chucking chunks every 10-15 mins, no matter what I do. Can't keep anything down (even water) so this goes on until I bring up bile and occasionally blood (), but once I can manage to take something, I take Alka Seltzer and then some form of co-whateveramol painkillers, which in combination are enough to stop the hurling and get me to the heady heights of just feeling st for the rest of the day.The advice of the medics on this kind of things doesn't strike me as being all that great. When I went, I was given a choice of beta blockers or the temporary alternative (that I took), which was anti nausea pills (more fun for others - morning sickness pills!). These at least stop the hurling a bit quicker so that I can get something useful down my neck.
I suppose the only thing is that they seem to be periodic of sorts. I haven't had a proper one for a while, for no apparent reason, and my old man, who used to get your kind of nasties, hasn't had one for ages, no real idea why in either case.
In your case, the interesting bit is the influence of the kids and whether it is coincidental or not. Unless you are inadvertently hitting your trigger more often (whatever it is) then are you having a bit of what I have - i.e. are the kids meaning you have less sleep and are more susceptible in a similar way to me, just a different additional trigger and different symptoms???
I used to get a bad migraine once every 2 to 3 weeks, stopped me having a life, lasted several days.
Now I get one every 6-8 weeks and it's not very bad, manageable. Did that by taking Epilim chrono 300, time release Epilim usually given to Epiliptics. Dr had to have the prescription OK'd by a Neurologist as it's not licensed for migraine but works wonders. No side effects for me either, take 2 x 300 each day.
If I do feel a migraine coming on I take Syndol (over the counter at a pharmacy), has a muscle relaxant and codeine as well as paracetamol and 1 or 2 of these usually stops it. If not I take a Zomig tablet, these come in packs of 6 and it will get rid of almost anything. Only side effect is over sensitivity to heat so for example washing hands in warm water is unpleasant for a few hours (so use cold !
) but together with the Syndol, they work brilliantly. (1 Zomig and 3 syndol = sleep for a couple of hours and wake up feeling good, headache gone, even the bad ones usually)
Only once in the last 6 months have I had to go to bed with a migraine - previously I'd be spending a couple of days a fortnight in bed or at the very least laying on the sofa.
Zomig is here http://www.zomig.com/ I believe they are pretty expensive, something like £40 a box of 6 so prescription at £7.20 is good value !
Edit to add triggers for me were lots of mchocolate and stress, too much sugar, perhaps poor diet and stress. The Epilim has stopped them being triggers now, I can eat most things and cope with stress and only occassionaly get a migraine.
See if you can get Epilim, takes 3 months to start having effect but that's what made the biggest difference for me.
Now I get one every 6-8 weeks and it's not very bad, manageable. Did that by taking Epilim chrono 300, time release Epilim usually given to Epiliptics. Dr had to have the prescription OK'd by a Neurologist as it's not licensed for migraine but works wonders. No side effects for me either, take 2 x 300 each day.
If I do feel a migraine coming on I take Syndol (over the counter at a pharmacy), has a muscle relaxant and codeine as well as paracetamol and 1 or 2 of these usually stops it. If not I take a Zomig tablet, these come in packs of 6 and it will get rid of almost anything. Only side effect is over sensitivity to heat so for example washing hands in warm water is unpleasant for a few hours (so use cold !
) but together with the Syndol, they work brilliantly. (1 Zomig and 3 syndol = sleep for a couple of hours and wake up feeling good, headache gone, even the bad ones usually)Only once in the last 6 months have I had to go to bed with a migraine - previously I'd be spending a couple of days a fortnight in bed or at the very least laying on the sofa.
Zomig is here http://www.zomig.com/ I believe they are pretty expensive, something like £40 a box of 6 so prescription at £7.20 is good value !
Edit to add triggers for me were lots of mchocolate and stress, too much sugar, perhaps poor diet and stress. The Epilim has stopped them being triggers now, I can eat most things and cope with stress and only occassionaly get a migraine.
See if you can get Epilim, takes 3 months to start having effect but that's what made the biggest difference for me.
Edited by Busa_Rush on Saturday 4th July 21:54
I've had migraines for 15 years. I have 3 consultants, one where I live in Blackburn, one in Hull and I'm also under the Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. In other words, I have chronic migraines!
I keep a migraine diary in spreadsheet form, which shows a headache score each day from 1-10 for pain level, what medication I have taken that day if any and I also mark down each day I am on my period. I recommend this method and make sure you keep the diary up to date (especially women) as it may become obvious that your migraines are hormonally related.
Also, it is VERY important that you DO NOT take any painkillers / triptan drugs on more than 2 days a week as this will result in rebound headaches and you will very quickly slip into a downwards spiral of almost constant headaches / migraines.
If you are not under a consultant neurologist already ask your GP to refer you. There are loads of preventatives to try (most of which I have and am still fiddling about trying to find what's best). Epilim didn't work for me. I'm on Topamax at the moment which is another drug used for epilepsy. There are also loads of triptan drugs (most of which I have tried). I'm on Zomig at the moment which sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. There are also anti-sickness drugs such as Domperidone or Buccastem which can be useful.
Keep on at your GP / consultant. Too many days are lost in too much pain and throwing up to bearly cope with, so don't give up trying to find something that works for you.
Good luck.
I keep a migraine diary in spreadsheet form, which shows a headache score each day from 1-10 for pain level, what medication I have taken that day if any and I also mark down each day I am on my period. I recommend this method and make sure you keep the diary up to date (especially women) as it may become obvious that your migraines are hormonally related.
Also, it is VERY important that you DO NOT take any painkillers / triptan drugs on more than 2 days a week as this will result in rebound headaches and you will very quickly slip into a downwards spiral of almost constant headaches / migraines.
If you are not under a consultant neurologist already ask your GP to refer you. There are loads of preventatives to try (most of which I have and am still fiddling about trying to find what's best). Epilim didn't work for me. I'm on Topamax at the moment which is another drug used for epilepsy. There are also loads of triptan drugs (most of which I have tried). I'm on Zomig at the moment which sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. There are also anti-sickness drugs such as Domperidone or Buccastem which can be useful.
Keep on at your GP / consultant. Too many days are lost in too much pain and throwing up to bearly cope with, so don't give up trying to find something that works for you.
Good luck.
I get them about once every two months, they usually start on a saturday morning and finish on a monday morning, and they screw up my weekend and although I am not in that much pain, they make you feel extremely drowsy and generally unwell, no tablets work.
I also get a painful one which lasts about 5 hours average, no warning, no painkillers touch it, I just go to bed and groan, moan, toss, turn etc. til I fall asleep eventually.
I can imagine pain sending you to hospital
I have no specific triggers but I once followed a 'diet' to try and help a bout of IBS, was on 'diet' for about 10 months and didn't get a single headache, and I lost loads of weight (much needed!) Not sure if that info will help at all.
I also get a painful one which lasts about 5 hours average, no warning, no painkillers touch it, I just go to bed and groan, moan, toss, turn etc. til I fall asleep eventually.
I can imagine pain sending you to hospital
I have no specific triggers but I once followed a 'diet' to try and help a bout of IBS, was on 'diet' for about 10 months and didn't get a single headache, and I lost loads of weight (much needed!) Not sure if that info will help at all.
Edited by missdiane on Wednesday 15th July 20:13
missdiane said:
I get them about once every two months, they usually start on a saturday morning and finish on a monday morning, and they screw up my weekend and although I am not in that much pain, they make you feel extremely drowsy and generally unwell, no tablets work.
I also get a painful one which lasts about 5 hours average, no warning, no painkillers touch it, I just go to bed and groan, moan, toss, turn etc. til I fall asleep eventually.
I can imagine pain sending you to hospital
I have no specific triggers but I once followed a 'diet' to try and help a bout of IBS, was on 'diet' for about 10 months and didn't get a single headache, and I lost loads of weight (much needed!) Not sure if that info will help at all.
I may be way off here, but is it possible that you drink a lot of tea / coffee in work during the week? In effect you are then going cold turkey from Friday night and over weekend coming off caffeine which could cause your migraines.I also get a painful one which lasts about 5 hours average, no warning, no painkillers touch it, I just go to bed and groan, moan, toss, turn etc. til I fall asleep eventually.
I can imagine pain sending you to hospital
I have no specific triggers but I once followed a 'diet' to try and help a bout of IBS, was on 'diet' for about 10 months and didn't get a single headache, and I lost loads of weight (much needed!) Not sure if that info will help at all.
Edited by missdiane on Wednesday 15th July 20:13
Try switching to decaff teabags and coffee and see if that makes a difference.
Edited by AngeloftheNorth on Saturday 18th July 21:42
AngeloftheNorth said:
missdiane said:
I get them about once every two months, they usually start on a saturday morning and finish on a monday morning, and they screw up my weekend and although I am not in that much pain, they make you feel extremely drowsy and generally unwell, no tablets work.
I also get a painful one which lasts about 5 hours average, no warning, no painkillers touch it, I just go to bed and groan, moan, toss, turn etc. til I fall asleep eventually.
I can imagine pain sending you to hospital
I have no specific triggers but I once followed a 'diet' to try and help a bout of IBS, was on 'diet' for about 10 months and didn't get a single headache, and I lost loads of weight (much needed!) Not sure if that info will help at all.
I may be way off here, but is it possible that you drink a lot of tea / coffee in work during the week? In effect you are then going cold turkey from Friday night and over weekend coming off caffeine which could cause your migraines.I also get a painful one which lasts about 5 hours average, no warning, no painkillers touch it, I just go to bed and groan, moan, toss, turn etc. til I fall asleep eventually.
I can imagine pain sending you to hospital
I have no specific triggers but I once followed a 'diet' to try and help a bout of IBS, was on 'diet' for about 10 months and didn't get a single headache, and I lost loads of weight (much needed!) Not sure if that info will help at all.
Edited by missdiane on Wednesday 15th July 20:13
Try switching to decaff teabags and coffee and see if that makes a difference.
Edited by AngeloftheNorth on Saturday 18th July 21:42
It's worth getting in contact with the City of London Migraine Clinic or looking at the information they have on the web. I do some volunteer work for them and they are quite impressive for such a small organisation. They train many doctors and nurses on headache and migraines. Their website is www.migraineclinic.org.uk but there on Youtube, Facebook and Wiki as well.
They are beggars. I suffered from 8-28 with them, worst was 15-21. Stress didn't help but wasn't a trigger. Peak was 2-3 month for 2-3 days each.
Caffeine strangely helped get rid of them when combined with the acres of drugs.
In the end they got less frequent; about 1-2 a year for 24hrs each now.
And the worst thing? Trying to relate migraines to people who don't get them who say "yeah I get headaches sometimes as well"... grr...
Caffeine strangely helped get rid of them when combined with the acres of drugs.
In the end they got less frequent; about 1-2 a year for 24hrs each now.
And the worst thing? Trying to relate migraines to people who don't get them who say "yeah I get headaches sometimes as well"... grr...
Two videos on Cluster Headaches:
http://www.youtube.com/migraineclinic
Look at suicide headaches video to see how bad they get (Top right). The story about the shotgun is a bit shocking.
http://www.youtube.com/migraineclinic
Look at suicide headaches video to see how bad they get (Top right). The story about the shotgun is a bit shocking.
Edited by YarisSi on Thursday 23 July 16:05
YarisSi said:
It's worth getting in contact with the City of London Migraine Clinic or looking at the information they have on the web. I do some volunteer work for them and they are quite impressive for such a small organisation. They train many doctors and nurses on headache and migraines. Their website is www.migraineclinic.org.uk but there on Youtube, Facebook and Wiki as well.
So sad that they are struggling to raise £250k a year and get no support from the NHS. In the overall scheme of the NHS budget that's a total pittance. I hate this country sometimes.I have suffered from migraines for a few years. I trie Epilim to no avail but now I seem to be able to catch it with 2 or three Sumitriptan, one an hour for three hours although my doctor had almost melted with anger when I told her I took them like that (Anyone know why?) but otherwise they don't work for me.
Being sick, lying in bed, they really are awful. Don't have any obvious triggers either; cheese and chocolate have been both present and not before attacks, as with the other common ones. I always seem to wake up to the f***ers to.
Keep on at your doctor, keep trying the various options and you should find something eventually.
Can I ask, just how bad was it to go to hospital, and at what point did you think, right, thats it I'm going to hospital? What made this one worse?
Being sick, lying in bed, they really are awful. Don't have any obvious triggers either; cheese and chocolate have been both present and not before attacks, as with the other common ones. I always seem to wake up to the f***ers to.
Keep on at your doctor, keep trying the various options and you should find something eventually.
Can I ask, just how bad was it to go to hospital, and at what point did you think, right, thats it I'm going to hospital? What made this one worse?
The City of London Migraine Clinic are looking for Migraine Suffers to participate in this new drug trial. See link for more details.
http://ww2.migraineclinic.org.uk/new-migraine-prev...
Simon
http://ww2.migraineclinic.org.uk/new-migraine-prev...
Simon
Lil' Joe said:
Can I ask, just how bad was it to go to hospital, and at what point did you think, right, thats it I'm going to hospital? What made this one worse?
Normally with a migraine i can take my sumatripan and then a couple of codine and either the pain goes or i can still function enough to deal with kids etc ( I have no family close by tp help so have to cope)But recently (over christmas period) I had another two that were hospital jobs. i can only describe the pain as utterly unbareable, i am unable to sit, lie or stand still. I am usually writhing around begging for someone to stop it and crying whilst my husband is expecting me to either have sort or sizure or drop down dead! It's positivly the most scary pain. I would rather be in labour.
Strangly enough i know believe they were not migrains but possibly cluster headaches but they only way i'll know that is if i have another attack. Which i can only pray i dont.
I had my first migraine attack at the age of four. I didn't know what was happening and remember our family doctor shaking his head and saying I had probably 'inherited' it from my mother. My whole life has been blighted by these damn episodes. Many an occasion has been ruined due to having a migraine attack and having to go to bed. I met someone (American) in the 70's who gave me a self help book on migraine and it was full of 'interesting' remedies. One being to soak your feet in a bowl of hot water and gradually add boiling water, so your feet got used to it. The idea was that the blood made its way from your brain to your feet, thereby relieving the pressure. I remember thinking at the time that the person who had written the book must never have had a migraine, if they had they would have known that when you have an attack, the last thing you want to be doing is boiling kettles.
Thankfully, my migraine attacks are far and few between now and a bad one is often preceded by losing my sight in one eye for about fifteen minutes. This allows me to get home, get something down me and go to bed. I have also invested in a 'Chillow' which negates the need for a cold flannel on my forehead.
Thankfully, my migraine attacks are far and few between now and a bad one is often preceded by losing my sight in one eye for about fifteen minutes. This allows me to get home, get something down me and go to bed. I have also invested in a 'Chillow' which negates the need for a cold flannel on my forehead.
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