Who suffers from migraine headaches

[CUlater]

My wife has suffered with them for 25+ years now, with them getting progressively more frequent as the years go by. Basically, her months are spent in three phases now - migranes as she heads into her period, her period, and then the post-period migranes. Very regular, and very much a big part of every month.

Unfortunately, she's tried a variety of things over the years, usually to no avail. Imitrex was good (she started on it while it was still in trial and only came in a self-injectable form!) and is still a standby, but less effective these days.

Maxalt may as well have been sugar pills for all the use they were. Most of my friends' other migrane meds also don't seem to work for her. Over the counter stuff is useless.

She's tried the Beta Blockers, HBP meds, and thyroid meds. They've helped keep the frequency from continuing to increase, but certainly haven't knocked it down any. She even tried accupuncture and accupressure therapy.

Right now the drug of choice is Fioracet, a heavy narcotic, unfortunately. It seems to be the only thing that will knock down the ones that break through the Imitrex.

This has been interesting reading, and I hope others will share their experiences. My wife's doc has kinda been in a holding pattern for over a year now, so its good to hear about other treatments we haven't tried yet. The nasal sprays sound especially interesting...

 

[Holst]

I was in a Mazda GLC that stalled crossing the highway in a snowstorm in Mason City, Iowa January 1980, a full size Chrysler didn't see it there due to the blowing snow and hit us on my door. Clusters for 4 years with full light show, nothing helped, then they stopped.

My daughter used to get them. I used to think of the line "I'll hit you so hard I'll knock out your parents". I remember she felt on just before a choir concert, she wanted to go on anyway. I kept waiting her to barf on the kid standing in front of and below her. She made it home before she blew. He's have ended too.

I wish I could say something positive or helpful, but we never found anything that helped.

 

[soundmotor]

Migraine, my silent partner!

When I was 19 I totaled my car and hit my head on the right side, forward above my temple. Ever since then, that is where they start, like freakin' clockwork. I had never had one before.

Visual changes have gotten less & less over time as has puking. It has probably been ~5 years since I blew chow over a migraine which is good. Stress does not seem to trigger them. I have slowly recognized that eye strain, fatigue, hay fever intensity, and food are the triggers with special emphasis on the last. I got my contact prescription updated, I try and get 6-7 hours of sleep a night, I take my allergy meds when the pine pollen is wafting about, and I pay attention to what I am eating, now, moreso that ever before.

Grumpy, you nailed it with the comment about recognizing the triggers. Recently I verified one that has plagued my since, what I now recognize to be, the opening of a gourmet chinese restaurant that we infrequently dine at. I just never made the connection. Eat there on a Friday night and blammo, 4 hours later here is comes. Awake Saturday morning and it is with me until Sunday afternoon. I always thought the headache coincided with the strain of work and coming down after a long week but it isn't. I won't be eating there anymore.

Motrin & Tylenol clones do not help. Laying down in a cool, dark, quiet room and not moving around help a great deal. Plenty of water and my last resort, Fioricet, to take the edge off. I will take up to 3 if it is a bone crushing one but try to tough it out with one. Coffee will actually take the edge off it too and I will try that first before heading for the pills.

 

[gearhead]

soundmotor, is it the MSG in the Asian food that trigger yours?
I had what I think may have been a migraine ONE time when I was about 25-killer headache, felt like I was going to throw up.
I wouldn't wish that on anybody. Anybody I like, anyway!

 

[soundmotor]

soundmotor, is it the MSG in the Asian food that trigger yours?

Yes.

Did some research on MSG after the last bout and amongst its other symptoms was a mention that it can cause migraines in those who get them.

Yippee!

 

[Sandy G]

Oh, yeah, MSG is wunnerful stuff-Sets off wangeratin' headaches in those of us who are prone to them, & I'd eat at a place where they shoveled on the MSG-Usually Chinese restaurants, but lotsa places do- & I'd pray I'd make it home before the Saturn 5-moonrocket diahrrea would kick in...Anybody else have this efx ?

 

[grumpy]

Caffeine is a weird one. It is probably one of the leading triggers next to stress. Ironically caffeine is a main ingredient in several of the pain meds they prescribe for these headaches. I always assumed it was mixed in to help speed the pain meds through your system but a doc the other day told me its not. It Dilates blood vessels. Which is weird considering it should be a cause not a cure :scratch2:

 

[PioneerGuy85]

My Mom used to suffer them regularly. Ironically since she divorced my dad she has yet to have another... and they started right around the time they started fighting, too. stress, say what?

 

[kbs48]

My daughter gets them and if she feels one coming on and catches it early Imetrex will work for her, or Darvoset 100's will keep it short along with a dark room and quiet.

 

[kenhappen2u]

Knock on wood . .. I haven't had one in about 5 years or so now . up until then for 10 - 12 years I would get them for 3-4 months at a time , 2-4 times a day with blinding eye pain , light show ,vomiting ...the whole 9 yards and could not function as a human being ... I went to about 30 doctors and tried every pill on the market to keep them under some what control . until I visited a neuro surgeon who specialized in migraine headache's & from the first office i had with him he made the claim that he wound not give up on me until they were under "control " well it took about 6 more months and 5-8 different combo's of meds that we found that MAGIC cure in a pill (well 2 pills) , its been 5 years now and migraine free. i do still have to to take the 2 daily meds to keep them away/ coming back ..but for me its a small price to pay , insurance covers 95% of the cost of them so out of pocket is about 20.00 a month . to this day i still take my two pills before bedtime and have been migraine free for almost 6 years now , any one wanting to know what to meds I am taking please email or im me for more info and i will be happy to pass it along .
Best wishes to all who suffer from them ....i know just how Bad they can be and disrupt one's life

 

[ender137]

I totally get the migraine thing - bright lights, loud sounds, and strong smells will set me off. stress and not eating on time are factors as well.

i just try to avoid triggers. taking notes on what you do and what happened right before a migraine really helps figure out what triggers them. Once i get it, it's game over for me. the only thing i can do is lay down. taking a cool shower or putting an ice pack on my neck helps too.

interestingly... some studies show that migraines may be related to childhood anxiety and adult depression.

 

[panhead]

I had a doozie this afternoon,i can always tell about 2 or 3 hours before i get a bad one,my neck gets very tight & my upper back gets real stiff.

I had a real bad day at work with a ton of stress,neck started getting tight & back got stiff & sure enough within an hour my head was splitting,laid down & took a short nap & when i woke it was way worse.

Let myself wake up a bit & went straight to the safe where i keep pain med's,took one shot of Stadol & within a minute or two the headache was completely gone:thmbsp:

That stuff's a life saver:yes: