Migraines..how do they ruin your day?

Hi.

I cannot remember the times I have had to cancel out on something important ..in order to accomodate a vicious migraine. Anyone have some good advice as well?? Someone once told me that you can get rid of a migraine by sticking your hands in Hot water. (I actually tried this) Did not do a thing for me.

This is a very important ongoing issue with me? Thanks for any and all input.

~Dottie

Go to your GP and tell him you have terrible migraines that interfere with your daily activities. He should be able to prescribe you something for them. Take care!

-migraine sufferer

GINGER! In any form will help. I found this out when I flew to my brother's in Boston and the bag checkers stole my meds... my sil called her mom who said ginger. She didn't have any fresh or whatever so she dumped about a tablespoonful into hot water.. no it didn't all dissolve, but I only had to drink about half of it and felt good enough to lie down and rest! I've since used it again and again.

For long term care, you can alter your diet (some things like sharp cheese will do it) and you can get some samples of some of the terrific new meds out now. The sooner you take them, the easier the pain and sometimes stops it altogether. (I currently use Zomig disintegrating tablets!)
Feel better!

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

Want to share your Christian faith? Click HERE

i used to have daily (almost) headaches/migraines. i began drinking coffee...two cups in the a.m. and two in the afternoon. they're all but gone after the first week.

gl!

kd

I have not tried that...but I will. I had about 3 tiny pieces of Hershey's chocolate the other day. Phew..I had a migraine for 4 days after. No more chocolate for moi. I have tried Zomig and Imitrex. Most of the time they take the edge off..but after a few hours...boom the migraine is back again. Darn things. The worst kind is when you have the nausea with it. Oh Lord. Thank goodness 4 Phenergan.

Thanks for the posts.

~Dottie

Oh yeah... them are bad... (and often take the 2 doses of meds) the... in the total darkness, ice cold a/c, SILENCE please, lay on the bed with an icepack on your neck, hanging your face half off the bed with a bucket below KNOWING that you are going to vomit..and also KNOWING that if you do, your head will explode.. yep them are bad.

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

Want to share your Christian faith? Click HERE

Once upon a time ago...before my retirement, I made the drastic mistake of coming in to work despite the throbbing monster having a party in my head. I was reviewing a patient of mine with the DON....I quickly looked her in the eye and said...excuse me, but I've got to throw up now. LOL!

The look on her face. After that I NEVER came in to work with a migraine.. no matter HOW much they begged. LOL! Hey...I am human too!!

Nurse Techs are not immune from illness. Word UP to the boss!!(Sigh)
~Dottie

What has helped me:

a GP who listened and had me try a prevention med, being listened to was wonderful, the med has reduced number of migraines per month

as GP suggested, self management as much as possible, includes keeping a log of symptoms and possible triggers (weather changes one of my big triggers), and doing my own research

research, finding great patient pain resources such as this page on an author's site, her book is great too

paying attention to the risk of medication overuse headaches

Today is my first day back to the world after several days of migraines. I am speechless with gratitude that the pain and other symptoms finally quit.

Sarah

My migraines (or one huge migraine) were to the point where I never was without it.....it was continual for years. I was finally sent to a neurologist who tried all the neurologist things.....the migraine meds that messed up my heart, the stadol nasel pain releiver, even put me into the hospital for a week to treat it with something like DHEA...or something like that.....along with morphine....which I found out I was allergic to. They even grasped at straws with a cat scan of my neck & found problems that required neck fusion in hopes that it would slove the migraines.

No help at all....but a pain specialist while in the hospital for the neck surgery started me on the Duragesic Fentynal patch. That helped some but not completely.....& the pain was still continually there only a little milder. After that I went to my own pain specialist who tried so many different procedures hoping that something would make a difference...but nooooooo. He kept me on the patch & prescribed other pain meds to suppliment the patch......with no help. I was ending up in the ER every 3 days for a demoral shot so I could just have 8 hours of relief. This pain specialist at one point suggested my using 2 patches....& I asked my husband if that was what he really said....(yes). So I tried it & it worked......no migraine at all. When I went back to him with that information he denied suggesting it completely & told me to find another pain specialist.

I was completely hopeless & just wanted to die. I finally found another pain specialist that wanted me to go off all meds, telling me that it would solve the migraines completely. When I asked her what she would do if it didn't work, she just said "IT WILL STOP THE MIGRAINES". I decided to try to find another pain specialist & finally found one. I took all my information to him along with the results of a CAT scan. He said the CAT scan proved the migraines & listened to the fact that the patches had relieved the migraine completely & I had enough left overs to take me to that time, I had not had a migrains since I started using two patches. He perscribed the two patches, saying that there was enough evidence to prove that the migraines exist & that the patches are working completely & that I now am able to have my "quality life" back. He said the DEA couldn't argue with the evidence he has on me, proving the working of this treatment since the Fentynal is a "controlled substance".

I have been migraine free for 3 years & I can't believe how wonderful it feels....no dark rooms, no sickining smells, & no loud sounds acting as a bong inside my head.

I hope you can find some help......I would suggest going to a pain specialist......an MD that knows about pain, (especially one specializing in migraines) & can perscribe meds. They will start at the beginning & work up to the level of help that will work for you.

I have been blessed to have a pain specialist...& only pray that other migrain suffers can be blessed also.
Debbie

Hi. My gosh you have really been through heck. Thank goodness your husband was supportive. That is so important.

My children...except for one, believe that my migraines are just some abberation. In other words..they don't believe me. One daughter does, T G... as she had a couple of doozies..and said.."Mom..I had no idea how much you were suffering".

Sorry you had to go thru so much before you finally got relief. Sheesh!!

~Dottie

Hi. I feel like I am in Shangri-la when these headaches subside. Living in fear of these things can be a nightmare.

Take good care.

~Dottie

I can really relate to the fact that no one believes you...in the ER, I was always the "drug seeking" patient....lol. It is something no one can see, nor detect.....so no one others than those who have experienced this pain could even know the hell it puts us in. I guess in a way I am lucky that the brain scan showed up the leisons that pointed to the fact that the migraines have been there.

Hope you can find a permanent or at least a longer length of freedom from your pain.

Debbie

The guy who came to evaluate my riding mower mentioned how his wife gets migraines..and he never understood... and ONE TIME he got a migraine.. he says he feels God gave him the one (years ago) just so he could understand... and he sure sounds like he does!

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

Want to share your Christian faith? Click HERE

First of all you have to avoid these migraine triggers; chocolate, cheese and caffine. My solution when I have mine is to inhale alcolado and lie down in a very, very dark room and if neccessary take a tablet.

In my migraine life, everything was a trigger....I avoided all those triggers you suggested but no luck.....it is kinda hard to even see a trigger when the migraine is continual....I actually think is is a chemical thing going on in my brain.....I never even had a headache let alone a migraine in my life until I was put on Anti-depressants. Then foolishly I OD'ed so many times that I think I probably did it to myself. Once off all meds, the migraine continued without any let up. There was absolutely nothing I could avoid that would help at all to eliminate the migraine(s).

Each person is completely individual in the area of migraines....different causes, different solutions (if any). It is just important to find what works for you. My pain specialist initially told me about the fact that they then thought that Botox injections into the base of the head is a cure for some migraines. For me, I had finally found something that worked & he suggested that I just go ahead & use the Fentynal patches as long as they work.....then if it comes to a time where that may not work anymore....they we will have to try something else because I am on about the max level of fentynal safe for my size of person.

Debbie

Thank you for the information, I too suffer tremendously from migraines. The problem I have encountered is the doctors in my area feel headaches are "all in your head" take a tylenol and you will be fine.
Do you have any suggestions for locating pain management doctors? Or what state are you located in perhaps I can find a qualified and sympathetic doctor in your state.

I myself am in Washington state, I don't have access to pain management specialists, but I am now doing well with general practioners at Seamar Clinic, there are several Seamar clinics in western Washington, maybe east too. They are designed for low income folks etc., they take my medicaid, and I've been actually impressed with the quality of help.

The last two health care folks I saw there took me seriously, knew how damaging migraines can be, were up to speed with latest research, and clued me on things I did not know yet. Also, fortunately, one med is actually helping, propananol. I also take Amerge as needed, it is quite an expensive drug, so I only get 9 per month.

I guess the trick is to keep trying til you find a doctor who will listen and actually help.

I also do really well with reading up on migraines both on web and through library.

Good luck,
Sarah

(Migraine thread also down in Health Support, might have other ideas for folks too.)