topic Re: MIGRAINE sufferers in Wellness

MIGRAINE sufferers

bluejeansluvr — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 19:27:01 GMT

Anything new you've found lately that works for you?

Anything you've decided doesn't work?

wondering if anyone has had any new experiences with either medication or holistic medicine/ acupuncture/supplements etc. TIA.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Mz iMac — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 19:47:34 GMT

Age 64.....

My first migraine hit me at age 46. My current neurologist has had me on a Migraine Management Program for about 15 years now. I have been on the following program for approximately 5 years now.....

Zomig Nasal Spray

Imitrex Nasal Spray

Timolol Maleate

Breyers (all natural) Vanilla Ice Cream

Take daily naps

Wear a hat to keep sun off my head

Keep a Migraine Calender

KNOW YOUR TRIGGERS!!!!!!

I still have approximately 10 migraines a month (lasting 2 days) but they are not as intense under my current program. I rarely wake with a migraine (approximately once a month).

I suffer from 2 different kinds of migraines which makes them difficult to treat/control. I ONLY have migraines in the back of my head. My neurologist is a migraine specialist/researcher who runs a Migraine Clinic. I am one of 7 patients & the 2nd oldest of her patients. Her main practice is ""research"" when it comes to migraines.

===========

I was on Topomax for 4 years. 5 years ago I told my neurologist to wean me off because I was tired of having 1 foot on a banana peel & the other inside an Alzheimers Nursing Home.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Carolm — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 20:04:15 GMT

I've had migraines since age 17 and I am now 71. I guess I am one of the lucky ones because once Imitrex became available my neurologist prescribed it for me and it worked! At this point in my life, I no longer get migraines for several months and then I will get three or four in a row, but as soon as I take the medication as prescribed, the migraine is halted in its tracks. I also get ocular migraines, but have no pain with them. I hope you can find something that works for you.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

AspenGrove — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 20:14:47 GMT

I do the three things recommended by my doctor. I take MigreRelief supplements daily, 300 mg. COQ10 daily, and because mine are hormonal-related, I have acupuncture treatments every 2 to 3 weeks to keep my hormones balanced and happy, and therefore keep migraines at bay. All 3 things together have been a true miracle for me. The combo of magnesium, riboflavin, feverfew (all in Migrelief) and also COQ10 have been studied in clinical trials, proven to significantly reduce or eliminate migraines, which is why my doc recommended them to me.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

GSPgirl — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 20:21:22 GMT

What kind of migraines are you talking about? Once in my life in my 40's I had a migraine and thought I was dying. The pain was so bad. It went away and I never had one again. In my fifties I went to a neurologist because my doc thought I had a tumor because I had this tingling pain from the top of my head radiating to my jaw. It felt like someone was pulling on my hair. My doc calls them mini migraines brought on my menopause. He prescribed two Alleve in the morning and one Alleve 10 hrs later for 10 days. They were gone. As soon as I feel the tingling on my scalp, I start taking my Aleeve. A friend of mine had the same thing and her doc prescribed a migraine med. It didn't work. I told her about the Alleve and her's went away too. Good luck.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

sfnative — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 20:23:48 GMT

I have had chronic migraine since 1984. It took forever to figure out what would work. By "forever," I mean almost 20 years. At that time, we tried another NSAID - new - Mobic - and my headaches were knocked down by about 75. I took this med for nearly 13 years only to discover that it had damaged my kidneys, so now I have Stage 3 kidney failure.

However, in about 2009 and with a new migraine neuro I was introduced to Botox and did not have a migraine for 2 whole years!. However my body built up a resistance to the toxin, so I'm back to a lot of pain every day.

My best advice would be to get a referral to the migraine guru in your part of the world. Good luck!

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Mz iMac — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 20:40:11 GMT

On 8/22/2014 sfnative said:
I took this med for nearly 13 years only to discover that it had damaged my kidneys, so now I have Stage 3 kidney failure.

I have to have blood & urine tests every 6 months because of the migraine meds. I think all prescribed rx meds affect kidneys in some way with some people. It's usually listed as a side affect. So far I have been lucky.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Coquille — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 22:29:14 GMT

I have had migraines since 1986. I would get my weekly migraine for 3-4 days. I would be in bed and could not eat the entire time. I would get a few days of a break and then another one. The dr recommended Imitrex shots but I would always feel like I could not breath for about 1/2 hr. Not very healthy but the shots took the migraine away. I didn't like the side effect so I started using the pills. Between the Imitrex pills and pain meds, I could get through them somewhat. Then he suggested oxygen but not for me. About 5 years ago my neurologist recommended Botox. I was leery and it took me a year to cave in. The Botox gave me my life back. I wasted that year by being scared of the Botox. When I get a breakthrough migraine, I take Sprix. Generic RX, nasal spray (Toridal). Between the two, I have my life back. I have other health issues, a lot but I can handle them now that the migraines are under control. I hope this helps.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

gailcoco — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 22:32:38 GMT

I usually take Imitrex or Relpax when I feel the nausea and neck pain which is a signal to me that a migraine is coming. The following has helped me reduce the number of migraines:

'My Pillow' Would not be without it now.

Cervical traction Physical therapy was doing cervical traction on me for some disc problems and a side effect is that my migraines were greatly reduced. I bought my own home traction device and love it.

Inversion therapy Just like the cervical traction but more so. I haven't been able to use lately because I have 2 new hips.

Good Luck, Gail

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Witchy Woman — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:22:07 GMT

I began having migraines at age 35 and had them monthly or twice monthly until age 50. I'm 63 now and have been headache free since I turned 50.

When my headaches began, doctors seemed disinterested in doing much of anything for them, but I persisted until I was sent to a neurologist who was doing clinical trials with Imitrex shots. Although they did work, I continued to get migraines and would often need more than one shot. Never had any side affects besides that initial rush from the shot.

Imitrex pills never worked for me and no other medication (I tried many). I tried dietary changes, a chiropractor and neither changed anything. No cause was ever given other than possibly hormonal changes.

When I turned 50 and started menopause, they simply disappeared and never returned. Honestly, I don't know how I managed all those years as they were awful and I frequently missed work. I was violently nauseous and could not stand smells, sounds, light.

Imitrex was the only thing that gave me any relief.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

happycat — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 15:17:52 GMT

I have figured out that one of my triggers seems to be changes in the barometric pressure.

Also, it if I feel one coming on, and take a Claritin D it seems to go away. It is not a sinus headache. I know what those are, not sure why this is, but at the moment it is working for me. I haven't had a migraine in about 5 months, which is a record.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

MarthaStewardess — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:08:02 GMT

I get migraines too. For a few years I took Migreleif. It helped a little, maybe lessened the severity. After having a bad attack, I finally went to the doctor and got a prescription. It has worked wonders for me, and I don't want to be without it now. It's sumatriptan. Migraines are awful and I feel for anyone else that suffers with them. I know how awful they can be.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

happycat — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:22:08 GMT

Those who use migraine spray, does it make you tired?

Thanks

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

this is my nic — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:26:33 GMT

Aging worked for me! My headaches were related to my monthly cycle. It's one of the few things that have improved with age.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Suzeecat — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:28:34 GMT

I'm following this thread with interest. I have had migraines on and off for many years. Lately they have increased in frequency and severity and I wonder if there's a connection to my gradually weaning off my HRT. For many years Excedrin Migraine worked like a charm but lately it's almost as if my bottle expired, although it says it's still good for another year. The darn stuff just doesn't work anymore! I have a regular appt. with my internist in a couple months and plan to ask to try something else. In the meantime, I'll try some of the other suggestions here.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Campion — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:40:43 GMT

I found that my trigger was my sinuses (whether it was a food allergy making them swell or TOTM or whatever.) So I flush my sinuses with purified water (never tap, always pure water) with salt dissolved. It works to reduce the sinus swelling and breaks the start of a headache. If no salt water flush is convenient, then I take a sinus medicine to quickly shrink them and apply a hot compress to encourage them to drain--and drink some hot tea for the same reason. (or hot coffee--caffeine can help.) I haven't really had one in a long time, but if I don't get it when the sinuses start to block up, it can go into a migraine. It's frequently happened at night, but I make myself get out of bed and deal with it.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Campion — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 21:43:27 GMT

On 8/28/2014 suzeecat said:
I'm following this thread with interest. I have had migraines on and off for many years. Lately they have increased in frequency and severity and I wonder if there's a connection to my gradually weaning off my HRT. For many years Excedrin Migraine worked like a charm but lately it's almost as if my bottle expired, although it says it's still good for another year. The darn stuff just doesn't work anymore! I have a regular appt. with my internist in a couple months and plan to ask to try something else. In the meantime, I'll try some of the other suggestions here.

Yes, the HRT will increase them (like BC pills, they do too. I had to stop using them years ago. A headache a week. They cause water retention, thus swelling, thus start the headache.)

And as to Excedrin, it's possible you've become accustomed to it. People get tolerant to headache meds--if used too often they can often give you a headache if you don't take them (like a caffeine withdrawal) and they can cause liver and kidney damage (estimated that a good percentage of liver and kidney failure is due to over-use of Tylenol-like OTC drugs.)

(just in case anyone wonders, I have degrees in biochemistry, including grad school and I worked with pharma companies for years until I retired to do something less strenuous that didn't require chemicals and heavy equipment and trudging around the world 2x a year.)

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

ROMARY — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 03:09:56 GMT

I'm glad someone mentioned vanilla ice cream! Nobody around here believed that it worked quite well. And it also soothed my tummy........(prevented nausea, etc.).

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

ROMARY — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 03:15:11 GMT

Mine (years ago) were 'classic migraines triggered by chemicals, strong perfumes, strong odors', scented soaps, shampoos, construction glues, paints, cleaning chemicals, (a long list of 'culprits'/triggers), etc. Scented laundry detergents/dryer sheets on my pillow cases were a no-no, and still are. Mine were delayed reactions, striking a day after exposure. Like clockwork. p.s. My doc advised me to take straight antihistamines (straight, not with the added cold remedies/ingredients) to block the histamines which triggered my migraines. Anyway, ever since then, I haven't had any problems, so far. p.s. I only had to take 1/4 to 1/2 of a tablet. I also drank coffee to counteract any occasional drowsiness. EDITED: I must mention that it's important (according to both my doc and N/P at the time) to take the antihistamine (Benadryl, or store brand which works just as well) as soon as you (I) are exposed to a trigger (such as a strong chemical odor, paint, perfume, whatever, whatever). Because mine were delayed reactions, they told me to stop the histamines as soon as possible. Which worked incredibly well for me. (In those days, before I figured it all out (thanks to doc), all it would take is to walk by a scented candle shop, and the next day I ended up with a bad migraine. And, actually, it all makes sense, if our severe migraines are caused by allergies. If they are, always remember to only sleep on unscented washed pillowcases and sheets. That is a 'huge' tip.

Re: MIGRAINE sufferers

Sooner — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 03:22:44 GMT

On 8/28/2014 ROMARY said:
I'm glad someone mentioned vanilla ice cream! Nobody around here believed that it worked quite well. And it also soothed my tummy........(prevented nausea, etc.).

How does it work? When do you take it? More info please!!! Mine are triggered by lack of sleep, not drinking enough, and bright lights. I am sure also that the weather has something to do with it as well.