Wellness

[bluejeansluvr]

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.

[Mz iMac]

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.

[Carolm]

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.

[AspenGrove]

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.

[GSPgirl]

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.

[sfnative]

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!

[Mz iMac]

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.

[Coquille]

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.

[gailcoco]

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

[Witchy Woman]

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.