Migraine Sufferer

[3princesses]

I'm a cronic Migrainer and am looking for relief. Currently my physician has me on Relpax for when I get migraines and then she has me taking Inderal LA daily as a preventative. I still get them frequently. Can anyone tell me what has worked for them? A couple of people have mentioned a magnesium supplement and someone else said COQ10, I want to try the right thing. Any suggestions out there?

Wanda

[Belle]

I wish I could help you out, as I too am a migraine sufferer. Mine, along with many other problems, has been attributed to Vasculitis and Protein C deficiency though. I am looking for something else that might help - imitrex, darvocet, torridol and fentinol never did a thing :cry:

I hope someone can offer you some suggestions for relief.

{hugs}
Belle

[MargaretJ]

I have suffered with Migraines for years. They are especially worse for me with weather changes hot to cold or cold to hot. Believe me when I say that is the norm in Georgia. It is not unusual to have all 4 seasons in one week here. About 3 years ago they doctors finally hit upon what I think is a miracle drug - Midrin. When you feel the migraine coming on you take 2. I sometimes still have a headache for a bit but can actually function now. Midrin has many generics & can also be used for tension headaches.

[pixie]

The following was featured on the HealthBeat tonight.


Migraine Medicine?

A pill known to help the heart may also help prevent migraines.

A small study suggested that Co-enzyme Q-10, a supplement available in your drugstore, may prevent migraines. Those who took 100mg of the supplement at each meal were three times more likely to have fewer headaches than those who took placebo pills.

The study authors believe it may work by boosting energy production within the cells, preventing head pain.

My DH has Migraines so I know how debilitating they can be. I hope you find something that gives you relief.

Barbara

[Bookwood]

My suggestion would be to speak to your friendly neighborhood pharmacist about it. Since they don't get the "sell" and freebies from the drug reps they are much more likely than a Physician to look at all possiblities (including vitamin and mineral adssistance). They are usually nice people too!

[ddoll]

Hi Wanda,

I would suggest going to see a Neurologist who specializes in migraines to find the right solution for you.

I suffered most of my life with what my doctor used to say were “the worst migraines I’ve ever seen”. As wonderful as my primary car physician is, he focused on treating my migraines, and not so much on preventing them. He tried some preventative meds here and there over the years, but he just wasn’t as well versed as the neurologist in this subject.

The neurologist tried me on several different trials of medications before finding a blood pressure medication that sent me from having 2-3 a week to 2-3 a month. He still felt that was too many, but to me it was heaven! Most of my migraines are caused by factors completely outside of my control: barometric changes in the atmosphere and monthly hormonal changes, so there was nothing I could do to prevent them.

Where once my headaches ruled not only my life, but my entire family’s, now with using Imitrex for the headaches that break through, as well as my daily med: Atenolol, I can say that my headaches are finally under control.

My advice is to try to get a referral for a neurologist in your area who has helped others with migraines, instead of looking for what has helped others.

ddoll

[Tinkerbell]

:tink: Wanda, I suffered w/severe migraines for over 24 years. I have Chronic Daily Headache Syndrome, which is part of my fibromyalgia. What fianlly broke the grip it had on me was when I went to a pain clinic after I had a car accident. They had me on Zanaflex 4mg, 3 times a day & tons of pain medications, the entire gamut. Also, at the time the doctor at the pain clinic was doing steroid injections into my spine :shock: I couldn't function, take care of kids & hardly myself. I was actually very overdosed, but I think that being overdosed actually broke the 24 year cycle. My migraines initially started after I had spinal anesthesia & got a spinal headache, back in 1978. They didn't do anything about it back then, no patch, just lie flat. Well, it never went away, until I was literally overdosed, late summer, early Fall of 2001.

[Tinkerbell]

:tink: Ijust wanted to add that for me I think being on pain medications for all of those years contributed to my struggle with weight for almost 30 years. Besidesthe fact that you're too tireed to get around, I think itslows youmetabolism. Nothing medical, just a gut feeling I have. I'm extremely hesitant to take any pain medication unless I'm absolutely desperate.

It could be an allergy to sometrhing that's triggering your migraines. I hope you find your answer soon. I'll be thinking of you. :tink:

[3princesses]

Thanks to everyone for all your advice on this. It is horrible when I do get a migraine, and unfortunately my children suffer because I can't do the things I normally do with them. The COQ10 is a supplement my friend takes and swears by. She used to get migraines once a week and now gets them on rare occasion. She is taking 100mg, I wonder if that is a good dose to start off on, or should I start on a lower dose. I also think my migraines may be hormone related, but also stress related. When I moved to MI last summer, I had them more frequently, lots of changes in my life contributed to them. It would be wonderful if one day they came up with something to do away with migraines completely.

Wanda

[Collette]

Hi Wanda,

I'm sorry to hear that you and so many others suffer with migraines. I so hope the cause can be found. One of the teachers at school must avoid caffeine and chocolate. My daughter has only had a couple which were post-stress related. I know there is a term for it. She and my niece were both told to alternate ibuprofen and tylenol for relief. I need to check on the mgs, but you would take ibuprofen first followed by tylenol three hours later and ibuprofen three hours after that, etc.

I remember that my Mom had many of them when we were growing up. Her room needed to be completely dark and no noise. We always felt better when she was ready to eat scrambled eggs and toast because we knew that soon she would be herself again.

I wish you the best.

Collette

[3princesses]

Thanks Collette, I went to the doctor today because I had a severe allergy attack which triggered another migraine today. They changed my preventative medication to Topamax because my inderal la wasn't working. I sure hopes this works. She said I've been getting them more often lately because of my allergies. I guess allergies are a big trigger of migraines. They gave me a steroid shot for my allergies and I'm following with a treatment of anti-inflammatory medication for the rest of the week. I would just love to be free of all of this.

Wanda

[MissBianca]

Hugs to you Wanda and to all the other migraine sufferers who have chimed in. I had one of my worst migraines ever today. Fortunately (I guess) mine don't come often enough for me to identify a common trigger. It is certainly apparent from just these few posts that migraines are a symptom with many causes and each person must work to find his or her solution :(

[ddoll]

They changed my preventative medication to Topamax

One of the bst side effects of Topamax is that it decreases appetite (great, that is, unless you're already underweight). I hope you have success on Topamax. It was one of the meds that worked well for me.

[MargaretJ]

Glad you are getting some relief. I have had a terrible week of Migraines. Mine seem to be triggered by weather & sometimes stress. We have had temperature changes from 38 to 87 this week & it is killing me.

[ddoll]

Margaret, have you tried hot and/or cold compresses? Some people prefer hot, some cold. I've found that either one will help me. (migraines are caused by first the constricting and subsequent dilating of the blood vessels in your head, so the temperature of the compress will dilate or constrict the vessel back to a more normal size) For warmth I stand in the shower and direct the warm water spray at the part of my head that's hurting. For cold, I keep one of those gel packs in the freezer.

I find that compresses are especially helpful for the weather change headaches.

[Linda S]

I also get migraines. Tried all the preventatives - everything from the blood pressure med, to amatriptalyne (spell?) - which is an anti-dpressessant. It made me gain weight (they didn't tell me that would happen!) and worked for about a year and then stopped working (and i wasn't anyhappier! :) the does was much lower than a normal does for depression). Anyway, I did find that Ribioflavin (vitamin B-something) worked. I take about 1000 mg 2X day. It has cut them wayyy down.
I take Imatrex for releif - pills if I catch it in time, nasal spray if I don't. I still get some that require me to be in bed, but not as many.
The other thing that has worked for me is accunpunture. Those people are amazing! He even knew when I was pregnant (just) by my various pulses! Amazing, and it really works. Unforturnatly, it is not covered by most insurance plans, so it can get pricey.

Good luck!