Migraines suck

[Mistress Lisette]

Okay, folks, my migraines have started up again and I'm asking if anybody knows any good meds/stress relievers/yada yada that I can try. I tried Topomax and, holycrapinapita, that SUCKED! Apparently I had an allergic reaction to it and it actually left my migraine in a much worse state, I was nauseous and sick, and slept most of the day. (Thus, I'm wide awake and it's 3:40 in the freakin' morning. And I' supposed to teach a 7a.m. class. Yeaaahh, like that's gonna happen.)

So, any migraine endurers out there? Discover anything that works for you when you sense a migraine coming on?

Btw, for those of you who don't get migraines, consider yourself lucky and know that migraines are not simply headaches. A typical migraine for me starts off with seeing flashes of light out of the corner of my eyes, becoming sensitive to light, noise and even texture (clothes can actually *hurt* me when my migraine's flaring), and extreme nausea. *Then* the pain in the brain begins--feels like a serrated knife is slicin' and dicin' away.:blech:

Oh, and I've had cat- and pet scans done and a whole slew of testings. Apparently, according to docs, my brain's just configured for migraines. Oh, joy.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
~Lisette

[Margaret]

First off: Lis, I am sorry. Migraines do suck more than anything. I hope you find something that works for you.

I don't get them often enough for it to drive me to the doctor, so usually I will just ride them out and deal with it until it makes me puke. After I throw up, within the half hour, the migrane will be gone.

No meds (and as I said, I have never had perscription ones for a migraine) worked until I tried Excedrine Migraine. If I can catch the migraine early enough with this stuff, it makes it go away.

Other than that, it is sleep, quiet and Vernors.

[WenchLadyKate]

Before I realized that too much peanut butter or any orange soda gave me migranes I used to get them a lot. Mine started the same way yours do, but instead of flashing light, I'd see little dark circles and I'd know. The doc gave me Imitrex and it worked pretty well as long as I would take it early enough. Generally, I'd wash it down with a can of coke, for some reason, the caffeine helped. A lot of people though, the caffeine makes it worse.

The doctor finally told me to make a food journal,since different foods can trigger the pain in the heads. The constant was the orange soda. I love the stuff and used to drink it regularly, and get migranes regularly. Didn't associate the two until I stopped drinking it. Even now, if I have a glass of it, I'm shut up in a dark and quiet room to ride the pain out until it's over (I no longer have the prescription as I have no health insurance and can generally avoid the migranes).

Hope this helps ya. Good luck!

[Peaches O Malley]

I am so sorry. My mum suffers from migraines. In the past month she was having 2 or 3 a day. I know some foods are a trigger or the atmosphere (weather), stress. I am not sure what she takes but I will ask her and get back to you this afternoon.
::bighug::Peaches

[renstyles]

I am on Topamax myself, but I find that Excedrin is the only sure thing that gets rid of my migraines when I do get them. My problem is that the caffeine in the Excedrin gives me a nervous stomach, which can be just as bad as the headache. I know of one other migraine sufferer who tried all the other medication and came back to Excedrin as well.

[Mairi the Herbwench]

Herbally speaking, Feverfew has a reputation for both a migraine preventative and treatment - I don't get them as long as I stay away from Nutrasweet - a sure trigger for me.

Some feverfew links:
http://healthyherbs.about.com/library/weekly/aa061297.htm
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0826/is_4_18/ai_90301470
http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/ty7038.asp?navbar=hw116876
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,780,00.html

My sister found that biofeedback helped her.

Good luck - and keep a food diary...

[ladyleggs]

I too suffer from migraines. I use to take imitrex, but last year I was put on zomig, which I love because in 20 mins, the pain is gone and it last all day. Doesnt make you sleepy either. I feel you pain sister.

[Mistress Lisette]

Thanks for the ideas, folks. I've never kept a food journal, but I think it's time I do. I'm also going to do a weather-type journal b/c as I was reading what you all were saying I got to thinking about external changes, particularly the weather here in DFW. It's kinda wonky.

I've tried feverfew tincture, and I honestly don't know if it'd work b/c I couldn't stomach the taste. It was too metallicy. I ended up stopping it and it sits in my kitchen pantry as I type.

Thanks, again, everybody. I *really* appreciate it. Btw, Excedrin doesn't cut it for me. The only non-prescrip that does is Tylenol Extra-Strength but I have to catch the migraine right at the beginning. Unfortunately, yesterday's came on me as I was sleeping in the early morning hours. Sooooo when I finally woke up the migraine was raging. Blech.

~Lisette

[Bonnie Strangeways]

Imitrex works really well, another one is Maxalt, but make sure you get the instant disolve tablets on that, they work faster than the standard pill form. I've never tried Topomax.

Food's not a factor for mine, apparently I have some kind of spinal issue that mine are linked to. I know what you're going through though, I had one *explode* into my head during my mid-term Saturday. I had only one symptom for a warning (light trails) and it wasn't five minutes later....BAM! *sigh* At least I was on the last page of questions, so I was able to hang on long enough to get the job done, and a friend and I carpooled, so driving wasn't a concern.

Best of luck luv, get better soon, and give either Imitrex or Maxalt a try. If you're like me, and the lag time between the warning signs and the pain itself are pretty brief, Maxalt's probably the better choice.

[rosefaeries]

I know what you mean about the migraines. I can't take most of the asthma medications because the propellents used give me instant migraines that last for days.

I used to drink the Shen tea put out by Sobe. It had Kava Kava in it. That tea would stop a headache right in it's tracks. It is no longer on the market though. I am not sure if you could find kava kava anywhere now.

Last night, I found out that the cakes from our local grocery trigger migraines for me. (Go figure) My son won a cake from there in a superbowl cake walk.

Maxalt works well when it works. My doctor told me only take it twice, because if it doesn't work then it isn't going to (That is twice for each headache). I know here the pills are $10.00 each.

[Aryani]

A friend of mine swears by Advil liquigels to help tone down her migraines, since she has reactions to most of the other medications out there. Only thing I do is lay down in my dark bedroom with my head under the pillow. Don't know why, but the cool sheet against my face seems to help a lot. That and sleep since mine are either from light sensitivity (and I need computers to do my job) and weather.

::bighug:: Hang in there, you'll figure out what works best for you. I know it!

[Lady Sarah]

here ya go Rose.

http://youngagain.com/kavkav60cap3.html?gclid=CMmdsZnJhIMCFTaWJAodKwwMkg

[Lady Laurel]

I get them when I am under a tremendous amount of stress. Lately though I have not had any. I also would get them if I sat in front of a computer for long periods. I now try to get off the computer during the day and rest my eyes. This seems to work for me.

Excedrin does seem to work for me if I catch it early. If I have had them all day Tylenol PM really helps in the evening so I can go to sleep. Imotrex just puts me to sleep so I will not take prescriptions. Also Caffeine helps me to.

[rosefaeries]

here ya go Rose.

http://youngagain.com/kavkav60cap3.html?gclid=CMmdsZnJhIMCFTaWJAodKwwMkg


Thanks. I have it bookmarked. I am planning on ordering some soon. Rather have the capsules of kava kava then trying to grow my own valerien to make tinctures from. (Actually I am going to re establish my herb garden. Used to have a small herb garden that most herbalist would love to have. )

[Mistress Lisette]

Thank you all, again, my lovely wenchyfriends! I've been taking notes and doing some online research. I feel positive I'll discover what works for me. Again.

Kisses and hugs to you all for coming to the aid of this desperate wench! :hearts: :smooch: :grouphug:
~Lisette

[Gemdrite]

I have never experienced light trails, that I recall, but I tend to wake up with the migraine fully in place. I take generic Aleve, with something caffeinated (I know that is spelled wrong), and sometimes with one of those sticky heat pads you can buy now. Mine were caused by poor sleeping position, which screwed up my neck, which then affected my head. I had almost non-stop migraines for about three months, and then called my mom, who suggested the sleeping position, cause it was when I woke up. Switched it, and have only had one migraine since, and it was stress related. I really recommend the Aleve, one pill works really well.

[rosefaeries]

Oh I also forgot to add. If any of you wear glasses, keep them adjusted properly. It is worth the pain in the butt trip to one of the eye places and get the adjusted on a regular basis. If the focal field in your lenses are not where your eyes needs it to be it will cause headaches (especially if you have an astigmatism like I do. )

[Lady Sarah Phoenix]

my problem is getting the MD to admit that they are migrains because I do not have all of the symtoms so far excedrin migrain works for me and pretty sure stress is a trigger as I have a headache now most of that dew to being called in to a meeting tomorrow over an incident at work that happened the night my appendix flaired up ( so I have to meet with the big wigs tomorrow and hope that I still have a job left after the meeting as I am supposed to start back to work on Thursday) then to top things off my incision is not closing like it should and MD today stated that if it is not closed in a month then we have a problem so all in all I am very stressed out and do not need a migrain on top of it

[merestelle]

I've been getting migraines since I was 13. There is a definate hormonal thing with mine. but it is usually a combination of hormone changes (a week before or after my period), weather, light, food, stress, caffiene. I can't use any artificial sweetners.
I get the aura, a small spot of light in my vision that grows until I can't see anything else. this usually lasts half an hour. Then the pain starts.
I've also had my hand or arm go numb. I've lost the ability to speak.
Immitrex made everything worse. I haven't found anything that helps me
once it starts.
A few years ago I started taking Celexa for depression. One great side effect has been that I don't have as many migraines as I used to. And the ones I do get are less severe.

[Malina]

I used to get bi-lateral migraines almost every day. Had a CT scan and nothing. Ran out of Equal one weekend and didn't go get more until Monday. It hit me that I didn't have a mirgraine ALL weekend. So I figured out most of mine were caused by too much NutraSweet.

I can use a little here and there but that's it. I also carry Advil Migraine with me at all times. I do still get migraines but they are a lot fewer and farther now.

Good luck!

[Aramis]

a bit late with this, but as a long time sufferer of migraines, one thing I've found that helps is a over the counter painkiller, Orudis KT. The downside, I can't find it ANYWHERE in the Maryland/Delaware area, but if oyu can find it in your area, buy it. 2 of the little green miracles will get rid of a migraine or at the very least, take it to a bearable level.

[Mistress Morigianna]

I used to drink the Shen tea put out by Sobe. It had Kava Kava in it. That tea would stop a headache right in it's tracks. It is no longer on the market though. I am not sure if you could find kava kava anywhere now.



www.dragonmarsh.com
we carry it in herb and extract form, we also have a headache remedy in oil to smell that some are having good luck with.

[KaLeaAnne]

You can get feverfew in capsule form or get the herb and make your own capsules but you have to take it everyday as a preventative. A good source for herbs is also http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/ .
Smelling lavender or peppermint aromatherapy oil has also helped some people

[Mistress Morigianna]

oh i forgot to add you geta 15% discount by being a wench from Dragonmarsh.

[ambar]

I take two daily pills for migraines (zoloft and Verapamil) and have two rescue drugs - zomig for lower level headaches and hydrocodone for the "oh-my-god-shut-the-drapes-and-don't-make-a-sound" headaches.

I tried topamax and while the headaches went away, the side effects STUNK.