Migraines

[Luna Baby]

Kara, I would swear we were related somehow. I do the exact same thing with the "visual" blob in the eye and the light sensitivity prior to the pain. It is a strange feeling to know you can see through that but still not actually see. Weird, huh? The light bouncing also has become a trigger as I age, moreso since I had my Lasik surgery a few years ago. Now, I always wear sunglasses and if I know I'm going to be indoors but near a window where cars may park or pass frequently, I try to stay off to the side of the window.

[hawkchick11]

Does anyone take a daily preventative medicine for migraines? My neurologist just started me on one and I don't know if i like it.

[Boozy]

What has he prescribed for you?

As I said, I can't take a prophylactic, since they work by lowering your blood pressure. That's not an option for me.

What is it that you don't like about it? Bad side effects, or is it just not working for you?

[MaggieTheCat]

I take a feverfew supplement on a daily basis. It's not a prescription and it doesn't work all the time. But there are no side-effects (none for me, anyway), it's all natural and I think it has helped, at least a little.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I don't take anything every day. I don't like meds. If I can avoid them I will.

I've learned what my triggers are and avoid them, stay aware of what my hormones are doing and being extra careful during sensitive times.

First sign of trouble I take something, though.

Ounce of prevention and all that.

[hawkchick11]

He prescribed amitriptyline, which is an antidepressant.

Some days I am ok but other days I am a zombie. I know he said that it would take a couple of weeks to get use to it but I'm sick of feeling like crap.

[morgana]

I get premonitions that a migraine is coming. First, my vision gets messed up. It's like a splotchy area in part of my field of vision. I know that I can still see in that area, but my brain doesn't believe me.

That's a wonderful description of what happens to me. I get a visual distortion at the edges of my field of vision that looks like the 'heat shimmer' you sometimes see on the highway. It starts at the outer corner of the visual field and gradually moves inward.

I'm very fortunate to get the warning. If I notice the distortion while it's still peripheral, I can actually stop the migrane from occurring at all. 1000 - 1200 mg of ibuprofen, and I never get the pain.

If, however, I don't recognize the distortion in my peripheral vision, my vision will start to 'tunnel'. If I don't catch it in time . . . There have been a couple of times that if I could have gotten out of the fetal position, I'd have slit my wrists. I was convinced it would've hurt less.

Sorry about the aside, Maggie. Wish I could help . . .

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Yeah, I get the eye distortions and stuff starts getting too bright and loud. I start getting a dry mouth and having to pee a lot. Usually I get this...I can't describe it but you might know what I mean...a "broken" feeling in my head, like I'm fragile and about to shatter.

[monolayth]

I ignored my warnings yesterday......stupid......

For some reason my toddler does not understand, Momma feels like someone shoved an ice pick in her head please go away.......

blargle.

[MaggieTheCat]

I've actually been feeling really good the last few weeks. I've found a few things that really help keep me from getting migraines:

1) keeping my hair up. My hair is very, very thick and I've been letting it grow out for a couple of years now, so it's midway down my back. When it's hanging loose around my neck and shoulders, I get really hot really fast. Keeping it up in a ponytail off my shoulders keeps me much cooler.

2) keeping fans on around the house. Again to help me stay cool, and just with air circulation in general.

3) eating. If I go too long without something to eat, I can get sick real fast. Some days I skip lunch. Bad idea. I have to eat something during the day.

4) stay moving. Sometimes (not always) when I feel a migraine coming on, if I get up and move around I'll feel better. Cleaning the kitchen or vacuuming or something. I never FEEL like doing this, when I have a migraine I just want to curl up in a dark room. But if I catch it early enough, moving around can help. (on the other hand, if the migraine has really set in, moving just makes it worse. I get motion sick.)

[Retail's Bitch]

I get three types of migraines...

I get the usual, pain in the back of my head, sensitivity to light - hate my life migraines...

Then there's the "Oh my god WHY!?" Migraine where my eyes start to water, my nose starts running, the back of my head near my shunt starts aching, I get nauseous, and smells and light kill.

Then there's the starts off as a hate my life migraine and goes into a.. "I can't feel the left side of my face, my left arm goes numb, my left leg are just complete jelly." Migraine. They're called hemiplegic migraines... NOT FUN! But I've only gotten them twice in the last two years, first time was a full week of hosting club parties and working at the studio and I was working on freelance photos at home when my hand started to go numb and I was getting tingly feeling in my face and then my leg went... I FREAKED - thinking I was having a stroke of some sort, called my friend and thought it might have something to do with my shunt, so I asked if he wanted to stay over and if it got worse, he'd get me to the emerg.

We ended up going to emerg and it got diagnosed as a migraine. Boo-urns.

The second time it happened was right after I moved to Toronto and I was broke, so working every hour god sent, and not eating properly... BAM! Migraine from hell.

As it is, for the wee annoying migraines I take advil extra strength liquigels. For the other two doozies, I smoke pot. It's the ONLY thing that kills it. When I went to the emerg for the hemiplegic migraines they gave me morphine by mistake and I'm allergic. I was NOT a happy camper. :-(

[Sapphire Silk]

What has he prescribed for you?

As I said, I can't take a prophylactic, since they work by lowering your blood pressure. That's not an option for me.

What is it that you don't like about it? Bad side effects, or is it just not working for you?

Not all prophylactics lower blood pressure. Beta blockers do, but anti depressant/anti seizure meds don't necessarily. Inderal is the beta blocker classically used for this.

He prescribed amitriptyline, which is an antidepressant.

Some days I am ok but other days I am a zombie. I know he said that it would take a couple of weeks to get use to it but I'm sick of feeling like crap.

I've been on any number of things; several meds that are used for both seizures and depression: Depakote, Tegretol, others.

Depakote worked well for me, but made my teeth fragile; I broke several teeth while taking it. that problem went away when I quit taking it.

I've taken amitriptyline (Elavil) too, which worked. My problem is after awhile my body adjusts to medication, and it no longer works for me. I have to switch to something else to get the benefits.

I'm on atenolol (Tenormin) right now. It's not the best beta blocker for migraines; according to the books it's not very effective as a prophylactic. I'm taking it for my mild hypertension. However, I have seen a drastic reduction in the number and severity of my migraines since I started taking it. When I do get one, I can now take care of it with Excedrin instead of having to reach for a triptan like Imitrex or Zomig.

Feverfew never worked for me. Neither did apple vinegar (really disgusting btw).

I sometimes use a mix of essential oils: menthol, lavender, and a couple other things I get from a local aromatherapist. A couple of drops on my forehead and neck will clear most headaches up rather quickly.

[RootedPhoenix]

I've found that some music can help my migraines. If it calms me down normally, then it will probably calm me in a migraine attack.

It helps me to stop thinking so much about how badly I hurt. It helps me to relax, and that (plus painkillers/other remedies) helps the migraine stop.

[Boozy]

Not all prophylactics lower blood pressure. Beta blockers do, but anti depressant/anti seizure meds don't necessarily.

That's true about the seizure medications, but most doctors don't prescribe them unless your migraine attacks are seriously crippling you and nothing else is working. They often have significant side effects.

I had not heard of anti-depressants being used to treat migraine. I was on a mild anti-depressant for a short period of time, some years ago. I wish I had kept a migraine diary at that time, so I'd know if there was any difference for me.

[AccountingDrone]

That's true about the seizure medications, but most doctors don't prescribe them unless your migraine attacks are seriously crippling you and nothing else is working. They often have significant side effects.

I had not heard of anti-depressants being used to treat migraine. I was on a mild anti-depressant for a short period of time, some years ago. I wish I had kept a migraine diary at that time, so I'd know if there was any difference for me.

Not to mention beta blockers can also have some whacked side effects ... pretty much any med for migraines can have unexpected side effects.