Question for Migraine suffers????

[BedtimeBear]

I suffer from severe migraine headaches. I use a combo. of drugs to relieve them--Imitrex, Tylenol #3, and Compazine. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not work. I was wondering what other migraine suffers use to relieve their migraines. Medications?? Natural remedies?? Tips or Tricks?? Anything that helps. I would appreciate any imput. Thank you!!

[helenhcl]

I have suffered from migraines for years and years, and sadly I haven't got any miracle cure, but there are a few things that seem to help a little bit.....

I have tried all the usual migraine meds, Imitrex etc but they didn't help at all. I usually take a very strong painkiller such as Ibuprofen with Codeine, and then strangely, a decongestant such as Sudafed, it seems to relax the tension in the blood vessels in the face and for some reason really helps.

I also eat something very high in sugar as soon as I feel the onset of a migraine, and strangely, this also seems to really help (although I know for some people it can make it worse). Often, around 9 out of 10 times, by eating a very high sugar food such as a banana or chocolate, or drinking Coke, I can prevent the development of a migraine. I have no idea why, and probably has a lot to do with my PCOS and Insulin Resistance, but it more often than not averts the onset of a full migraine.

If the migraine doesn't stop, then I get the full vomiting, vision problems etc., and then sadly the only cure is sleep! So, I ensure that I never take pain medications that contain Caffeine because then I can't sleep if it reaches that stage.

Good luck with the migraines, I really hope you find something that can alleviate them, they are such a hindrance and I hope some day there is a miracle cure available! :-)

[erwende]

Hi. I have suffered from migraines since I was a kid. I had been on BCP's for 15 years and recently stopped in Jan or TTC. I did notice a dramatic reduction in Migraines. I was sucking down the Imitrex and Maxalt. I had tried Inderal and Topamax in the past as well. There has been one bad catch though. My pcos (hirsutism,acne, weight gain) have increased greatly since stopping the pill. Oh, what's a girl to do.?!

[eeyoremom]

I, too, suffer from the occasional migraine. I agree with helenhcl about the high sugar food. I sometimes have a Little Debbie snackcake and a coke. As for meds themselves...I actually like the Walmart brand Migraine relief. If it gets worse to the point of tossing my cookies the best thing is sleep. A nice cold rag on the forehead, a heavy blanket, the room very cold and complete silence. If I still have trouble relaxing I will take Tylenol PM. That works the best for me.

[stellam]

Just out of curiosity, do you have vision problems with your migraines? I get triple, sometimes quadruple, tilted vision. Just wondering if anyone else gets this?
I do the same thing - go & lie down in a quiet, dark room & put a pillow over my head. I haven't heard of any cure yet for the really nasty migraines.

[BedtimeBear]

I do get double vision and I see spots of light with my migraines along with nausea, sensitivity to light and noise. I try to go to sleep in a dark, cool room because I sometimes feel better when I wake up. I will try eating something high in sugar next time I get a migraine. Thank you all for the replies and suggestions.

[DiamondInTheRough]

Stellam & Tammie, what you are describing is part of the "aura" that some migraine sufferers get as a "warning" to the oncoming migraine.

I've had the nystagmus with my eyes, and related vertigo a few times with my migraines. I sometimes feel the 'aura' is worse then the actual migraine.

I've learned to know the signs well, so when I feel that a migraine may be coming on, I usually take a couple advil liquigels, and they really seem to nip it in the bud. Aside from that, sleep in a dark, quiet room, is truly the only way I can get through a bad migraine.

[Melissa1223]

I have had a lot of success on Topamax, it pretty much got rid of my migraines (I was having 10-12/month). Once I went off of Yasmin, I was able to stop the Topamax and haven't had a migraine since. I am just starting a new BCP so we'll see how that goes :-)

[keldriv]

Beleve it or not I take midol for my migranes. It really helps. Ive tried alot of other things. This works best for me becouse mine are coused by my hormone imballance

[jlucy]

Imitrex made me feel worse. For years I have taken Vicodin and it keeps me from being totally miserable and makes me a little woozy so I can usually sleep through the worst of it. Of course now I can't find my doctor to get a refill and everyone seems to think because you want Vicodin you get high off of it. Ugh. I don't even like the stuff, but it does help me.

[moo_girl]

Beleve it or not I take midol for my migranes. It really helps. Ive tried alot of other things. This works best for me becouse mine are coused by my hormone imballance

I've found that Midol works too.. its b/c it gets the blood flowing (also works wonders for hangovers...)

Does anyone's head get swollen?? I've had it where the main area where the migraine is gets swollen and really sensitive to the touch...

[Moonshoot]

Relpax is working wonders for me, esp if I catch it early on. Two Exedrins also help. Caffeine is the key for me. Sleep is the ultamet cure.

[Mustangsally82]

I used to have migraines during my period, and that was bad enough and then they started creeping up into two weeks a month, and then three. This went on for about four months, and then my doctor switched my birth control from a pill with both estrogen and progestin to just a pill with progestin (the mini pill) in it. With my former pill I had three weeks of hormones and one week off. With the mini pill you take the same dose of progestin for all four weeks.

I think my migraines were heavily influenced by the changes in hormones during my cycle. Once I was on the mini pill I would only have moderate headaches during my period and I could just take ibuprofen and that would take the edge off. Before I was taking lots of Relpax and it didn't always work.

Maybe y'all should consider looking at any hormones you take and see if they affect your headaches? Mine are so much better and the birth control suppresses a lot of my symptoms from PCOS. But I have always had a pretty regular cycle so maybe I'm just not a typical PCOSer.

Lots of luck! Migraines are no fun at all.

[longing4abab]

I take Maxalt. it makes my head hert 500% worse but then it knocks me out for at least 4 hr and i wake up a lil out of it but it is gone.

my mom gets them horrible and takes exdrine and Tyelnol 3 for hers

[SuzanneStar]

Yup migraine sufferer aswell.

I was told to stay away from plain paracetamol teblets and now I take Feverfew which is a natural remedy once a day and if one does come on I take Migraleve

I also get the aura and double vision and usually caffeine and the smell of bleach brings one on and also when AF