Migraine sufferers-update

What works for you to ease your migraines? I've had one on & off for 4 days and I am miserable. I tried Imitrex and Sumavel injections. I didn't like the way I felt on either of them. I feel like I'm a guinea pig trying different meds. What has worked for you?

Message edited 10/15/2012 10:02:51 PM.

Re: Migraine sufferers

I Am so sorry. I am onm. Day 3 iof a migraine off and on and want to shoot myself and. Really wondewr how others make it and work and take care of their families. I just started topamax due to other health isues I cannot take meds like imitrexc etc so my optionms are limited. Also besides the pain I am feeling blue because I feel like I am sooo often in pain that its affecting my mood and ability to enjoy life. I hope u feel better soon xoxoxo

Re: Migraine sufferers

I take daily preventive meds but for acute attacks I take Relpax. I do not like the way Imatrex makes me feel either. Aspirin often helps me when all other medications fail.

Migraine sufferers

when i was in the hospital and i ended up with a migraine from the anasthesia, they gave me fioricet. it cleared it up quickly and compltely.

Migraine sufferers

I have had migraines since I was about 4. I've had some pretty bad spells over the years, and have been on every treatment regimen you can imagine. I had one for over a month once. It would clear for a few hours and be right back. It was the worst and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I've done headache journals and everything and I have no real identifiable triggers, except they found atmospheric pressure seemed to be responsible for a good portion of my migraines. (I know, weird huh?)

I have found the key to be catching the symptoms before the pain sets in. For me, I tend to start getting a little irritable, sounds and smells and bright lights start to annoy me, I get a little nauseous. If I take a tylenol or aspirin with a caffeine product and get in a quick nap, then I usually am OK but there are times that I either don't catch it or that doesn't work and I move on to the next thing.

I also have had success with Fiorinal/fioricet but they make me sleepy so I don't take those really anymore since I am with the kids. And, I wonder if maybe the primary "cure" wasn't the barbiturate in it but the sleep it caused LOL. For the triptans, I think I have gone through most of them LOL. Imitrex injections work but like you, I didn't like how they made me felt, plus I became immune to it after about 2 years of using it. Zomig is the worst, there is nothing worse than a nasal spray shooting into your head like a rocket launching when you already have a headache. Axert has probably been the one for me that I've had most success with as well as relpax.

Unfortunately, what works for you is going to be trial and error, you're going to feel like a guinea pig until you find what works. If you're getting them and you haven't done so before, consider keeping a headache journal. Document everything, the weather, what you ate, how you felt prior etc. It can be very helpful in finding out triggers and your body's cues that you've got a migraine coming on.

If you didn't like the injections of the triptans, maybe try a pill form. I find they don't give you that instant weird/almost panicked feeling like the injection does. Or you can talk to your doctor about something preventative. They have had me on elavil, atenolol, topamax and a few others as prophylactics in the past, and honestly I wish we'd skipped everything else and gone right to the topamax. It really did work in cutting down the frequency and the severity of the migraines. I've been off it about 6 years now, thankfully.

Hope you get some relief soon, migraines suck (hug)

Re: Migraine sufferers

I only started having migraines around the time my daughters were born. Actually before they were born, I was on fertility medication that gave me real bad migraines. After they were born I would get them daily about a year after they were born. I remember driving home from work throwing up in a paper bag because they were so bad. Medication would help once I had them to an extent. The only thing that has made me migraine fee is to cut out anything that has aspertane in it, like diet soda. It was causing my migraines. So, if you are eating or drinking things with aspertane in it, I would stop. I feel like I am living a normal life again.

Re: Migraine sufferers

Migraine sufferers

I use Maxalt for when I feel a migrane coming on.....I been using it for over 10 yrs now

Re: Migraine sufferers

Thank you so much everyone. I'm so sorry you all deal with them as we'll. They really are awful and make it to the point I can't function at times. Seeing my neurologist tomorrow so hopefully we will figure something else out.

Re: Migraine sufferers

Just an update.I was frustrated today because I went back to my neurologist and told him my complaints. He basically said I need to try to deal with the side effects because there will always be some kind of side effect with these drugs. I tried to get him to give me a sample or prescription for Maxalt (it worked for my mom and I see quite a few of you) he said he didn't feel it was the right thing for me because pills take too long to work. When mine come on, they come on hard and fast usually. I told him I'd try one more time with the shot now that O know how it makes me feel but I wasn't happy with what he told me

Migraine sufferers-update

Is your neurologist a headache specialist? If he is not I strongly recommend you consider seeing one. General neurologists do not have special training in treating headaches. Headaches specialist do an additional year fellowship focusing on headache treatment. I see Dr. Brian Grosberg at the Montefiore headache center. He is wonderful! I saw two general neurologists and a pain management specialist before I found him.

Migraine sufferers-update

I agree, you need to see a neuro specializing in migraine/headache. I saw one when I lived in MA and he is the one who had me keep the headache journal, helped figure out my warning signs, what may trigger one, course of treatment etc.

Good luck!

Migraine sufferers-update

I had felt like I tried everything with no relief from daily migraines, until my neurologist suggested Botox injections and they have been a God send. I get the injections in my forehead, scalp, back of my neck and a few in the trap muscles. These injections are done every three months, and my insurance covers it. I just pay a copy for the Botox and the office copy to have the injections done. My neurologist also had me on a low dose controlled released blood pressure med, which was used for further migraine prevention and it works great! for break thru migraines which I very rarely get now, I have a script for Relpax which works well for me. I'm not sure where you are located but my neurologist is fabulous and he is located in Stony Brook right off route 347. I would be more than happy to provide you with his name and number. I wish you the best!

Re: Migraine sufferers-update

I'm SO glad you're feelin better. Botox was going to be the next step for me if my current regimen (vitamins!!) didn't work Do you have any side effects?

Migraine sufferers-update

Botox has worked amazing for me. I get the injections every three months and take Relpax for breakthrough but as time went by I had less and less breakthrough headaches and the severity decreased quite a bit. Good luck!

Migraine sufferers-update

Side effects is usually mild soreness at injection site one time I got a headache during the procedure but my doc gave me a maxalt and I felt much better. The nerves they inject will feel sore for few days and takes about two weeks to get the full effect and to let it spread out.

Migraine sufferers-update

Getting adjusted works well for me. It's one of the reasons I became a chiropractor.