migraines

I know what it's like - I get them from time to time, though apparently not as bad as yours. Mine seem to last about six to ten hours. It still feels like hell on earth...

Many thanks for your comment - it is much appreciated.

In someways I'm lucky (if "lucky" is the right word). After a very short "few" hours, I tend to go to sleep - the old brain seems to shut down. After a few hours sleep the main focus of the pain has gone (although reminders will appear for the next 48 hours or so)

Yeah, sleep is the only salvation for me too. I think I may be able to control it by drinking a lot of water, eating right - that sort of thing. But I don't know... sometimes it just happens. If I stumble on a miracle cure, I'll share it here. If there is such a thing.

Stay strong.

Corio

I get them.  I have to take Maxalt to try and fend one off when I first get it, but apart from that narcotics and sleep are the only things that get rid of them.  What really pisses me off is people who describe regular headaches as 'migraines'.  They're not, they're totally different. If you've ever experienced the unique pain that comes with a migraine you'll understand the difference between that and a headache.

My sis suffers migraines but she starts to vomit with hers within ten minutes. So she cant take tablets for them ..it is a case of bundling her off to the doctor or hospital for injections ..which even then don't seem to help her much. If anyone has any things that seem to help them, I would love to hear.
She was told to eat a piece of dry bread the minute she feels it coming on ..something to do with carbohydrates...doesn't help her though cause she can't keep it down long enough.

Sorry to all you migraine sufferers, I sometimes get severe stress headaches and my sis told me to multiply that by 100 and i might have an idea of what you all go through.

Jess

I've vomited with them. Nothing like vomiting when you've got a migraine... that's real pain. Sometimes I keep them for a day or two (cluster headaches) and sometimes I'll get more merciful ones. I'll try to do the bread thing ... I just get really nauteous and can't handle the thought of food usually. Imatrex makes my body burn all over so I can't take that or any of the other relief meds. A vicadin or hydrocodone is about all that will work. I hate when I get one at five or so in the morning -- after sleeping all night! Have you ever been "dreaming" you have one only to wake up and realize .... it wasn't a dream... rats.

I take topamax for mine as a maintanance drug. It's an anti-seizure med but I don't have seizures. Something about it, since the year I've been on it, has drastically reduced my migraine numbers. I was having them once a week. I strongly recommend checking with your doc for it -- though it's a wee bit pricey. But good stuff. I take fifty ml a day. Even birth control therapy didn't work for me. Ice packs help WONDERFULLY. Sunglasses and a handful of mentholatum patches if I'm at work...

I hope you guys find what works for you. Anyone tried that dental piece that's supposed to relieve migraines?

Anyone tried that dental piece that's supposed to relieve migraines?

Are you referring to an occlusal guard?  There are studies that show that 70% or more of migraine sufferers clench their teeth at night.  An occlusal guard keeps you from clenching your teeth thus relieving the tension on the jaw muscles.

I get headaches a lot and migraines about every week or two.  I have learned the warning signs and am getting pretty good at getting them before they get bad.  I found something odd that works for me- at the first signs of a migraine (I get visual disturbances with the first twinges of pain) I take three Excedrin, drink a strong cup of coffee and each chocolate.  I never understood why this worked until I did some research.  For starters, the Excedrin is pain killer and anti-inflammatory.  Caffeine helps pain medication work and effects blood flow.  Chocolate raises serotonin which is our natural "feel good" brain chemical.  Studies have shown that most migraine sufferers lack normal levels of serotonin.  And, if that doesn't work, I take stronger medication and go to sleep for a few hours until I can see straight again.

Migraines are vascular headaches.  The blood vessels in your head first constrict, then dilate.  The constiction causes the 'aura' or warning signs some people get when they're first getting a headache, and the subsequent dilation causes the pain.  Most of the prescription migraine meds affect those blood vessels, that's why you're supposed to take when as soon as you feel a headache coming.  Caffiene also affects, as Karma said, blood flow, and I find it helps sometimes. Most of the time, if I can catch it early, I can fend it off.  If I don't get it at the start I start puking, and then have to go get a shot of anti-nausea meds and more often than not a narcotic.  Then I'll sleep for a few hours and 9 times out of 10 wake up feeling better.

I find that lack of sleep, stress and hormonal fluctuations will all trigger migraines.  I used to get them every couple of weeks, but now I'm on some low-dose hormone therapy they've spaced out a lot.  I was also on amitiptyline (a tricyclic anti-depressant) as a prophylactic - it not only affects the serotonin levels and thereby can help reduce the frequency of migraines, but it also enhances the way pain medication works. It became less effective for me over time, so I quit taking it.  Luckily the hormone therapy seems to be working quite well.

I grind my teeth when I'm awake, so I'm sure I do it in my sleep as well.  perhaps I sould ask my doc about an occlusal guard...can't hurt to try, right?

Dharma, just talk to your dentist about the occlusal guard.  They are custom fitted for your mouth and make a huge difference.  My husband grinds his teeth so bad that they are all now the same length.  The occlusal guard has helped his jaw pain and he seems to sleep better now.

I have one, but I take it out in my sleep for some reason.  I think it's because it makes me drool in my sleep

- Many thanks to all of you that have taken the time to read, and comment on, my little posting.

My mistake, I suppose, was to think that I was rid of them. Complacency is a very dangerous thing. Not have had a major attack for many years, I dared to hope they had finally gone.

I suspect my problems are somewhat stress related, even though the family has a history of suffering these attacks. I know my Mum has "trigger" foods which she has to avoid (I'm lucky there - what would life be without Chocolate? )

fortunately i dont suffer from migraines, but i have friends who do. do any of you have experience with a family of drugs called triptans? im not sure of specific brand names. if so, have they helped?