[Cody Dawg]

Every once in a while I get a migraine. They start with an ocular occurrence where I lose my sight for about 30 minutes (flashing lights then the eyesight turns grey and then when my eyesight comes back the migraine starts.) I'm talking about the real thing with the terrible pounding headache where lights, noise, and smells make it hurt worse and make me want to vomit. They last about three long days. I have had one for three days and today is the first morning where I think it's finally gone, but it's been pretty bad.

Do any of you get them - and I'm not talking about a regular headache - and if so what do you do? Take any medications?

I don't like to take medications for them unless absolutely necessary and last night I finally broke down and took something. I've tried everything including specialty migraine medications (Imitrix) but they don't really work. The only thing that makes the pain go away for me is Hydrocodone with acetaminophen and caffeine - supposedly the caffeine shrinks the blood vessels in the head. But, since Hydrocodone is a narcotic I don't really like to take it.

Any ideas? (Especially from WDLove who knows about health matters?)

[Millennium]

I don't get them, but my wife does sometimes. She finds that silence, a dark room, caffeine, and a cold compress over the eyes seem to help. She uses one of those aromatherapy herb packs for the cold compress. I don't know if all that lavender actually helps on a medical level, but it smells good if nothing else, and I guess that could aid relaxation.

Of course, this isn't always practical, because it requires a fair amount of time in order to work (sometimes upwards of an hour in the worst cases). If she doesn't have that much time, she'll use loads of caffeine; it's not as good but it helps a little.

Not a doctor; just some observations from the spouse of a migraine sufferer.

[Randman]

Have you seen an eye doctor? I used to get migraines from eye strain back when computer monitors were that icky green.

[sknapp351]

I've had migranes very silmilar to the one Cody described for 18 yrs now, except noise doesn't bother me. As far as medicines are concerned Hydrocodone does well for me, but your right it is a narcotic and for that reason my doctor doesn't want me to take those. Midrin worked reasonably well, I'm pretty sure that they are a barbituate+asprin+caffine. When using over the counter drugs I have to change brands often or they loose effectivness for me pretty quick. The most difficult thing to do, but often the most helpfull when you have one is to relax. I use 2 ice packs. One on my forehead and one on the back of my neck. Darkness is amazingly helpfull, also. I'm not sure where you shop, but at my local grocery store (Publix) there is a medicine in the pharmacy section that is a homeopathic liquid migrane relief that is made of ginger. This doesn't do anything at the beginning of a migrane, but if I get to the point of vomiting it will cause that to stop and seems to help then. And against my expectations my chiropractor did wonders at lessening migraine occurances.
SAm

[rickey939]

I've never had one luckily. I've heard the pain is like having an "ice cream headache", but they last for hours instead of seconds. Is that true?

[Railroader]

Eye pressure.
Nausea.
Crowning pain.
Weakness.
Tingling in my fingers.
Light sensitivity.
Debilitating pain.

The best drug for migraines I have taken is Axert. Works in about 20 minutes and ALWAYS works.

[Railroader]

Oh yeah, I once had one for three months. Made me want to just lie down and die the end of the first week. Finally daignosed by my eye doctor as swelling in the menigeal layer of my brain and was putting pressure on my optic nerve.

My headaches are mostly seasonal and weather pressure change related.

[Cody Dawg]

Great posts and thank you all.

Yes, the pain for me is throbbing pain pressure inside my head and at the backs of my eyes and sometimes in the base of my skull. Smells become incredibly strong - I'll bet I could give a bloodhound a run for his money because I can smell even the most minute smell. It's really amazing. The smells annoy me - there are hundreds of them. The smell of wood, the smell of soap on hands, clothes, even in the bathroom, the smell of books, the smell of the electronics in my PowerBook (yes, I can even smell my PowerBook!), all of the various smells and if the smell is strong, like cooking food, it makes me want to vomit. Light also disturbs me. Noise is terrible also.

I'm going to take note of some of your suggestions and use them. The only thing that got rid of this migraine was Hydrocodone. I tried Imitrix and something else the doctor gave me and they didn't dent it.

Honestly, if I were a regular migraine sufferer I think I'd be calling Kevorkian up.

[JustAnOl'Broad]

Originally Posted by Railroader

My headaches are mostly seasonal and weather pressure change related.

Same as above ^^ seasonal/pressure.
Chiropractor is my only relief when it gets really bad;
where my spine and skull come together gets out of whack.

Need an eye appt as well; probably need new trifocals.
Arrrrrgh.

That old thing about "getting old is not for sissies" is really
hitting home with us these days.

[ReggieX]

I've been getting them since I was 22 or so, so it's hardly an age thing. However, once I realised the early warning signs, like the flashing around the periphery of my vision, I can head them off at the pass by taking a couple of extra strength Tylenol and lying in bed for an hour or so. When that's not practical, the Tylenol and not looking at anything for a while helps.

Thankfully mine have been mild compared to others'. When I was getting them semi-regularly, I also started taking Tanacet, which is mainly the Feverfew plant/herb long recognized to help with migraines. Maybe you should look into that as well?

[RAILhead]

Imitrex.

End of story.

Problem solved.

If it "didn't work" you either took it wrong, didn't take enough, or you don't have clinical migraines.

This is coming from someone who stays on the cutting edge of migraine "technology", FWIW.

[wdlove]

Hi Cody,

Still anxiously waiting to chat again. Now I know the reason why you haven't been around. Very sorry to hear that you suffer from migraines.

My wife doesn't have them. I do have headaches occasionally, but don't think they are a migraine. On a rare occasion I have had a throbbing headache, nausea, & not able to stand. Just want to go to bed with no light or noise. When I'm really sick bed is for me. It seems that the bed rather than medication helps the most.

Have you visited a speciality clinic of specialist that deals with migraines. It seems that you need a thorough work-up with a medical history. Then evaluated buy a physician that deals with this regularly.

[Osirisis]

My fiance has the same issue especially with the auras preceeding the migraines. Apparantly the causes are similar to epileptic seizures that folks get. She is on a daily regimin of Topomax and Relpax (sp?) as needed for her migraines. From what she has told me neither of these are narcotics so they don't induce an addiction. That was one of her key concerns. Granted it doesn't fix every headache she gets but a large majority don't bother her any more, i.e. she can enjoy more of life.

[RAILhead]

Topomax is a potent preventative, and if taken properly, it can be great. I don't know how long she's been using it, but do your part to make sure she doses *exactly* as prescribed because it can have some bad side effects. It's often referred to as "Dopomax" because if you get too much into your system, it'll make you a walking zombie in a matter of days. Also, if you come off it too quick, you can have some bad emotional reactions.

But as you said, you'll still get a migraine even with Topomax -- and that's where the "when needed" medications come into play (like Imitrex and Relpax).

Maury

[Cody Dawg]

Maury:

mitrex.

End of story.

Problem solved.

If it "didn't work" you either took it wrong, didn't take enough, or you don't have clinical migraines.

This is coming from someone who stays on the cutting edge of migraine "technology", FWIW.

I cannot take Imitrix without having a severe - and I mean SEVERE - vasoconstriction problem. I was hospitalized for it once. I cannot take Imitrix for that reason and I've tried the various forms of Imitrix including taking it intramuscularly. It makes me ill. Don't presume to know or to intimate that you know what people are or are not "doing" correctly when it comes to medications? Unless you have a person's FULL medical history then you don't "know" what would work or not. I also cannot take phenothiazines for the same reason as I have severe reactions to those also.

I know you mean well, but I always find it annoying when someone who does not know me blatantly tells me that I am "doing" something wrong.

Now, the information about taking Tylenol Extra Strength when the flashing lights occur is a good one also. I'm going to try that.

[Cody Dawg]

BTW, if you have are a neurologist then say so (Maury, that is) and I'll value your opinion more.

[budster101]

BOTOX may help.

[residentEvil]

Sex, lots and lots of sex. Always cures my throbing head aches. Oh wait

[RAILhead]

Cody, before you take another migraine pill, TAKE YOUR CHILL PILL FIRST.

And no, I'm not a neurologist, just a fellow sufferer for the last 20 years.

The reason I stated what I did is that, statistically, there was only a 0.03% chance you "couldn't take" Imitrex orally. The injection percentage is about 0.42%. The nasal spray is right at 0.03%.

So, even if you had taken all three types at the same time, STATISTICALLY, you would still have less than a HALF OF ONE PERCENT chance of experiencing any type of vasospasm. That's why I so "boldly" made the comment I did.

You, apparently, are a statistical anomaly; 1 of the 2 in 6,348...1 in the 8 in over 1,900...1 in the 1 in over 4,000.

Good luck with the pain.

Maury

[budster101]

Cody you are (understandably) a hypocondriac. Seek out natural methods before medicating yourself.

Try to relax more or yoga... something other than what your normal routine is giving you, because I've noticed a trend in your ailments.(sp)

[Cody Dawg]

Thank you, Maury. I appreciate the well wishes.

The Hydrocodone got rid of it last night but I just don't like taking narcotics.

However, if I have to, I will.

[Cody Dawg]

I don't think I'm a hypochondriac. I would be offended except it's you saying it. I have MS, I just recovered from a bout of that about two months ago that left one leg weak. Then I had to have a large growth removed from my abdomen - that is not an invented "imaginary" malady either. I had surgery - twice (one was for a minor thing related to the first surgery) - about two weeks ago. Now I have a migraine. How does that make me a hypochondriac? I'm not feeling well. I try to exercise, eat right, and do the right things. Intrauterine growths don't occur as the result of imagination or lack of exercise or "relaxing."

I think I will choose to be offended by your statement, budster.

Do you accuse your wife of being a hypochondriac too?

[nredman]

i have never had a migraine, thank god. my sister-in-law gets them once and awhile, i think she just needs darkness & silence. i feel bad for anyone who gets migraines because if i even get a headache i'm bitching about it

[budster101]

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I don't think I'm a hypochondriac. I would be offended except it's you saying it. I have MS, I just recovered from a bout of that about two months ago that left one leg weak. Then I had to have a large growth removed from my abdomen - that is not an invented "imaginary" malady either. I had surgery - twice (one was for a minor thing related to the first surgery) - about two weeks ago. Now I have a migraine. How does that make me a hypochondriac? I'm not feeling well. I try to exercise, eat right, and do the right things. Intrauterine growths don't occur as the result of imagination or lack of exercise or "relaxing."

I think I will choose to be offended by your statement, budster.

Do you accuse your wife of being a hypochondriac too?

I know you have MS Cody. I also know, thanks to my wife that you are also going to have numerous other health problems because of MS. I'm sorry if I came across as a bit of a jerk by my saying you could be a hypocondriac, but it was almost tongue in cheeky, so put this in place where it belonged.

Later on in your post: "I will be offended"

That is your perogative, but it wasn't meant to offend. Yes, I do acuse her of being a hypocondriac. I've almost died twice from pneumonia and never complained. Ok, I was flat on my back and couldn't but I never complain about pain or anything else physically. Very high threshold for pain, unfortunately for me... because I don't know when it's something serious. So, you may have hit on something. I expect others to have the same thresholds, which seems kras (sp) I think. Thanks for helping me work that out.

I'd like to see you and (my wife) try out more natural remedies. I've known too many medicated people in my family and life, and the medication usually helps the problem but causes others on tangents... so what is worse? The pain? Or the side effects?

Maybe marijuana should be legal. It seems that plant solves many problems with pain, hunger and other things associated with MS. All my best to you and your family. Sorry for being a jerk, I've just quit smoking. (Another form of self-mediation with side-effects right?) and now I'm a bear.