Who suffers from migraine headaches?

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  1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
    Davinagirl3posted 15 years ago

    Yesterday, I had one of the worst migraines of my life.  I was alone, at home, with my eleven month old daughter and I was so sick I was afraid.  My head hurt so bad I was dizzy.  I couldn't lift my daughter, much less bring her downstairs.  I ended up having to call my mom to come get my daughter, for the evening, so I could sleep it off.  Does anyone else suffer from migraine headaches?  If so, what do you do to ease the pain?

    1. profile image0
      AuthorsBookposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I was you at one time until I discovered an allergy to sugar!

    2. Dale Mazurek profile image63
      Dale Mazurekposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I definatly feel for you.  I get migraines so bad that they bring me down to nothing.

      If I feel one coming on I take advil and 9 times out of ten now that works for me. 

      A great natural relief for migraines are a herb called feverfew.

      Im not sure where you are but in Canada there is an arthritis medicine called Maxaran.  I was a guinea pig for this a few years ago.  It was administered by IV and it worked in minutes.  The best thing about it was it isnt a narcotic or it doesnt make you drowsy at all.

      I do feel for you.  People who have not suffered migraines will never understand how a headache can toatally bring a person down.

      1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
        Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

        I will try the feverfew.  The bad thing about my migraines is that they come on without warning.  If I could tell one was coming I could try aspirin, at least.  It is hard to take pills once the headache is in full effect, because of the nausea.

        1. Dale Mazurek profile image63
          Dale Mazurekposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          You are absolutely right, once the migraine is there pills are not an option.

          I guess I have gotten a bit lucky, the last few years I feel 75% of my migraines coming on.  I better have advil pretty close though because it escalates fast.

          My friend and a couple other people I know do swear by feverfew so it would most definatly be a good try

          1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
            Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I will definitely give it a try.  Thanks for the advice.

      2. TamCor profile image80
        TamCorposted 15 years agoin reply to this

        I have to second the feverfew--I had terrible migraines, starting as a child, until I started taking feverfew in my early 30's.  At first, it cut down on the number of them, then slowly, the symptoms lessened to where now, all I get(maybe once a year) is the messed up eyesight, and a very, very slight headache.  I haven't taken the feverfew in years now, but the migraines haven't gotten bad again, knock on wood...

        Also--Something that helped me was to eat something when one was coming on--honestly, I don't know why or how it helped, but it did.

        I know how scary it is to have young ones to care for when you get a migraine--many times I had to take care of my oldest two by myself, 'cause my ex couldn't be bothered to help.  I'm so glad to hear that your mom helped you out.

        1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
          Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

          My husband was going to come home from work early, but he called at the last minute to say he just couldn't get off.  I was so thankful for my mother.  She suffered from migraines when my brother and I were little and had no one to call for help.  I think that is why she was so eager to help.

    3. profile image0
      cosetteposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      yes. all i can say is at the very first sign, take two Excedrin right away. that is the only time i take that stuff because it makes me nauseated.

      it's interesting that you should post this. last Tuesday i had one---i can always tell it is a migrane and not a regular headache because i start to see very bright, tiny pinpoints of light in my vision like after someone takes a flash picture right in your face. and then the pinpoints become neon-golden shapes resembling bear traps or upside-down triangle shapes and with the onset of the pain, i beging losing peripheral vision.

      i feel your pain, no doubt! you're not alone.

      1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
        Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

        I get complete "tunnel vision" that is why I was afraid to go downstairs.  It seems a lot of hubbers get migraines.

    4. Helen Cater profile image60
      Helen Caterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I can feel your pain from here. Nothing gets rid of mine when the attack comes. Sometimes they last for days and my vision is blured. The numbness in the mouth and hands is scary. It's so bad at times I think I might have a tumour. You were right to get your mother as you could have done nothing but sleep to try and rid yourself of it.

    5. profile image0
      Lady_Eposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Hope your much better now. I had exactly the same thing a few years ago at work. It hurt so bad, they called home.

      Migraleve Tablets work for me. Not sure if they sell them where you are. Also, sleeping with all the curtains closed will help take it away. If it's at night - just use dimmers.

      Try not to stay too long on the computer for a few days. smile

      Take Care,  Dr_E  smile

    6. SkippingThruLife profile image61
      SkippingThruLifeposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Poor Girl! I know the feeling.  I can actually feel the onset of one as I type.  The worst one I ever had, I was taken to the ER and given a shot (?) in my back side. It immediately made me feel better. Since I can't go to the ER everytime I get them, I usually just lay in a dark, quiet room, and try to go to sleep.  That is the best thing for me.

    7. Specialk3749 profile image60
      Specialk3749posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I do have them.  Thankfully they are not as frequent as they use to be.  I normally just suffer through them.  Try to figure out what triggers them.  That is one of the things that I did.  I figured out that mine were coming with my monthly cycle.  At that time I would be on guard and take pain meds when I knew it was coming.  That helped a lot.

    8. jiberish profile image82
      jiberishposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      My migraines follow a full moon.  There is no drug that helps me, sleep, puke, sleep, sleep.  Someone suggested Botox shots.

    9. profile image0
      Poppa Bluesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      This seems to be a very common problem in women. My wife gets them so bad she can't open her eyes! Apparently everyone has different "triggers" that set them off. It's important, if you have medication, to take it when you feel the onset of the headache. Once you have the headache, it's too late!

  2. profile image0
    girly_girl09posted 15 years ago

    Migraines are awful. I definitely agree with Cosette (great advice) take two excedrin at the first twinge!

    Cosette- I also get altered up vision; sometimes I see beams of light and spots, too. I had a manageable migraine last weekend and my vision is still a little off from that. I'm hoping it doesn't come back anytime soon.

    Other than that, my doctor prescribes me Vicodin (which obviously renders me incapable of doing much). Sometimes, I have to go the the ER to get some type of shot if it is really really bad (this has only happened about 5 times in my life).


    Migraines are awful - you're not alone! There are some medications (non-narcotic) that might work for you. So, I would ask your doctor. They didn't work for me, but others swear by them. I think it all depends on what your migraine triggers are.

    Good luck!

  3. profile image0
    cosetteposted 15 years ago

    yeah you guys. the first time i had holes in my vision i thought i was having some sort of brain-tumor attack. and the holes aren't black spots - they are clear holes. hard to explain.

    and sleeping it off is sometimes the only remedy. i'm too chicken to take anything stronger than excedrin.

    try this also: do deep breathing (belly breathing). that really helps.

    breathe in deep through your nose with your mouth closed.

    hold it for 1/2 a sceond.

    open your mouth and make an "o" shape and release your breath slowly.

    repeat.

    i'm a big believer in deep breathing for a lot of troublesome situations.

    1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
      Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Breathing correctly does seem to ease the pain, but it doesn't help enough to enable me to function.  The breathing technique is the only way I can sleep with a migraine, though.

      1. profile image0
        cosetteposted 15 years agoin reply to this

        yeah, it calms me down, mostly. once your vision starts to go and that vice starts tightening around your head it gets a little scary.

        1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
          Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I was just saying that to my husband this morning.  Even though I have had hundreds of migraines throughout my life, they always scare me.  I always think, "This one is something else... I am having a stroke, or something."  I am always worried about aneurisms.  They say that people who suffer from migraines are more likely to have an aneurism than someone who doesn't get migraines.

  4. BundleBoy profile image68
    BundleBoyposted 15 years ago

    Davinagirl3 I feel your pain. Migraines screw up the entire day (and night). The under lying objective would be to find out the trigger. The problem is there are so many triggers (for me), Onion, Garlic, strong smell of perfume, Heat, not eating on time, improper sleep, blah blah. I try and avoid any of the above factors causing a migraine.

    Beside this I think I can only pray I don't get it. The pain does not go away until I take a few pain killers or worse, puke!

    1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
      Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      That is so true.  I try to avoid vomitting because I hate it so much, but at the end of the day, it is one of the only things that work.  I usually can't eat when I have a bad one, but I can still dry heave.... TMI?  Sorry.

    2. PassionateArethia profile image60
      PassionateArethiaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      My husband suffers from migrains as well Iam so sorry. They do consum your day. I find sitting in a dark room helps, and using a warm cloth on your forehead. I hope this helps good luck.

      1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
        Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

        Applying heat is a good remedy.  I use a hot water bottle.  I think I have tried just about everything.  Normally, I just have to wait them out.  I use heat on my neck when I am trying to go to sleep.

  5. BundleBoy profile image68
    BundleBoyposted 15 years ago

    I guess it is also genetic. Lucky us!

  6. Fiction Teller profile image60
    Fiction Tellerposted 15 years ago

    I've had migraines all my life and I've written lots of articles on the subject--and I just published another one since my answer in the forum was getting rather lengthy.  I hope it helps.  Do you get recurring migraines or is this the first time?

    1. Fiction Teller profile image60
      Fiction Tellerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Oops--just saw that you get them a lot.  Sorry, posted that without checking for new posts.  I hope you're feeling all better now.

      1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
        Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

        Yes, luckily enough, I have never had a headache for longer than 24 hours.  I have met people who have had them for days.

        1. Fiction Teller profile image60
          Fiction Tellerposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          My longest was three days, when I experimented with not doing any treatment.  And when I was pregnant, the migraines increased...but the odd thing was, simply taking Tylenol nixed them successfully--you absorb things extra-well when you're pregnant.

          In my case, I found that for prevention, changing my diet and taking wild alaskan salmon oil for six months helped.

          1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
            Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

            During my second trimester, I woke up with a headache almost every day.  The pain subsided after I was up for an hour, or so.  I didn't have any headaches during my last trimester.  I thought I might be "cured", but after my baby was born, they came back.

  7. Song-Bird profile image70
    Song-Birdposted 15 years ago

    I have suffered from migraines as long as I can remember.  In the beginning I took Excedrin but quickly grew immune to that.  Now I take a daily dose of Topamax which prevents them from even occuring.  It has cut down my headaches by 75% - now I only get about 2 a month.  When I get those, I take Amerge (prescription migraine medicine).  It works great.  Unfortunately, I am always taking pills but there aren't any side affects and I am no longer completely debilitated from them.

    1. Davinagirl3 profile image61
      Davinagirl3posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I am so thankful that I do not get them on a weekly basis.  I get one, or two, a month.  I have a prescription for Imitrex, but it only works sometimes.

  8. Song-Bird profile image70
    Song-Birdposted 15 years ago

    I have never heard of anyone except for myself that has been prescribed Amerge for migraines.  It really works good for me every time.

  9. FranyaBlue profile image64
    FranyaBlueposted 15 years ago

    People who suffer with migraines have 'sticky' platelets that clog up blood vessels. You should find out where you can have a platelet aggregation test done. And eat a few pieces of crystalised ginger now and again which helps to stop migraines from forming. I read most of the previous comments and see that a lot of people take tablets for pain relief......but natural remedies are better for you in the long run.

  10. KevCC profile image72
    KevCCposted 15 years ago

    "Luckily" I only get Opthalmic migraines, and I actually had one today. It wasn't too bad and didn't last long. I don't get pain but some amazing visual disturbance. Can't see much when I get a bad one.

 
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