Migraine ?

[LilacLillie]

I have had the most awful migraines for about 3yrs now. In fact I get them for about 14 to 16 days a month, with no obvious pattern.
When I have them I can not do anything but lie down and often don't think I'll ever be getting up.
I am very reluctant to try the medication the Dr sugests, Beta Blockers, daily for the rest of my life. So I have asked to be refered to the migraine clinic and now, at last, have an appointment for 4th Oct:
I know very little about the condition and have been trying to 'ignore' the pains, in the hope they would go away. They haven't!
I've kept a diary for the last 2 yrs, cross referencing everything I can think of. I can't find the link.
However the last 3 days I have been realtively pain free, the first time for ages (early days, I know).
The only thing I think may be different is I have not drunk any tea (which I love & usually have about 4 cups a day!). Haven't had coffee for 3yrs, thinking that may have been the cause. Now I am only drinking herbal, but so missing my tea.
I was wondering if it is possible that the caffine may be causing the migraines? If so, has anyone tried the caffine free tea you can buy & does it taste different? I'm really missing my cuppa :(
I have tried all known 'over the counter' medication and have yet to find ANYTHING that works. Tried herbals/ natural, Chinese, faith healers etc: I get some relief from 'Tiger Balm', suggested by my MIL, years ago for all ailments. Does anyone know of any tried and tested 'Old wives' cures?
I'd stand on my head one day a week if I thought it would help!!!!
LL

[lindens]

I have switched to caffeine free- tea in the last 3 months (only because they seem to be vastly reduced at the supermarket!) and come to think of it my monthly (hormonal??) migraine either hasn't come or has been reduced.it's worth a try, you'll save money as in asda they are 75p for 80 bags. I can't notice any difference in taste. i drink about 5 -7 cups a day.
I do feel for you, i only get one migraine a month that lasts for 3 days and it's really debilitating. Nothing I do makes it go away so i just try and carry on with life. I find a mixture of co-codamol and ibrufen takes the edge off but don't like popping pills constantly.
Good luck

[LilacLillie]

Try the 'Tiger Balm' rubbed into your temples. It really helps.
LL

[lisyloo]

I get migraines about once every 2 months which is not nearly as often as some but they are very debilitating and I get very sick.

I have found that migraleve works well and a prescription medication called migramax which is a powder.
Both work very well for me if taken early.

Have you considered whether this is anything to do with your eyesight?

You might have nothing wrong with your vision but your muscles could be straining to the maximum.
If you work with PCs your employer should pay for your eye test (I recently got one free from Dolland & Aitchison but I think they are only doing half price now).

[sheep]

My friend suffers from migraines and she swears by Feverfew capsules - from health food shop.

[gremlin]

Hi lilaclillie

I really feel for you - I suffer from migraines too and unless you have them you dont know how debilitating they can be.

I used to get them as much as you but I have to say that mine are reduced to maybe once a month or so when Im not careful about what I eat. The main thing I have found is definately reduce you tea - I dont drink the caffiene free because I drink herbal now. Also my triggers are chinese food and the usual red wine, chocolate etc. so I avoid (until my resolve withers and I give in to temptation :D )

But I think the main areas you could look at (which reading how organised you are you may have already found) is dont let yourself become dehydrated - drink gallons of water. I also believe tea dehydrates you so it may be a contributing factor, also another huge cause was not eating. I have been known to skip a couple of meals and I always find that if I forget to eat it will almost always trigger an attack. This alone has meant my migraines attacks are much fewer.

On pain relief - I too hate the popping of pills, but the only relief I get is if I take some Ibuprofen early in an attack - it sometimes dulls the pain into the background so I can try to function. Apparently ibuprofen reduces the swelling to ease the pain and the earlier I catch it the more effective it seems to be.
Anyway I hope this may be some help to you


j.x

[Treacle]

What is your lifestyle like? Could stress be linked to it too? What work do you do? People tend to think of diet first but there are plenty of other aspects to take into account. Maybe the lighting / air conditioning / computers could take it’s toll on you! Do you sleep well at night, or struggle to rest your brain! Do you give yourself some time during your day – maybe meditation, yoga. Even just making yourself sit still for 5 mins could help! Have you thought about how you breathe, spend some time just taking long deep breaths. We all tend to breathe far too shallow which can hinder our functions greatly! Acupressure points can help – having your big toes and thumbs massaged (preferably by someone else) can give relief, just as gently pulling your hair in select sections – I know it sounds like the last thing you’d want to do, but it does give relief! Also try drinking plenty of water - golden rule that one!!! Regular eating is important too, as is being aware of good food – so many chemicals can add to the suffering!

[pug_in_a_bed]

The beta blockers worked for my SIL mostly; If you're getting desparate I would give them a try.
Here's some information (http://www.migraines.org/treatment/probetab.htm)

Have you tried getting in contact with the migraine association (http://www.migraine.org.uk/)?

Funnily enough, SIL ended up on the beta blockers after applying for a medical trial involving the association which was based on the idea that some sufferers may have a tiny hole in the heart (easily correctable) which affects blood flow and causes migraines. Heres the site (http://www.migraine-mist.org/)

She couldn't get on the trial as she actually suffered from too many (they were trying to get sufferers of similar patterns). As a result, she got a referral for the migraine clinic and was put on the bb's which so far, 4 months on, have reduced her attacks by over half (she has to keep a diary).
She also got relief when she stopped eating gluten, but this made her feel better generally for other medical reasons.

Sorry, i notice I've bombarded you with info!
But, if the MIST study turns out to be right, many sufferers could be in luck.

[Jazzy_B]

I suffered from terrible migraines for years and never got much help from GPs. Everything changed when I joined Migraine Action, http://www.migraine.org.uk/ I got loads of information from them.I started keeping a diary, detailing food, weather conditions, time of the month etc etc and armed with this I went to my GP . I asked to try various combinations of drugs, and after a while I started on something that made the migraines disappear within 30 mins. My life virtually changed overnight once I found something that worked for me.
I've got no connection with MA apart from being a member. Armed with info from them , I was able to get my life sorted out. Good luck.

[elona]

My daughter has been having dreadful headaches every day for months.

When we saw a specialist in neurosciences she suggested we try accupuncture.

Daughter has just had her first session yesterday and she is pain free today - after months where nothing worked to relieve the pain.

We will be going back every two weeks until she stabilises.

[Savvy_Sue]

I drink decaff tea 99% of the time and don't think I can tell the difference. I also drink Redbush tea which is naturally decaff, and I like it. Not everyone does, but I'd have said it was worth a try. You can get it in healthfood shops and quite a few supermarkets now.

But I don't get migraine, I do this to keep my blood pressure down ...

[ditzymuppet]

Hey sorry to hear about your migraines...

I had a migraine recently and I got sent home from work, before I went home (I work in Boots incidentally) I spoke to a couple of the girls who work on the Chemist counter (always worth doing anyway as they can offer ideas that other people wouldn't necessarily offer, you pick a lot of useful (and useless) information from customers!) and they suggested the Kool and Soothe patches. I got home, turned out the lights, lay down and slapped one of them on my head with one of the Boots own brand Migraine relief tablets (i beleive it has codeine in it?).

I got up a few hours later with my migraine gone. I was delighted. The Kool and Soothe patches are expensive, but they stay cool for absolutely ages, and unlike a damp flannel/bag of cold water, you don't wake up to find your bedding wet after it has leaked!! Plus you can walk around with it stuck to your forehead, and apparently they work for other aches and pains.

I find that the 'wrong' time of the month triggers my migraines, cheese, caffeine and chocolate (all the yummy bits!) as well as the heat....

Migraines are horrible, I hope you do feel better soon :)

~ditzy

[Bendybops19]

Oh i hate migraines :( I went through a stage of getting one a week, and now i get about 1 a month, maybe less. I feel absolutly relieved!!! I am takin medication, i would rather not, but i will do anything to free myself from them!!! The flashing lights are the worst for me.

[Gingham Ribbon]

If you need pills, don't be disheartened. I took a course of pills (not beta blockers) every day for 3 years when I had migraines. I'd get them for days on end. It seemed to go in 3 day blocks. On the 3rd day I'd start to feel better then on the 4th I'd be back to square one. The pills (only 5mg a day in the end) really helped.

I stopped taking them because I wanted to clean my system out. They weren't suitable for use in pregnancy. They came back but here's the thing. I haven't had a single one since I got pregnant. It's been nearly 4 years. Definitely hormone related in my case!

A combination of peppermint oil and lavinder oil took the edge off them. I burned them by the bed before I went to sleep.

I hope you get it sorted out. They're a b*gg*r!