Who here gets migraines?

[skygazer]

I'm having those visual auras that usually precede mine - the ones when my vision gets all wierd like I'm seeing through water. It makes it hard to see the computer screen. I guess I better take a Frova though I hate the way those things make me feel almost as much as the migraines. And I almost enjoy this bizarre visual stuff - it's kind of interesting in a semi-alarming way.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. i have one right now..started yesterday afternoon.

I start with black coffee and the super benedryl for sinus headache.Then I take a nap.
If that does not work I go for the Imitrex. Gotta sleep for a couple of hours after that.

[KitchenWitch]

2. I do!

They suck.

[Ready4Change]

3. I get one or two a year.

The visual stuff is interesting for a moment, then the pressure starts building and I know what's on the way, so the enjoyment vanishes.

Personally, my best move is to pop a couple Excedrins and take a nap. From first visual effects I almost always have about 45 minutes before the migrine seriously kicks in. Usually I can get to sleep before that.

Best wishes. Hope your coming one is mild.

[AlCzervik]

4. i do, they start out with a dull ache behind my left eye

and then the pain worsens through the day until it feels like everytime i move my head my brain slams into my skull and tats usually when the vomiting starts. I try and go into a dark room and stay there until it passes.

[HEyHEY]

5. Yeah, it's my huge brain pulsating

I've never actually asked a doctor though, I should.

[rhino47]

6. I get them 6 to 9 times a month

They are so bad I am in a migraine research study.
Botox strangely has given me great relief.Part of the study
was getting a brow lift.It lessened the pain for me and the frequency.
On alot of other people I know that is in the study it cured them.

[nytemare]

26. I have heard there is a surgery now for people who get migraines

where Botox is effective. Somehow it releases the nerve. Insurance doesn't cover it yet, though.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. I find they seem to be related to the barometric pressure. It used

to be menstrual cycles.
My chiropractor says I am more reliable than the weatherman on TV. I can always tell when there is going to be a change in the weather.
It gets so bad sometimes that I almost want to put an icepick into my temple to relieve the pressure.

[skygazer]

10. I've noticed that too

In high humidity, they seem to be more frequent for me. I've never noticed a correlation between certain foods and my migraines but the weather as well as neck pain and stress triggers them. I had surgery on my neck last year to repair a herniated disc and they've slackened dramatically.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. I get them with changes in barometric pressure, too

If it suddenly goes from sunny to rainy and drippy overnight, I wake up with a pounding headache plus nausea.

Living in Oregon was not fun at times.

[nytemare]

27. I wonder if that is why May seems to be the worse month for me

The past few Mays I have gotten them so much more than the other months. I think the heat bugs me.

[skygazer]

8. The first time it happened

I was in my 20's and I was home alone with my son who was a baby. I was reading and the pages started to blur. It was wierd and I kept blinking and peering at the book as it got worse and worse. Eventually, I couldn't see at all, just a blur of light. That scared me so I called my sister because I couldn't see to look up my doc's number and I knew hers by heart. She called the doc who called me and told me it sounded like the onset of a migraine. Oddly, I never got the actual headache that time, just the initial aura but I've had more than enough of them since to make up for it. They are the strangest things - sometimes it feels like I'm having a stroke (or what I imagine a stroke to feel like). I especially hate the ones that last for days - they make me want to shoot myself.

I've been having more than usual lately, probably because of stress. ~sigh~

[mtnester]

42. Same thing happened with me the first time...I thought I was going blind

I left work crying, telling them I had to hurry I was going blind, and I drove (hah DROVE) straight to my eye doctor, ran in to the office sobbing "I am going BLIND!"

After all that, I never got the headache, but my eye doctor diagnosed occular migraine....however, after that, I get the migraine...only just a couple of times have I gotten the occular disturbance only...but I ususally try to get to sleep quick when my vision tunnels and auras out.

Mine seems to be weather related, as do so many othes.

[Technowitch]

9. I get a few each month

Which is better than it used to be, which was almost every other day. I'm on some meds now that seem to reduce the frequency.

Unfortunately, I've had one sitting on top of my brain since last Friday, and can't quite shake it.

[flamingyouth]

11. I do

I have found that Tramadol is the best prescription painkiller for me. Imitrex works but only if I catch it in the "I think I *might* be getting a migraine" phase.

Basically, drinking something with caffeine and taking Excedrin migraine formula is the best, believe it or not. I've tried everything. If you can lie down in a dark room at some point, that would be best.

I hope you feel better soon. :hug:

[skygazer]

12. Thanks for the good wishes

Like you, I've tried about everything. I've been getting them for over 20 years now so I kind of accept them with resignation. I do generally drink a couple of cups of tea when I get one but the OTC meds like Exedrin and the caffeine have never touched my migraines - there have been some prescription meds that have helped more than others. The Frova seems to work pretty well on me and I have this great aromatherapy eye pillow that my daughter gave me last year which helps a lot. It's soft and filled with lavender and some other stuff and combined with the dark room really makes a difference.

I have so much compassion for ANYONE who gets migraines. They are just excruciating.

[flamingyouth]

14. Have you ever been given Fioricet?

My doctor prescribed me 10 or so of those last year and that helped. But she's reluctant to give me too many of them, for some reason. They didn't make me tired feeling the way Vicodin, etc., does, but they did help with the pain somewhat.

I agree about the eye pillow... those are awesome. I don't know if it's the lavender, the cool temp of the pillow, the weight of it, or a combination of all things, but they do help me too, as long as I can lie down in the dark & quiet...

[skygazer]

15. That's one I haven't tried

According to the PDR (don't leave home without it!), it can be addictive and should be used with caution in individuals being treated for severe depression. Perhaps the habit forming aspect is why your doc was reluctant. It's a mixture of a barbituate sedative, acetaminophen and caffeine.

[flamingyouth]

16. Ah, no wonder

I was given that right after my husband's suicide, so I understand her reluctance with it. I should ask her again just if I can have five or so to keep in case of an emergency. It really does work wonders (and the caffeine is probably what kept me from being knocked out by it). :D

I need to get a PDR. :D

[ikojo]

13. I get 'em and consider it a good day

when I do not have a headache of any kind. Today is a good day!

[Sanity Claws]

18. I used to get them a lot

particularly just before or during my period. I went to a Chinese acupuncturist for the pain; Chinese medicine handles migraines very differently from western medicine. The acupuncturies diagnosed me with stagnant liver qi, gave me herbs, suggested dietary changes. She also stuck me needles. Now I get the headaches less often and when I do get them, they are less severe.

[NorthernSpy]

19. me

I get them a few times a month. The early warning is that I get very, very clumsy, and then have trouble speaking (kind of a difficulty getting words out). It also gets hard to see, somehow.

Then the headache -- which can be either annoying or agonizing, depending on my luck.

[Guy Fawkes]

20. I used to get them all the frikin' time...

I was told to drink coffee every morning. Now I get them rarely. I do get a normal headache or two every week. I am damn glad I've never had a Cluster Headache (some people who get those kill themselves to escape the pain!)

[LanternWaste]

21. I get Clusters and would trade you in a heartbeat. eom

I get Clusters and would trade you in a heartbeat.

[Redstone]

30. Cluster headaches? Yo. Got 'em right here.

A massive dose of caffeine helps me sometimes. Have you tried that?

From what I've heard, you wouldn't really want to trade for the migraines. Six o' one, half-dozen o' t'other, from what I understand.

Redstone

[legally blonde]

22. I do

I usually get about 3-4 a month. I've been getting them since my junior year in college. I can usually trace them to stress and lack of sleep (unfortunately this is the norm for me b/c of law school), although not always. I've tried every OTC medicine available and nothing works very well for me, so I have a prescription for Imitrex. Unfortunately, it only works if I catch my migraine early and I have to sleep for a while.

Does anyone know of any herbal remedies that work? I'm willing to try anything!

[nytemare]

31. There are a lot of medicines along the lines of Imitrex

Maxalt, Amerge, Frova, Axert...not sure of the spelling on them, but they are supposed to last longer than the Imitrex. My doc gave me imitrex and amerge, and he said to take the Imitrex for the onset, then after a little while take the Amerge, so the migraine wouldn't come back.

Have you been on verapamil or calan? Those are normally heart medicines, but for some reason they found that people that get migraine with aura didn't get as many when taking them. I was getting about 4-5 a month, now I take Verapamil and I might get one every month and a half or so.

I am so glad there is something for them now, though. When I was little with them, there was nothing I could do but try to sleep.

[legally blonde]

33. I've never tried any of those

I should go to a specialist in that area to be re-evaluated and maybe try something new. Imitrex does work for me, but not always. Especially if I don't catch it in time.

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll have to talk them over with my doctor.

[nytemare]

40. Sure, anything to help!

I know what a pain those can be. If you get them that much, maybe the verapamil can help you to prevent them, as well.

I used to only get them once every few months, so the imitrex was fine for that. When I started getting a couple a week, it was time to look towards prevention for me.

Hope one of those helps you!

[cheezus]

41. herbal remedy

have you tried the one you can't buy over the counter?

[Dervill Crow]

23. I get all kinds of headaches.

Migraine, tension, sinus, and cluster. Maxalt works for my monthly migraines pretty well and doesn't make me loopy, like Fioricet did.

[yellowdogintexas]

24. Used to get them a lot, but never had the aura. I get the bad

pressure that hangs out on one side of my head then moves conveniently to the other side of my head.

Before I had a hysterectomy, I had them twice a month, they were most definitely hormonally triggered. They would latch on to my brain and just not go away.

Don't have them like I used to, but once in a while, BAM!!!

Decongestants help, and I think mine are triggered by sinus pressure initially and then just hang on

[nytemare]

25. I hate those damned things!

I get them with the "scintillating scotoma" as well. Sucks when you are driving! I had a problem about 2 years ago where I was getting them more frequently, and the vision blob that normally went away after about a half hour stuck around for like 3 weeks. My neurologist gave me verapamil to prevent them, and it works pretty well. He said it is the best prevention for migraine with aura.

Do you get numb and get where you can't think straight, then get sick to your stomach?

[sakabatou]

28. I do!

Or I used to... now I just get bad headaches.

[all.of.me]

29. i've been having that trippy visual thing for 40 years!

just a few years ago, i found out it was part of a migraine, but i never got the headaches... until i hit menopause. now i freak out when my eyes get trippy. i make a strong cup of coffee immediately and slam it. that usually does the trick. but once it didn't, and i was out of commission all day and exhausted the next.

[DesEtoiles]

32. Flintstones vitamins seemed to help mine-started taking them with my 3-yr

old, and then noticed that the headaches were a lot less frequent.

[NoSheep]

36. Dayum!

:D

[auntAgonist]

34. ask your Dr. about Topamax. nt

[LeftCoast]

35. I have 'wierd' migraines

They don't usually get very severe, though I get the light/sound sensitivity and a lot of nausea...the main prob is they can last for months. I've just started using Relpax and it usually knocks the migraine right out if I can catch it in time.

Good luck with yours, I wouldn't wish a migraine on anyone, not even GW.

:hi:

[Mutley]

37. i've only had one

that fits the description of migrane rather than headache... but it was AWFUL... i am so sorry for those of you who get them regularly.

[NoSheep]

38. I had them all through college when I took the pill. 7 days straight

every month. Then I stopped taking the pill. whew!

[luvLLB]

39. Oh, I do! Mine are more sound oriented though.

I don't get the aura people talk about, but my hearing gets.....acute. Just makes me want to shove cotton in my ears, but even that sound is excruciating.

[TheOriginalAmerican]

43. I get migraines.

One thing that irritates them is light. Light comes out of the computer. I would get away from the computer some until I got better.

Other than that, I would be sure to take something with aspirine in it and not Ibuprofin. Aspirine thins the blood, while Ibuprofin thickens it.