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the shawl+migraine?

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Posted 10/21/2013 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Have been new issues recently and wonder if anyone has some ideas. I've had migraines all my life, typical symptoms: tingly feeling followed by auras and excruciating pain til either suppress it with meds or it peaks and I vomit before it slowly fades (and afterwards get like that super-clarity feeling where things like music and artwork are especially amazing, wish could get the clarity w/o the agony)

Over the years tried fiorinal, amytryptaline, and Imitrex, the last the most effective. If I don't have Imitrex around (and opioids do nothing, including IV when got migraines during hospital stays) I take a lot a Advil

Recently though, have had headaches that started in my neck, where several herniated disks impinge nerve roots, and begins like "the shawl" where the neck, shoulders, and back of my head become numb and cold. I get the shawl relatively often but the last 2 times it formed into a migraine, the numbness merging with the headache and auras, it's hard to describe but along with the godawful pain it was also a really creepy feeling

I don't have any Imitrex (or muscle relaxants) currently so I took a ton of Advil, like 18 over 3 hours, along with a heating pad around my neck, and the shawl and headache slowly receded before reaching the vomiting stage. I'll get another Imitrex rx but does anyone else get this, it feels more like a cervical issue than a usual migraine? Have had 2 of these shawl-migraines in the last two weeks and it's not something I want to repeat, any advice about what's happening or how to stop these things asap? Neurontin did nothing either, and with one kidney and a messed up stomach I can't keep resorting to mass Advil
Posted 10/21/2013 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I, too, have battled migraines for years.... and I do undestand the "shawl" feeling you described... I get that too sometimes, along w/ the nausea/vomiting, visual disturbances and so forth.

For me - I've tried it all too - and the triptans are among those things that don't work for me. Most narcotics don't work for my headaces -- but I'm now on oral fentanyl - and it DOES help in a huge way. Within one to two doses - the headache is gone and I'm back to normal.

I've always thought the shawl thing is some muscle involvement.... have you tried a muscle relaxer? I notice that if my muscle are tight - that can be enough to be a trigger.

Sorry if I'm not much help :) but I would definitely look the way of being on a regular muscle relaxer.... those would include things like flexeril, baclofen, soma, zanaflex, etc.

Take care, maybe others will have more input. --Tina
Posted 10/21/2013 10:35 AM (GMT 0)
As a post-encephalitis migraine sufferer I can say I understand what your saying. Also can say Advils not going to have much effect on a migraine other then making you vomit and at those levels could cause a GI bleed.

Here's where folks say I cant take excedrin because of the aspirin in it. I can tell you that 2 excederin with about 650mgs of asa is nothing compared to 18 advil when it comes to harmful. It works so much faster then an anti-inflam.

I've been there and understand the "do anything " to just get a break but in my opinion there comes a time when you cross into the more you take the bigger the headache?

If Imetrex works than I would make sure I kept it onhand at all times since catching migraines in the auricle stage is almost always more successful in diverting it.
Posted 10/21/2013 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks your input. I agree, Tina, this seems more like a neuro-muscular thing (there's a bunch of issues from those cervical disks) causing 'the shawl' which is now triggering the migraines. This is the first time they've combined, *shudder*, it's a creepy combo. I try to avoid muscle relaxants though I could often use them for neck/back spasms, combined with my other meds it's just too much, hoping to avoid that road if I can. Should have Imitrex when I pick up my normal RXs later this week, hopefully that will work if this happens again

And yeah, Vickie, that amount of Advil really isn't cool, the shawl+migraine combo was making me pretty spaced out too, like Tina mentioned the shawl alone can be kinda disorienting. I mostly avoid advil cause of stomach and kidney issues but like you said, when a migraine is building sometimes it's hard to resist that "OMG, anything but this..." reaction. Thankfully I usually only get 3-4 a year compared to routine cycles in my teens and 20s so I stopped keeping Imitrex around. Will have that back in the medicine drawer soon, as all of you know dealing with life is tough enough without a migraine/anything laying you out. Never mind the pain I just hate losing a day like that, it's feel like thievery.

Thanks for your input, it's appreciated.
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