Hi, i'm new on this forum. I too have had migraines for many years, and I am only 22. The only time in my life I can actually remember not having migraines was when I was pregnant with my now 2 year old daughter. I guess the hormones helped somehow. As of now, I get migraines daily, and after many many tests and trips to the neurologist, I am at the last straw in my treatment, that being that since every other thing I tried gave me a bad reaction (most likely due to my high sensitivity as I also have fibromyalgia, CFS, panic attacks,) or it just did nothing for me.
Anyway, I have been doing ALOT of research on my own. I have also gotten some amazing advice from an e.r. doctor, whom I saw because my migraine (of 72+ hours,) would not go away and I had tried everything. He told me that taking 2 regular strength Ibuprofen, and 2 benadryl together at the very first sign of pain, could help and that I should give it a try. It works miracles! I wouldn't go so far as to say that it cured my migraines, but the severity and duration are significantly improved when I take them. Before that e.r. visit, I never would have thought of benadryl for migraines.
I was also told, that if the ibuprofen and benadryl cocktail isn't enough, taking anti-nausea meds might do the trick, as when you are having a migraine, your digestive system slows to an almost complete stop, and by taking anti-nausea meds, your tricking your body into thinking its ok and therefor allowing the medications to pass through and do their job.
Other things that I have found to be helpful:
A heating pad, on low, on the back of the neck.
Anything that smells of mint, I have even gone so far as to use vick's chest rub to avoid a
nocturnal migraine.
Drinking straight black coffee, which can also trick the stomach/digestive tract into doing
it's job.
Massaging the neck and scalp.
And ultimately if none of those things work for me, I baracade myself into my bedroom,
turn off anything with a light, (computer, alarm clocks, tv, EVERYTHING) and put in a
pair of earplugs and allow nature to take it's course. I do try to make sure that I am
laying flat, with no pillows, and I ask someone to check on me periodically as
being a migraineur can convince you that even something as serious as a
stroke, is just another migraine.