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Suggestions for when I can't treat a migraine

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 3/5/2006 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Community,
If you read this, all your suggestions will be welcomed. I get about 20 attacks per month. With my neuro, I've come to recognize what headaches may be due to medication overuse. For those, I follow his guidelines : if I treat myself for migraines for 2 straight days, I go without treatment for the next 5 days. It often helps, in the long run. It is as painful as you can imagine in the short run.
For the days when I don't treat the migraines, I'm running low on coping tricks. I already reduce any light, noise, smell and have modified most lifestyle migraine triggers.
To cope with the pain, I use ice packs, I rub Tiger Balm or a blend of lavender and mint essential oils on my temples.
Any other ideas of non medicinal things I can do for myself ? I try meditation but with a pounding migraine, I can't make that happen.
Thanks for reading this. Please pass on anything that has helped you : no medication is a tough one.
Rabbit
Posted 3/5/2006 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
I think there is an imitrex injection out there now. You may want to try that. There is also botox injections. I would definetly talk to your neuro or switch doctors. I have also read in the news this week that acupunture is now medically recognized by neuros to relieve migraines (even the sham ones). I would talk to your neuro about this. I know what you are going though. I have alot of migraines myself and they are hard to treat. I was averaging 5 per week. Triptans sometimes don't work for me. Have you tried topamax by the way?

T M
Posted 3/5/2006 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi rabbit, sorry that you are suffereing so much at the moment. I don't know what I would do without imigran(imitrex) injections - I administer them myself - they are an absolute life-saver!!! Sadly not everyone can tollerate them or get the relief they need from them. As TM says, it might be time to talk to your neuro or switch doctor!

What medications do you take to relieve an attack? I found that anything with codeine in it can give me the most chronic daily headache and migraine that never seems to end and I cannot function at all! She kids herself that she can function at all anytime lol! Seriously, you certainly cannot carry on as you are, I would go back until I got the relief I needed. Hope you can get some relief soon, take care Ann.
Posted 3/7/2006 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I appreciate your attention. I do take effective medicinal treatment (Imitrex, Indomethacin, Ponstan and also prophylaxis). I agree : life without them is impossible.
Point in fact : I can't always take medication. For the days when I can't take pills, I'm looking for those good old tricks I can pull out of a hat for a "on the spot" treatment. Ideally, I would have a massage therapist with me at all times but that hardly seems realistic ; )
So anything beyond ice packs and essential oils : pleaeaease ! anybody out there with suggestions ?
Thanks,
Rabbit
Posted 3/8/2006 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry Rabbit if I have missed something here, or maybe I am just a little thick! - probably am lol - but forgive me, why do you have days when you cannot take medication? Ann
Posted 3/10/2006 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Ann : you are so kind for getting back to me on this. Sometimes i don't know what i'm writing.
Why no treatment on occasion ? i've had a bad experience with rebound headache in the past. it was due to regular use imitrex. don't get me wrong : imitrex still works. but because of that time when regular use of imitrex (at least 24 times in a month) caused a problem, my physician and i decided it was better not to overtreat on occasion.
So when i treat myself too frequently, i make sure not to use imitrex or any other medicine in order to prevent the overuse migraines. In the long run, it's a good choice. on a day to day basis, it's difficult to deal with.
Any good old home remedies and magic tricks ; ) would help me go through those days.
Thank you,
Rabbit
Posted 3/11/2006 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry Rabbit that I cannot help anymore, sounds like you are doing the best things already to relieve the pain naturally. I know someone who uses a cold face cloth on their forehead and over their eyes, but would think the ice packs you use would be the best.

I have been and am still worried that the Sumatriptan injections I use can be used too much so I think I put myself through more than I need to sometimes because I don't have an injection until I am desperate, which usually means I have gone up to 6 or 7 hours in agony!

Hope you find something else from someone on her though, take care Ann.
Posted 3/29/2006 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
If you get scent migraines or if certain smells trigger your migraines, stop with the lavender! Lavender is one of my worst triggers.

I take a lot of baths. I have a jacuzzi tub, but realize not everyone is so fortunate. A hot or warm bath in a dark bathroom can really relax you, and sometimes just the act of relaxing can get rid of the migraine.

I get rebound migraines and really believe in not taking too much medication. I think you are really on the right track there, so don't stop that. I never take anything more than two times a week, as hard as that can be. But, I ended up with a 5 week migraine one time and had to be hospitalized and so I learned the hard way that too many drugs can actually make it worse.
Posted 3/30/2006 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
ok- fill your tub ankle high with ice cold water- add lots of ice in there. next step into the tub for as long as you can stand it. dry off and get under warm covers. blood in you body will move to the feet to warm them up, thereby lessening blood pressure to your end.

also read to masterbate- as the same principal applies.

also- feverfew helps when i get it right away as well as the cal-mag. feverfew is said to work best taken daily as a preventative.

pepermint oil is another one that is supposed to help.

cup or two of regular coffee.

if it is neck, trap, shoulder tension- i go for moist heat. i soak hand towl with water and wring out, nuke it til it's steaming. wrap another towl around it so you don't burn skin and then apply to tight neck muscles.

if it seems to be weather/barometric pressure changes- i do sudafed .

also drink lots of water- sometimes that helps if i am dehydrated.

also, if i've not eaten anything but carbs- i make egg sandwich. i think i crave protein sometimes when i am sick or am lacking in it.

if i think of anymore will let you know- have to think on it some more!

hope you are feeling better!
Posted 4/3/2006 6:31 AM (GMT 0)
For those, I follow his guidelines : if I treat myself for migraines for 2 straight days, I go without treatment for the next 5 days. It often helps, in the long run. It is as painful as you can imagine in the short run.

For the days when I don't treat the migraines, I'm running low on coping tricks.
Please pass on anything that has helped you : no medication is a tough one.

There was a time when I used this same method! There weren't that many things that helped when I couldn't take any medications, but sometimes fresh air really did work. I'm not kidding. I know, I'm new and you're probably thinking yeah right, but I'm serious. When I'd tried everything, but I wasn't bedridden with it, sometimes just stepping outside my building for 5-10 minutes of fresh cool air (evening especially) helped to reduce the pain a lot. A short slow walk helped sometimes too, and even if the pain reduction didn't last, at least it was a distraction from the pain for a little while and it really was good for me

(I have transformed migraine btw and am off work on disability)
Posted 4/3/2006 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
cloud- i will have to remember to try that. i think because i am so sensitive to light that i stay in my dark room when i'm down with one. did you get disability because of the migraine? i often think people that get them all the time would have problems keeping their jobs even with FMLA. i am self -employed so i tell clients up front that i am sometimes incapacitated from migraine at the beginning and try to explain them as not being just a headache. most are pretty understandable when they do happen. take care.
Posted 4/3/2006 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rabbit

I had the darn things for years. I understand about the rebound headaches.

I even went to a headache clinic in Ohio. Finally during a routine test they found out I had byjimanee, (spelled phonic) an irregular heartbeat, something that is often missed. Doctors put me on Verapamil, 240mg once a day. My headaches stopped. Just like that. I sometimes get little headaches, but doctor told me the brain is 80 percent water and does not like to be dehydrated so drink a full glass of water when I feel headache coming on. I was on Darvon, Darvocette, Empirin 3, and sometimes had to go to ER and get shot. Not been there for ten years now.

Doctor told me that in his experience a headache was a symptom of something wrong in another area of the body. Once you find what that is, your headaches will stop.  Trouble is most Doctors think a headache is a little thing and don't even look for cause. They also told me to stay on a routine. Get up the same time each day, even your days off.  Do not sleep in. Eat a good breakfast. Go to bed at the same time each night, try to get 8 hours sleep. Sound boring and not easy to do, but is worth it. Mine were so bad I thought about ending my life. Thinking back I realize, that just like that, was more like a month after the Verapamil, and I was off all other meds too. Also check your blood count. anemia can cause headaches.

Hope this helps.

Posted 4/3/2006 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
hadn't heard that, anne. so glad you got it worked out. amazing! i am bad about keeping regular schedule but am working on it. welcome!
Posted 4/3/2006 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
strange how we all differ isn't it- for  me heat is the absolute worse thing and will often trigger a migraine- pretty difficult in the Summer or even in Winter when people tend to over-heat rooms. Days I have to work I usually get migraines by the end of the week- we have no windows, just stale air going round and round. I've always loved long relaxing baths but the last few weeks I haven't dared risk them as that night I always wake with one. Cold weather suits me best- walking in crisp weather clears my head.

Posted 4/6/2006 10:17 AM (GMT 0)
did you get disability because of the migraine?

It's part of the reason I'm on disability yes. I'm in Canada though, and my benefits are through my former employer, not the government.

I'm glad your clients are understanding! :)
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