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Migraine patient and pregnant

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 11/22/2015 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
I can't believe I've been on HW for this long and didn't know there was a board for migraines!

Migraines run in my family. I don't get them regularly, but when I do I can manage with a combo of Maxalt and Butalbital. I also occasionally take Flexeril to help with tension headaches. I carry a great deal of tension in my neck and shoulders.

I'm now 17.4 weeks pregnant and I feel like I'm in hell. The pain is unreal. I've become incredibly afraid that these are something other than regular headaches and maybe something is wrong. You can see in my sig that I also suffer from anxiety so I tend to let worried thoughts get the best of me.

Anyway, my OB allows me to take flexeril and fioricet which barely touch these headaches. My neurologist says the occasional Maxalt is fine but my OB does not. I've had to ignore my OB a few times because the pain is unbearable.

Does anyone have any more natural tips to help me relieve some of this pain? I'm just praying they don't last for the rest of my pregnancy and that it's nothing more serious.

I'm having a special ultrasound at 20 weeks that is even more in depth than the normal anatomy scan, because I have been taking meds and want to make sure my baby is ok. The stress is just too much to handle right now...
Posted 11/22/2015 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I should add that I am seeing a chiropractor, I do yoga and I am trying acupuncture again after Thanksgiving.
Posted 11/23/2015 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone??
Posted 11/30/2015 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Bump
Posted 12/10/2015 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently trying to get pregnant in the next few months. My neurologist said I need to be off all medicines before trying to conceive. I have had migraines since age 12. A few weeks ago I weaned off of topomax 250mg, zanaflex at night. With many for relief of migraine such as Maxalt, zofran, imitrex injection, phenegren.
So far I have went to urgent care 2 times, and ER once since 11/29. I can't keep missing work, and days of my life.

My primary Doctor said Tylenol only for relief of migraines, my neurologist said same thing.
At the ER yesterday they did prescribe me propranolol 10mg, but they said it could cause all of these birth defects.
I feel like there should be something migraine suffers can take when trying to conceive or while pregnant.

I'm just feeling hopeless that I can't handle being off off migraine medication long enough to get pregnant. Maybe it's not meant to be.
Posted 12/16/2015 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! I made an account to make this post, I hope it'll be some help to anyone who is pregnant and suffering from migraines. (I've had them since I was 10 years old and am currently pregnant as well.)

First of all, if you are used to having caffeine daily, DO NOT STOP HAVING IT DAILY. Your migraines WILL get worse. Try to limit the amount you have, but if you try to cut it out completely you'll have a bad time. Just keep it under what your OB recommends for daily intake.

Laying in a dark room with a cool towel on your head and drinking tea might bring you some relief, or at least help you to sleep the migraine away. This is what I usually do since OTC pain medication doesn't work on me, and there are no migraine meds that are safe for pregnancy.

The next thing I will suggest might be a little controversial: marijuana (of course, only if you can obtain it legally. don't break the law). I discussed it with my OB and she told me that the studies done in the U.S., where I live, indicate a low risk (she said less than 1%) of still birth, however none of them did any actual drug testing and were self-reporting studies. My personal research into studies done in other countries, and speaking with moms that I know personally who took marijuana while pregnant, indicate that there is little to no risk in taking marijuana while pregnant. However it is important to note that SMOKING marijuana is potentially dangerous, since that might deprive your baby of oxygen. There are edibles and tincture available, as well as many other kinds of marijuana that you don't have to smoke that might bring you relief. As I said before, only consider this if it is LEGALLY an option for you.
(ALSO, PLEASE DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT! Do your own research and if this is something you are not comfortable doing, don't do it!)

I've also heard that for migraine sufferers who get them more than 15 out of 30 days a month might be able to find relief with Botox treatments, but I don't personally know any information about this so if you are interested, look it up!

Drinking some tea and relaxing, pushing all thoughts out of your head and meditating, may help as well.

Sadly I am out of suggestions but I hope at least one thing here will bring you some relief... it's absolute hell to suffer thru migraines and pregnancy at the same time.
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