I need help with migraine headaches.?

Question

I have a constant headache, and it advances into a migraine. I get sick and have to hide in my room with pillows over my head. The headache never goes away completely, and I haven't found anything that offers any relief.

Answer 1

Been the medical route, Cat scans. MRI's diary to track triggers and foods. Sometimes it's just a migraine. Imitrex seems to be a miracle drug for some people. Not me. I use pain medication and live with it.

Answer 2

I feel sorry for you. For years I too have suffered from migraines. I have suffered at least the last 20 years. I went to a neurologist a while back. He put me on Imatrex and Topamax to take at bedtime. These are to help the migrain from occuring during the day.
I have a perscription for BUT/APAP/CAF TAB that I take if I happen to get a migraine. I usually lay down and sleep because the migraines make me very, very sleepy. I close the bedroom door to make the room very dark, turn on a fan to drown out any outside noise and then I get a washcloth that I have wet down with cold water and wring out all of the excess water. I put the wash cloth over my eyes and this seems to help with the headache. Don't know why it works but it works for me.
Please go to the neurologist and get some help. You shouldn't suffer if you don't have to.
One time I had a migraine for about 4 or 5 days. I want to the doctor and he gave me a shot that helped to break the cycle of the migraine. Make sure that some one comes with you because the shot is very fast acting and will put you into a deep sleep. I think I slept between 12 and 15 hours before I woke up. I have had two shot because of having a migraine longer than 2 or 3 days.
This may sound really dumb, because you are supposed to stay away from caffaine to avoid getting a migraine. But I have found that if I have a chocolate bar and drink some chocolate milk. for some reason it help to get rid of the migraine at least for a little while.
You might also be sleeping too much or too little, or be stressed.
There are certain foods that you should avoid because they trigger migraines. Perhaps there is some web site that will list the foods to avoid.
Good luck with getting rid of the migraine!!!!!

Answer 3

I can definitely sympathize with your suffering. I have had migraines for 23 years, since I was 4 years old. Fortunately, medications have greatly improved over time offering many migraine sufferers some much needed relief! Finding the right migraine prescription medication for you might take some trial and error. Although there are many medications that are in the same "families" (i.e. triptans) and do the same thing, you may personally respond better than one medication than another. It is really important to work with a migraine specialist (neurologist or neuro-ophthalmologist) who is willing to be patient and help you find the best medication. I have tried all meds and Relpax works the best for me. It provides the best relief for me with the least side effects.

The first stage of migraine usually involves your blood vessels constricting. If I can catch the migraine early at this stage, excedrin with a caffinated beverage can usually prevent a full blown attack by dilating the blood vessels. However, if I wake up with a full blown attack or don't have excedrin with me, I take the Relpax. Usually this eliminates the headache. Sometimes lying down with an ice pack on my head in a dark, quiet room helps too. However, if I wake up with a severe migraine, I am incapacitated for the day. I sometimes need to go the ED if the nausea is so bad that I get dehydrated because I can't keep fluids down.

There are many drugs that can be taken to prevent migraines such as beta blockers and anti-seizure meds such as Topamax. I tried these and had very negative side effects, but they may work for you! I have just started taking B-vitamins and a melatonin supplement daily. Good luck with finding something that works for you!

Answer 4

Hi, before I give an answer, let me give you my personal insight. I am 34 years old, male, and have been suffering from Migraines for 14 years. I get the worst kind... pounding head, nasuia, vomiting... you name it. In the past 3 years they have gotten worse and now I get them in the middle of the night or early morning hours. I wont even go into the agnoy of having to go work after subdoing one. Trust me it sucks! I had one on a vacation and spent a day and half locked away in the hotel room wallowing in pain. I normally get 4-5 a month. I've head my head scanned, blood tested, etc.... nothing wrong there.

Anyways, what's the best relief? First, see your doctor and get a medication. I have used Maxalt 10mg for the past 2 years. You must take it on the onset, by now you should know when you have Migraine coming - for me it's tiredness, headache and when I close my eyes it feels like someone is flashing a light on and off in my face. The medication will only "ease" the symptons and allow you to rest easier.

Next there are some self help steps. For the past 3 months I go to sleep wearing "breath right strips/nasal strips". This has made a big diffrence! A lot of times a Migraine is the result of less oxygen to the brain. Open up your nasal passages at night will greatly improve your breathing!

Third, know when you have one coming and take steps to ease the symptons! This is crucial. You must RELAX! Don't drive, smoke, drink booze, over eat, listen to loud music, use the computer, etc.... Curl up on the couch and watch a favorite movie. Take some advil or tylenol. Avoid Asprin! It'll only upset your stomach more. Do these things not to avoid the migraine but to ease the symptons.

Four. Take your "medication" at the onset only and don't eat, drink or take medicine during the Migraine, you'll only get sick and throw it all back up. During the migraine, breathe deeply and concentrate on resting still and going to sleep.

Hope what I wrote helps. Feel free to contact me.

Answer 5

My wife was in a bad car accident where she sustained a traumatic brain injury. She was in physical therapy for 8 months. Ever since the accident she has suffered from bad migraines. She says she lives daily with 1 long migraine. I will never understand how bad she suffers since I don't get migraines but I do see how debilitating they can be. All I can recommend is what she takes. Her neurologist and pain specialist both say to stay away from all the over-the-counter pain meds (tylenol, aspirin, aleve etc...) because they almost always cause rebound headaches. In my wife's experience she did find this to be true. She has tried a number of different rx. medications. She has found a combination of 2 prescriptions taken together to help her the best. The 2 rx's she takes are Topamax and Prozac. Topamax is indicated by the FDA for the prevention of migraines. Prozac is indicated for the treatment of depression among other things. These two med's have greatly improved my wife's quality of like. They have also given me back my wife. Check out the 2 websites I listed. Also please don't hesitate to ask you doctor about these 2 med's. My other recommendation is to get a really dark pair of sunglasses. My wife wears hers all the time.

Answer 6

i am a chronic atypical migraine patient myself. talk to your dr about preventative medications. i have been on them for close to 9 years. it makes life ALOT more bearable. the few that do break thru are not nearly as intense. there are also new medications to stop a migraine (imitrex, zomig, maxalt replax, etc) try and see if you can find the trigger, anything from cheddar cheese, or a diet soda, or a change in weather can trigger a migraine.

anyone that tells you to take a tylenol or a advil has NEVER had a true severe migraine. many do not understand the PAIN that comes from them. many have the thought "oh its JUST a headache"

trust me a trip to a good dr and some medication your life can go back to normal

Answer 7

I have had the same problem for YEARS, and let me just say nothing a doctor prescribed worked or any OTC drugs except EXCEDRIN MIGRAINE. I don't know if you've ever tried it, but it's definitely worth a try, right? Also, talk to your doctor, I'm scheduled to get an MRI to make sure everything is ok in my head. If you're having such severe headaches, there might be an underlying issue.


I feel your pain!

Answer 8

I get cluster migraines. I start to get them by losing vision, my left eye goes blind and the pain is excruciating. I have particular medication to take that knocks me out. I'm generally back on my feet in 6-8 hours, but if I don't take anything I will be screaming for 12 hours. I take Naramig in combination with Codeine Forte. I find that an ice pack will sometimes help, but definitely have to be lying down in a dark room. I'll get a series of these over a period of six weeks, then won't get them for a few months. You should really see your GP about getting some stronger medication, because Tylenol never cuts it with me..

Answer 9

All of the responses have been helpful. There is also another condition out there called pseudotumor cerebri in which the spinal fluid can build up and cause you intracerebral pressure to rise causing the constant headaches. You are at risk for this if you are female, overweight (BMI >15), and 30-40 yrs. old. Treatment for this varies but typically a lumbar puncture every 2-3 months will relieve this pressure. Some people have to have shunts. See a doctor if you fit the above criteria.

Answer 10

♥ I have been dealing with migraines for about 8 years now.. I have also (as the first person said) been the medical route. I've done MRI's, kept a dairy to track triggers, I've tried every type of medicine from Imitrix, to Relprax, to Topamax, to Sumitriptian, etc etc etc. I've also tried OTC medicines such as Tylenols, Ibprofens, Excederin, etc. I currently have a prescription of pain medication that I use when I have a severe migraine. I've thrown up and numerous other things from how severe my migraine was.... so I know how you feel.

Talk to your doctor and he/she will refer you to a neurologist. They can begin doing tests and trying to figure out what could cause them. Beware that they may not find a cause though. As I said I've been living with them for about 8 years and they see nothing wrong in my brain, I dont have anything that triggers them, etc. However they did diagnose me with Chronic Daily Migraines. Do wut the doctor says and let him do the tests he needs to do to try to help you.

Good Luck!