Migraines... Who else suffers from them and how do you prevent them?

AbyssUnderground · 03-10-2009, 20:08

Hello all,

Heres the story... Recently I've been getting migraines more frequently than normal. I've suffered from them since I was about 6 years old, and they used to occur daily back then, but over the years they became less frequent. Now they're getting more frequent again and its interrupting my daily lifestyle.

I am one of these people who gets them moderately bad, and I have to sleep to get rid of them. I've been trying to discover what triggers them, but so far I'm not entirely sure I have it figured out, since I still keep getting them often.

I've tried cutting down on chocolate and cheese before, but that made no difference.

I also tried keeping a very regular sleep pattern. Bed between 11pm-1am and up at 9am. Recently I've allowed myself to stay in bed till 10am however (bad idea I know).

Sometimes however, no matter how much I stick to that regime, I still get them often.

So I guess I'd better get to the point and ask the question I came here to ask...

What do fellow sufferers do to try and avoid migraines, and what sort of treatments do you have to stop them in their tracks or prevent them from coming on in the first place?

At the moment I am on Azathioprine tablets for my colitis, and Tramadol for the aching pain (which I admit helps with the migraines slightly by nulling the pain back after I've slept most of it off) which goes with the colitis. When I was younger I had some tablets that was supposed to stop them but I haven't had them in a very long time (10+ years) and I have no idea what they are called.

Thanks for reading, and I hope someone can advise me

Raistlin · 03-10-2009, 20:20

I don't mean to he rude, but are you male or female?

Do you get flashing lights/patterns in you vision?

---------- Post added at 20:20 ---------- Previous post was at 20:18 ----------

Also, are you on any other medication?

AbyssUnderground · 03-10-2009, 20:20

Not rude at all Rob, its not entirely obvious from my name. I'm male, and yes, I do get visual auroas just before a migraine. Fuzzy vision on the right side of my vision for about 20 minutes, before disappearing and the headache part of the migraine slowly comes on and gets worse, to the point where I can't keep my head up and have to lie down in a dark/quiet room and sleep.

No other medication than that mentioned.

Ben B · 03-10-2009, 20:20

I get them and I am prescribed migraleve by the doctor, I take two pink ones when I feel a migraine coming on and then if it re-occurs after four hours I take to yellow ones (very rarely need to take the yellow ones) and they are very effective.

EDIT: It is mainly tiredness which trigger mine

AbyssUnderground · 03-10-2009, 20:22

Thanks Ben, I'll keep that in mind. I'm planning a visit to the doctors next week to try and get something sorted. It's really depressing when I waste a day away because of one.

Mine happen at various times of the day, mainly early afernoon or early evening. Very rarely do I get one first thing after getting up, but today I woke up at 10am, and at 1.30pm I had one coming on. I only woke up an hour ago after sleeping since 3pm.

Raistlin · 03-10-2009, 20:24

Visual auras can be a sign of, or precurser to, other underlying conditions.

My heartfelt suggestion would be to go and see your doctor, make sure you tell them all your symptoms, get a thorough check up (blood pressure, heart rate, etc), and get them to review your existing medications.

AbyssUnderground · 03-10-2009, 20:28

The visual auoras only started a few years ago for migraines, but are apparently a common occurance for them, so I didn't see any reason to worry. But I'll take this into consideration when mentioning it to the doctor.

My blood pressure and heart rate should be fine. They were thoughout my 2 week hospital visit and I was in much worse shape than I am now! My medication is under constant review by my consultant for my condition. I'll also be sure to mention it to him when I go later this month.

Raistlin · 03-10-2009, 20:33

I didn't think for one minute that you'd been getting the auras for as long as you'd been getting the migraines. They're a sign that something's changed, or that something is changing. Definitely mention them to the doctor and your consultant. To be honest they're more of a concern for women on certain medications, but that doesn't mean you should discount them altogether.

Hope you get them sorted

AbyssUnderground · 03-10-2009, 20:37

Thanks Rob. I didn't know they could be a sign of changes. I'm not the only person I know who gets them either, one of my friends also gets them but not on such a bad scale, but he gets the visual auoras/auras too (no where near as frequently however).

Is there anything it could possibly be that is cause for concern? I want to mention everything I can to my doctor. It took long enough to diagnose my colitis and that was painful enough without going through it all over again with something different.

Raistlin · 03-10-2009, 20:40

I wouldn't get too worried over it, like I say they're normally an issue for the girlies.

Just tell them about your migraines, and make sure you mention the auras.

You may find that they can offer you something new to help, or that they can adjust your existing medication to help alleviate them if it's contributing.

AbyssUnderground · 03-10-2009, 20:42

I don't think my current medication is the cause, I've been getting them frequently for years, but never this bad since I was younger and got them daily. Maybe its just one of those times where it gets bad for a while then eases off for a few years, and comes back. I know it happened to my Nanna (RIP...) during her life.

As Ben mentioned above, I'll suggest what he takes when I go to the doctor and see if that's a viable treatment for me too.

alferret · 03-10-2009, 20:53

My wife suffers from migraines, she takes imigran when she get one, but as a preventative she takes 75mg amitriptyline at bedtime.

Peter_ · 03-10-2009, 20:54

Whenever I get the shimmering eye effect I find the best solution is to have really hot shower and have good soak under the hot water, always works for me when at home.

AbyssUnderground · 03-10-2009, 21:01

Thanks moldova, I'll try that next time too.

locutus1974 · 03-10-2009, 21:10

Just a quick question, Do you wear glasses?
When i started with the bad heads it was the fact that i needed glasses, these were not just headaches but severe pain at the top and back of the head and everytime i moved my head it felt like some one pushing a hot icicle through my head. I had a fractured skull as a child so checked with my doctor (just to be sure) and he suggested going to see an optician. I only have one eye that is bad( the other is fine) and it was apparently this that was causing the pain(dont ask how im no doctor)