Cincinnati Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Migraines...
Blah. That is how I feel. I have been struggling with migraines on and off from age16-19. The disappeared then returned with a vengeance about a year ago. I have tried soo many medications it's unreal. To name a few: Gabapentin, Imitrex, Pamelor, Midrin, Topamax... I just went to my second Neurologist today and they are trying a couple of new meds..Verapamil and Migra Ten.
I am so over having these migraines. DH and I would like to start a family in the future but I don't want to even think about it until these are under control. Any suggestions, words of wisdom? Anyone out there struggle with migraines? What works for you?
Back to being blah...
Re: Migraines...
I struggled with migraines for a long time. Topamax actually worked for me. Sorry, that doesn't help you.
Do you know what the source of your migraines is? I know some people have success with diet and lifestyle changes. And sometimes things like BCPs can either help or hinder them. My own migraines are primarily hormonal. When I was on BCP, I would have a lot more than I do off BCP. Also, when I was pregnant, my migraines completely went away.
I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering so much from these. I have had a problem with migraines for a really long time. I went through about every medication you can find, and eventually they got so bad that I had to see a neurologist. After 3 years seeing her and trying another ten handfuls medications and diet changes, a good friend suggested it was my BC. I had been on the same type (triphasic I think its called) and the hormone levels fluctuate so much that I would be in constant pain every other day from migraines. She recommended I try Yaz and its been a God send! I have been on it for 6 months now and I rarely ever get a migraine (going from having one almost every day of the month). When I do its usually the day I start but I take Advil at the onset (and if it progresses my abortive meds) and it works great. Yaz also changed my mood a lot and has cleared up my skin; I haven't had a pimple in months and I used to get them all the time.
It might be something to consider if you feel like you can't get them under control. I never ever thought, nor did any of my dr's suggest, it could be my BC. It could've saved me over 12 years of pain and suffering, not to mention all of the money on dr's visits and medications that never worked. I wish you the best of luck and hope you can find something that will provide you with long lasting relief!!
I've had them since I was 10 and started seeing a neuro when I was 17. It sucks! I've been on Inderal and Topamax for preventative, as well as antidepressants and magnesium oxide. Frova was the only relief med that worked for me. Even Tylenol 3 didn't work. My doctor had me take reglan or phenergan too to help with the pain & nausea. I even did Botox injections in my face, head, & neck. That seemed to get me to the point where other meds started working better. The antidepressant Cymbalta helped me too-it works on the pain receptors in the brain. I also did physical therapy and that really helped! Shortly after the PT i went off of bcp and my headaches disappeared for over a year. I was shocked! I had to go back on birth control b/c of my acne meds and tried the pill again for 6 months before I decided to stop. I'm using mirena now while I'm on the acne meds. Not the greatest but it doesn't make my head hurt! I would have thrown away my bcp 10 years ago if I had known they were a trigger.
Oh yeah, I've also done acupuncture. My neuro said that acupuncture & PT are safe during pregnancy. It didn't hurt too much & seemed to help but my insurance only covered 12 visits a year.
Rose: I have not figured out what exactly is causing them yet. I know that I have some that are related to Aunt Flow..but other than that I can't seem to figure out why I get them so often. My PCP jokes with me and said maybe I should try pregnancy
SRH: Excedrin used to do the trick.. I think I have become numb to it now. The new Migra Ten is supposed to have the same effect of excedrin (lots and lots of caffeine, ha ha) so hopefully this time around it works!
101709: I was put on BC when I was 16 due to abnormal cycles (Yazmin at that time) That is when my migraines started. Then around 19 is when they finally linked them to the BC. So I stopped taking the pill and they went away. Now they are back years later. I feel for you on that one! I was so relieved the be off the pill and migraine free! Now that they are back..I'm trying to figure out what is causing them..
Thank you for your help and advice! It is so encouraging to hear others with similar experiences. I was starting to think there was no hope. Praying this time around it works! Thanks again!
I have had them for as long as I remember - even in childhood. Have you tracked your triggers? I know mine are dehydration, lack of sleep, MSG (onset is within an hour of consumption!), some Aunt Flo related. Also, have you tracked your symptom progression. Migraines tend to follow a pattern of symptoms. For example with me: first there's subtle light & sound sensitivity, then my shoulder will start to ache, then the light & sound sensitivity gets worse, then I'll start feeling pressure behind my eye and the sensation that the headache is creeping up my shoulder into my neck and wrapping itself around my right eye. I'll REALLY want to close my eyes for an hour or so. If I get a metallic taste in my mouth - all bets are off and I need to get home & lay down within about 30 minutes before I get sick to my stomach. If I head it off with regular Advil when I pick up on the earliest cues then I can stop it altogether.
There was a significant - SIGNIFICANT - reduction in them from 3 things I've done:
I've also learned to distinguish between a sinus headache and a migraine. I'm a human barometer so any time there's a low pressure system, I have a bad headache. I used to not be able to tell the difference and then would feel like my migraine solution (Advil Migraine) wasn't working b/c I was treating the wrong thing. If I took a sinus pill - I got relief.
In an ideal world, when I start to get a migraine, I can pop 1 reg. Advil, 1 Advil Migraine and take a 1-2 hour nap. Nips it in the bud.