Migraines anyone?

by Billygoat 28 Replies latest social physical

  • Billygoat
    Billygoat

    Yesterday (Memorial Day) I awoke to a slow, dull, thudding headache. It wasn't terribly bad...I ignored it really. Neil fixed me a brunch of bacon and eggs and we sat down to eat around 12:30 or so. We were about to enjoy an afternoon of fishing and hanging out with a friend of his. But before my bacon and eggs were done, I realized my headache had become pretty bad. I took some Tylenol and laid down. Within 30 minutes or so, I didn't want to move. My head felt like it had a steel pin piercing from my right temple, through the back of my eyeballs, to the other temple. I was in excruciating pain and I felt like I wanted to throw up.

    Now, Neil is a migraine sufferer and did everything he could to comfort me. I went back to my bedroom and fell asleep in my cold sheets. It made me feel better, but I was still in pretty bad pain. I wanted to cry so badly, but I was afraid that would make the pain worse. So I slept. Woke up around 5:30 or so with the pain mostly gone, but still the slow, dull, thud I woke up to. It didn't go away completely at all last night. And this morning, the left side of my head, although not in the pain I felt yesterday, feels "heavy". Like your foot feels heavy when it falls asleep. Within the last 30 minutes or so I think it's coming back. Not bad...just the dullness of the pain is going away. It's a little more sharp now.

    Are any of you migraine sufferers? What are your symptoms? Can you feel it coming on like Neil does? (He says he sees prisms in his eyesight.) What do you do to alleviate the symptoms? Anything over the counter or do you take prescription stuff? I'm on the net trying to educate myself on this sucker, but would love personal stories.

    Thanks!
    Andi

  • Makena1
    Makena1

    Andi - so sorry to hear you and Neil have been suffering from migraine type headaches. About 10 years year I went through a period where almost every weekend I would be laid low with a terrible headache. Stress seemed to be the catalyst. Then my only relief was an ice pack, lying in bed in complete darkness, and when I could get them xanax and vicodine would take the edge off. Going to the beach and taking a dip in the cold ocean would also help some - as well as getting a massage to ease muscle tension.

    Then we moved to the Northwest, changed jobs, took a "haitus" from serving in the congregation - and voila only 2-3 episodes a year. I still get a few severe headaches - and when I do, I found that a prescription shot of Immutrex brings almost instant relief. It's not for everyone - people with high blood pressure and other problems may be at risk. There are some other new products out there that I am sure your doctor could discuss with you.

    Hope you can find some relief soon!

    All best,
    Mak and Sabine

  • KistByQpid
    KistByQpid

    Billygoat,

    Unfortunately YES I have experience with these miserable headaches. Run, do not walk to your doctor. Here's my story. I've suffered for years with these,usually only 3 or 4 times a year. If I wasn't in pain, I figured why bother going to the doctor. However, the last episode was a doosie. I thought I could drive my daughter to her dentist appointment...was I WRONG. We got there and after I checked her in, I had to wait in the car, I was throwing up in the parking lot for over an hour(cute) and driving back home was extremely dangerous. I couldn't see clearly and the nausea and dizziness was overwhelming, it was a wonder I made it home. Sometime after that whopper of a headache I began to notice eye twitches and other little muscular twitches that simply wouldn't go away (weeks on end). I finally made an appointment with the doctor, I didn't connect these two symptoms at all. He asked me a ton of questions and come to find out...migraine headaches can cause enough neurological pressure, that you can suffer from a slight degree of pinched nerves (causing the twitching). He asked me why I didn't have a prescription. I really don't know why I waited to get one! He gave me Maxalt (dissolves on the tongue) and told me to NEVER drive OR wait too long to take the med. It is in my purse, just incase. As far as symptoms go, I do experience the "aurua" or lights. My vision becomes blurry and light (especially tv's and monitors) is VERY uncomfortable. That is what first clues me in on it NOT being an ordinary headache. The second clue is that asprin, tylennol, excedrin migraine...whatever....don't even touch this kind of headache. The severity of this headache and your INABILITY to function, accompanied by nausea/vomitting are all classic signs of migraine. Please see your doctor and get a sample of Imitrex or Maxalt. It sure beats ending up in the emergency room.

  • WildHorses
    WildHorses

    I get migraines. I started getting one Saturday as a matter of fact.

    My symptoms are, blurry eye's and sometimes, not always I get a numbness in my left arm.

    The Doctors have prescribed midrine for my migraines but that doesn't help. Know what does? You will not believe it but it's true. I have to take it when I first get the blurry eye's in order for it to work but it does work........Arthritis strength BC. Take two and then just take it easy for about half an hour, till it kicks in.

    Lilacs

  • Celia
    Celia

    Migraines.... shudder !
    They stopped about 2 years ago. Now all I get is a real bad headache, once in a while (mostly around my period).
    But for years, I suffered terribly. A pain so sharp, I wanted to cry too, and I did sometimes, but yes, it made the pain even worse !
    All I could do was lie in bed, fell asleep for a few minutes, woke up with nausea, got to the bathroom to throw up (nothing to throw up besides bile, because just thinking about food made me even more sick). It usually started very early in the morning, 4 or 5 am, lasted all day and all next night and some of the next day. Took me two more days to be back on my feet again. And at times I got the next migraine only a week later. it was terrible. Couldn't stand any smells, noise, light, couldn't do anything for days !
    Wish you luck !
    I take Excedrin Migraine now, and that seems to help when a bad headache come along.

  • TR
    TR

    Andi,

    I too suffer from the same kind of headache. If I wake up to a headache, it seems to mean that I'll have it all day, and by the time I get home from work, I have to go lay down for a couple of hours.

    Ibuprofen(Advil) is the only thing that seems to help. Tylenol(acetaminifen) doesn't help me at all.

    TR

    UADNA-WA
    Unseen Apostate Directorate of North America- Washington Division

  • WildHorses
    WildHorses

    Celia, I normally have a few episodes of vomiting with my migraines too. Sometimes as many as four times per migraine. I hate that the most but it does seem to relieve the pressure a bit to throw up.

    If I don't catch them before they get to bad, I can't function. I try to lay down, that hurts worse after a few minutes so I am up and down all night trying to find a comfortable position. I've had migraines to last as long as two whole days also.

    Lilacs

  • Nikita
    Nikita

    Yes, I suffer from them, too. (since iw as a little girl) I sometimes see flashes of light before they strike. I feel sick, my eyes get blurry. Laying down with an ice pack and Maxalt (prescription) immediately are what help me.

    I used to take Midrin for a long time but found it just wasn't doing the job for me, so the Dr. switched me to Maxalt.

    Now, my dh, Ibuprofen is what seems to work the best for him. Usually he takes 600 mg. (3 pills, OTC Iburprofen)

    If you seem to notice that you are getting more and more of them, I would suggest you talk to the Dr. Sorry you had to go through this yesterday. It does feel like you are a bit hungover the day after.

    Nikita

    "I think you ought to like what you do. Because there's a reasonably
    good chance no one else is going to."
    Rich Mullins

  • LyinEyes
    LyinEyes

    Yeah, I get the monsterst too. Mine have not been so bad since I left the borg.... interesting huh? So it proves stress is a major
    trigger for them. I can tell sometimes when one is coming on, my right side goes numb,,,,I can see flashes of light hours before it hits,, sometimes my personaility even changes ,,I get moody. I have had them so bad the only thing to knock it out is a good shot of
    Demerol and Phenergan. But when they are not that extream, I go lay down in a dark , cool room. Over the counter things dont help alot,
    good ole asprin is the best. A hot cup of tea is comforting. If I am
    lucky , and happen to have a Lortab or some kind of muscle relaxer on hand that can help too. But doctors are so leary of giving you anything at all. Sometimes I just have to wait it out and get a good
    nites sleep, benedyrl can help you fall asleep easier. If you notice that your headaches are coming more often,it could be due to stress,
    even good stress,like planning a trip and even a wedding!! Give yourself some extra TLC , and take breaks ,, lay down and rest even
    if you dont sleep , just to not wear yourself out. My hubby snores ,,
    so i invested in a air purifier machine to put by my side of the bed,
    and it is quiet loud but it filters out his snoring and anything that is going on in the house ,,,I think this helps me to block sounds out,, which when you have a headache are amplified. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

  • Liberty
    Liberty

    Hi Andi,

    All the advice so far is very good but I wanted to add a possible cause. Many people have an alergy to the food additive MSG (monosodiom glutimate, not sure of spelling) It is very tricky in my case because even in small amounts it builds up over time until it triggers horrible headaches and nausea like you described. If I get a large dose all at once it triggers a severe headache, vomiting, gramps and the runs. You might check your diet over the period before your symptoms began and read the labels looking for MSG. It is in a lot of foods and is used by most chain restaurants. KFC is one of the worst and Chinese restaurants usually use it unless they advertize otherwise. Sausages,cheese spreads,dressings,soups,hamburger helper-style box dinners are just some of the sources of this toxic product. This might be the source of your problem. Check it out and see if it fits a pattern.

    Hope you get to feeling better,

    Liberty

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