Migraines

[plunkybug]

As many people well know. I suffer from frequent headaches, usually migraine or sinus, but both equally bad and debilitating. Earlier today, in reading the migraine management link from Glitter in my last post, interesting things have come up. Things I knew, but more importantly things I did not know. I really want to stop (or at least reduce the frequency of) my migraines, but some of the triggers are things out of my control...like being a woman, and the weather outside. Currently, I treat them with Excedrin or Benadryl, sometime alternating throughout the day, and sleep (in a dark room if possible). I am going to look into some of the more natural options first, like magnesium and riboflavin (B-2), and maybe butterbur which is something relatively new. I had no luck with feverfew, but mainly because I couldn't stomach it. It tasted horrible (like dirt), but granted it *was* liquid, and I never tried it in pill form. I was also reading about the prescription medicines, though I admit to not having much luck with them in the past. Imitrex sent fire pulsing through my sinuses and made it hurt to swallow, and was just as debilitating as the migraine alone. I was told about a lower dosage clearing that problem up, but that is only in a nasal spray, and I am not good with those. Not to mention it is $50 on my insurance plan, so yeah, I want to try something else. I tried Elavil daily for the prevention of them, but that left me a fatigued emotional wreck and I stopped it after a week. Now I have seen that there are other prescriptions out there and was wondering if anyone on my friends list has experience with any of them and could give me some feedback for if I decide to go that route. I would like to have more info about these medicines before going back to my doctor and asking about a prescription. One further note, for those who have not seen me or know me outside this journal, I should end by saying I am very petite, slightly over 5' and a little over 100 lbs, so I am the size of a teenager, which may be one of the reasons I react to medicines strongly.

Any thoughts tips etc would be helpful. I think I may cross post this into a community, but which one? ah, just found migraines

Comments

[katykate.livejournal.com]

migraines is a very good community.

I've recently started a B Complex vitamin, and want to start Magnesium as well. Coenzyme Q-10 can be helpful from what I've heard and read, but I think one should talk to their Dr about that one first.

I'm eliminating a lot of foods as well. Aged cheeses (cheddar, parmesan (whimper), MSG is A HUGE trigger for me, and it's hidden everywhere under different names. You can find sites that list all it's disguises if you just search MSG--I don't have a site handy. Red wine is bad :( I've cut down my caffeine intake, and seriously cut down on daily over the counter pain meds (Excedrin is my drug of choice) to prevent rebound.

There are TONS of preventative meds, and they are mostly trial and error. Most of them are anticonvulsants. Depakote seems to be great for many, but it didn't work for me. Beta blockers are often very helpful, but given you are so petite, that may be the route to go as they lower your blood pressure.

Imitrex seems like it's a rather harsh med for most people--leaves them feeling very wiped out or something. I've never tried it--I had great success with the Zomig pill immediately. You could ask for samples of some of the different triptans from your Dr--they tend to work better or be worse depending on the person.

[katykate.livejournal.com]

btw, migraine often disguises itself like a sinus headache. They feel like sinus, but are actually a migraine.

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Tom has the same problem. He takes magnesium and feverfew (in the caplet form, because yes, we've grown feverfew and it's VERY bitter) every day. It's a cumulative effect, so it takes time, but the severity and the number of migraines he suffers from are greatly reduced.

For some reason, his nasal congestion can be triggered and can cause migraines as well, so he takes Pulsatilla (6C) a couple of times a day to relieve his congestion which doesn't raise his blood pressure like OTC medications.

He has Imitrex and Relpax on hand from his doctor in case a migraine DOES attack, but he's not using them half as much as he would if he didn't take the herbal stuff as well. (Saves us money in the long run on prescriptions).