Migraines- anyone get them?

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:04:46 GMT

[quote user="Vikkivet"]

I often also have carbohydrate cravings a day or two before, but i usually fail to recognise it and only do in hindsight.

[/quote]

Yeh me too or just the bad munchies for bad food.

Its embarasing isn't it? I just look really drunk-not a good look for work.

Do you take much time off for them or struggle through?

Lisa

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Vikki Moran — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:31:00 GMT

my migraines certainly affect my coordination. and speech.

typically I may or may not get an aura. sometimes like a golden rain across my field of vision (the sparkles) sometimes blurring around my peripheral field of vision (the fuzzies).

I often also have carbohydrate cravings a day or two before, but i usually fail to recognise it and only do in hindsight.

then i start with a dull ache behind my eyes, and start to gradually lose coordination. I will drop things usually a glass of water, or can't pick up a cup of tea. and I also get words mixed up. so I will say something completely wrong, though the right word is in my mind it's not what comes out of my mouth. people find it funny, but it's very frustrating, more so because i know the killing headache is coming soon. the ache gets worse and worse until I am hunched up, squinting and really just need to go to bed.

I hate them

they definitely get in the way of work.

I did have one once which lasted for well over a week (about 10 days i think) and went through various tests with the GP, however when it resolved they stopped investigating and didn't want to bother. I am due a review though for my meds so might ask for a neuro referral. I get them anywhere between once a month and every other day. Sometimes i think they are hormonal but then sometimes they aren't.

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:19:28 GMT

[quote user="Calista O'Neil"]I use paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine ('Panadol' and 'Neurofen plus' in Oz) [/quote]

Yeh tried that- on naprofen, paracetamol with codeine and cyclazine. Codeine knocks me out a bit or at least makes me feel floaty (good old conversion to morphine there). Once they hit I can't seem to stop them. Now looking into preventative strategies so that I get my diagnostic head back and work get a fully functional vet back :).

Trial and error I guess and recognising the symptoms quick.

Lisa

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Calista O'Neil — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:05:47 GMT

Hi Lisa,

I get migraines regularly. They are usually after dentals or procedures where I have had to have my body and particularly my neck in an awkward position for some time.

Unfortunately, the migraines take place 12 hours or more after the offending procedure and therefore it took me years to put it together.

I use paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine ('Panadol' and 'Neurofen plus' in Oz) at max strength and it helps enormously with most of them. I am still a bit fuzzy after getting these migraines but it is certainly an improvement from total incapacitation.

I have friends that swear by Mersyndol but I understand it can be very sedating.

Hope someone can help. Good luck.

Calista

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:53:52 GMT

[quote user="brunzvet"]OMG Lisa I really hope you feeling better, you have scared me now [/quote]

Don't be scared (though I say that now). Apparently they can affect balance- depends which area of brain affected. I looked drunk in A and E and probably entertained the doctors on their busy night. There's a recognised vestibular migraine- I read some papers about it (don't have the refernces to hand for you). I've just got to wait to find out what drugs they will try next with me.

Good luck

Lisa

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

brunzvet — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:41:45 GMT

OMG Lisa I really hope you feeling better, you have scared me now everyones nagging me to see a Dr. Stopped for 2 wks now I have it again and what troubles me is these dizzy spells and loss of balance I can't walk toe-heel for 2 steps without falling over. I wondered if mgraines could affect ur vestibular apparatus cos I feel like a drubken soldier when I get this.

Poor you really hope they get u sorted and hope u feel better soon.

brunsi

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:31:58 GMT

[quote user="toby travis"]http://www.migraineclinic.org.uk/[/quote]

Thank you- I will have a look. I've found the migraine trust helpful as well. Like you say maybe I am more worried of frustating them than I need to be.

I can only assume therefore that your wife has never had a migraine then! :)

Lisa

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

toby travis — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:21:26 GMT

I've suffered from migraines since I was 14 (my Father and sister do too) and used to get one every single month without fail. This continued through university and my first few years of practice and fortunately my employers were sympathetic. I was probably more fearful of frustrating them than I needed to be and used to try to carry on (somewhat irresponsibly doing surgery with an aura on occasion). I exhausted all the conventional treatments (incl triptans, ergot preparations and B-Blockers) and exclusion diets (I was almost pleased when chocolate, cheese and ice cream exclusions all failed!) and over the years had twice been worked up to the point of visiting a consultant neurologist (when I was 16 and 22).

There is obviously no universal solution and from the sound of other people's posts most people do learn to cope with them in their own individual way but I found the "City of London Migraine Clinic" to be most helpful. It's a charity that is staffed by doctors who have all chosen to focus on migraine and having arranged for my GP to refer me there I finally made progress in reducing the frequency and severity of the migraines. http://www.migraineclinic.org.uk/

What works for me (and once again I'm sure it is very individual) is paracetamol (within seconds of the blurred vision starting) - I have it in my coat and my car- and 2-3hours out of the action and then I can usually resume normal activity later (albeit with a splitting headache). If I feel I have burnt the candle at both ends or that I am due a migraine I also take paracetamol prophylactically and I am careful with what i eat outside of mealtimes. I was advised that there is evidence to suggest migraines often occur at a hypoglycaemic moment and if I eat sugary food outside of mealtimes then I do find that I have a higher chance of a migraine soon after - the sugar high quickly being repolaced by a sugar low. Likewise, after strenuous sport I try to take on some complex carbohydrate. I could expand much further but I don't want to bore you but I really did feel that I was stuck with a day out of action per month forever, and now it's 3 hours or so 4 times a year and I no longer get the clusters (migraines on successive days or 2 in 3 days etc) which I mainly attribute to paracetamol prophylaxis in the few mornings following a migraine. For me the clinic (which is donation based) was fantastic.

Regards to all, it can be a real bummer but it could be much worse. I have endured years of taunting from my wife who thinks they are for the weak! - I usually just try not to tell her when one comes along until it's gone!

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:05:51 GMT

[quote user="Emma Middleton"]As any migriane sufferer will know, not only is it almost impossible to continue working when you have an attack, you are often left with an awful hangover and fuzzy head after recovery, so it has the potential to heavily impact your work for up to 4 days. [/quote]

You and all Emma. Yeh it's a nightmare. I think having a broken leg in some respects is an injury more easily understandable for example to bosses. Been given 2 weeks off to 'get sorted' which I am trying to do but apparently trial and error with regards to meds. Good luck with your neuro ref. I am currently doing lots of reading around to check my brain is 'back to normal' (some of my friends would joke I was never that!)

Lisa

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Emma Middleton — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:58:06 GMT

Hi Lisa,

Read your post and the replies with great interest as I too suffer with migraines (currently 2 attacks a month lasting 3 days each) and spend much time worrying over having time off work. As any migriane sufferer will know, not only is it almost impossible to continue working when you have an attack, you are often left with an awful hangover and fuzzy head after recovery, so it has the potential to heavily impact your work for up to 4 days.

You are certainly not alone Lisa and I also have a neuro referral this month. I'm hoping to find something that finally works for me so I can carry on working when I get a migraine.

I hope you get it sorted.

Emma

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:05:31 GMT

[quote user="brunzvet"]I stay after from Dr's as much as possible so I'm interested in finding out how things developed with yourself and what the neuro, guys said.[/quote]

You really want to know :)

In short, deteriorated, developed severe neurological deficits, slurred speech and ended up in A and E last thurs. A set of bloods, CT at midnight, MRI and a lumbar puncture later...odd severe form of migraine which affects the basilar and vestibular areas. Awaiting neuro bod to confirm and work out what to do with me. Currently walking around like a 90 year old post lumbar puncture! Hey ho eh.

Lisa

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:22:59 GMT

[quote user="brunzvet"]Did a few consults with the lights off as severe photophobia, clients thought i was just strange.[/quote]

Just goes to prove the dedication of this profession - how many people would be prepared to do that?????

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

brunzvet — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:53:02 GMT

I had an episode of 3wks with headaches every day continous which progressed to migraines every 2-3 days. Did a few consults with the lights off as severe photophobia, clients thought i was just strange. Poor balance and co-ordination and pins and needles on the same side I had my migraines. Just seemed to sort itself out after the 3 wks by balance now is perfect which makes me think something must have been off to cause it. I stay after from Dr's as much as possible so I'm interested in finding out how things developed with yourself and what the neuro, guys said.

cheers, hope u feeling better

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Vikki Moran — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:24:40 GMT

I am sat in the office at work with one right now! am fighting it off with lots of painkillers and water, but i think when i get home it will hit me hard!

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:43:45 GMT

Thanks everyone. You have all been very helpful and now feel like not losing marbles completely. Trying different things and will have to see. Getting worse but not long now til the neuro ref.

Lisa

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Julian Earl — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:59:40 GMT

I used to get them years ago and can remember consulting through flashes of bright lights and not being able to hear properly. Not quite sure how I managed to be honest. Anyway, the solution was quite simple: rather than repeatedly over-dosing on aspirin I decided prevention might be better than cure. I found that not staying up until the small hours plus stopping the apparently essential numerous mugs of coffee the following day worked wonders! Certain foods seemed to trigger the attacks as well, especially purchased sandwiches and rolls for some reason, but fortunately I do not get them any more (the migraines that is, not the sandwiches).

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

beldather — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:04:14 GMT

Hey Lisa

I unfortunetely (its very common in my family) suffer relatively frequently from migraines.
They suck.
If you havnt really had them before and only just started getting them I would definitely rec seeing the doctor for a bit of a workup as there might be something else going on to why they just started.

In regards to how to keep functioning, there are a hell of a lot of ways to try and help, many not that successful.

I have pretty much managed to knock mine off (havnt had one in over 2 years now) with a simple treatment protocol. As soon as I feel one coming (tend to get about 2-3 hours notice) I will take 1-2 metoclopramide's (takes away the nausea and drops blood pressure) whatever NSAID is handy (find aspirin most effective) and then if possible have a cold shower but then most importantly go and hide in the darkest, quietest place I can find (used to use the dark room at work) for about 30 min.
That will usually get me through the rest of the day with most of my mental capacity intact.

The other important thing is trying to recognise the trigger for them, and reduce exposure. (Mine is sunlight, so that was one big benefit of living in Scotland, now back in aus having to be alot more careful).

Hope you can get it sorted, cause they really can mess with your life

Regards

Blair

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Rob Reid — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:26:22 GMT

I suffered from them for about a year on and off but have not had any since having my wisdom teeth out last year, so hopefully that has cured it for me! My wife suffers from them regularly which is a knock-on effect from slipping a disc a few years ago.

Between us we have found several things that work and several that don't. Paracaetamol and codeine work great for me but don't touch my wife, she found the only thing that worked for her was tramadol - and I wouldn't want to take that during work, I took them after I had my GA for my teeth last year and they knocked me for six!!

We have however both found the 'Kool and soothe' forehead wraps work well as do some of the camphora/tiger balm type treatments. I guess everyone is different and some things work well for some and not for others.

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Vikki Moran — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:44:52 GMT

i have suffered from migraines for 20 years now. only stopped during pregnancy and breastfeeding too,

they cause GI stasis so soluble nsaids are best, nerofen liquicaps have been great.

I also find that taking a tricyclic, such as naratryptan or zolmitryptan during the aura stage can help too.

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:55:37 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

You've reminded me - I also had beta blockers prescribed - made me worse!

[/quote]

It's a minefield. Initially helped less so now...

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:14:24 GMT

You've reminded me - I also had beta blockers prescribed - made me worse!

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

listhestar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:49:56 GMT

Thanks everyone so far. Given me a boost to see not alone with it. Currently at 13 migraines in 8 weeks, luckily some have been over xmas and therefore not had time off work for it. Never had them before so suprise to the boss (and me!).

Will see how things pan out. Problem is keeping the tabs down as you say Gillian and then it's do you risk taking another one! (husband told me not too risk double dosing the beta blocker but hey I then wouldn't care about the migraine!)

Lisa

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Clive Ansell — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:33:14 GMT

I get one or two a year usually, although I didn't have any in 2009. Unable to identify a trigger, and they usually occur at home when more relaxed. If I get in early with the meds they don't progess very far, but once they do progress they last upto 2 days. I take 1000mg Paracetamol, 900mg Aspirin and a stong cup of sugary coffee - works well form me.

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

Gillian Mostyn — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:20:57 GMT

[quote user="scarlet"]i take generally either cocodomol or ibuprofen[/quote]

They make no difference to me.

Re: Migraines- anyone get them?

scarlet — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:12:36 GMT

i have 2-3 migraines a year (for 20yrs now)- always at most inconvenient moments. i have never identified a trigger.

Now , the minute i see the zigzaggy flashing lights i take generally either cocodomol or ibuprofen (immigran doesnt work for me - i feel worse) and go and lie down and try to sleep- if i do that generally i am only out for 2-3 hrs rather than most of the day - the last time (last sunday) i even bypassed the vomitting (hurray!!!)

if you try to struggle on till the nausea, it is 10 times worse and lasts longer . as i work mainly in bigger practices you can generally get people to cover for a couple of hours. When you are the only one, the only thing i can suggest is to try and get appointments moved , on the basis that if you deal with it straight away , you are more likely to be back in action later on in the day , and then i work through lunches/breaks or even after hrs to catch up.

as my bosses have always known i only take time off if i genuinely physically cant work ie i have worked (and operated) with broken fingers , i work thru colds/flu etc i have worked on crutches with a broken leg , they have never begrudged the time off ,as they know i will do my best to make it up.

show willing and your bosses will too. or should do!

good luck

mel