Fibromyalgia Support Group
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I've been fighting a 3 day migraine....
they start out kinda small and the get more and more painful over time. I felt like i was in hell yesterday.
ok here's what happned
i took midrin on Sunday after I got back from church. i knew i should have stayed in bed (in stead of going to church) cuz once my migraines start, it's like an uphill battle! but the midrin didn't even touch the pain.
yesterday i tried imitrex for the 1st time. it took about 4 hrs before it even began to make a small difference. i felt so sick. i sat by the toilet thinking maybe if i just went ahead and threw up it would make me feel better but nothing came up. the pain in my head, eye balls and neck was sooo bad i thought i was in living hell.
every night i take 100 mg of topamax as a preventive for these head aches. but every now and then i have terrible break through pain that will last for days. last time (which was in July) it went on for 5 days and i had to go to the ER.
today my head still hurts. what break through migraine meds are out there can i try? i need to tell my doc that 3-5 days of this isn't something i can deal with. there has to be a better way to control this. what meds do you take i can maybe look into?
(btw... having trouble changing my profile pic to a pumpkin since they changed DS?)
they start out kinda small and the get more and more painful over time. I felt like i was in hell yesterday.
ok here's what happned
i took midrin on Sunday after I got back from church. i knew i should have stayed in bed (in stead of going to church) cuz once my migraines start, it's like an uphill battle! but the midrin didn't even touch the pain.
yesterday i tried imitrex for the 1st time. it took about 4 hrs before it even began to make a small difference. i felt so sick. i sat by the toilet thinking maybe if i just went ahead and threw up it would make me feel better but nothing came up. the pain in my head, eye balls and neck was sooo bad i thought i was in living hell.
every night i take 100 mg of topamax as a preventive for these head aches. but every now and then i have terrible break through pain that will last for days. last time (which was in July) it went on for 5 days and i had to go to the ER.
today my head still hurts. what break through migraine meds are out there can i try? i need to tell my doc that 3-5 days of this isn't something i can deal with. there has to be a better way to control this. what meds do you take i can maybe look into?
(btw... having trouble changing my profile pic to a pumpkin since they changed DS?)
Sorry you are going through this.
One immediately at first sign, then one every half hour till you reach max of 5 (or 6). Nothing else ever helped from Fiorinol to the imitrex.
Maybe that could work for you
funny thing is, my neurologist actually does think it is tension head aches. if you ask me, i think it's a combination if multiple headaches, not just one type. i get em on one side, i get funny flashes in my eyes for weeks, it's slow building pain, too that can start in the neck or in the front. and then it takes over the whole head. sometimes the pain goes from my head to my whole body. nausea, light and sound sensitivity, the whole shebang.
what kind of medicine will help that?
I take topamax too, and still have them on occasion....here's what my neurologist prescribed when one hits....I take these all together at the start of the migraine.....100 mg Imitrex, 2 Alleve, and 10 mg Reglan (generic is Metoclopram)......he said the Reglan keeps the tummy working better, so the Imitrex can be better absorbed.....so far, it has done the trick, and I haven't had to go back to the ER for shots....The Reglan is prescription, so you'd have to ask your doc about it....
Hope this might help, and hope you feel better quick....I know how bad those things are.....HUGS, girl, from down south :)
Do you take magnesium supplements? I read somewhere that it helps migraines. I have been taking magnesium and malic acid for a while and have noticed fewer migraines that are less severe. I still get the occasional killer migraine with barometric pressure changes, but not as bad as before. I also take other supplements that may help, but in my fog tonight, I can't think of which ones they are. I will send you a pm when I figure it out, if that will help.
I am allergic to the triptans like imitrex and can't take Midrin with my other meds. When I get the get the ones that would piss off an elephant--that's how I describe them--I try a few things. I have tried Head-On--I know the commercials are annoying--and it helps for some of them. Excedrin migraine, but walmart's brand, helps also, but that's a lot of caffeine if you are also taking Midrin. The one thing that almost always works for me is magnets. It may sound "out there" but they have always worked when nothing else did. They are small spot magnets, put on the back of your neck at the base of your hairline with the north side facing your skin. I can give you info on where to get them if you are interested.
I hope you feel better soon.
I've been on Verapamil since I had the migraine from hell (near total loss of vision in one eye, vomitting, intense pain) that lasted way too long not to scare me. It was there - almost as an undercurrent - and then flared over and over during a 3-week period of time.
Be sure you are avoiding all possible triggers (such as chocolate, aged cheese, red wine). I'm taking Neurontin for Fibro and for nerve damage pain. Supposedly it can help with migraines as well.
I used to take Zomig but, I absolutely HATED the side effects of the drug. That feeling of being choked while someone is crushing your chest - you feel woozy because it seems that you can't take a deep breath.
Even with my blood pressure med (Verapamil - 40mg per day), I did have a 2 day migraine this weekend that seems to be flaring again. The cause of this one is definitely the spike in the temperature and humidity. It's October 26th and the temperature in my town was 75 degrees with high humidity. The temperature was also quite high Sunday and Monday and will be the same Wednesday. I believe I'll be suffering from this migraine until the temp drops and 'normalizes' later in the week. I'm VERY susceptible to barometer changes [primarily decreasing pressure due to coming storms] and increased humidity).
My migraine(s) this week began as a visual one - circular 'lightening' bolts that blocked almost my entire field of vision. Then the pins-and-needles in my thumbs, tip of my tongue, nose, and right cheek immediately preceded that feeling like my brain was smashing into my skull (any tiny movement provokes that pain).
Anyway, I think the blood pressure medication reduces the pressure in the brain. It makes sense because changes in the atmosphere trigger the majority of my migraines. Thankfully, I have not puked one time since I began taking 40mg of Verapamil. Most of the 'migraines' I've had since then involved visual disturbances and the actual pain was minimized just by taking 2 Liquid Advil.
I do have Zomig in the house for emergencies but, have thankfully not needed it (I'm not really supposed to take it with Ultram - of which I take 300mg per day for pain management).
My mom and one of my best friends also take blood pressure meds to prevent migraines (they take Atenelol - a beta blocker). Both of them also experienced visual disturbances this weekend and needed Advil to handle the breakthrough headache.
In the past, I've used Amerge (stopped working for me), Imitrex, and Migranal (the nasal spray). The Migranal was my favorite because it had very few side effects for me.
Just an interesting bit of info also... I used to be able to occasionally use Benedryl and it took away my migraine. Asked my Neuro and he explained that they sometimes give large doses of Benedryl in the hospital for migraines.
Good luck! Hugs
I have been on Percocet for the migraines which seems to be the only thing that had been working. I have to watch my use of it otherwise rebound headaches as bound to happen and very bad too. It has lost it's effective ability for the most part and really has little bearing on my fibro pain so I am trying to see how little I can use of it and try to get off it entirely.
I go to a pain clinic and see a neurologist there. Doctors do not like to prescribe pain medications, especially for chronic conditions.
Hope you find some relief. I can't give up hoping things will get better for me...as least on most days I try to keep that faith.
Tendrhrt
Not on any other pain killers somaybe that's why it's OK.
Of course, after i've used the 5, if headache is not gone.....oh well, it could be mine for the next week