Migraine Headaches Support Group
Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.
I'm not very familiar with migraines myself because I've never had one, but my boyfriend has been having a lot of problems with them recently. He said they first started about 10 years ago (he's 32 now) but they had stopped in recent years. In the last 2 months, they've been coming on more and more frequently. They've caused vomiting, dizziness, and had him in tears. He's tried OTC pain medicine, hot showers, food, everything. It hurts me that he's hurting, but I don't know how to help or even know what he's really experiencing.
They often set in at night and leave him weak and feeling like he got hit by a bus the next day. He usually doesn't wake me up when they happen since there's not much I can do and I think he'd rather just deal with them by himself. I understand having someone talking or checking on him may only irritate it more.
Does anyone have anything that they've tried that has helped get through these. It scares me a bit that they've started up again and are coming on a couple of times a week. At this point, I still doubt he'd be willing to go to a doctor but any at home remedies that have been useful would be greatly appreciated. I just don't wan him to hurt so much.
They often set in at night and leave him weak and feeling like he got hit by a bus the next day. He usually doesn't wake me up when they happen since there's not much I can do and I think he'd rather just deal with them by himself. I understand having someone talking or checking on him may only irritate it more.
Does anyone have anything that they've tried that has helped get through these. It scares me a bit that they've started up again and are coming on a couple of times a week. At this point, I still doubt he'd be willing to go to a doctor but any at home remedies that have been useful would be greatly appreciated. I just don't wan him to hurt so much.
The problem he faces is this: If he just uses OTC meds every time he gets a migraine, then he would be taking too much, and he would be putting himself into a cycle where the medicine is actually starting to bring those headaches on. That's why its go to see a doctor about your migraines.
I always suggest to people NOT just see their PCP or just a neurologist. They should find a headache specialist, but it sounds like your BF isn't the type to go to doctors. So...try to take baby steps with that. See if he'll go to his PCP to get some type of med for this.
Good luck!
So the symptoms of vomiting & dizziness I'm sure he's well aware are pretty typical traits & that morning after feeling is what I call the "migraine hangover".
They can be very, very unpredictable at times & then very predictable. Which funny enough makes them I guess unpredictable! Mine started at 14, had them regularly once a month until I graduated high school & then they stopped for almost 8yrs. Started again in my late 20's & then stopped again around 35 for a full year. THought I was finally cured! Nope came back again!.
As far as OTC medications the only one I felt that did any bit of good was Execdrin Migraine. It didn't get rid of the pain but it reduced it slightly, but I felt that the hangover afterwards was worse than NOT being on it at all. So I guess you can take your pick on that. I've tried stuff like auroma therapy oils & humidifiers & although I like the scent of Lavender, with the AC blasing in a dark room, once again it doesn't get rid of it completely. But it helps a bit.