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.

1,556 Members
3,347 Posts
0 Online
Brain & Nervous System
/ Migraine Headaches Support Group

Frustration

Lk0876
Lk0876

I have suffered with migraines and frequent headaches for almost four years now. It's disheartening every time I think there's even slight improvement, I seem to take two steps back. Either bad side-effects from meds, or just a bad month or two. Has anyone had a treatment that has worked exceptionally well for them? 

YvetteK
YvetteK
I wish I could give you a positive response. I have daily migraines. I had a migraine this weekend so bad that no amount of abortives helped. I took so much medicine my whole body was numb. All I can do is just take it day by day.
I am hopeful though because there are drugs that are in phase 3 of clinical trials that are supposed to work really well on chronic migraines. I can't wait until they are out and I can try them. So just know there are new treatments on the horizon.
Lk0876
Lk0876
Thank you so much for your optimism! I started botox last year, and that has seemed to help, but I still have to be on daily meds, and use abortive medications. Hopefully one or some of the new medications bring relief for all of us!
helphead
helphead
I'm new to this site and new to chronic migraines. I have been attacked by this demon all of a sudden and have had them for a month straight. I've tried everything from imitrex to all the drugs with caffeine to steroids you name it. Nothing helps. I can't even work. I feel like my life is over. How does one run a normal house hold and continue to work?
Lk0876
Lk0876
My best advice... don't give up hope. I had to try about 4 different abortive meds before getting to one that works for me. I also had to try multiple pairings of every day meds as well. I've had 20+ nerve blocks, tried a sphenocath twice, and had multiple botox injections. It unfortunately takes a lot of time to get on the right track. Try to avoid your triggers, eat at regular intervals, and drink plenty of water. When you feel a headache coming on, do not hesitate to take meds, and relax. If you take meds, and suffer for more than eight hours, go to the ER. I've been multiple times when I hit my breaking point, and sometimes IV meds are the only way to get relief. Take one day at a time. Keep a diary to figure out your triggers. You are not alone.
Lk0876
Lk0876
Also, have you tried triptans yet? I take rizitriptan now as my abortive and it works quite well. Everyone is different though.
LZG123
LZG123
My best treatments- which vastly reduced the number of migraines and cut their severity in half- are these: going gluten-free, and avoiding vitamin C, especially in ascorbic acid form. Once I made these changes, I was able to reduce my sumatriptan dosage by half. Now the only predictable trigger I have is menstruation, and even that doesn't always trigger a migraine anymore.