Migraines

[KingsGambit]

I believe I've begun to experience occasional migraines at this stage in my life. Does anybody else deal with them? How do you handle them?

[Boxing Pythagoras]

I believe I've begun to experience occasional migraines at this stage in my life. Does anybody else deal with them? How do you handle them?

I've been getting them since I was in the third grade. Only thing that really helps me, when they come on, is my prescription sumatriptan.

[Cerebrum123]

I don't have "migraines" per se, but I have constant headaches. I basically just have to deal with them most of the time. When they get really bad I can take a certain medicine(works wonders, but can only take it 3 times a week, so more bad headaches than that in a week, and well ). I can't remember the name, they stopped officially making it anyway. You have to get it compounded. Best headache medicine I've ever had though. Don't understand why they don't make it anymore.

[Sam]

I believe I've begun to experience occasional migraines at this stage in my life. Does anybody else deal with them? How do you handle them?

Just started muddling through one yesterday, as it happens. Unpleasant things.

As far as handling them, I'd say it depends on the type of migraine you get. I used to get "icepick" migraines when I was younger and handling them meant prescription medication (Darvocet worked for me). Today, most of my migraines involve disorientation, auras, mood alterations and some weird synergy with narcolepsy that makes my brain feel like it's sparking when I go to sleep it off. Imitrex works to reduce the duration of the migraine symptoms, in these cases.

I have a friend who suffers migraines on a daily basis (in the 7-9.8 range on the pain scale) and she's got the basic advice down to a science:

1) Know your medications and have them handy
2) Understand your migraine triggers, if they exist
3) Have a clear plan to deal with the migraine in different situations
4) Let friends and family know what your symptoms, triggers and medications are

(4) is often less thought-out than 1-3 but I think it's very important, especially if your migraine symptoms extend past (or don't include) pain. My close friends and family know that I sometimes have migraine-related aphasia, for example, and they sometimes catch an upcoming episode before I've figured it out myself.

And, of course, ask your doctor if you haven't done so yet. A prescription for Imitrex, if appropriate for your situation, can be worth a gold ingot.

—Sam

[Zymologist]

You might look into visiting a chiropractor. I know that my chiropractor, for example, has told me that he's had patients with horrific migraines who visited him, only for the migraines to go away after a few adjustments.

[JonathanL]

I get migraines about once very third to fourth month, more often if I don't get enough sleep. I usually take ibuprofen 600 mg (yeah, I don't take medication specifically for migraines ) I as soon as I notice the aura (which in my case is called scintillating scotoma, I think) which usually means I'm fine, as long as I stay in bed for the rest of the day. If I don't take the ibuprofen I usually develop a rather nasty headache and nausea, to the point where I'll vomit.

I've noticed that I tend to get migraines more often when I don't get enough sleep, or when I'm eating badly.

[DesertBerean]

Hm...what does this aura look like? I get what I thought were just nasty sinus headaches once in a while, and things sometimes look funny-hazy.

[DesertBerean]

I noticed Chrawnus's mention of the scintillating scotoma, and looked it up. Wikipedia had some pictures demonstrating the effect. Are they accurate?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scintillating_scotoma

[Raphael]

I get them upon occasion. One rizamelt (Rizatriptan). An hour or so later bye bye migraine.
Two of my brothers also get them (one gets about 15 a month and he had the Rizatriptan injections.

[JonathanL]

I noticed Chrawnus's mention of the scintillating scotoma, and looked it up. Wikipedia had some pictures demonstrating the effect. Are they accurate?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scintillating_scotoma

Sort of. I actually "self-diagnosed" the type of aura I get by comparing what I see vs the pictures on the wiki site, especially these three pictures:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...px-Aura_ss.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...rpretation.gif

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ng_scotoma.gif


My aura tend to resemble the one in the third picture the most, except it comes with the colors of the first one. It's not an exact fit, but it's close enough that I can say with quite a degree of certainty that it's what I have.

[KingsGambit]

Thanks for the info, all.

I had one this afternoon. I detected the onset fairly early, because I was struggling to read and suddenly exhausted, so I took a pill right away, and took a two-hour nap and woke up as if nothing had happened.

Oddly enough, I've noticed they only seem to happen in the late afternoon for me. I've heard it said I should start taking a migraine diary every day of the things I do so I can try to pin down a common cause.

[pancreasman]

Thanks for the info, all.

I had one this afternoon. I detected the onset fairly early, because I was struggling to read and suddenly exhausted, so I took a pill right away, and took a two-hour nap and woke up as if nothing had happened.

Oddly enough, I've noticed they only seem to happen in the late afternoon for me. I've heard it said I should start taking a migraine diary every day of the things I do so I can try to pin down a common cause.

Not to be dopey but I assume you've ruled out eyesight as a problem.

[KingsGambit]

Not to be dopey but I assume you've ruled out eyesight as a problem.

I haven't considered it actually...