Migraines - how to come out the other side

[The Shirt]

I suffer from the occasional dehabilitating migraine attack. I am on medication but if I don't get to it in time - well let's just say my stomach is not going to allow for any pills to work. I am a believer in home remedies to help sooth some of the pain for other ills in my life. I thought why not migraines. I watch my diet and stay away from certain trigger foods. I use cold compresses and meditation at the worst of it. I am on a couple of medications as well. I stay away from caffeine for the most part.

Does anyone have any interesting ideas/remedies that work for them? Acupuncture, pulse points, aromatherapy, old fashioned concoctions? I'll try just about anything these days.

 

[Paisley]

It could be TMJ problems.

I really like the book "Acupressure's Potent Points," which has helped me with other problems. It may be worth a try.

 

[Viola]

I can only say in reference to my own migraine issues, which are thank goodness rare but when they're bad its TMJ (I've had it so bad that once or twice my jaw was basically temporarily dislocated, couldn't chew or close my mouth, looked repellent) and I can say warm soothing tea helps, decaf with chamomile and St. Johns wort has supposedly muscle-relaxants which help my jaw, and I think the warm helps the face muscles.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'm absolutely destroyed by migraines an average of once a month, and the only thing that helps at all is an ice bag firmly applied -- as in squeezed against -- my right eye and the base of my skull. Once the sick passes, a bowl of chicken broth will help as well.

 

[Creeping Past]

I haven't suffered from migraine for some years. I put that down to giving up heavy alcohol, caffeine and nicotine usage, eating fresh food, including fruit and vegetables, and taking regular exercise. I'm also a lot easier on myself than I used to be: I try not give myself a hard time in respect of anything to do with work and relationships and personal interests.

Clearly, there was a lot going on there! But any or all may have been factors.

I hope this is of some use.

Best luck.

 

[WinoJunko]

I suffer from migraines as well, but thankfully not as badly as I used to. But when I would get them they would be so bad that I would end up vomiting. What I do to help feel better is I put a warm wash rag over my forehead. It really helps to relax and sooth the tense or tight muscles that are causing the migraine in the first place. Hopefully this helps you out, I know how crappy migraines are.

 

[Lily Powers]

Not a migraine sufferer specifically, but I do find acupuncture is a great relief for aches, pains and general body tune-ups.

Did you know that in order to relieve the muscle tension, doctors injected Botox into the forehead, neck and shoulder muscles of people who had migraines? The patients' looked so relaxed after treatments, that some bright bulb put 2 + 2 together and you know the rest - Botox as a "beauty" treatment. Go figure.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I luckily only have one very occasionally, and fortunately, mine aren't as chronic as most people's. I know they used to really lay my dad low for a couple hours or more - lots of pain, throwing up, etc. Mine seems to be getting a little less severe and less frequent as I grow older. It's been about 18 months since I had one, and I do remember when I'd have one every 3-4 months, then it was more like 6-8 months between them, and so on.

I get warning signs about 45-60 minutes before they become really bad. That's usually enough time to get home, grab a couple cold Cokes, some Aspirin and a heavy-duty antihistamine which, for me helps, and grab pillows and lay down in our walk-in closet with the door closed. Sometimes I get really cold, other times I'm burning up. Laying motionless in complete darkness (since it's a spasm of a blood vessel along the optic nerve, being able to see nothing helps) and letting the pills do their thing and put me to sleep helps for me. The cold Cokes makes a nice ice pack and the fizz & caffeine help as well as I'm coming out of it.

My warning signal is visual. I'll slowly become aware of a spot in the edge of my field of vision where I "see" something but I know my brain's trying to fill in what's there, or not there. It's sort of like a shimmery spot, and as it progresses to be almost exactly like a warbird coming out of cloak on Star Trek. I know - it sounds weird, but that's my best way of explaining it. The thing is it starts small and gradually, but the first I start to think my vision's off, I really start paying attention for the warning sign to get worse, and then make the dash for home or my little cave of darkness.

The doctor also mentioned there are lidocaine swabs that work well for many. As I understand it, when you know it's coming, you unwrap one and carefully stick it straight up your left or right nostril (the doctor can usually tell you which optic nerve's causing them) and it numbs the nerves involved. Mine's the left side because occasional tears will roll out for a couple hours before, during and after. But I am thankful mine aren't as bad as many who suffer with them experience.

 

[ClaraB]

My warning signal is visual. I'll slowly become aware of a spot in the edge of my field of vision where I "see" something but I know my brain's trying to fill in what's there, or not there. It's sort of like a shimmery spot, and as it progresses to be almost exactly like a warbird coming out of cloak on Star Trek. I know - it sounds weird, but that's my best way of explaining it. The thing is it starts small and gradually, but the first I start to think my vision's off, I really start paying attention for the warning sign to get worse, and then make the dash for home or my little cave of darkness.

I get the same visual disturbance warning signs. By the time the headache gets here I'm pretty much entirely blind in one eye. After my vision gets all sparkly I can usually count on my face and hands getting numb. I've gotten used to vision thing but the numbness is sometimes frightening, sometimes I have no use of my hand and my mouth feels like I've just been to the dentist and had novocaine. I had a really bad headache a few weeks ago, it woke me up in the morning and lasted well into the afternoon/early evening. When I get a migraine like that one I am entirely useless, I can't even sleep. What is worse is that after that migraine I was messed up for some time, my brain seemed to have problems making connections and it took me a few days to get back up to speed. I've gone to the doctor about my headaches and they sent me for an mri suspecting an aneurism, they found nothing wrong with me. Right now I find that if I get to the headache with a few excedrin migraine and a nice cold soda while it is in the visual stage, the headache will be milder.

 

[Mike K.]

I just spent most of the night dealing with another migraine. The headache is finally gone but my stomach is now wrecked from the two or three Goody's powders it took to finally kill the headache. The really bad ones usually require an ice pack and some sleep to get rid of. I once was "loaned" a prescription migraine medication, Relpax, from a friend. It really worked great! Need to get some of that.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I get a migraine once every couple of months. Like you, if I don't medicate it in time it just has to run it's course

For me, I drink Sprite. I don't normally drink sodas, but for some reason Sprite seems to get rid of the sickness. My mother (who also suffers) told me to do this. Then I eat a piece of toast, take my meds and go for a nap. I wake up just fine.

 

[The Shirt]

Thanks everyone. It does sounds very similar with the vision warning signs. I also get so nauseated that keeping the medication in is difficult. I will try and keep some sprite or coke on hand. I do sometimes try to fight it with a good dose of soda in the earlier stage. I usually don't eat or drink anything for a day or two. I've read that lavender compresses help - but they make me sick. And I also recently read that peppermint can soothe the stomach. I amy try that next time.

I hope I grow out of them as well. I know my father did. For now I just try and get thru them without taking a bat to my own head.

 

[ClaraB]

It has been explained to me that caffeine restricts blood vessels thus making the blood pass through veins easier and reducing the pain of a headache, so I guess that is why there is a general consensus here concerning soda.

 

[KittyT]

I suffer from the occasional dehabilitating migraine attack. I am on medication but if I don't get to it in time - well let's just say my stomach is not going to allow for any pills to work.

If you get nauseous, you should ask your Dr for an injectable or inhalable migraine medication like Imitrex and skip the pills. OR you can ask your Dr for anti-nausea medication so that you can use the pills if you're already far enough in that you have nausea. Many doctors prescribe compazine suppositories for this and they are VERY effective.

I stay away from caffeine for the most part.

You should try consuming caffeine when you feel a migraine coming on. It helps constrict the blood vessels, and most migraine meds actually have caffeine in them.

What I do to help feel better is I put a warm wash rag over my forehead. It really helps to relax and sooth the tense or tight muscles that are causing the migraine in the first place.

Except that as others have noted here, migraines are caused by nerve issues or constricted blood vessels, not tense muscles. I believe what you are describing is a tension headache

As Lizzie described, I think ice is wonderful for migraines - over both eyes, so it blocks out all light

 

[The Shirt]

I cannot seem to bring myself to use the injectables - I'm a wuss. And I don't have anyone that would administer them. I've tried Maxalt (dissolving tablets) and it doesn't seem to work. The nasual sprays actually made me throw up - so I won't be attempting that again. But I think these are all great ideas for someone who doesn't have my issues! Thanks.

Caffeine has caused me other issues so I am trying to live life with very modest amounts of it. I do think that it can be a godsend in the early stage of a migraine.

 

[KittyT]

I cannot seem to bring myself to use the injectables - I'm a wuss. And I don't have anyone that would administer them.

Darn, that's too bad, since those are really the fastest acting migraine meds. I do admit they can be a little intimidating. If that's the case, though, don't rule out anti-nausea medication and consider discussing it with your doctor. It can be a godsend. For many people, compazine also has the added benefit of knocking them out so cold that they can completely sleep through the migraine.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

My visual precursor is a moving worm of less focus..its -just- like the water creature in the Abyss movie....where you can sort of see through it, but its distorted. I get that and light sensitivity beforehand.




If you get them often enough, it might be worth discussing a daily anti seizure medicine called Topamax with your Dr. I have a friend on it, and without it she would have 3-10 migranes a month. With it, she has maybe 3 a -year-.

 

[LocktownDog]

I get them about once a month. It used to 3 or 4 times, when I was younger ... so I consider myself lucky in that respect. When I feel one coming on now, I brew a cup of double-strength coffee. Then I follow that up with high-nicotine english snuff (I prefer High Toast or Otterhound). For some reason the nicotine helps, but smoking a strong cigar or a pipe of irish rope just makes me nauseous that close to a migraine.

It doesn't make the migraine stay away, but certainly helps tame it a bit.

 

[LizzieMaine]

It's a good thing to listen to your own cravings when you're coming out of a migraine, too -- they may be telling you exactly what your body needs at that particular moment. With me, it's salt -- the vomiting drains a lot of electrolytes -- so I try to keep a bottle of Gatorade on hand for post-migraine aftermath. That and the salty chicken broth are very replenishing.

When I was a kid -- I started getting migraines when I was 10 -- the only thing that helped was Humpty Dumpty's Bar-B-Q Potato Chips. When I lived in California, I couldn't get these and suffered terribly -- I had to have a few bags mailed in from Maine just so I'd have them on hand. I have no idea what it was that made them help, but it must've been something in the seasonings, or maybe even the MSG. Whatever it was, it worked. Then they changed the recipe, and now it doesn't.

 

[grey ghost]

I have been getting Migraines since I was 12 ,I have the usual shimmering blind spot, along with numbness that moves from my left pinky finger across to my tleft thumb.
I tried meds a number of years ago but they wacked me out more then the headaches did. I now just pound the coffee/diet coke and try to sleep them off.
I do not get sick to the stomach just have the normal light and sound oversions and I want to strangle anyone who bothers me.

Does anyone else get what I call a migraine hangover, your head really does not hurt anymore but you fell grogy and fumble around with keys and things like that as well as strugling with your vocabulary?

Ghost