Migraine

[Cat-a-Tonic]

How do you treat a migraine? I never used to get migraines until I got sick, now I get them every 1 to 2 months. Usually I go home sick from work if I get one while at work, but that's not an option anymore as I'm facing disciplinary action if I take any more sick days (I'm in the process of trying to get FMLA so I won't get in trouble for going home sick, but my doctor is dragging his heels on filling out his section of the paperwork, so until that gets done I can't take a sick day or go home early or I will risk losing my job).

So, how do you treat a migraine if you have to sit at a desk? It's not too bad of a migraine fortunately, no nausea and not a lot of pain, but it still seems REALLY bright in here and it's hard to focus my eyes. There is a cot in an empty office that I can lay down on, which I think I will take advantage of shortly. Any other suggestions on how to ride out a migraine while at work?

 

[bushydougie]

What an awful situation you are in cat. Can your doctor prescribe you any medication for it? I used to suffer with them at least once a week and I had to take medication daily to prevent them. It was an antidepressant in a low dose that somehow also works for certain migraines. When I did still get them the main thing I had to do was lie down in a dark room and sleep. I'd then always need to eat after waking. This somehow helped. I used to take ibuprofen to help and also found co codamol helped somewhat but nothing really took the edge off. I would go back to your doctor and explain the situation to him.
I hope you find some answers soon

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Thanks Sam. I just went and had a lie down in a dark room on the cot for about 20 minutes, which helped a bit. I have a consultation with my GI on Oct 4th and I plan to ask him about my migraines then. I know I've told him in the past that I've recently been having migraines, and he made a note of it but nothing was ever done as far as medication. I'm sure the migraines are tied into my intestinal woes as they both started at the same time. Do you happen to remember the name of the anti-depressant you take to prevent your migraines?

 

[DustyKat]

I also suffer with migraines but they were never frequent and over the years have diminished significantly in severity. In my case the usual migraine meds did nothing for me and when the aura started it was a case of go home ASAP, get to bed and ride it out. What I take as soon as the aura starts is Panadol, the problem is I don't take a recommended dosage so I best not say what it is on an open forum, it's not extreme or anything!

Roo also suffers with migraine and they were frequent in the lead up to her diagnosis and unfortunately nothing worked for her. I tend agree Cat with her's being tied in her Crohns. They lessened when she went into remission and now she hasn't had one for over 2 years. But I also don't know if it was tied in with her age as well, since she started with them at a young age I was hoping she would outgrow them as some people do.

Dusty.

 

[bushydougie]

Could you not go and see your GP before hand? Even if it is related to your other symptoms he might know more about migraines than your GI.
The medication I was on was called dosulepin. I'm not sure how common it is to help migraines but it certainly worked for me. I took it for 10+ years and only came off it last year.
There was other medication called imigran (I think) which is a nasal spray. It's meant to work well but I'm not sure if it's available over there or not.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Thanks, Dusty. I get the auras too but they have been getting weirder and weirder - I'm not sure if I should be worried about that or not. When I first started getting migraines, I'd get the "classic" aura where I'd have sort of a weird wavy thing in my vision and then get a headache with nausea about 10 minutes later. The auras seemed to get bigger and more wavy and even colorful the more migraines I had. Then a few months ago, I was at the bank and it was like suddenly someone turned on the lights very, very bright but only in one side of my vision. I didn't get anything wavy in my field of vision, the aura was the light thing. I got the headache w/ nausea after about 10 minutes of that too, so I know it was an aura. But today's was the weirdest - this morning at about 10 AM I was at my desk, and suddenly everything got a bit darker and like the contrast was turned up. I don't know if I'm describing that well but my vision changed, similar to when everything got really bright. I thought it was an aura but no headache 10 minutes later, so I kind of forgot about it. Then I went to the park on my lunch hour and read my book out in the sunshine, and I felt fine until I got in the car to come back to work, and I noticed my head felt full of pressure. When I got back inside the building, everything felt too bright and I felt the headache coming on, so I knew it was a migraine. I'm not sure why the aura happened over 4 hours ahead of time this time though! It's so weird. I never quite know what to expect!

Edit: I should add that there is one thing that IS always the same with my migraines. The aura is always on the right side only. I never get it on the left. Whether it's the wavy things or the lights changing, it only happens on the right. I'm not sure if that means anything or not.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Sam, that's a good idea. I'll call my GP on Monday and maybe he can see me next week before I do the pill cam. I'll ask about my medication options and hopefully I can get something mild with few side effects. Like I said, I don't get migraines super frequently, only once every month or two, so it's not affecting my life frequently, but it does impact me quite a bit when they do occur, so it'd be nice to have some sort of either preventative medicine or something to treat the migraine when it happens so I can continue to work.

 

[tiloah]

I started having migraines within a few months of being diagnosed with Crohn's. I have been tried on a lot of meds to treat them.

There are drugs that are "abortive" of the headache. You take it as soon as you think you are getting a migraine and it will make it stop. I could not function without these drugs. Right now I'm taking Imitrex (comes generic!) previously I took Maxalt. Sometimes they make me really lightheaded/sick/naseous for a couple of hours, but that's better than for a couple of days (which is how long my migraines would last). But I think that symptom only showed up after I had been taking them for a long time. Definitely see your PCP or a neurologist if you can!

They also have drugs to prevent migraines, but yours are infrequent enough that they might not want to try that. I've tried a lot of different things. I was started on a beta blocker a couple of weeks ago so right now I have just about every part of me crossed that it will work.

As for something that will work if you don't have the drugs... well if you find anything let me know. I have not found anything that makes me feel better when I have a migraine, and if I don't have an "abortive" I am basically panicking. If I'm standing I want to lay down, if I'm laying down I want to stand or sit up. I can't get comfortable and I usually end up laying by the toilet trying to not (and failing to not) vomit. Sorry I can't be more help on that front. I hope you feel better and these darn things go away. I know how unbelievably awful they can be.

 

[tiloah]

As for the one sidedness, that's actually a characteristic (used as diagnostic criteria) so yes, it's "normal."

Some of the "preventives" I've been tried on: Amitriptyline (an old antidepressant), Topamax, Propranolol.

 

[Trev]

hi Cat have you tried migrastick, its a roll on that you apply to your temples. works for headaches too.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Diesanduhr: Thanks for your reply - it's good to know that some of these medications come generic, as my insurance only covers generics. And good to know the one-sidedness is normal. I was starting to get scared that it was only on the right side, like that side of my brain has a serious problem or something. It's interesting that your migraines also started around the same time of your diagnosis. I haven't yet been diagnosed but based on my symptoms and the fact that I respond to prednisone, my GI is trying to find evidence of crohn's. It's crazy how illness in the gut can affect so many other things, like the joints and the brain. I will definitely try to see my GP next week - I'm also having the pill cam next week, so it'll be yet another week of going to the doctor multiple times.

Trev: I haven't heard of that, but I think we have something similar here called "Head on" which is something you're supposed to roll on your forehead to relieve headaches. I tried it once (on a regular headache, not a migraine) but it did nothing for me. I usually either take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or do nothing at all when I've got a headache or migraine. I used to take Excedrin but I avoid all caffeine now so I don't take that anymore, and obviously ibuprofen and aspirin are out too.

 

[Trysha]

Hello Cat
Sorry you are having such a bad time.
When I get a migraine the aura is always the same side and as soon as it starts I take two regular strength tylenol I also put on dark glasses.
If I am home I get a hot water bottle and lie down with it on the back of my neck and a cold compress over my eyes and forehead.
This is helpful to me. About 6 hours later I take another 2 tylenol if needed.
The ache in my head becomes bearable and sometimes goes away.
I find it necessary to take the tylenol immediately the aura starts ---for best effect.
Hope you can soon see your doctor for qualified advice and proper checkup
trysha

 

[afman]

i use imitrex as an abortive also with midrin.

 

[DustyKat]

Edit: I should add that there is one thing that IS always the same with my migraines. The aura is always on the right side only. I never get it on the left. Whether it's the wavy things or the lights changing, it only happens on the right. I'm not sure if that means anything or not.

Mine only ever happen on the right side too and they are the wavy, flashing lights. Haha, I can get nauseous just thinking about them! :lol:

I started to get Migraine in my mid twenties and the aura back then was different Cat. I would lose my right field of vision so effectively everything on my right side was black and the strange thing is it took me a little bit of time to work out, when it was happening, what was actually happening. Does that make sense?

Another interesting thing, when Roo was suffering with headaches along with her gut issues, she was diagnosed with abdominal migraine.

Dusty.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Yes, Dusty, I have had auras like that where my field of vision on the right is totally obscured. I actually was driving on the highway once when that happened - scary! How are abdominal migraines diagnosed? Do they do a test or do they just acknowledge that you're having migraines and gut problems and that the two are likely connected in some way?

 

[DustyKat]

Hey Cat,

There is no test, just diagnosis based on presenting symptoms. Abddominal Migraine is apparently quite common in children but rare in adults. I think what may have led to this diagnosis for Roo were two things, her symptoms of Abdominal Migraine and CVS (Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome). The thing was she didn't have symptoms between attacks, that is pain and headaches, and I suppose they based the diagnosis on that. Looking back though I'm not sure she didn't have some sort of pain most of the time but had built up such a tolerance that it was normal for her so she didn't complain.

Dusty.