Migraine - live web chat Thurs 28 June 1.30-2.30

Despite being a 'headachey' person until recently I had only ever had one full on migraine (some years ago - blinding pain, nausea, inability to tolerate light to extent had to unplug video as the time display was too much!)

But recently have had a couple of dreadful and long-lasting headaches with nausea (feels like there is a line going from my head to my stomach) which drugs (paracetamol and ibuprofen) don't seem to touch. The head pain is always at the front - behind my ears and top of my nose)

Does that sound like migraine? If so what can I do to feel better? Lying down which seems to help isn't always practical.

With many thanks

Oops - spotted what could be a crucial typo. The pain is behind my EYES and bridge of my nose and not my ears. Apologies

After a lifetime of migraine, including 6 hospitalisations, I asked my GP to refer me to one of the Scottish Migraine clinics in Glasgow or Aberdeen. He said no he could not refer me outside Fife and anyway there were no new treatments, only pills. He said in fact it was GPs who were the usual people to treat the condition. He said control of my stress was the key, "use meditation" was his suggestion. For many decades I have tried to control stress and feel cheated. Why can I not be sent to a special clinic? R Gordon

I've had migraines since I was 11yo. Now in my late 50's, I'm giving up hope of ever growing out of them! I'm fortunate in that I rarely have nausea, which makes them easier to deal with.

My question is to do with the frequency and duration of the migraines. I have migraine-free spells for several weeks then they will suddenly start again. Very often each migraine will last several days, not in the 'lie-in-a-darkened-room' way but with a nagging one-sided headache that responds to nothing, it seems. I may wake without a headache but within an hour or two, it will be back, lasting all day. Or I may go to bed pain-free but wake with a headache. This pattern repeats for days at a time and makes life a bit grim.

I'm not even sure if that is indeed migraine. Sometimes I get the unmistakably crippling migraine pain but at other times although it's one sided, I can still function to a degree though I feel very 'fuzzy'. The eye on that side is often tender and sometimes my ear or my nose hurt as well, which seems most bizarre!

I've recently been changed from Co-dydramol to prescription Co-codamol tablets but both are ineffective at least 50% of the time. I've never been able to identify any triggers, food-wise or other although occasionally, eating a decent snack improves matters.

Is there anything else I can do to help myself with this, either fending them off or treating them?

Not wishing to be flippant on a serious thread (I also suffer migraines) but I love your name Sue

I had my first migraine aged 13 - blinding headache, wonderful art deco aura with speech, writing and movement affected. They were sometimes linked to food (strong cheese, red wine which I now avoid) and bright sunlight but they mainly seemed to be linked to hormonal changes - around periods, pregnancy and really bad ones for a couple of years linked to the menopause. After the menopause I seemed to be free of them until recently. I've had 3 in the past 3 weeks. In my mind they seem to be linked to the slight dizziness and muzziness I've had with sinusitis linked to allergic rhinitis. Could this be the case?

I'm also interested in something I read about migraine being a symptom of Hughes Syndrome. My daughter was diagnosed with this in relation to recurrent miscarriages. Is there a link and is the condition hereditary (ie should I get tested for this)?

After a lifetime (60 this year) of migraines I have finally found medication that works for me. I wanted to go back and hug the GP (she also has them) the first time I took the tablet and it worked. Her advice was to take 3 aspirin (max 900mg) if it seemed to be a migraine coming on waking - mine often start in the morning when I wake up but sometimes start at night. If the aspirin hasn't worked after an hour I take one tablet.

It is called Maxalt Melt 10mg Oral Lyophilisate

This has worked on every occasion since I was given the prescription - sometimes I have a head ache but can still function or it is a very weak version. (A full blown migraine for me can last up to 3 days usually in the darkened bedroom and means I can't work which is stressful in itself. )

Can't do webchat I am not retired!!

Cerasus I too have Maxalt. I tried several different meds but these really work for me and my daughter.
Don't know about the aspirin though

I used to have cyclical migraines and I took epilim for a long time. This is an epilepsy drug but it worked and eventually I could cut down and finally stop taking it. It was prescribed by a consultant at Kings College Hospital in London and my GP was happy to prescribe.

Is anyone else up against the NHS cut backs? I have been told I can no longer have Imigran but have to have the generic Sumatriptin which does not work as well for me.

Just looked up Maxalt and it is cheaper than sumatriptan and considered to be more effective. Need to make an appointment to see the doctor!

Correction- my husband was a pharmacist and he looked it up and says there is no generic version and it's dearer than sumatriptan so my GP won't be able to prescribe it

I was interested to see that Dr Elrington is also interested in MS, as this was part of the differential diagnosis when I became ill. The diagnosis now seems to be atypical migraine - some of the people I've seen call it basilar migraine, others vestibular migraine.
I have never been convinced by the diagnosis, as headache is not the main feature, although it is often present, and the problem can be continuous for days or even weeks. Basically I had an attack of what was thought to be labyrinthitis about 2 years ago (although at no point did I have vertigo) - it took several days for me to be able to walk about, and then the "giddiness" never resolved. The "giddiness" consists of the bizarre sensation that I do not know where my legs are - and sometimes my arms - and I can be clumsy. I sometimes have pain (not usually severe) centred on my right ear with tingling down the right side of my tongue.
I have had every scan and test in the book and the truth is that no-one knows what is really happening.
I have learned to live with it - do I have a choice!? - and use a stick when the instability is particularly bad.
Interestingly, about 8 years ago I had a similar episode when I lost balance walking down the street and had to cling onto a wall to stay on my feet - I found I did not know where my legs were - but this resolved quite quickly and I was fine the next day.
I am now 63.

I started migraines at about the age of 15/16 and I'm now 67 and thankfully the days of being confined to bed in a darkened room for 36 hours every 2 - 3 weeks with a bucket by the side (after a dozen trips to the loo to be sick I hadn't the energy to get out of bed) and too exhausted to sleep, the worst of my migraines seem to be over. I have been taking Naramig for the past 10 years, but still get bad headaches -once or twice a week. I've tried taking 3 x Paracetamol (with and without codeine), ibruprofen (I can't take aspirin) immediately I sense a headache coming on and they dull the pain but only the triptans completely remove it together with the sense of disorientation and heightened reaction to sound and light. Sometimes I can take one and carry on, sometimes I still need to go and rest. I call them my 'magic pills' Fortunately my doctor is very empathetic and is still happy to prescribe them and I have a review every 3 months. I have always been a 'headachey' person, but wonder if I will ever be free of headaches. They have plagued my life and stopped me from doing so many things. It seems to be the extremes which set things off - too much sleep or not enough, getting overtired, getting too hungry before eating or not eating enough Sometimes I can drink a glass of wine (never red), sometimes a mouthful will set of a headache. I'd love to be a party person but no chance !!Getting chilled in the winter can do it - so can very bright sunshine (especially when it flickers through the tree branches) .There is never any rhyme or reason to it. What will set a headache off one day, won't on another !

I agree with the previous busilizzie I have had migraine from the age of 20 and am now 64. the only time I was migraine free was when I was pregnant.

I very often wake in the early hours with a migraine and stumble out of bed and take a sumatriptan and just lie there for a coule of hours until it goes, no chance of getting back to sleep. I work 3 days and look after my 2 year old Gramdson for 2 days.

My triggers are going too long without food, alcohol any kind, flickering lights, even ironing something stripey!! can trigger it. Other than these triggers, there seems to be no explanation, I was hoping that I would grow out of them at the menopause, but no such luck!

Wonder why I can drink beer but not wine, which triggers a 3-day whammy? ? Anyone else have that experience?

I think I have migraines (severe headaches that can make me physically sick and only touched by a combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol) but my husband dismisses them as stress headaches. Who is right?

My question is sort of related to Barbara's. When people have a cold they often say they have flu (but clearly don't) And when people have a bad headache they often say they have migraine. Is that the same sort of thing? Or is there something specific about actual migraine that differentiates it from other bad headaches?

Like busilizzie I have had migraines since my teens..I am never sure what triggers mine and wouldn't even dare take a sip of red wine, but as I get older (64 now) they seem to be more frequent. Chocolate always triggers one but I hardly ever have any.
I seem to be waking up with severe headaches most mornings ..try paracetamol or Anadin Extra but I know only Naramig will get rid of the headache.....even then it can take up to 2 hours to work.
I have had a few migraines that affect my speech and co-ordination ( once was almost like a TIA).
I am very clumsy most of the time and frequently have a ''fuzzy'' head when the headache has gone.
I sometimes feel nauseous but not actually sick.
I had migraines all through my years of teaching but rarely took time off and as a full time carer for my Hubby now I have to be ''on form''.
Naramig are also my magic pills but feel guilty as I always seem to be phoning for a repeat prescription.
I did try amitrypiline but I felt like Zombie so gave up.
My father suffered dreadfully from migraine as do 2 of my 3 daughters.

I have had migraines since I was 14 and am now 73. My mother also suffered but lived to 90. They come out of the blue and I usually have two or three close together and then a break of a few months.

My first sign is always the aura, distorted vision, flashing lights, inability to speak coherently or pronounce words, sometimes tingling fingers which I still find very frightening. The headache is predominantly on the left side and I find that Maxalt taken at the first inkling does help but I need to lie down in a darkened room. Usually feel exhausted the next day.

Any new advice or treatment would be enormously welcomed.

I have been told that my first migraine was diagnosed at 18 months! Suffered on a 6 to 8 week cycle until my periods started, which might seem weird.

Was warned that they might come back with the menopause, but so far so good. Does anyone else have, or are there any other findings of perhaps hormone related migraine?

Mine stopped when I was given beta blockers for mild hypertension.

I have been plagued by migraines for over 10 years.
I have tried desperately ,without success,to identify any triggers and have tried stopping certain foods and drinks,but to no avail !
When they 'strike' they are totally debilitating .......I feel as though my head is about to explode,my temples are sore to touch and the merest movement of my eyes is excruciating !
It also feels to be in my nose too ??
I end up spending hours with my head/face pressed into a hot water bottle after taking as many co-codamol tablets as I dare
I have been several times to my GP who has prescribed over the years things such as Immigran and Maxalt ......but I am yet to find my 'wonder drug'.....oh how I would give anything to find that magic pill that would take away the horrendous pain!
My GP once sent me to see a Neurologist some 60 miles away ,who, although very nice, told me that if I had been having them for so long he was sure there was " nothing about to go pop " ......no tests were carried out?!
I have also tried using sinus wash solutions wondering if that is the problem?
If ANYONE could offer any advice or solutions that could eliminate these dreaded and awful headaches that plague my life I would be eternally grateful !!

Mum had migraines and I started having them aged 18. They became steadily worse, with symptoms including not only blinding headaches, visual disturbance and nausea but also numbness of limbs, which was really frightening the first time it happened, especially as at that time I had a small baby to care for. They have gradually tailed off as the years passed and glory be! I rarely get them now in my sixties. They definitely improved following the menopause, but can still be triggered by low winter sunlight or, strangely, anything cooked with cheese in (which never used to be a problem). I have heard that keeping to the same routine every day e.g. getting up at the same time, with regular meals and bed-times, can be very helpful. Do you agree? I only ask as my son has migraines and so far has refused to accept any "alternative" suggestions such as the regular routine idea or stress reduction through meditation.

Is it possible that migraines could be made worse or even caused by medication? I was recently referred to a doctor who advised me to stop taking Anadin Extra (which I had been taking daily) to rule out the possibility. I had a crashing headache for the first couple of days but then no headache for five days, which is a record for me. If medication could be to blame, any advice on how to get through the bad days without painkillers?