Migraine

I have no experience of migraines other than a boss who used to phone and whisper "I need a dark room and medication, babe" and then I'd not hear from her for three days. So I'm sorry for anyone who suffers from them.

Pleased to hear you are feeling better Greatnan - a good dose of fresh air will hopefully help disperse the remaining headache

Glad you're feeling better Greatnan and can enjoy the
My migraine triggers seem to be diet-related.
No.1 son saw a consultant many years ago, he had bad hay-fever as an 18 month old!
I still remember the consultant saying that if you had allergies ( and I suppose intolerances could be the same) you tend to develop more.
In my case this has also proved to be true.
I had my first bad migraine at about 35. Up until then I could eat anything.
My G.P., at the time suggested yeast extract and grapefruit (grapefruit and marmite on toast being my favourite breakfast!) both known triggers.
Sadly, since then I have had to add Brie (other cheeses seem OK) and chocolate.
I wonder if you too have 'found' another trigger.
It took several headaches before I realised the cause, now anything 'citrus' (including citric acid which is added to so many things!) is avoided. The old-fashioned strip lights also trigger ( I know I said diet!!!!)
I am prescribed Migraleve, which as you know can be 'rejected' if the headache has 'taken hold'. I find if I wake up with a banging head it is too late!
I shall now go off to read Cari's link!
Enjoy your day.

Used to have frequent bad headaches (maybe migraines) which only time and sleep would get rid of. When I was made redundant they vanished. Was it the stress of the workplace or some environmental factor there? I only know that when I was half way to Manchester to visit my old colleagues in college, my head began to hammer. Turned back as soon as I could and it never happened again. QED, I think.

hi annodomini, this is belated but since i have found the feverfew herb I am able to forestall the worst of my lifelong migraine symptoms. I chew a leaf or 2 and it works fast.I find them growing in wasteground and transplant them into a pot at home. When they die i store the dried plant to eat in the winter.

Does anyone get ocular migraine? I started getting them about 13 years ago, but I've only had one since I quit training in 2011. I'm glad I don't get the headbangers though.

Yes, shimmering stars and zigzags of light usually over one half of my vision. No headache, come on out of the blue and last about 30 minutes, sometimes longer sometimes less.

Yes, crun, once or twice a year, a bright sparkly halo one side or the other of the visual field for a few minutes. No apparent cause. Said by the optician to be harmless. I suspect that differing light levels or tiredness come into it. Wish it didn't happen but there it is. Reactolite glasses seem to help.

Mine's a shimmering blind patch that starts just to one side of centre, and spreads to the periphery, then clears from centre to periphery. It usually takes about half an hour.

Do you find that you get tiredness afterwards, like the patients with classic/ common migraines?

Yes, I'm tired afterwards.

I tend to get several attacks one week, then nothing for months.

I think the longest I've been without an OM is nearly two years, the shortest nine hours. In spring 2011 I had as many OMs in nine weeks as I'd had in the previous nine years.

Following this with interest as I think my migraines are triggered by not drinking enough fluids but not food or wine related. Totally sympathise with everyone as pretty well unable to do anything during an attack and if can't get Brufen +paracetamol with a can of coke pdq then no choice other than to sit it out. Have been known to sit with head under cold water shower for 15 minutes in desperation.......

It really is a good idea to go back to the doctor, because new medicines are being discovered all the time.

I suffered from migraine for over 30 years. Unable to keep any tablet down, blinding pain and vomiting for 36 hours. My eldest son and eldest grandson had them too.

One day a miracle happened. My son was prescribed Naramig by his GP. I was given them, by my doctor and have not had a full blown episode in years.

They don't work for everyone but there are other types available. They are prescribed with a limit of 6 a month, for most people. I think because as a previous post said they are based on antidepressent.

I now find that I only have to take half a tablet at the first sign. I hope this helps.

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Reported. The gobbledegook spam ad has been tried before on here and does not work here. We have been around for too long to fall for it.

Hello Greatnan i am sorry to hear you have been suffering the curse of Migraine!,I have been getting them for nearly 30 years and have tried just about everything, at the moment i am in my 5th week of Botox on the NHS i was getting between 18 and 21 migraines a month and lived on Maxalt melts Zomig which is a nasal spray,3 paracetamol with domperidone and strong coffee sometimes helps they all have to be taken at the very beginning of a migraine, The only thing was that i was taking too many and i know now that just causes more migraines. I had to have a total washout as they called it for 3 months (no painkillers or Triptans) which wasn't pleasant to say the least to qualify for the botox. as i said i am 5 weeks after the botox and have only taken 6 triptans this month it was my last resort and now i am so pleased even though i have had bad neck and shoulder ache it is better than the migraines, i am told it does wear off and should be better next time as my body will be used to it, i had 31 injections in my forehead, top,
back, and sides of the head and neck and shoulder, i didn't feel some of them just where i had had a migraine the day before on one side. i hope this helps other migraine sufferers as well as you, but i must say prescription only drugs work with sever Migraines in my opinion.

I used to have cyclical migraines and was prescribed Epilim by a consultant at Kings College, Hospital. It is a drug generally given to those with epilepsy but it cured my migraines. I can't remember his name but he published research into its use. One article was in the Pharmaceutical Journal (many years ago).

I would like to apologize to Greatnan's family and friends here on Gransnet. I obviously had no idea, And thank you again to those of you who let me know.

crun I get those occasionally. At least they're not painful like the proper migraines from which I used to suffer!
By the way, looking at your xmas tree picture, do you live in a mansion? And what do you invent?

No, I live in a three bed semi, it's amazing what you can find on Google images!

Yes, ocular migraines aren't really any problem at all, I'm glad I don't get the headbangers like most of the others on this thread. The only nuisance was losing my driving licence for 5 months while someone made a decision that I was safe to drive.