It seems like as I get older I get more and more. It also seems like in the last month, they get worse and worse. All the OTC stuff that use to work a majority of the time is not. I woke up with a migraine around 2am. It is not 5pm and I still have it. I have tried Excedrin migraine combined with Motrin, I have drank tea with caffeine, twice today. I have laid in a dark room, I have dozed on and off with a cold pack on head. I can not shake this.It is making me miserable, and I do not want to do anything. It was torture just walking down to the school to get my daughter today. I suppose I will be calling the dr. I hate that because I have not been to a regular dr in 2 yrs. I mean I go to the gyn for my yrly visits, but just dont get sick to go to the regular PCP...
Anybody get migraines that dont leave?

By Yjja123 on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 05:05 pm:

Sadly --yes. I do not get them weekly but when I get them i am down for the count. Caffeine helps. Sitting in a dark room helps. Heat pack on the back of my neck and on my forehead helps. The best thing for me is to try to sleep it off. I take a high dose of Excerdin and go to bed.
((((hugs)))

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 05:06 pm:

I have noticed this A LOT since the birth of my daughter. It gets so old having pain that long. Excedrin really works for me, but then the caffeine in it makes me feel like I'm having a heart attack, so I'm trading one pain for another. I stopped taking it. Nothing other than that OTC works for me.

Darkness and quiet is the only minor relief for me, and that's hard with a toddler. I've never been to the doc for them. I should really go, but I figure he'll give me something I can't take when I'm watching my daughter alone anyway, so what's the point?

I know the feeling...it is no fun. Wish I had more suggestions for you!

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 05:08 pm:

You need to see your doctor. There is no reason you should suffer like this, when there are plenty of treatments that can help. If you are hesitant to take prescription drugs, may I suggest alternative medicine, accupressure can work wonders for migraines. I get them from time to time, but mainly just get persistant headaches, and accupressure always helps. Please be careful with OTCs, especially combining them. I was a Motrin addict for a while, because of a pinched nerve, and after finding out just how many adverse complications are possible with it I am VERY hesitant to pop any, unless the pain is unbearable. Another remedy for headaches in general is Gatorade, it often replenishes any imbalances electrolytes that can cause headaches. ((((Jackie))))

By Kaye on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 05:34 pm:

First off I try to cut them off before I get them! I usually get that aura and just know.

But I take a bath first. I drink gatoraide. I use peppermint oil on my temples and put a heating pad on my neck and an ice bag on my feet (read that in a homeopathy site).

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 05:58 pm:

There are prescription medications out there that you can take specifically when you are getting a migraine that will take care of them right away. You take it as soon as you feel like one is coming on. This is good if you only get them occasionally and don't want to take a preventive medication everyday.

I, personally, am on a preventive medication because I started getting a debilitating migraine every single evening (part of my Central Nervous System problem) and that is not something a mother can live with! I also have the pills that you take if you feel one coming on for breakthrough migraines.

I am on presciption Motrin every night. Am I happy about that? Nope. But I used to take a stronger med and I backed down to Motrin, and I have to take it twice daily in order to live a semi-normal life. So Motrin won't do anything for my headaches, so I had no choice but to go to prescription migraine medications, and it has been wonderful. I haven't had a migraine in the three months since I started my daily meds.

By Nicki on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 07:23 pm:

No advice, just hope you're feeling better soon! It's so hard to get through a day with a migraine.
Take care.

By Pamt on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 07:40 pm:

I had migraines as a child (one a month) from 2-18 yrs of age. My last one was when I was a freshman in college. I had to be on prescription medication to get rid of them, typically phenobarbital. The one I had in college I ended up in an ER in California with a shot to get rid of it. Tylenol, Motrin, Aleve, Excedrin, etc. don't touch them. First of all you need to see a doctor to make sure they are truly migraines and if so, you need to be on a prescription medication and avoid your personal migraine triggers. I can't imagine having them as an adult and especially as a mom. They are totally incapacitating. Hope you're feeling better soon!

By Jackie on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 08:21 pm:

Kaye-does peppermint oil really work? I am willing to try anything.
It is now 8:15, and Im feeling 90% better. I was crying right before dinner because of it. Finally it is going away.

Ive never been formally diagnosed with migraines. My mother and my brother have had them as long as I remember. I have asked my mother about her migraines and her symptoms and mine are exactly the same. I just read today that 80% of the people who get migraines have somebody in their families who have them as well. I always knew it was hereditary, but never knew that much of it was.
I know many adults(mothers)who get migraines. I have a friend who gives herself injections when they get so bad.My pain is no where next to that.

By Tarable on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 09:04 pm:

I get migraines frequently and finding your triggers is very important. For a lot of people it is as easy as staying away from MSG (monosodium gluconate) and things like nuts. Personally my trigger is stress. You need to go to the dr to make sure there is nothing else wrong. Also I have prescription migraine meds but I only take them when I absoltely have to because I don't like the side effects they give me (I just get really worn out like I have run a marathon). If you do decide to go witht he meds talk extensively with your dr about the side effects and the best way to take your meds to make them most effective. The meds I am on my dr told me to lay in a dark cool room for about an hour after i take the meds to make them most effective. If you notice that you are getting them from stress then you should try a hot bath in a pretty dark bathroom (I just light a candle) and you might even put some lavender oil in the water to help relax you. I hope you feel better soon.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 09:05 pm:

I didn't know about the Gatorade or peppermint oil. This thread has helped me, too.

I'm glad you're feeling a little better Jackie. {{hugs}}

By Kaye on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 07:58 am:

The peppermint oil works great for me. I have a tube with a roller on top (think lip gloss) that I roll it right onto my temples.

The biggest key is to learn to recognize it before it gets bad and then DO SOMETHING!

If I forget those two things the only prayer for me is complete darkness and bed for the night. I don't get better, I will start throwing up if I don't do that ASAP>

By Jackie on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 08:00 am:

Kaye-Where do you get the peppermint oil from? Is that from a healthfood store or something?

By Tink on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 10:27 am:

Jackie, you can get it in a small roller-ball form at most health food stores or at a Trader Joe's, if you have one nearby. I have one from TJ's that is peppermint and lavendar oil together and it feels so good. In fact, I have a couple and, if you can't find it near you, I'd be happy to drop one in the mail for you. Let me know.

By Kaye on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 04:39 pm:

I got mine at a health food store.

By Jackie on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 06:28 pm:

Cori-Tink
Thanks so much for offering me to send me one. Im going to look around here in the Health stores and see what I can find.

I finally called for an appt. Im going to the dr on Monday.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 07:53 am:

Definitely be aware of your triggers. I used to get them 2 or 3 times a week until I learned my triggers - which were cheese, chocolate, wine, sodium/salt, MSG, stress and hormones. After I stopped taking the pill the frequency decreased rapidly. It was pretty much a given that I'd have a migraine after eating lots of chocolate.

And like Pam, I ended up in the ER a number of times for mine.

There are preventive meds you can take and there are more and better options than there were 25 years ago when mine were so bad. I'd definitely see a doctor if you get them a lot. I saw a neurologist for mine, mainly to rule out anything else.

One thing I always found to help when I had one of those crushing, blinding, sick-to-your-stomach migraines was to tie a bandana around my head tightly and use an ice pack over that. Gross as this is, very often the headache starts to get better after you throw up.

By Jackie on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 08:04 am:

Karen-Im going to start with my PCP. I havent been there in 2 yrs. I guess it is a start.

I know that some chocolate gives me a headache, others do not. I do not drink wine, and rarely eat cheese. Im trying to narrow it down.

I do believe hormones play a big part. I dont remember getting many headaches while pregnant with Faith. I know I got some mild ones, nothing to talk about.
I breastfed Faith for 18 months, and had a couple of headaches here and there. Its been almost 3 months since I stopped breastfeeding her. And, it seems the headaches have really increased since then, in frequency and intensity. SO Im "thinking" hormones are having a big effect.
My biggest fear is the dr is going to blow me off and not make it like a big deal. I dont know. It is a new dr and I just dont know what to expect.

By Pamt on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 08:32 am:

Jackie, I believe that hormones play a part too. We know that women get migraines more than men for one thing. Also mine basically went away after puberty. That's why menopause scares me because I wonder if they'll come back then. My biggest trigger is lack of sleep. If I went to a slumber party as a child, you could guarantee that I would have a migraine the next day. My son gets them and is the same way.

If your doctor blows you off, then go to another one or jump straight to a neurologist who will take you more seriously.

By Jackie on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 08:49 am:

Oh yes, lack of sleep. I can say that I have had MUCH lack of sleep since Faith has been born. She only sleeps 3-4 nights all night long, the rest of the time she will get up 1-2 times.

By Conni on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:00 am:

I had migraine not to long ago and had to go too bed at 5pm for the night!! I hurt so bad I couldnt even think to get myself some Advil. lol My ds brought me some early in the evening bless his heart and kept reminding his brothers to be quiet. And my dh gave me more Advil when he came to bed late in the night, plus he had to get dinner for the kids and get them off to bed.

I feel for you!!! I think mine was brought on by stress. And possibly hormones. Gotta love those flippin' hormones. argh

One of the *many* side effects I had when on BC pills was a *constant* headache (not a migraine tho), constant nauseated feeling... I quit taking those as soon as I could.

No advice, just many (((HUGS)))... They are no fun and I really didnt understand how horrible and painful and debilitating they were until I experienced one for myself. So, I can certainly sympathize with you!! If these were a common occurence I dont know how you could NOT go to a doctor. It is way too painful to suffer thru something like this. The only other time I experienced pain like this was when my wisdom teeth were coming in. Oh my word, I thought I was going to die. I really did!! My head and face hurt so bad I couldnt move.

Please go see a doc as soon as you can...

By Conni on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:02 am:

BTW, Jackie, I sooo cannot function without sleep!! lol I am such a big baby. I hope your little one starts sleeping thru the night for you *every night* very soon.

(((HUGS)))

By Jackie on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:21 am:

Conni-there are several reasons why I put off going to the dr about them . First, I think I was in denial LOL..
Really the main part was I was pregnant so much(4 miscarriages before my last)then a fullterm pregnancy with Faith and the nursing for 18 months. I didnt think they would give me a prescription for anything while still breastfeeding. But, now no more pregnancies and no more breastfeeding,and I slowly came out of denial. So I will see what the dr sais on Monday.

By Insaneusmcwife on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 09:23 am:

I have been taking a perscription called midrin for my migranes and it usually works well, however about an hour after I take it I'm usually zonked out. My triggers are stess, TOM and lack of Caffine.

By Christylee on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 02:22 pm:

I have had migraines since I was about 22 (8 years) I think mine are lack of sleep and/or stress related. I used to be on a preventative medication but have gone off of that, now when I feel one coming on I try to stop them as soon as I feel one coming on.

I recently had a different "type" of migraine so unlike one I'd had before I ended up in ER with a catscan, bloodwork the whole works. Turns out it was a "new/different" kind for me. Thankfully I haven't had one since February (knocking on wood) but I do have a perscription for Imitrex inhalent in case I feel one coming on.

Imitrex has been the ONLY thing besides absolute quiet and darkness that cures mine. Sleep does me the best.

I hope they find out what is triggering yours and can get you some relief. ((HUGS))