Migrains

[kokonutmama]

Geeze I can't even spell the word, I never thought this would happen to me, but this is the third time I've had what I suspect to be a migraine, so by now I'm fairly certain.  Weird optical effects, intense throbbing headache, sensitivity to light and sound and yes, even vomiting.  Poor kody kept saying "stop it, stop it mommy!" while I was puking in the toilet. 

All the treatments I've found (in my tiny bit of online research through a haze of pain) seem really extreme drug regimens that only might help and don't really target the problem.  So, who has help, experience, anything with this?  the first time I was 4 month pg, last time was pretty minor and not too long ago, and now today.

[Marnie]

* hugs *
Migraines are no fun at all.

Over the last couple of years I have had several migraines too.  I am trying to figure out what brings them on.  In my case I suspect that there are several things which make it more likely to occur.  I tend to get them in the afternoon - 3-5pm-ish.  I am more prone to it if I am dehydrated after vigorous exercise in the morning, haven't had enough to eat at lunch time, have sat scrunched up in the afternoon, spend time in a particular park (though the last time was after another public place...), about 1 week before my period starts...

I suspect that there is some sort of environmental trigger arising from the park (and perhaps they had sprayed whatever it was around the building I was in the last time).  So if my body is stressed from lack of water and food, then it may be more susceptible to getting the migraine.

I go from feeling fine and normal to throwing up in less than 5 minutes.  For "treatment" I lie down and try to sleep; sip a little water; when the nausea leaves me, I beg someone to bring me something very moist to eat (juicy pear was great last time!).  Having my DDs gently pull my hair also helps a lot.   
I have never had a migraine when I was not dehydrated and hungry, so I try to control them by managing my hydration and food intake.

It is scary for my DDs too, and they are older than Kody.  While throwing up, I tell them that it is my body wanting to get rid of something that is harmful for it and that I will feel better after getting rid of it.  I try to give them little things to do to help me feel better - such as tugging on my hair, or even just putting her hand on my shoulder.  It isn't very restful to have a little one climb all over me when I am trying to sleep, but having them close is important to them and thus to me.

I hope you can find some trigger or other that you may be able to control.  Good luck and I hope you are feeling better today.

[moogie]

MIL suffers from migraines, i think she uses magnets to relieve some of the pain, but i'll ask her what helps.

[kokonutmama]

Thanks guys.  AF arrived the day after, and I've had crazy severe PMS issues before, plus I hadn't eaten much at all the previous two days, so that could very well be the combination that set it off.  The one I got at 4 mos pg was the night of the day I'd arrived on an airplane and been confronted with a party in my honor.   

[moogie]

MIL says magnets, sleep and no stimulation, eg light, noise etc.

[mum2maddox]

ive been suffering from migraines since i was 15 yrs old (my mother gets them badly also)... since ive had maddox though they have become far more regular and intense.

i get one every month usually without fail... about 4 days before my period, they include starting out with poor vision (blurry, black spots) which is my cue to lay low, ive never had any luck at curbing the migraine before the pain hits like some people can. after an hr or so of this the pain hits and floors me and with a few more hours i am throwing up. usually i have to go to the doctors for a cocktail in a syringe which doesnt really help other than make me sleepy and sleep really is the best treatment.

i have a nasal spray which i find does help slightly with the immense pain but i really take it or leave it as it isnt that much of a difference.

it takes a day or two to get over it- you bend down tp fast and the pain sears up and all sort.

i watched a thing on tv the other day about a lady whose had a implant put in her brain- very dramatic- but i can imagine when your getting one a week and on average it takes 2 days to feel 100 percent again it would affect your life big time and youd be willing to try anything.she has 2 chldren and it was really affecting her home life.  the implant seems to have helped.

i was also going to say you mentioned getting one when you had the party- i have found shock when i am tired is a huge cause for me- on night i got home after working 14 hrs straight and id slept terribly the day before  i just had fallen asleep when a cat outside my window (obviously calling male cats .)  started screeching which basically shocked me out of my relaxed state- i was in hospital about 3 hrs later...  with the worse migraine ive ever felt.  so now when im tired i really try to make sure i get the rest i need- when i need it as being tired really makes it easier to get a migraine.

i hope you can find something to help you- they really arent fun...

[kokonutmama]

Oh my gosh Sars, that sounds awful!   

[skeettafic]

The first real migraine I remember getting was in 8th grade.  I was in English class and barely able to stand sitting there.  I didn't know what they were until I was in college but by then had dealt with them for 5 years already.  Mine tend to be hormonally linked - the day or 2 before starting AF and then again a couple of days into it.  I have at least 3 a month and recently have had several a week as stress also contributes.  The weird thing was that I had only a couple the whole time I was pregnant and for the entire 1st year after she was born.  I used to have a script for Imitrex and let it expire when they became less of a problem.  I've actually been thinking about calling my doc though because they are getting to be more intense lately.

I'm lucky that I don't generally get either an aura or vomiting but I always have the sensitivity to light and sound.  I also can generally feel them coming in the back of my neck and try to get some excedrin in me immediately at that point.  Sometimes just a little caffine will take the edge off of one.  Really hot showers also help me.  Generally a hot shower and then into bed where I can lay very still is the best remedy.  Generally mine last from a few hours to a day but I've had them go as long as 3 days. 

With Jocelyn I just try to explain that mommy's head really hurts and that she needs to lie down to make it feel better.  She's usually okay with that if we lay in the living room and watch a movie or something. 

[Lily84]

awww, i had one bad yesterday. i agree with pp about being dehydrated and hungry. that seems to bewhen i get them too. the only thing ive found to help is lie in a dark room on my back and rest my head in dh's lap while his fist are right under my neck, so  that the weight of my head is resting on them and that pressure seems to release a lot of the tension. i drank a starwberry limeaid and that actually made me feel a lot better, whereas water or food was making me even more naseaus. if no one is there to put pressure on my head i curl up in a ball and try to sleep. sleeping is the ONLY way for me to get rid of mine though. sorry