| Author | Message | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 611 Registered: 12-2002 |
Interesting stories, people! Thank you very much for the input. I have been told, and have experienced myself, that it IS very important to catch the onset right away, or else you are going to have to live with it for a few hours. I was out of Imitrex and took some samples of other headache medicine that I had on hand. Didn't work very well, or too late. Had my wife call in the Px for more Imitrex. Got a good nights sleep, hopefully I won't see another headache again for a while! The first time I got one of these migraines, I was sitting at the desk in my office and suddenly noticed that I could not read complete words, only portions of words. You take a word like "migraine", and I could see the "mig", then the "rai", then the "ne", but not all at one time. I honestly thought someone had spiked my drink and I was hallucinating. Strange stuff! This was the first time I've ever had a migraine make me physically sick to my stomach. | ||
| Kds (Kds)
Junior Member Username: Kds Post Number: 223 Registered: 5-2003 |
My wife uses a new drug....."Zomig Rapidmelt" tablets. She is a cronic long term migraine sufferer. The "cluster" kind. The only ones I get are self-inflicted. These pills work great....the only downside is that they are about $20 USD per pill up here. Since taking them only twice in 3 weeks she has not had a recent attack either. With her other medications she had them 2-3 times a week. I do not know if that is a side benefit....but she thinks that these are miracle pills in her case. | ||
| Ermin Trevisan (Trevi)
Junior Member Username: Trevi Post Number: 200 Registered: 5-2003 |
jeff, i have the same issues as craig. when it starts with the visual effects, i take 2 aspirins immediately, then i have no problems. when i don't have pills available in time, it's getting worse and worse and not even 10 aspirins will help anymore. trevi | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Senior Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 6730 Registered: 8-2002 |
i've had a multitude of head traumas and i can't even remember the last time i had a headache... i don't even get headaches after drinking... ...ok, this was absolutely no help whatsoever and i should've never even responded. Sorry...  | ||
| S. Brent Cardani (Brentc)
Junior Member Username: Brentc Post Number: 59 Registered: 8-2003 |
I had horrible reactions to Immitrex - my fingers and toes would burn. It was miserable. I'm taking Fioronal now, but like Craig, it is much less effective if not taken as soon as you know one's coming on. Sometimes I think I'd just settle for some pain killers as long as I know I'm not dying from a tumor or brain hemmhorage. | ||
| wm hart (Whart)
Intermediate Member Username: Whart Post Number: 1663 Registered: 12-2001 |
An occular migraine might be similar to cluster headaches, which i suffer from. I have run the gamut of treatments, from steroids, to anti-depressants, to various blockers, including Sansert; the pain from these headaches is acute, and has a rapid onset. Thankfully, they are relatively short of duration, but they recur in "clusters," hence the name. I can't look at anything when in the midst of one; the headache creates enormous photophobia (light sensitivity). Treatment of clusters typically differs from migraines, but i have found Imitrex (the nasal spray) to be quite effective. (There are also injectible forms, but i hate needles). The pills take too long to work. This is the only drug i have found that actually interrupts the headache, rather than attempting to block its onset. There were a couple websites that i used to go to where people traded warstories and treatment regimes. I can track down the URLs if you can't find them on a search. One of the best home remedies i found was cold air. I used to stick my head in our monster Viking freezer, and coupled with some mild saline spray, that tended to open up the sinuses and relieve the pressure. | ||
| fanatic (Fanatic1)
Member Username: Fanatic1 Post Number: 495 Registered: 2-2003 |
Imitrex............only stuff that works for me..........expensive though..........no generic.......about 12.00 per pill!!! Pisses me off! | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
Member Username: Craigfl Post Number: 692 Registered: 1-2001 |
I also get migraines but infrequently -- about 1 or two a year. Mine are classic in that I can tell when they are just starting-- which is when I pop a pill that I carry with me all the time. The pills are caffeine and ergot which if taken right at the onset, will allow me to continue on with almost no effects within 5 minutes. The key is to recognize the very start which changes from time to time. Most of the time it starts as a visual problem -- yellow, floating spots or sensitivity to brightness/sun or white hot borders around objects. I have had hearing things like rushing sounds and hearing going away too. The sooner I take the medication, the less after effects I have. If I catch the onset within 1 minute, I will have no after effects. If I don't take the pill for several minutes, I may have a lingering mild headache for an hour or so. There are also newer medications but I haven't changed because what I use works for me-- Cafergot or Ercaf. | ||
| Gordo A. (Gordo)
Junior Member Username: Gordo Post Number: 211 Registered: 2-2003 |
Jeff, I am sure some of the many doctors that are members will be able to give some reassuring comment. I haven't (touch wood) had one for about 2 years now. First time was in the middle of Christmas shopping, as you I experience the aura that virtually blinds you in one eye and leaves you feeling almost drunk. Worst stint I had was FIVE days in a row, thought I was going to die. I did manage to isolate it down to particular foods (and stress) namely cheap beer, cheddar cheese, chocolate. Have a look at what you are eating and try to relax! | ||
| Jordan Witherspoon (Jordan747_400)
Intermediate Member Username: Jordan747_400 Post Number: 2059 Registered: 12-2002 |
I can sympathize...I had terrible migraines when I was younger through elementary and middle school. They got so serious I would miss a week at a time, just staying home throwing up, and crying in a corner of my room from the pain. Its HORRIBLE! They scanned me for tumors several times but didnt find anything (thankfully). However, I just grew out of it...I get headaches very frequently, but I think they are due mostly to stress. Ive been lucky enough not to have a serious migraine in a few years. The thing I used to do when I got them though, was curl up in a tight ball on my bed in a pitch black, cold, and silent room. Sorry I couldnt be anymore help! | ||
| Jeff B. (Miltonian)
Member Username: Miltonian Post Number: 610 Registered: 12-2002 |
Sorry if this has been done before. I can usually count on an occasional migraine, but I have had two in a row, one on Sunday, one on Monday. The one today was the worst ever by far. I had to leave my job site, come home and throw up, and go to bed for seven hours before it got better. I get what my doctor calls "occular migraines", where my vision gets a spinning spot in one area or bursts of color. Very strange, and very upsetting. I have had occasions where I get a "Salvador Dali" effect while looking at people's faces during an attack - there will be one eye and a nose sticking out the side, something weird like that. Doctor says it's fairly normal, and NOT due to tumors, brain injury, etc. Any other migraine stories to share? |