More Migraine Misery! - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Off Topic

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

More Migraine Misery!

Staysfit

Veteran

I'm sitting in the hospital writing this. Yes, the hospital! I have been here since Thursday because I had a four day migraine that would not respond to the usual treatments and it was so painful I couldn't work. I ended up here because my headaches are so frustratingly resistant to standard treatments. I have had them last for months in the past so I knew I needed to get help quickly because the sooner you stop a migraine, the easier it is to control. If you wait too long, it is harder to stop the symptoms. I am feeling slightly better today. Instead of having pain level 9/10, it's more like a 5/10, so the plan is to send me home later for rest and recuperation.

My experience in the emergency room this time around was anxiety producing because they suspected I might have a subarachnoid bleed. The diagnostic test for that is a spinal tap which can cause a terrible headache! Oy! Not what I wanted! Luckily, they decided not to do that test.

FYI, The treatment they give me is DHE, (dihydroergotamine) which is a miserable med to take. Sometimes I'm not sure which is worse, the migraine or the treatment, but I am better.

To anyone else on this forum who suffers from migraines, I am right there with you and offer you my greatest sympathy. It's an invisible malady, but very real, and very disabling. So far, I have not let them take over my life. I am positive and strong. I plan to continue living my life despite the difficulties they cause. I know there are people who have been disabled by their migraines, and my heart reaches out to all of you.

Off Topic

29 replies

Latest reply was from Sara L.

kkards

Veteran

Staysfit, so sorry to hear you are suffering. Hoping the treatment works quickly and you are back to feeling like yourself soon.

celia

Veteran

Sorry to hear this. I have seen from my SIL how debilitating migraines can be. Hope that it is not the worst case scenario regarding your exam.
Big hugs.

deb

Veteran

What a bummer!!! Migraines are the worst and they seem to change as we get older. At least you are feeling better now. Do they have any suggestions on how to avoid another attack like this one?

Anonymous

That sounds horrible!

Glory

Veteran

Oh I am so sorry to read this. I can empathize greatly as a fellow chronic migrainer for about 40 years. I have had many hospital visits and more drug treatments than imaginable. I currently am using Botox treatments. I am done to about 6 per month with this. Hope you feel better soon!

Anonymous

oh no! I am so sorry to read this. I hope you can get some relief shortly. I used to be a migraine sufferer until I had a hysterectomy and that cleared up a lifetime of migraines! They still can be triggered, however, by flickering lights (through trees as I am driving the car) or even changing the channels on TV, too quickly or over and over like my husband does when he's surfing channels!

I also feel way better since my allergies were finally diagnosed. Rarely ever get migraines now. Currently, dairy-free, gluten-free, egg-free and to a lesser degree soy and tofu-free (those allergies are less severe). Huge health change but worth it.

I am allergic to all kinds of pharmaceuticals so I had to find a way to address this with diet and, of course, the surgery is not all that natural but I had severe problems so it was warranted and strongly encouraged by my specialists.

Sending soft light and encouragement your way.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I am very sorry that you have such horrendous pain. I hope you recover fully soon.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How awful.(((HUGS))). Really hope you feel better soon and am sending healing thoughts.

Anonymous

I empathise so much. As an ER visitor on a several occasions, I found that the staff often had trouble fathoming that my pain could be caused by 'just' a migraine and jumped to all sorts of scary 'brain bleed' possibilities, as you experienced. I realise all migraines have different roots, but if yours are hormonal (starting around menarche, often worse during monthly hormone changes), there may be some relief a few years following menopause. After increased suffering during peri- and menopause, mine have dwindled in frequency and intensity now that I'm 6 years post menopause. I don't want to offer false hope, but I do wish you relief and am sending healing wishes your way.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Terrible days. Is it known what causes migraines?

Eliza

Veteran

Staysfit-hope you feel better soon. Migraines are often debilitating and hard to get a handle on. I hope there are prevention options to be had. It can help, but everyone is different and phases of life can impact them in both directions. Sorry for your suffering and healing thoughts.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

That's an awful experience. I hope you are feeling better and better. I have occasional migraines. My experience is similar to Aliona's, except that now when I get them, I can't seem to identify a cause, since the hormone changes are either gone or at least undetectable by me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I am so sorry that you have had to suffer with this! Migraines are a scourge and can be so very debilitating. Like Aliona, I also get hormone and weather -related occasional migraines that used to be much worse than they tend to be now.

I hope you are feeling better and I hope even more that they can find a way to get you some lasting relief.

SandyG

Veteran

I always enjoy your posts so it's sad to read that you're in hospital and suffering. Hope you're feeling better ASAP.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I know just how you feel. I've suffered from chronic migraines since I was 18 years old (I'll turn 32 this year).

When I was younger, I didn't give them a second thought. I lived a crazy hectic life and ate up to 3-4 pain medications. After a few years, many of those medicines stopped working. I was put on Sumatriptan, but the headaches came back every single day.

I lived like that for several years. I tried several therapies too....but none of them worked. In 2010 I decided to change my lifestyle. I gave up my career (as the lead interior designer for a German furniture brand) and took up a writing career that I could do from the comfort of my home.

The reason was:
1) My migraine is worsened by being out in the sun. I had to be on site many days and couldn't handle it
2) Hectic working hours made it worse
3) Going without food for over 3 hours also triggers my migraine

Other things that trigger my migraine are lack of sleep (I need 8-9 hours), hormonal changes, temperature changes, coffee, alcohol and cheese.

I made all of those changes a part of life. I now try to reduce triggers as far as possible. My migraines were debilitating and I had 2 attack every single day. More often than not, medication couldn't control them at all. Also, I gained tremendous amount of weight because of permanently being on pain killers.

I tried alternative therapy a couple of years back and it's helped. The frequency of my migraines has come down. Vitamin B12 supplements changed my life. I actually starting taking them for a pinched nerve in my elbow, but soon noticed a change in my migraine pattern too. The supplement strengthens the nervous system and dies reduce frequency. And when I do have migraines now (about 10-12 a month), they are much less severe and a simple ibuprofen also works.

Have you considered alternative therapies?

Peri

Veteran

My husband gets them frequently...sometimes several a week...but so far not to the point of needing the hospital. Someone has recommended Botox for him...do you know anything about this? He's resisting...he says because he doesn't want poison shots, but I also suspect because of the cosmetic connection!

Thistle

Veteran

As a fellow sufferer, I feel your pain and hope you a speedy recovery!

Classically Casual

Veteran

How awful!

I recently was at a dinner table with a neurologist who favors botox injections for migraine sufferers. Might want to investigate that line of treatment when you're feeling better....

Cerinda

Veteran

I'm so sorry you were so hard hit. Any migraine is awful, but this is beyond what I can even imagine. Wishing you a good, sold, fast recovery.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I'm sorry. I hope you are soon on the mend and a way to prevent or alleviate this can be found for you.

Glory

Veteran

Just chiming on regarding the Botox. Here is seems to be the very last resort and is hard to qualify for them (Ontario Canada). I have been on Botox for about 1.5 years now. Not the easiest especially if you have needle issues but has given me considerable relief. I am happy to answer any questions.

Anonymous

I'm a bit late to this, but wanted to say that I hope you're feeling a little better by now and that you can find some more ways of helping ease your migraine misery.

Glory

Veteran

Hi, just checking in to see if you are feeling better and migraine free?

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Hope you are feeling better, migraines are the worst. I think my daily shot of ACV maybe be keeping them at bay, but mine are triggered by sinus issues.

kerry

Veteran

Wow! That's just awful. Hope you are feeling better.

Staysfit

Veteran

So sorry for posting and not getting back to this. Thank you for all the well wishes everyone.

I appreciate all the helpful ideas for addressing migraines. I currently receive Botox for Migraines every 3 months and have done for 4-5 years with a resultant reduced frequency of severe prolonged migraines.

I also take a well selected combination of preventives and have explored a wide range of treatments, including alternative treatments.

As Maneera points out, Lifestyle changes are a big part of migraine prevention. Avoiding hypoglycemia, food triggers, weather/temperature triggers, waking up at the same time every am., all have some support in migraine prevention. Being mindful is something I try to practice as well because it has strong support for helping chronic pain syndromes.

My work is one of the great joys of my life. I could never give it up.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Staysfit, I know you've probably tried most things by now but I just wanted to share some info about copper imbalance. It seems from some current research that along with other mineral imbalances like iron, potassium, calcium, copper sometimes is found to be an issue for migraines and it's hard to detect. It could be a matter of too much in your drinking water or just a buildup over time or even too little zinc or nutritional issues. Weak adrenal glands often lead to a copper imbalance according to some research. You do have a thin build which can sometimes be a sign of adrenal deficiency - and I know it sounds pretty unscientific, but the reddish undertone you have in your skin tone and hair made me think to look this up.

I found info here:
http://www.arltma.com/Articles/HeadacheDoc.htm

http://www.healingaia.com/blog.....headaches-...

http://www.drrind.com/therapie.....oms-matrix

rachylou

Veteran

I think migraine is the worst pain I've ever felt. A nail thru the head, vomiting, inability to stand. My migraines are peanut related, but migraine is a little like diabetes - one term for a host of different pathologies. My neighbor has migraine but she doesn't have the headache, but rather debilitating dizziness. Her struggle to get treatment has lasted years now because people don't get that it takes different forms.

Anyways just blabbing now. Hope it passes soon Staysfit!

Sara L.

Veteran

I hope you are feeling better. It sounds like you have a handle on the various treatments. I've known people with debilitating migraines that they had to leave their jobs. I'm glad you have not had to go that route.