Migraines becoming more regular

Hi Mary,

Your symptoms are very much like mine (which is s first on here). I am 59 and I have been experiencing migraines since having a hysterectomy about 9/10 years ago.  I have no aura just the pain and light sensitivity and they used to last around 48 hours and can be on either side of head.  Now they are more intense and last longer and I am feeling nauseous with them.  I used to get them between 5-7 weeks so I thought they were hormonal but I am now getting more frequently and lasting around 7 days on and off . I also have a stressful job so I think this is linked - now trying to manage a better life / work balance and I will be dropping a day from June so working 4 days.  I take rizatriptan along with paracetamol and/ or ibuprofen but I have been told to take the triptan on onset (hard to tell though if it’s just a headache as I get many of these and I don’t want to take the triptan unnecessarily ) . I am feeling very depressed after my last two attack’s as this is so debilitating and I feel very isolated .  I think we certainly have to be able to manage our stress levels at work to see improvement with the migraines. Good luck I wish I had an answer .

Cindy 

Hi cindy 

Thank you so much for at least letting me know I’m not alone. It can be so debilitating at times and like you I am trying to get more of a life/ work balance and getting out doing more walking- this isn’t as easy as it sounds as I am waiting to get my second hip replaced( January of next year). Had my first done last year. Unfortunately for me paracetamol on its own won’t work for the migraines and I try to limit the triptan to only when I absolutely have to take them- they are so expensive! 

I am trying to eat more healthy but don’t think food is a trigger for my migraines. 

Would love to know has anyone else tried any alternative methods for controlling migraine. 

And cindy I hope when your work days lessen your migraines will too! 

Thanks

I would talk to your doctor about your cranial nerves.  If they haven’t already.  Like the occipital nerve. Trigeminal  nerve. I do know how horrible it is to ha e such pain!!!!   You just don’t understand until you’ve had to deal with it’s!   It debilitating!!!   Horrible really.  I hope you can get help!  I’m going to try some yoga. And visit my chiropractor.  Give it a try!   I’m kind of scared tho   I don’t want to make it any worse!   

Hi Mary..my saving grace was my chiropractor. After going to a seminar on migraines I went to see a chiro and he pretty much cured me for over 10 years but I had another one about 6 weeks ago so I went back and he told me my neck was soo bad.  Hoping he can fix me again. It is worth a shot to look into how your neck is and if it is out of alignment. May not work for you but it wont hurt to try. Hope you get some relief soon.

Hi Stargate fan,I am 54 and like you had hormonal migraines all my life,every 2 weeks,on ovulation and period,regular as clockwork,and was told by every doctor I saw that on menopause they would cease,then they stopped for 6 months and life was wonderful-unfortunately they came back with a vengeance.I spend days in bed vomiting,I feel exhausted all the time and I've lost my job because of it.I have tried every medication available,Botox,homeopathic remedies and therapies,diets etc. but nothing works.The only thing that keeps me going is hoping that it will ease one day.You are not alone.Try switching sumatriptan for another triptan,i take Naratriptan and that helps me.Im also trying a cocktail of co-enzyme Q10,Turmeric,vitamin b2 and magnesium so fingers crossed that will help.There is also a lot of good information on the migraine trust uk website and go back to your doctor and make them listen to how your life has been affected.Good luck.

Hi bonnie, 

Thank you so much for the info. I will talk to my doctor and ask her about this and see if I can get any further help. 

It’s so nice to talk to people that know how bad migraines are because unless you get them you have no idea 

Thanks again