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By *otsossie OP Man
over a year ago
local, but not too local |
I’m being plagued by visual migraines again. Covid seemed to set them off and the GP said just wait and see.
Anyone got any good tips for managing them?
I was reading
About ear acupuncture. Anyone tried it?
Can’t have the “good” migraine pills any more so I’m stuck with cocodamol, water, and mindfulness. |
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My best tip - not Covid related migraines - is to try to preempt the migraine. If you take painkillers and relax at the first warning (or however you see them off) - it's easier to stop the cascade as it's starting, rather than treat it when it's in full swing, if that makes sense. |
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"Find out what triggers them.
With me its coffee, uncooked cheese, lack of sleep and stress.
"
Hear hear.
Take some time, at least once each day, to listen to your body. Lay down or sit, in a space with fewest distractions, close your eyes, breathe deeply for a few moments and then just allow what comes up to come up. Avoid dwelling on particular thoughts, just let them come and go. Some call it yoga, some people say meditation, quiet time or "me time". |
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Suffered from migraines 45 plus years tired so many different types of painkillers saw specialist. Nothing really helped learnt to live with it best I could. Then wife changed my diet 5-6 years ago touch wood get them once in blue moon now . That’s normally if I’ve eaten something like flavoured crisps or had a coffee that gives me awful one |
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I'd start keeping a food/drink diary, see if you can identify a trigger. It's often easier to remove what's making you feel shit rather than finding something to make you feel better.
(Alternatively, you could begin a full anti inflammatory detox with an AiP diet, but that needs serious commitment)
Anyhows, best of luck and I hope you find a solution that works for you.  |
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Soon as I get the blur or the tell tale tingle I take four Gabapentin and go and chill for a bit making sure I stay away from any screens etc.
Within the hour I am back to normal aside from the soreness I get in my head when I bend down etc.
Migraines suck but with this method one hasn’t taken fully hold for years. |
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By *adyJayneWoman
over a year ago
Burnleyish (She/They) |
"Yeah I used to have it but it clashes with other meds. "
Are there other triptans you could take that don't clash? Sumatriptan is the most common but a lot of GPs don't realise there are others.
One tip someone gave me (even though I hate using it.) Dunk your head in a bowl of iced water, or put an ice pack against your neck.
I find that not enough (or too much) sleep
Not eating regularly
Stress
Are my major triggers. |
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By *otsossie OP Man
over a year ago
local, but not too local |
"Find out what triggers them.
With me its coffee, uncooked cheese, lack of sleep and stress.
"
It’s a combo of stress and vision problems on top of an old head injury which started it all.
First day back after a week. I had a snack and a cold drink and a lie down in the dark for 15mins and it mostly sorted it.
When I got covid it kicked off with the worst a/v migraine I’ve ever had and have had constant tinnitus ever since, along with regular “sparkles”.
It’s ruined my early warning system, now I have to rely upon getting a bit light headed as the signal.
As I understand it the Triptans basically release seratonin (which just pushed the pain into the back of my head).
Trying to regulate Seratonin levels by taking SSRIs so this is an absolute no-go.
Cocodamol don’t even touch the sides ?? I think low doses of Amitryptiline do work but they knock me out for hours on end.
Which is why I was wondering about non-chemical treatments like acupuncture or magnesium supplements or something.
Finding a different job would probably help but I don’t fancy starting again.
|
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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago
yumsville |
This stuck with me.. it was approved by NICE last year but is likely little known by GP's. It's non medicative as it's battery operated - the move away from standard prescription meds is likely pretty hard but may be worth an ask
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/03/nhs-expands-use-of-device-that-zaps-away-cluster-headaches |
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By *otsossie OP Man
over a year ago
local, but not too local |
"This stuck with me.. it was approved by NICE last year but is likely little known by GP's. It's non medicative as it's battery operated - the move away from standard prescription meds is likely pretty hard but may be worth an ask
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/03/nhs-expands-use-of-device-that-zaps-away-cluster-headaches"
Hmmm. Thankfully i don’t get cluster headaches any more, but the migraines seem to start behind my right eye, not sure how zappable that would be.
I’ll discuss it - thanks. |
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By *adyJayneWoman
over a year ago
Burnleyish (She/They) |
"Find out what triggers them.
With me its coffee, uncooked cheese, lack of sleep and stress.
It’s a combo of stress and vision problems on top of an old head injury which started it all.
First day back after a week. I had a snack and a cold drink and a lie down in the dark for 15mins and it mostly sorted it.
When I got covid it kicked off with the worst a/v migraine I’ve ever had and have had constant tinnitus ever since, along with regular “sparkles”.
It’s ruined my early warning system, now I have to rely upon getting a bit light headed as the signal.
As I understand it the Triptans basically release seratonin (which just pushed the pain into the back of my head).
Trying to regulate Seratonin levels by taking SSRIs so this is an absolute no-go.
Cocodamol don’t even touch the sides ?? I think low doses of Amitryptiline do work but they knock me out for hours on end.
Which is why I was wondering about non-chemical treatments like acupuncture or magnesium supplements or something.
Finding a different job would probably help but I don’t fancy starting again.
"
Ahhh most migraine medications are seratonin inhibitors. (I know pizotifen that I take for it is)
I know quite a few people who have had success with a daith piercing (which is where they do the acupuncture for a migraine) I'm getting my brave up to get one
(I'm on 2 preventative meds so I'm down to 4 or so a month unless I get stressed and/or have an ME flare) |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
Coconut water is good as it contains electrolytes which can become in balanced due to dehydration or drinking too much water but it is not good drinking too much of it either.good luck |
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"Find out what triggers them.
With me its coffee, uncooked cheese, lack of sleep and stress.
It’s a combo of stress and vision problems on top of an old head injury which started it all.
First day back after a week. I had a snack and a cold drink and a lie down in the dark for 15mins and it mostly sorted it.
When I got covid it kicked off with the worst a/v migraine I’ve ever had and have had constant tinnitus ever since, along with regular “sparkles”.
It’s ruined my early warning system, now I have to rely upon getting a bit light headed as the signal.
As I understand it the Triptans basically release seratonin (which just pushed the pain into the back of my head).
Trying to regulate Seratonin levels by taking SSRIs so this is an absolute no-go.
Cocodamol don’t even touch the sides ?? I think low doses of Amitryptiline do work but they knock me out for hours on end.
Which is why I was wondering about non-chemical treatments like acupuncture or magnesium supplements or something.
Finding a different job would probably help but I don’t fancy starting again.
Ahhh most migraine medications are seratonin inhibitors. (I know pizotifen that I take for it is)
I know quite a few people who have had success with a daith piercing (which is where they do the acupuncture for a migraine) I'm getting my brave up to get one
(I'm on 2 preventative meds so I'm down to 4 or so a month unless I get stressed and/or have an ME flare)"
The ex had her daith done. Made no difference at all. |
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By *adyJayneWoman
over a year ago
Burnleyish (She/They) |
"I know quite a few people who have had success with a daith piercing (which is where they do the acupuncture for a migraine) I'm getting my brave up to get one
(I'm on 2 preventative meds so I'm down to 4 or so a month unless I get stressed and/or have an ME flare)
The ex had her daith done. Made no difference at all."
So that's 4 it works for and now 2 it hasn't. Still worth a shot and even if it doesn't work it's pretty  |
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By *oodmessMan
over a year ago
yumsville |
"This stuck with me.. it was approved by NICE last year but is likely little known by GP's. It's non medicative as it's battery operated - the move away from standard prescription meds is likely pretty hard but may be worth an ask
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/apr/03/nhs-expands-use-of-device-that-zaps-away-cluster-headaches
Hmmm. Thankfully i don’t get cluster headaches any more, but the migraines seem to start behind my right eye, not sure how zappable that would be.
I’ll discuss it - thanks. "
It is an old report, I looked into what it does a while ago. It's not specific to cluster migraines but more migraine in general. It's now being used to treat ptsd, back pain and a few other things, you apply it to a nerve in the neck |
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By *otsossie OP Man
over a year ago
local, but not too local |
"It is an old report, I looked into what it does a while ago. It's not specific to cluster migraines but more migraine in general. It's now being used to treat ptsd, back pain and a few other things, you apply it to a nerve in the neck "
Yeah, reading up on it - thanks. |
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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago
Dubai & Nottingham |
"Ask your GP about Sumatriptan, its a drug used for Cluster Headache and Migraine.
Its available in tablet form, spray and injections.  "
I recommend this , I bought a load in Dubai Sumafix 50s and 100s. I took the 50 and within 10 mins the migraine was completely gone and didn't come back , it’s normally 48 hours min. So I’m cutting the 100s in half . I think they were £2 each. I’ve suffered for years and this is like a miracle. In the U.K. you may need to get a prescription or online consultation first as you’re meant to take anti sickness tables with them but I had zero side effect from the 50 |
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By *indergirlWoman
over a year ago
somewhere, someplace |
"Find out what triggers them.
With me its coffee, uncooked cheese, lack of sleep and stress.
It’s a combo of stress and vision problems on top of an old head injury which started it all.
First day back after a week. I had a snack and a cold drink and a lie down in the dark for 15mins and it mostly sorted it.
When I got covid it kicked off with the worst a/v migraine I’ve ever had and have had constant tinnitus ever since, along with regular “sparkles”.
It’s ruined my early warning system, now I have to rely upon getting a bit light headed as the signal.
As I understand it the Triptans basically release seratonin (which just pushed the pain into the back of my head).
Trying to regulate Seratonin levels by taking SSRIs so this is an absolute no-go.
Cocodamol don’t even touch the sides ?? I think low doses of Amitryptiline do work but they knock me out for hours on end.
Which is why I was wondering about non-chemical treatments like acupuncture or magnesium supplements or something.
Finding a different job would probably help but I don’t fancy starting again.
"
I take a low dose of amitryptiline daily at night and that seemed to help for a bit |
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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago
Dubai & Nottingham |
"Find out what triggers them.
With me its coffee, uncooked cheese, lack of sleep and stress.
It’s a combo of stress and vision problems on top of an old head injury which started it all.
First day back after a week. I had a snack and a cold drink and a lie down in the dark for 15mins and it mostly sorted it.
When I got covid it kicked off with the worst a/v migraine I’ve ever had and have had constant tinnitus ever since, along with regular “sparkles”.
It’s ruined my early warning system, now I have to rely upon getting a bit light headed as the signal.
As I understand it the Triptans basically release seratonin (which just pushed the pain into the back of my head).
Trying to regulate Seratonin levels by taking SSRIs so this is an absolute no-go.
Cocodamol don’t even touch the sides ?? I think low doses of Amitryptiline do work but they knock me out for hours on end.
Which is why I was wondering about non-chemical treatments like acupuncture or magnesium supplements or something.
Finding a different job would probably help but I don’t fancy starting again.
I take a low dose of amitryptiline daily at night and that seemed to help for a bit "
I wake up with almost hungover and can’t get moving if I take amilttyptyline at night. But do sleep like a baby |
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Sumatriptan is good but if you can identify the cause it’s better to prevent them. I saw a neurologist and they worked out that mine were triggered by interrupted sleep, I was sleeping 8hrs a night but it wasn’t proper deep sleep, we fixed my sleep and my nightmarish migraines vanished. |
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Do the Migraine skank! 
Honestly though I have suffered for years also and it affects my vision. I have tried a few different pain medications but to no relief.
I'm still hopeful that I might find something that works.
I hope you do too OP.
Jo.Xx |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Keep a diary what food items you have eaten
Main triggers can be food items dairy and the like
Also try to keep same sleeping and waking up patterns mrs has migraines almost every weekend and found out it was because of the lie ins on weekends, not a definitive cure but it did help. As for piercings they can and do work but I’d try the diet and sleep method first |
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