Migraine attacks getting unmanageable
Hi there, my migraine attacks started when I was 13 , I am now 43 and I haven't had any help from doctors. I have tried everything, from holistic medicine to narcotics.
I had a baby a year ago. During my pregnancy I had zero migraines. None, like seriously zero. I don't know if it was sheer will since I knew I couldn't take imitrex for it or if my migraines are hormonal. I have never been diagnosed accurately by a doctor.
Anyway , long story short. I get the type of ice pick migraines (ice pick stabbing type of pain right behind my right eye) it's always the same pain, always the right eye.
Right now I am getting them a few days before my period and they last for a week or so after. Then another one if I ovulate. Then I seem to get one if I sleep too much , or not enough. Or if I drink caffeine or if I don't .
In a given month I have 5 or 6 attacks which last several days. I'm at my wits end as this month I have had a migraine for at least 2 weeks straight.
Any advice, anything that you can throw my way, I am willing to give it a shot. I am sick of taking pills, I am sick of not being able to enjoy my life. I just want to get cured or at least get them under control. Thanks in advance.
Congratulations on your baby! It's not uncommon for some women to have relief during pregnancy, most likely due to influx of hormones, having said that I'm not a doctor or medical researcher! It's also not uncommon to see an uptick in attack frequency after pregnancy I'm sorry to say.
Menstrual related migraine is a challenge. There is a longer acting triptan called Frova that has shown to be beneficial for these. When you get a moment, take a look at this article;
https://migraine.com/blog/short-term-option-for-migraine-prevention-frova/
I understand how frustrating it is to get an accurate diagnosis, but I encourage you to keep trying. It may be time to reach out to a doctor who is a true expert in treating migraine and headache disease. These doctors may be different from general neurologists as they are certified in headache medicine, all neurologists are not. General neurologists may be fine doctors but have a hard time being experts in one area because they treat many conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and more. A true migraine/headache disease doctor treats migraine and headache all day, every day. Here is more information on how these doctors are different and how to find one;
https://migraine.com/blog/really-find-headache-specialist/
https://migraine.com/blog/seeing-a-board-certified-headache-specialist/
https://migraine.com/living-migraine/change-thoughts-new-care/
https://headaches.org/resources/healthcare-provider-finder/.
Let me know what you think and I hope you have a low pain day, Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Leader/Moderator Migraine.com Team
Interesting. I'm sorry that you're having difficulty accessing frova especially when it was so effective for you. There are so many cases like that - really effective treatments but patents are holding up our access to them and keeping costs exorbitantly high and out of reach for most of us. Very frustrating.
We have a fair amount of resources on the topic of oxygen therapy - so rather than pick an article or two to send to you, I'm sending here a link to all of our resources on the topic to allow you to peruse the catalog and dive into those that interest you most on the topic: https://migraine.com/search?s=oxygen%20therapy. I hope they prove helpful to you.
Thanks for reaching out. Warmly- Holly -migraine.com team.
I'm sorry to hear about Frova being so very expensive - that's ridiculous.
I hear you about seeing doctor after doctor and being disappointed. So many doctors who claim to be experts in treating migraine and headache are not. I'm currently seeing my 7th doctor who is board certified in headache medicine. Some of these changes were due to relocations, others I plain fired them, and that's OK. Unfortunately it can take seeing many doctors before we connect with one. Try not to lose hope!
In addition to the great linksgave you, I found this study from last year that may prove information; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8002555/. Will you let me know what you think? Nancy Harris Bonk, Patient Leader/Moderator Migraine.com Team
When you're 13 can buy junk-food with pocket money.. we all did. Full of additives, etc. When pregnant, not eating junk-food, symptoms subside.
yes- good point. Junk food can definitely add to our symptoms and pain. It can be hard to break the cycle of eating them, but ridding our bodies of the preservatives and sugars can do nothing but good, ultimately. Thanks for chiming in! Warmly- Holly -migraine.com team.
I'm 43, junk food wasn't a thing when I was growing up, so I never got the habit, and I am also very health conscious. Pregnant or not I don't eat junk food.
Good for you! It can be a hard cycle to break. Wonderful that you never started and are so health conscious. Warmly- Holly -migraine.com team.
