Getting older, Getting more migraines

By pennyll1560

2 min read

It seems that as I'm getting older my migraines seem be getting worse. I am getting more of them, and more types, and more effects. I'm not sure if it's my age, or if it's due to Menopause, since I do know that Hormones are a trigger for some of my migraines and my hormones are really out of whack right now. I get several migraines a week now even while taking preventive medication every night. I have start getting more stomach issues with my migraines now too and if I start throwing up, I am usually in for several days of it and end up in the ER to get a shot as I will end up severely dehydrated and feeling horrible. I have Continuous Vomiting Syndrome with my Migraines. I also get painless migraines and luckily they don't last very long, but are scary as heck. I will get pain and weakness in my arm and get double vision and very dizzy. It will last for several minutes and them subside. These are starting to get worse too, I now start to feel like I'm tipping over with the dizzy feeling.

My migraines are also to the point where right now it seems that only the Imitrex Injection is the only thing that seems to make them go away, and I hate needles and to try to give myself a shot in the middle of the night with a full fledged migraine going isn't the easiest thing in the world to do.

I am really getting to the point of banging my head against the wall, nothing seems to work, I am exhausted all the time, the hang-over after the migraines pretty much last up until the next migraine hits me, I've cut out wine and foods that trigger, try to meditate to help with stress, hormones. well it will be awhile before those are under control, but I am looking for answers, the doctors never seem to have any for me, I am afraid that people (my boss) will stop believing it when I call out due to a migraine when I can't see my computer screen because my vision is so blurred and my brain is so muddled I can't think straight to try to deal with customers on the phone. People can't "see" my illness so I don't think they see it as being a real illness.

I am looking for answers, suggestions, hints on how to prevent and/or make my migraines stop or be less severe.. I am hoping that people, like me that deal with this daily have found things, since my doctors haven't... thanks all..
Penny

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kahtiklife Member
I am in EXACTLY the same situation as you are! Multiple meds, none of them exactly work, just make it not as bad as it *could* be, so I've started two things this month... I've started to see a chiropractor regularly and am seeing a lot of improvement in the headache and aura symptoms, but not so much the nausea. At his suggestion, I am also trying medical marijuana to work on the nausea. I take a high CBD, low THC edible when I feel the nausea and it works better than Zofran and alters me less than a lot of the migraine meds I've been prescribed by my regular physician.
trish-wilson Member
Your story could so easily be mine, I have taken the difficult decision to stop my triptans, obviously a very personal choice and not one I could or would recommend to anyone else, but for me the evidence is out there that using them regularly causes the migraines to rebound. I accept that it's going to get worse before it gets better. Luckily I have now retired (from nursing) so have the "luxury" of being able to do this. I hope you can find some relief, best wishes.
1. karenr Member
 You might try asking for a triptan with a lower rebound rate. My doc switched me to Relpax for that reason. Just a thought.
jean Member
At my working age the migraines were more episodic but getting more often. Tried preventatives which didn't work and had too many side effects anyway. The abortives worked for a while then not so much. Triptans seemed wonderful first few months then started causing rebounds. I stopped all that and found that generic exedrin worked a higher percentage of the time than anything. Slowly I quit eating sugar and processed foods. Now I eat a whole foods plant based diet simply prepared. At first I just continued to get worse but figured at least I'd not take in any more toxins than possible without getting fanatical and presumably be a more healthy migrainer. It was discouraging at times that the more healthy I lived the worse the migraines were. BUT after several years finally I realized that hadn't had an acute 5 day attack since the end of October 2013. Still have daily problems ranging from silent to moderate but this is better than before. And I will not worry about what tomorrow will bring. The older I got the more I realized that I had to find the answers that doctors wanted to help but the most they had to offer were drugs that don't cure.
1. hbarrett47 Member
 Monthly migraines turned chronic with menopause. At first they were more severe but gradually they lessened in intensity as they became more frequent. I have gained significant relief as I have simplified my diet -- no sugar, grains, dairy, alcohol, as well as avoiding specific triggers like tea and bananas. It has taken years to uncover what works for me and, to keep things interesting, triggers seem to come and go over time. But I agree with Luna, above, that it is best to become one's own expert.
Katie M. Golden Moderator
I’d love to help you brainstorm some ideas. It’s so frustrating when you’re not getting answers from doctors and you just need relief! Since I don’t completely know everything you’ve tried some of this might not help, but let me know and I may have some other ideas for you. For your nausea, have you ever tried Zofran? It comes in a dissolvable form so it works really fast. A doctor has to prescribe it, but it may help with the vomiting. Also, what type of doctor are you seeing? A neurologist is great, but they also deal with Alzheimers, Parkinsons and stroke patients. A neuro with the designation of a Headache Specialist is solely focused on the over 300 headache disorders. There is a shortage of these docs, but it is worth it to find one and travel if you have to. Here’s a list of Headache Specialists in the US. <a href='https://www.ucns.org/globals/axon/assets/10300.pdf' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>http://www.ucns.org/globals/axon/assets/10300.pdf</a> Also, have you ever tried Botox as a Migraine prevention? It is FDA approved to treat Migraines. Every 3 months a neuro does 31 injections in your temples, back of the head and neck, and forehead. I know you don’t like needles, but they can give you a numbing cream so you don’t feel it. Use the search function on our website to find a ton of info on the subject. It also sounds like you use alternative pain management like meditation. You may want to look into natural supplements like magnesium, feverfew and butterbur to add to your medication regimen to help reduce the headaches. Check out this article: <a href='https://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/natural-remedies' target='_blank'>http://migraine.com/migraine-treatment/natural-remedies/</a> I hope some of these things help you ! -Katie
pennyll1560 Member
Thank you all for your suggestions, I have starting taking Magnesium to see if that will help. I do take a medication for the nausea,but I'll talk to my Dr about Zofran so I don't have to take a pill with water as if I don't catch it soon enough that can be an issue. I am trying to get in with a new Neurologist, I have recently moved to a new area and have changed Dr's. I had seen a Neuro that specialized in Migraines and he was no help at all, gave me the same lip service I have gotten for years. As for Botox getting it covered thru insurance is difficult, th
allieb Member
An estrogen patch helped me immensely. I was having 2-4 ER visits per month, and it cut the severity of them down drastically. I still get them before my period, but now 2-3 times a week. I tried everything else and I can't take Triptans as I have a heart issue so it's been tough. One more thing- taking Zinc has helped a lot. It clears excess copper from your system which triggers them.
bridget Member
I know exactly how you feel. I barely eat anymore because I have so many food triggers now. Almost 2 years ago I had a hysterectomy but he left one ovary in, I went from 1 five day migraine a month to almost everyday pain. I wish I had some suggestions for you. My husband has stopped mentally supporting me since I had to quit working so I know the whole thing about people not understanding. I told my neuro my migraines are evolving into different symptoms, he never says anything just stares into his Ipad. Time for a new Dr. I would not wish these on anyone but sometimes I wish they would come out with a way that everyone who don't understand can feel our pain then maybe there would be more empathy.
karenr Member
I was having similar problems with escalating incidence of migraine. I took a number of steps over time that have helped to decrease the number of migraines I have. I cut artificial sweeteners from my diet, take CQ10', magnesium. Only eat organic bananas (apparently there are tons of pesticides in regular ones and they were triggering headaches) and only eat lunch meats without nitrates in them. I started allergy treatments and am hoping that will also help once the treatment takes effect. I also stopped regular caffeine consumption. I realized that if I am not drinking it daily, when I get a migraine caffeine will knock it out and I don't have to take my vasoconstrictor (as long as it's not too late in the day). I hope that something I've shared helps. It's no fun.
pennyll1560 Member
Thanks, I'll try adding Zinc to see if that helps, had another bad/strange one today.. not just the head and nausea, terrible shakes, almost like I was freezing but I wasn't cold. I tried to work this morning but the irritability does not go well when your a customer service rep on the phones. And trying to see what was on the computer when my vision was so blurred. I had to get away from the lights/sounds.. so off to bed, another lost day in my life. Really sucks. Does taking the magnesium during the Migraine help relieve it? I have added it to my night list of pills to see if it helps..
therequip Member
Hi Penny, I own a company, TherEquip, and we specialize in pain management therapy equipment and supplies. While I can't offer a cure, I can offer a bit of relief. Our ThermaZone unit is a hot & cold therapy system which offers unique fittings for migraines. Check us out.... <a href='https://therequip.com' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>therequip.com</a> All the best you and Be Well!! -Tim
unsaintly Member
I go through the same thing. There are my "moments of clarity" where I am migraine free for weeks or months and I feel like a terminal patient that has gotten her remission card. Then the migraine come back hard and fast and destroy everything. For example : after a really bad bout of them in which I was literally in bed for two months, I was suddenly free. I worked out every day, went out with friends again, got a great new job... Now they're coming back.. The weight is coming back (I'm not over weight but I was always atheletic) and I'm depressed again. But to digress.. I relate to your symptoms. I shiver from pain or if the migraine is gearing up. And I yawn a lot. My eye will twitch. And I get blurred fuzzy vision.. The medication does nothing anymore so I'm a candidate for botox injections. Even with insurance it's way expensive!! And it "might" work?!? So yes.. I understand.. Head ±wall+repeat