Migraine sufferers and IVF

AmCheri

How do you handle the headaches while you're cycling?  My current neurologist gives me vicodin to take for my migraines (with aura).  The vicodin dulls the pain somewhat, but does nothing to abort the migraine.  For just the run-of-the-mill headaches, I take Tylenol (which is akin to taking nothing).  

I think I might switch from my current neurologist to a headache specialist.  Just curious what your doctor does for you during an IVF cycle.  The good stuff -- Maxalt and Topamax (my miracle drug) -- is, of course, strictly off limits.  Now that we're in a break, I want to see if I can get a better handle on how to deal with the headaches.  Just curious to see how what you do to manage them.  There's got to be a better way than vicodin.  

Mrs.McIrish

I feel your pain. My last cycle was atrocious in the beginning as I was on lupron which tanks your E2= miserable migraines.  I could not get off the couch for the first two days.  Once I had been stimming for 2 nights, my E2 rose enough to level out the migraine.  I was told only tylenol which I agree does nothing.  The thing that helped the most was to lay down on an ice pack on back of my head or side (wherever the shooting pain was).

Also a massage therapist told me to take a long sock and put 2 tennis balls in it. Space the balls out so they hit on both sides of your neck  just under your head(laying down on it). The pressure of the balls help ease the pain a little.

GL hon!

LaLe09

I was having migraines with aura almost weekly in the first half of last year. The aura was the worst part for me, I could hardly see. It was followed by a pretty bad headache, but I could still function with it.

I started acupuncture last June and told the acupuncturist about my migraines. I actually haven't had one since July. I know that sounds kind of too good to be true. I don't know if my migraines were just due to stress or what, but they disappeared.

Again, I doubt acu will work for everyone. But for whatever reason, it worked for me. Either that, or it was just a coincidence that they went away. 

Sorry you are having such bad migraines! I hope you can find something that helps!!

luvboston

I am surprised you take vicodin because it can cause rebound headaches. I take zomig when its a really bad migraine. And I take a combo of tylenol and benadryl when its just a headache headed towards a migraine. I also use be kool patches and Head On.

AmCheri

luvboston:

I am surprised you take vicodin because it can cause rebound headaches. I take zomig when its a really bad migraine. And I take a combo of tylenol and benadryl when its just a headache headed towards a migraine. I also use be kool patches and Head On.

I don't take vicodin often by any means -- only when I absolutely must.  No danger of rebound with my frequency. I also used to take Zomig, but found Maxalt more effective for me.  The problem is that my RE doesn't want me taking any of the prescription abortive meds like Zomig, so I'm trying to figure out how to handle these headaches, particularly when I'm at work.  

What does the benadryl do for your headaches?  I haven't heard of that before, unless you're talking about sinus headache.   

AmCheri

LaLe09:

I was having migraines with aura almost weekly in the first half of last year. The aura was the worst part for me, I could hardly see. It was followed by a pretty bad headache, but I could still function with it.

I started acupuncture last June and told the acupuncturist about my migraines. I actually haven't had one since July. I know that sounds kind of too good to be true. I don't know if my migraines were just due to stress or what, but they disappeared.

Again, I doubt acu will work for everyone. But for whatever reason, it worked for me. Either that, or it was just a coincidence that they went away. 

Sorry you are having such bad migraines! I hope you can find something that helps!!

LaLe, I'm working on my headaches with acupuncture, too.  Can't say if it's had any impact, but I'll continue on with it.  The headache specialist that I'm going to see next is quite open to alternative approaches to pain management.  I see that he recommends acupuncture, too.  I'm hoping he has some other creative approaches.  As I've gotten older, the aura have become more complicated and frequent, but oddly, the headaches have become less debilitating.  I've even had so-called silent migraines lately where you get all the aura, but a headache never develops.  

I have terrible visual aura, too.  I always lose vision in my right eye.  Sometimes after it resolves, I'll have trouble seeing with my left eye, too.  It sucks!  I remember the first time it happened to me.  It was high school during a French test.  I couldn't see all of the letters in the words on the paper.  Scary!  

AmCheri

Mrs.McIrish:

I feel your pain. My last cycle was atrocious in the beginning as I was on lupron which tanks your E2= miserable migraines.  I could not get off the couch for the first two days.  Once I had been stimming for 2 nights, my E2 rose enough to level out the migraine.  I was told only tylenol which I agree does nothing.  The thing that helped the most was to lay down on an ice pack on back of my head or side (wherever the shooting pain was).

Also a massage therapist told me to take a long sock and put 2 tennis balls in it. Space the balls out so they hit on both sides of your neck  just under your head(laying down on it). The pressure of the balls help ease the pain a little.

GL hon!

Hi McIrish.  I've been thinking a lot about you lately.  I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet kitty.  We've lost two family dogs in the last six months -- one just before Christmas.  It's so hard on everyone.    Big hugs.  

Thanks for your suggestions on managing the headaches.  I haven't heard of the tennis ball approach, but it makes sense.  I'll give it a try.  The real hard part is what to do when you're stuck at work.  I've been known to lie down in a supply room on the floor in the dark.  lol.  I also refuse to turn on the overhead fluorescent lights and instead have my own incandescent lights at work.  The rapid change in hormones has been very hard on my head, too.  We sure get it from all ends, don't we?  Ughh.  If this new doctor has any suggestions that we have discussed here, I'll be sure to post with the info.  

Mrs.McIrish

AmCheri:

Mrs.McIrish:

I feel your pain. My last cycle was atrocious in the beginning as I was on lupron which tanks your E2= miserable migraines.  I could not get off the couch for the first two days.  Once I had been stimming for 2 nights, my E2 rose enough to level out the migraine.  I was told only tylenol which I agree does nothing.  The thing that helped the most was to lay down on an ice pack on back of my head or side (wherever the shooting pain was).

Also a massage therapist told me to take a long sock and put 2 tennis balls in it. Space the balls out so they hit on both sides of your neck  just under your head(laying down on it). The pressure of the balls help ease the pain a little.

GL hon!

Hi McIrish.  I've been thinking a lot about you lately.  I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet kitty.  We've lost two family dogs in the last six months -- one just before Christmas.  It's so hard on everyone.    Big hugs.  

Thanks for your suggestions on managing the headaches.  I haven't heard of the tennis ball approach, but it makes sense.  I'll give it a try.  The real hard part is what to do when you're stuck at work.  I've been known to lie down in a supply room on the floor in the dark.  lol.  I also refuse to turn on the overhead fluorescent lights and instead have my own incandescent lights at work.  The rapid change in hormones has been very hard on my head, too.  We sure get it from all ends, don't we?  Ughh.  If this new doctor has any suggestions that we have discussed here, I'll be sure to post with the info.  

Thanks for your condolences. It's been a tough few weeks....

Honestly, I am unable to work when my migraines come out. I have to lay down and close my eyes. Being at work would be horrible.  Big hugs.

luvboston

AmCheri:

luvboston:

I am surprised you take vicodin because it can cause rebound headaches. I take zomig when its a really bad migraine. And I take a combo of tylenol and benadryl when its just a headache headed towards a migraine. I also use be kool patches and Head On.

I don't take vicodin often by any means -- only when I absolutely must.  No danger of rebound with my frequency. I also used to take Zomig, but found Maxalt more effective for me.  The problem is that my RE doesn't want me taking any of the prescription abortive meds like Zomig, so I'm trying to figure out how to handle these headaches, particularly when I'm at work.  

What does the benadryl do for your headaches?  I haven't heard of that before, unless you're talking about sinus headache.   

 

The benadryl is for all types of headaches it works in concert with the tylenol to bring the headache down. Its highly practiced here, that is what they give patients in the emergency room. What does your doc think of Toradol its in the tylenol family?

Gregermis

Talk to your RE... I had one while I was stimming (boy or boy does tylenol not do a darn thing)... anyway, it was mostly over before I mentioned it at my next monitoring appointment, but she was going to prescribe me something...... can't remember, but it wasn't vicodin.

BicycleBride10

luvboston:

AmCheri:

luvboston:

I am surprised you take vicodin because it can cause rebound headaches. I take zomig when its a really bad migraine. And I take a combo of tylenol and benadryl when its just a headache headed towards a migraine. I also use be kool patches and Head On.

I don't take vicodin often by any means -- only when I absolutely must.  No danger of rebound with my frequency. I also used to take Zomig, but found Maxalt more effective for me.  The problem is that my RE doesn't want me taking any of the prescription abortive meds like Zomig, so I'm trying to figure out how to handle these headaches, particularly when I'm at work.  

What does the benadryl do for your headaches?  I haven't heard of that before, unless you're talking about sinus headache.   

 

The benadryl is for all types of headaches it works in concert with the tylenol to bring the headache down. Its highly practiced here, that is what they give patients in the emergency room. What does your doc think of Toradol its in the tylenol family?

 

Toradol can be a great option but it is NOT in the tylenol family. Toradol is an NSAID like ibuprofen. I have tried every migraine preventative and abortive around and none of them are of any use to me. Vicodin and then toradol IM is my go to action plan and that hasn't failed me yet for emergency pain relief. Then the next day I can go spend the day at the doctors office while she tries various infusions to end the headache. This does get trickier then pregnancy enters in and I'm not sure what the rules are for ivf