Migraine sufferers

jbbolton · July 2013

I've been a migraine sufferer since my teens. Before pregnancy I was on Neurotin daily for prevention and took a strong neuroleptic when one struck. I stopped meds about 6 months before conception. The first trimester was tough with an increase in frequency but then they got better. However, I've had a ton of migraines just in the last two weeks. Must be surge of hormones. Any natural treatments that you have found to be effective? I look stuff up but not sure what really works and is worth the time (like acupuncture.).

coraggiosa · July 2013

Chiropractor! I would say acupuncture would probably work too. However, I've got to the chiropractor and gotten a lot of relief.

GeniyaK · July 2013

Nothing natural worked for me. My migraines are the cause of a muscle spasm in the neck which pinches major nerves so before we got prego my nuerolagist injected me with Botox and it was a savior!! Not allowed to do that while prego or breast feeding though

Ice packs on my neck and forehead help with a Tylenol / Vicodin mix

jbbolton · July 2013

Good to know. I go already but never mentioned my headaches to him. So many other issues to focus on! Thanks! Do you go during a migraine or just for scheduled visits?

amarissa85 · July 2013

Nothing natural works for me either.

LHedden · July 2013

I am also a frequent migraine suffer and the docs gave me a medicine safe to take during pregnancy. Its called butalb and is a mixture of stronger dose of tylenol and caffiene. It only works when I feel one coming on and some migraines it doesn't work at all. I know its not much but ask your doc and give it a try.

rfrazier611 · July 2013

You've probably already tried this, but I need a hefty dose of caffeine, along with whatever pain reliever I can get my hands on (Tylenol for the last 9 months), and then laying down in a cool, breezy room with a cold, wet washcloth over my eyes until I can function again. I also have to be sure to lie on whatever side the migraine is least intense. The caffeine and painkillers are ineffective for me without the washcloth part.

amarissa85 · July 2013

For pp, too lazy to quote, I am on fioricet as well.

coraggiosa · July 2013

rfrazier611 said:

You've probably already tried this, but I need a hefty dose of caffeine, along with whatever pain reliever I can get my hands on (Tylenol for the last 9 months), and then laying down in a cool, breezy room with a cold, wet washcloth over my eyes until I can function again. I also have to be sure to lie on whatever side the migraine is least intense. The caffeine and painkillers are ineffective for me without the washcloth part.

I do all of this as well, but I actually use an ice pack on the affected side (mine are very localized). The ice pack really helps a lot.

mommabmb · July 2013

Once I am done with BFing, I'll be doing Botox again. It helped a BUNCH.

Emeraldeyed315 · July 2013

Accupuncture for me. Also, eating lots of green apples and staying uber hydrated helped. Do you have any food triggers?

I found out I have celiac about 2 1/2 years ago. I never had stomach aches or common ailments from celiac. Since eating gluten free my thyroid is back to normal and I have not had 1 migraine. Just an idea to think about the food triggers that may be out there for you! Good luck!

lydsyjane · July 2013

I had ONE migraine during pregnancy and it was so awful. I tried everything natural and tried waiting it out but 7 hours into it I finally took an Excedrin and fell asleep. So so awful. I'm sorry you have to deal with these.

MinnesotaMomma91 · July 2013

Calcium and dark works for me. Otherwise two tylenol and a can of coke is how i coped while pregnant. The closest i can get to excedrin right now is two tylenol two ibiprophen and a can of coke.

But try calcium and a nap in the dark first.

jbbolton · July 2013

Emeraldeyed315 said:

Accupuncture for me. Also, eating lots of green apples and staying uber hydrated helped. Do you have any food triggers?

I found out I have celiac about 2 1/2 years ago. I never had stomach aches or common ailments from celiac. Since eating gluten free my thyroid is back to normal and I have not had 1 migraine. Just an idea to think about the food triggers that may be out there for you! Good luck!

No food triggers - other triggers that I have found over the years. I wonder why green apples help? that is interesting.

jbbolton · July 2013

I'm on the Tylenol/caffeine prescription pill that many of you mentioned - but it sucks compared to Maxalt or Frova. I have done the Botox as well (which hurts like a mother...)

I hate this and hope it isn't a one a day deal until she is born. Especially still working - I have had to turn off lights in office and grab ice cubes from freezer. I feel like people who don't get migraines don't understand either (at work) and it makes me feel like a weakling.

Good luck to you all! I am off to try chiropractic care, acupuncture, and green apples!

jbbolton · July 2013

lydsyjane said:

I had ONE migraine during pregnancy and it was so awful. I tried everything natural and tried waiting it out but 7 hours into it I finally took an Excedrin and fell asleep. So so awful. I'm sorry you have to deal with these.

Thanks! One migraine is one too many!

jbbolton · July 2013

LHedden said:

I am also a frequent migraine suffer and the docs gave me a medicine safe to take during pregnancy. Its called butalb and is a mixture of stronger dose of tylenol and caffiene. It only works when I feel one coming on and some migraines it doesn't work at all. I know its not much but ask your doc and give it a try.

Yea, I have that too. I agree - sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn't. Maxalt was much more effective, but not safe in pregnancy. the butalb makes my arms feel like jello though - but better than a full fledged mmigraine.

Good luck to you!

amarissa85 · July 2013

jbbolton said:

I'm on the Tylenol/caffeine prescription pill that many of you mentioned - but it sucks compared to Maxalt or Frova. I have done the Botox as well (which hurts like a mother...)
I hate this and hope it isn't a one a day deal until she is born. Especially still working - I have had to turn off lights in office and grab ice cubes from freezer. I feel like people who don't get migraines don't understand either (at work) and it makes me feel like a weakling.

Good luck to you all! I am off to try chiropractic care, acupuncture, and green apples!

I tried Maxalt in combination with Cambia and it is non effective for me. I have also tried Imitrex and Zomig but the one constant that seems to work 90% of the time is the Fioricet. I was however on Topamax which worked well and kept me from getting them. It has not so pleasant side effects though and wasn't safe for pregnancy.

jbbolton · July 2013

amarissa85 said:

jbbolton said:

I'm on the Tylenol/caffeine prescription pill that many of you mentioned - but it sucks compared to Maxalt or Frova. I have done the Botox as well (which hurts like a mother...)
I hate this and hope it isn't a one a day deal until she is born. Especially still working - I have had to turn off lights in office and grab ice cubes from freezer. I feel like people who don't get migraines don't understand either (at work) and it makes me feel like a weakling.

Good luck to you all! I am off to try chiropractic care, acupuncture, and green apples!

I tried Maxalt in combination with Cambia and it is non effective for me. I have also tried Imitrex and Zomig but the one constant that seems to work 90% of the time is the Fioricet. I was however on Topamax which worked well and kept me from getting them. It has not so pleasant side effects though and wasn't safe for pregnancy.

to prevent them, I did Depakote first, and than the Neurotin because Depakote can cause serious side effects and problems in pregnancy. Neurotin was okay. I will look into Topamax. A lot of the seizure meds are effective for prevention.

amarissa85 · August 2013

Kiss carbonated beverages goodbye if you try Topamax. It gives anything carbonated the worst flat digusting taste ever.

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