Hospital for Migraines?

mrskratt · May 2016

Has anyone been to the hospital for severe headaches or migraines? Or told to go by their doctor?
I currently want to rip my face off.
My headache game is going strong well into my 19th week. I've tried every natural remedy and even resorted to getting a prescription from my midwife. My midwife said the only thing left that I can do is go to the hospital where they will probably give me something a lot stronger and possibly steroids.
I don't really want to go to the hospital for migraines, when they are just going to occur again. Not to mention I have a toddler and a dog (that just has his leg amputated) to take care of.
So, really, I'm just curious if anyone has been, their expierence and if they have had any since.

mommymaggieh · May 2016

I haven't had this experience, but I hope you find some relief soon. Also, poor puppy!

LauraPCOS · May 2016

I haven't but my girlfriend has ended up at the hospital with a migraine. They give her an injection, I think in the neck area, which leaves her pretty stoned for the rest of the day, but in comfort for at least a week. Problem is, I don't know if what she was given is safe for pregnant ladies.

missmaehurt · May 2016

I have not gone for a migraine, but I hope you find something to ease your pain soon!

krzyriver · May 2016

The first time I went, I had blacked out from my migraine and woke up in the hospital. They gave me meds through an IV, which knocked me back out but took the pain away immediately. I felt kind of groggy for a day or so, but not bad. Now I always try and kick the migraine before its full blown. Aleve works great for me and a nap always helps. Wearing sunglasses helps keep it from getting too bad if I can't rest. But once it kicks into gear I either have to sleep for a whole day or go to the hospital. Those are the only things that help when it gets that bad.

I I hope you feel better! Migraines are the worst. *Hugs*

LauraPCOS · May 2016

^ my friend does the sunglass thing too - even indoors. If she's feeling one coming on, she takes 3 Advil liquid gels (which are a no-no for pregnancy which totally sucks cause those are the only things that work for me too) but she'll wear her sunglasses everywhere, indoors or out.

emmaaa · May 2016

My SIL has gotten severe migraines for years. No medicine has ever seemed to touch it so a lot of the times she just has to ride it out. Within the past two weeks she has had to go to the ER twice because they were so bad and nothing would help. I know it may feel silly to go to the hospital for a headache/migraine but I know if she went to the ER then she must've been miserable. They gave her powerful meds (she's not pregnant so I'm not sure what would be allowed for you) and oxygen.

I think if you are in a lot of pain and nothing will help, there is no shame in going to the ER.

UponAStar16 · May 2016

@mrskratt I haven't, but when I was getting headaches while pregnant I was instructed to get an eye exam to check for some things like optic nerve swelling/eye pressure/vision changes, which can happen during pregnancy. Did any of that get ruled out?

kelliott09 · May 2016

I've had migraines my whole
life and I've been to the ER for them but not while pregnant. I haven't had to go in years but when I did, I was given an Imitrex injection, which isn't safe during pregnancy. I'm not sure what they would do for you when you're pregnant. All I can say is I feel you. I've had them pretty frequently lately and I've drank a ridiculous amount of caffeine. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. Tylenol, of course, does nothing. I try to avoid Advil but when they're really bad, it's the only thing that touches them, sometimes that doesn't work either. I'm currently on day 3 of one that nothing has helped. Hope you find some relief soon.

mothernorth · May 2016

Go to ER and take whatever they will give you if you must. I personally have not gone to the ER with my migraines, but not because I didn't want to. Laying in my bed in absolute misery just sounded more appealing than standing up, and actually getting to the ER somehow (driving is in no way a remote possibility for me, day or night), then sitting in the waiting room with a migraine waiting with all those sounds, and hospital smells, and bright lights...
But if YOU can handle it, go for I say. I had a script for Imitrex in high school, but it never touched the migraine, just made me feel stiff like I had been embalmed and even more miserable. I've honestly never found anything to help other than catching it as early as possible. I've never tried any strong drugs for them either, but if there is a possibility you could find relief at the ER do try! I've been battling this demon since the 3rd grade =/

westcoastfoodie · May 2016

I went to the ER last time I was pregnant with a migraine and I was getting them really consistently. Unfortunately the Dr I saw was an asshole, but that's isolated to the hospital (never going to THAT one again!). They gave me the option for morphine, but I was too scared to take it so they ended up just giving me anti nausea medication and tylenol with codeine. I've been told that the key to the migraines are staying on top of them with the tylenol. I hated taking anything that I didn't need to, but I could tell when a migraine was coming on, so I started taking tylenol right then to nip it in the bud. It's worked so far for me. I'm so sorry you're going through this, migraines suck!

blaf322 · May 2016

@mrskratt - what about oxygen treatment for migraines? When I worked in home care we had patients prescribed O2 treatment for cluster headaches and they swore by it. Insurance doesn't cover that most of the time but it's something you can pay for OOP and, if I remember correctly, it's not crazy expensive. Might be worth checking into if you have no other options :-)

ETA: High flow O2 treatments, not just a few liters per minute... but like 7-10 liters per min

von1976 · May 2016

The last migraine I went to the hospital for was treated with Tylenol #3 (that's Tylenol with codeine for the uninitiated). I would never go to the hospital for a migraine unless it was the worst headache of my life (that's more likely to be a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which you definitely need to seek emergency care for ASAP)! Not saying that's what you have, it's just good info to know.

If they are now treating migraines with actual medicine instead of a script and sending you out the door, by all means go for it. My experience was probably 20 years ago and it cost me $500 some odd dollars, so I never did that again.

kelliott09 · May 2016

von1976 said:

The last migraine I went to the hospital for was treated with Tylenol #3 (that's Tylenol with codeine for the uninitiated). I would never go to the hospital for a migraine unless it was the worst headache of my life (that's more likely to be a subarachnoid hemorrhage, which you definitely need to seek emergency care for ASAP)! Not saying that's what you have, it's just good info to know.

If they are now treating migraines with actual medicine instead of a script and sending you out the door, by all means go for it. My experience was probably 20 years ago and it cost me $500 some odd dollars, so I never did that again.

I had a prescription for Tylenol 3 with my last pregnancy. Didn't help. Migraines are literally the devil.

emmaaa · May 2016

bnsmith85 said:

@mrskratt - what about oxygen treatment for migraines? When I worked in home care we had patients prescribed O2 treatment for cluster headaches and they swore by it. Insurance doesn't cover that most of the time but it's something you can pay for OOP and, if I remember correctly, it's not crazy expensive. Might be worth checking into if you have no other options :-)

ETA: High flow O2 treatments, not just a few liters per minute... but like 7-10 liters per min

This. DH has gotten cluster headaches and an oxygen treatment was one of the best things that helped him. That and a medicine that costs $15 per pill.

AgentCarter · May 2016

I'm so so so sorry that you're having migraines and can't get any relief. That sounds horrible! I'm not much use, because my migraines differ a little bit (I get aura migraines where I lose vision first, and if I don't treat it right away, I lose speech abilities and get nauseous before any pain actually hits-- I can usually control them by getting home right away, getting in bed, taking Tylenol, and not moving for a few hours), but I would definitely try going to the hospital, or maybe see a neurologist, if that's possible. My GP has wanted me to see a neurologist for my migraines for a while, just so they can take some scans and come up with a treatment plan.

I hope you find some relief!

mrskratt · May 2016

@UponAStar16 I haven't had an eye exam yet this pregnancy and I haven't even thought of it (neither has my midwife). That's a really good idea. Some days I want to gauge my eyes out because the throbbing is right behind them. Thank you so much for that suggestion!

mrskratt · May 2016

bnsmith85 said:

@mrskratt - what about oxygen treatment for migraines? When I worked in home care we had patients prescribed O2 treatment for cluster headaches and they swore by it. Insurance doesn't cover that most of the time but it's something you can pay for OOP and, if I remember correctly, it's not crazy expensive. Might be worth checking into if you have no other options :-)

ETA: High flow O2 treatments, not just a few liters per minute... but like 7-10 liters per min

I never even heard of this either! I will definitely be looking into this. I will try anything at this point. I don't mind paying, as long as it's nothing crazy. Thank you!

mrskratt · May 2016

Thank you everyone else for the suggestions! I will definitely be looking into them. I don't think I can even find the time to spend at the hospital.
And I am sorry for anyone else dealing with the same

it's pure torture.

Divallyn · May 2016

I'm sorry your going through this. Fortunately for me a traditional acupuncturist and massage therapist who both were very familiar in treating people with migraines seen every two weeks worked for me. I hope you find relief very very soon!

PabloAndChristine · June 2016

I have migraines and am on bedrest for other reasons, which also gives me awful headaches. Here's what do, progressively: 1. Stretching and position changes 2. Tylenol and water 3. Caffeine +/- Benadryl 4. Prescription meds (talk to your doctor; there are several options in pregnancy)

booksandicecream · June 2016

Late to the party, but if this is a repeat problem for you I would definitely see a neurologist. My mom's best friend was a migraine specialist and it is truly amazing what they can do. The first thing they'll probably ask you to do is keep a headache diary to try to determine what may be causing or contributing to the migraines.

She wrote a book on the subject which is unfortunately expensive on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Migraine-Treatment-Pregnant-Lactating-ebook/dp/B007C5ARN6?ie=UTF8&keywords=Effective Migraine Treatment in Pregnant and Lactating Women: A Practical Guide&qid=1464941687&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1#customerReviews

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Hospital for Migraines?

Fell in love: Dec 2005 // Married: Feb 9, 2013

Little Miss Rosalie Harper--Born Jan 9th, 2014

Re: Hospital for Migraines?

Fell in love: Dec 2005 // Married: Feb 9, 2013

Little Miss Rosalie Harper--Born Jan 9th, 2014

Fell in love: Dec 2005 // Married: Feb 9, 2013

Little Miss Rosalie Harper--Born Jan 9th, 2014

Fell in love: Dec 2005 // Married: Feb 9, 2013

Little Miss Rosalie Harper--Born Jan 9th, 2014

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