Wife Suffering Intense Migraines, She Cannot See, Medication Not Working

[dieseldick]

my wife for years has suffered migraines, she has only started having migraines since having our daughter 5 years ago. this week she has been talking migralief and the medication is having no effect, she told me they are very intense and her vision is not good. does anyone else suffer migraine ? what brings it on ? what can help them ?

i have read somewhere they can be deadly . she is seeing doc today in afternoon and doc suggests another pain killing medication lets hope it works.

[jd_1984]

http://www.migrainetrust.org/treatment

[Barmaid]

I think triggers for migraines differ between people. Mine reduced dramatically after I stopped working in an office. Doc told me it was probably the lighting used that flickers constantly but imperceptibly. Other common triggers are chocolate, cheese, apricots, red wine, tea - but they are only factors which may contribute.

I find that the only way to deal with mine is to go to bed in a cool, dark room with a damp towel over my eyes (I get terrible light sensitivity which makes me physically sick) and just rest until it passes. Once it passes I then tend to have a LONG sleep and wake up feeling almost hungover.

There is some good info here

http://www.migrainetrust.org/factsheet-migraine-triggers-10505

[Sqad]

Migraine.......the pain is caused by certain blood vessels inside the skull, contracting. There are many "trigger points " for migraine and i would have thought that the link given by jd^ will list them.

if she has had no relief from the usual migraine tablets, i would suggest that Imigran taken at the first hint of a headache may well be beneficial.

[furrypusscat]

OH has migraines although not really bad but was getting them frequently. Saw GP who prescribed a tablet to take daily which prevent the onset. If he gets one now, it quickly goes away after taking a migraleve pink.
Never found out what brings them on but he used to eat two bananas most days, these can cause migraines so he stopped and I don't think he has had one since. Some people get them if they eat too much chocolate or cheese. Also if you are not drinking enough during the day and getting dehydrated can cause them. Hope she goes on alright with GP.

[Robinia]

I reached the point where I was a having a migraine spanning up to 3 days almost every week/fortnight. It was often sparked by weather changes, becoming over-tired or stressed. My GP put me on a low dose of atenolol, a beta-blocker (one tablet at night), as a prevention and it worked. However, I'm starting to believe I still have 'silent migraines', ie all the symptoms but without the pain, but at least I'm not fainting and feeling as hellishly nauseous as I was before.
Your wife has my sympathy, I hope she gets some help.

[vodkancoke]

I suffer from intense migraines too. I ended up in hospital with mine and I was given Imigran nasal spray to take when I feel the onset of one. So far, so good. It disappears and it makes me a bit drowsy. I also have the option to have an injection from my GP but that would mean driving while having a migraine which isn't possible for me.

I hope she gets it sorted, she has my sympathy.

[jakep]

One of my migraines was so severe I was hospitalised because they thought
I may have had a brain bleed.
I had some relief from Syndol but mainly because they sent me to sleep. I then tried a course of reflexology. One session a week for eight weeks. I have never had migraine since and that was over 20yrs ago. Worth a try.

[RATTER15]

The good lady Carakeel used to get dreadful migraines quite regularly until the GP put her on propanalol, now she has been pretty much migrain free for about 5 years.

[theshedman]

My wife has suffered from these for years. Doctor first prescribed Zomeg or something like that and it did help for while. A few years ago the doctor prescribed the Imigran that Sqad mentioned taken as soon as she feels a migraine coming on and these days it is rare for her to get a really bad one. Not saying she doesn't get them but nowhere near as often as she used to and they don't seem to last as long when she does.

[dieseldick]

thanks
took her to docs today, she is now on beta blockers 1 a day.

fingers crossed

[Robinia]

That's good, I hope they work for her as they have for me.

[boxtops]

I used to get migraines very severely, every month - most definitely linked to the menstrual cycle. Could this be the pattern with your wife? I gather it's not an uncommon situation for woman, I was told it was hormone related.

My GP prescribed me Stemetil, I took two at the onset of symptoms and therefore as necessary, combined with Cocodamol Extra for the pain. To be honest, taking the medication and lying down in a dark place for several hours was the only way I got relief - I couldn't work.

Visual disturbance too is not uncommon - very scary at the time it happens, but it goes away as the symptoms abate each time.