Migraines!

[RadioElectric]

I don't have time for this, I've got two exams next week to revise for!

I usually get an "aura" before I have them. I get a scotoma (big blind spot) in my vision as a kind of "early warning". I woke up with this one though so it's just instant pain. I've got a few remedies to try...

Co-Codamol
Aspirin dissolved in Coke
Melting sorbet against the palette at the roof of my mouth

If it isn't sorted by then I'll take the Zolmitripitan. I hate taking that though, it messes with my head and it makes my neck hurt.

Anybody else know of any remedies that work? My dad has a pressure point on his little finger he squeezes for his (though he also uses some kind of nasal spray drug). My half sister used to squeeze her head between the banisters on the stairs because the pressure helped.

[lbix.]

Migraleve pink. go. get them now before it's too late.

[RadioElectric]

Originally Posted by lbix.

Migraleve pink. go. get them now before it's too late.

They're just expensive co-codamol. The pink ones have one extra ingredient over the yellow ones but all that does is stop you throwing up and my migraines don't tend make me do that anymore (fortunately).

Neither of the first two on my list worked. I'm currently on sorbet (Ben and Jerry's Mango and Berry) and it's working quite well. Plus it's tasty.

[Whammyman]

Originally Posted by RadioElectric

Anybody else know of any remedies that work?

Ibuprofen, warm bath, then go to bed.

[stevefingers]

Prevention is better than cure. Find out what your triggers are by eleminating certain suspects from your diet for instance.

I used to suffer terribly from them but found that eliminating chocolate, getting more excercise, and sleeping regularly I have got them under control and now only get the occasional attack.

Once I had an attack of them whilst on tour. Not fun playing a gig with one.

[RadioElectric]

Originally Posted by stevefingers

Prevention is better than cure. Find out what your triggers are by eleminating certain suspects from your diet for instance.

I used to suffer terribly from them but found that eliminating chocolate, getting more excercise, and sleeping regularly I have got them under control and now only get the occasional attack.

Once I had an attack of them whilst on tour. Not fun playing a gig with one.

Every time I have one I resolve to start keeping a diary of what I eat and do to try to identify triggers but I never manage to stick to it.

The doctor is recommending I start taking beta-blockers for them but they're mood-altering drugs and I'm not keen on the idea.

[rachel]

If I get an Aura, I take 2 aspirin immediately.

If I miss it, I take codeine and then stay in the
dark until I fall asleep. Then I am OK.

If I take the aspirin at the right time, I still get
the Aura but the migraine is reduced a lot.

I sometimes get a towel, wrap it around my
neck and hook it under my chin and pull it
gently so that my head is supported and taking pressure off my neck, much like the head/banisters trick.

Ibuprofen is a drug I am worried about
because it can cause heavy liver damage,
but aspirin is more subtle and seems to work on me rather well.


rachel

[RadioElectric]

Originally Posted by rachel

Ibuprofen is a drug I am worried about
because it can cause heavy liver damage,
but aspirin is more subtle and seems to work on me rather well.
rachel

Are you getting ibuprofen confused with paracetamol? It may put a little more stress on your liver but then most medicines do because that's where they're metabolised. Paracetamol on the other hand is broken down into toxic chemicals in the liver, hence the dangers of an overdose.

Also, aspirin is by no means subtle. It's probably one of the harshest painkillers you can take on your stomach. I always take it dissolved in coke. The caffeine works with the aspirin for one thing. Another benefit of this is that caffeine alone has effects on your blood pressure that are supposed to counteract those involved in migraines. It's worse for your stomach this way though so I always make sure I've eaten something first.

I sometimes use those cooling gel pads that you put on your forehead but I've lost the ones I usually keep around at the moment.

I feel a lot better now anyway. Taking painkillers and then eating sorbet seems to have done the trick. From what I understand about pain, misdirection will actually work against it.

[tehLORD]

Originally Posted by RadioElectric

The doctor is recommending I start taking beta-blockers for them but they're mood-altering drugs and I'm not keen on the idea.

I'm not sure where you got that information from but AFAIK they have no mood altering effects whatsoever. They effect blood pressure which is why they can be prescribed for migraine sufferers. The only time they're taken in any connection for mood altering is for anxiety attacks, and then there's no mood altering properties to them, just the symptoms (palpitations and diziness etc) that cause the anxiety to increase are greatly lowered.

The best advice is to experiment with different solutions. I used to get migraines a lot and found (against all medical advice!) that painkillers taken with a STRONG coffee was the best solution for me.

[RadioElectric]

Originally Posted by tehLORD

The only time they're taken in any connection for mood altering is for anxiety attacks, and then there's no mood altering properties to them, just the symptoms (palpitations and diziness etc) that cause the anxiety to increase are greatly lowered.

That makes sense. A friend's boyfriend was prescribed them for some anxiety problem he has so I assumed they were also used as "chill pills".

EDIT: From wikipedia...

Anxiety and performance enhancement

Some people, particularly musicians, use beta blockers to avoid stage fright and tremor during public performance and auditions. The physiological symptoms of the fight/flight response associated with performance anxiety and panic (pounding heart, cold/clammy hands, increased respiration, sweating, etc.) are significantly reduced, thus enabling anxious individuals to concentrate on the task at hand. Officially, beta blockers are not approved for anxiolytic use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [10]

Since they lower heart rate and reduce tremor, beta blockers have been used by some Olympic marksmen to enhance performance, though beta blockers are banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).[11] Although they have no recognisable benefit to most sports, it is acknowledged that they are beneficial to sports such as archery and shooting.

I actually get quite horrible stage-fright at times when presenting my music for my course so maybe I'd get a double-benefit from them.