Migraine

Hi all,

I just posted a long rambling intro in my question under Migraine Triggers, but thought I'd pop in here and talk about myself some more

I've been getting what I think are migraines for many years, but have never been to see a doctor about them because I always thought they were just regular headaches. I don't get an aura and had misunderstood that all migraines have auras!! I do get the hemisphere throbbing (99% of the time on the right side), nausea, and I want to dig the eye on the painful side right out of it's socket. My migraines last from about 6 hours (if I can sleep them off) to about a week.

For many years I would take large doses of ibuprofen (up to 1200mg) which would kind of take the edge off for about an hour. I recently put two and two together and realized the ibuprofen was making my stomach bleed. I've tried paracetamol/acetomenophin but it does nothing at all, so for now I'm just 'white knuckling" them.

The migraines seem to come and go--I'll have a lot for a few months, then none for several, so I've never been able to pin anything down. I was diagnosed as celiac last year and after going gluten free I didn't have a migraine for several months and thought I'd finally figured it out, but they have returned with a vengeance.

I currently suspect my glasses are related, hence my question over in Triggers. If that doesn't help I'm going to go in and see my doctor--I have had some bad experiences with doctors (average time to celiac diagnoses in the US is 9 years since symptom onset--that's a lot of misdiagnoses and dismissals) so I have been dragging my feet, but the migraines are getting really bad--can't work for more than about 5 hours and spend the whole evening in bed.

Well, there's the long version of hello!


Andrea

Welcome Andrea!

So by your welcome post I assume you are not taking any preventive medication....no abortive either?? Preventive, Abortive and Rescue medications...what's the difference???

If you are getting more then 2-3 migraines a month - then you are a candidate for preventive medication. Migraine preventive medications...to many options to give up!

I have not gotten to see your "trigger question" yet, but I'm going there now!

Please make yourself at home, and let us know if we can be of assistance with anything!

Oh, and this may come in handy as well... Medication Overuse Headache, When remedy backfires. I'm giving you this one since you mentioned Advil. Yes, this does occur with OTC (over the counter) medications too!

Hi Andrea,

Welcome to MyMigraineConnection, and I see Eileen has given you lots of information to start you off. You've come to the right place for support and information.

First up, get yourself to a Migraine specialist for an accurate diagnosis. It is not uncommon to take years to find the right diagnosis. I won't even tell you how long it was before they finally figured out all my chronic ills......very frustrating so I totally get that! Anyway, we have a list of patient recommended Migraine specialist you look at if you click HERE . It will be well worth your time.

At your eye doctor's appointment make sure to mention your Migraine pain. Is this doctor an ophthalmologist? Do you have any ear ringing or whooshing sound in your head? Strange question, I know......

After you look over the links, let us know how we can help you futher, and do let us know what the doctor say,ok?

Hi Andrea!

I just wanted to stop by to welcome you to our forum!

I'm sure you'll find lots of valuable information here--Eileen and Nancy have already given you some good stuff!!

I look forward to your future posts!!

jenny

Thanks, everyone! I can't believe I've let this slide for so long, especially since they run in my family (sister and both grandmothers)!

I've got all kinds of ringing in the ears--I've had tinnitus since 2000 (also runs in the family). The ringing got a lot louder a couple years ago and I went to a hearing doctor about it. I frequently have a situation where the tinnitus gets extremely loud and I get a migraine, but I've never been able to figure out if the loud ringing is triggering a migraine or a result of the migraine. The hearing doc had nothing to say about any of it and no suggestions for my tinnitus/hearing loss.

I'm not sure what kind of eye person I'm seeing (I'm American but I live in Switzerland right now--the system is a bit different here and my poor command of German makes it even more confusing!). I saw an optician type person who tested my eyes for an hour (!) and in the end said I needed to see a specialist. Apparently I "failed" some of the tests. Ha ha. My appointment is tomorrow and I will definitely mention the migraines. I guess I'll be making an appointment with my regular doctor as well to see about preventative meds.

Thanks,

Andrea

Hi Andrea,

Just wanted to add my Welcome to the pile . Sounds like you have others have given you great information so far. I will see you on the posts!!


Dar

Hello, Andrea, welcome to the forum! Good luck at your eye appointment.

Well, there is a condition called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (formerly called Pseudotumor Cerebri Tumor) where our body produces too much cerebrospinal fluid or doesn't absorb it properly. This condition is often resistant to Migraine preventives. One way to diagnose IIH is with a lumbar punture.
HERE

Let us know what the doctor says.

quote:

Originally posted by elf:
Thanks, everyone! I can't believe I've let this slide for so long, especially since they run in my family (sister and both grandmothers)!

I've got all kinds of ringing in the ears--I've had tinnitus since 2000 (also runs in the family). The ringing got a lot louder a couple years ago and I went to a hearing doctor about it. I frequently have a situation where the tinnitus gets extremely loud and I get a migraine, but I've never been able to figure out if the loud ringing is triggering a migraine or a result of the migraine. The hearing doc had nothing to say about any of it and no suggestions for my tinnitus/hearing loss.

I'm not sure what kind of eye person I'm seeing (I'm American but I live in Switzerland right now--the system is a bit different here and my poor command of German makes it even more confusing!). I saw an optician type person who tested my eyes for an hour (!) and in the end said I needed to see a specialist. Apparently I "failed" some of the tests. Ha ha. My appointment is tomorrow and I will definitely mention the migraines. I guess I'll be making an appointment with my regular doctor as well to see about preventative meds.

Thanks,

Andrea

Hi Andrea, just adding my welcome to the pile. Glad that you found us. Let us know how else we can help you.

Andrea,

Hello and welcome!

The other members and moderators have given you great information.

You know you need to see a doctor and be diagnosed, so go do it, girl!

Welcome again,

Hi Andrea and welcome to the forum family! Switzerland is a lovely place! I used to live in Germany and loved it there too.

I look forward to seeing you around the forum

I just wanted to pop in and say "hello and welcome"!
Im glad you found us!!
~ Ash

Hi Andrea, welcome to the forum

Hi, Andrea! Big ol' dragon hugs for the welcome pile!

Thanks, everyone!! I definitely have some more reading up to do and then a visit to the doctor!

Andrea