Migraine

For information's sake,

I have found that when the aura starts, if I place a bag of frozen peas, or icepack or similar on the back of my neck where it meets the skull, that I can make the aura subside alot quicker than it otherwise would, and that the migraine that follows can be reduced in severity to a degree.

That's great!!

I can never tell which way I want to go, be it cold or hot. So I just don't go either way .

But finding something as cheap as a frozen bag of peas that helps you out! Woohoo! That's awesome!!!!

I love me some frozen peas or corn- they make the best ice packs, and they're pretty cheap and very replaceable. I can't stand cold on my neck (I have neck problems), but I'm definitely a fan of a cold pack on my head during a migraine!

I've got a nice gel pack that is for freezing that's pliable and I use that very often on my head. My dh got three of them after an ankle surgery and we only have one left. I baby it.

We have a variety of reusable ice packs in the freezer. I have certain ones I use on my neck during a migraine attack and certain ones I use over my eyes with the eye shade. Both help a great deal during an attack. Oddly during the winter I find cool fresh air in the room very helpful also. Air conditioned air is not the same for me. Don't know why.

Cindy

Now, for me, frozen peas and corn or good for one thing. Munching. Have you all ever tried them right out of the bag? They're great! Refreshing, sweet, slightly crunchy. And good for a person, even.

As far as me and ice packs go, the frozen veggies aren't cold enough for me. I prefer the frozen water ice blob, which allows me to apply more pressure, too. The combo of that intense cold and the pressure has helped short-circuit even some heavy-duty migraine pain for me, when even my meds weren't putting a dent in it. Sometimes, it helps short-circuit the neuro fluff in the process, just like you mentioned.

I must admit that I--once a sworn believer in the power of heat ONLY--have recently discovered the wonders of ice!!

I still prefer the heat on the back of my neck--I get lots of neck and jaw pain with migraine and the ice just doesn't cut it in those areas for me.

But I'm beginning to LOVE my ice-pack on my forehead! It's a different feeling and seems to interfere with my perception of the pain that's so intense in the front of my head.

So right now I'm an ice-in-the-front and heat-on-the-back gal!

jenny

I have a gel ice pack I swear by. We have our freezer set to Antarctica so the gel pack freezes almost solid. I fold it in half and apply it to the specific points that hurt - near my eye, usually, but also at my jaw or the back of my head. For some reason I like it best folded in half like that.

I also love those ColdPatch gel sheets that adhere to your forehead. I stick one of those on my forehead almost every night. They usually put enough of a dent in the vertigo to help me sleep.

Sometimes seems to clear up my fuzzy thinking, too!

Droolie said:

quote:

Sometimes, it helps short-circuit the neuro fluff in the process, just like you mentioned.

Feels like a cool breeze is blowing thru my head, carrying the fuzziness away!

- megs

I think i have some what of a question? since i was about 9,i remember having these migraines, head aches what ever they are. i am one of those people which medicines do not work on , i have struggled with every thing!!!i have to empty my poor stomache to get relief or use the ice trick. but with me i have to fill a gallon zip lock bag full of ice and lay face down on it or the back of my head untill i pass out!! this worries my husband, im starting not to be able to fuction. is it dangerous to do this on a consistant basis? ice and the peppermint work some times but others im am unlucky!!!! i have to suffer for ten days at a time before i end up in the emergency room again.my longest one went for 3 weeks and my nose started to bleed. sorry if that was some what off or stupid, didnt know who to ask that question to .

First off, hello, and welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry you go through so much. And don't worry, there's not any such thing around here as a stupid question.

Do you have an actual migraine diagnosis? I wonder because you referred to "whatever they are". If you don't then I'd say that's the first thing ~ getting a definite diagnosis.

I worry about the passing out. Passing out isn't very common among us, and it's rare with migraine. It can happen, though, and when it does it really needs to be addressed. I'm no expert, but I don't think laying on ice until you pass out is safe, by any means. For one thing, there's the potential for frostbite. For another, there may be something vascular going on that makes you pass out. The same is treu with the headache going on so long that your nose bleeds. It needs to be brought up and addressed.

You really, really need to get this checked out. It could be anything at all, related to migraine or not, and none of us are qualified to try and diagnose.

As for the duration, ten days is much, much too long to wait for a trip in to the ER. Three days is our "golden rule", meaning 72 hours without at least a complete and total break from the migriane of four hours, not counting time asleep (or passed out for that matter). While I sympathize with your med issues, because we all have meds we don't tolerate well, that shouldn't keep you from going in and trying to get the migraine broken once and for all. We just want you to be safe.

I'm going to give you a couple of articles. Please call your doctor, okay?

Anatomy of a Migraine

Status Migrainous

Hello and welcome!

Wow. That's quite a situation you have there.

First, you really MUST see a doctor for diagnosis. Statistically, it's unlikely to be an aneurysm, tumor, or anything dangerous, but head pain should always be checked out to be sure.

Migraine is a neurological disease, not a headache. Diseases need to be managed. No, you shouldn't be passing out. Our expert Dr. Krusz just answered a question about "passing out." You can read the answer HERE.

You said medications don't work on you. So what do they do for you in the ER? If you are having Migraines, there are some very good abortive medications that work in the brain to stop the whole Migraine process. Please don't set yourself up for failure by expecting medications to not work. Our minds are so powerful that they can convince our bodies to not LET them work.

Please, do see your doctor for diagnosis and a treatment plan?

quote:

Originally posted by minyon300:
I think i have some what of a question? since i was about 9,i remember having these migraines, head aches what ever they are. i am one of those people which medicines do not work on , i have struggled with every thing!!!i have to empty my poor stomache to get relief or use the ice trick. but with me i have to fill a gallon zip lock bag full of ice and lay face down on it or the back of my head untill i pass out!! this worries my husband, im starting not to be able to fuction. is it dangerous to do this on a consistant basis? ice and the peppermint work some times but others im am unlucky!!!! i have to suffer for ten days at a time before i end up in the emergency room again.my longest one went for 3 weeks and my nose started to bleed. sorry if that was some what off or stupid, didnt know who to ask that question to .

Ice, ice, and more ice, I say!

I encase my head in ice as soon as I realize an attack is starting and most assuredly as soon as i realize my early intervention meds have failed. Cromagnon, like you ice on the back on my neck is the single best best place with ice on the top of my head next best and ice on my forehead next after that. Best is to cover my entire head though.

I put the ice packs in pillow cases and just wrap up my whole head. I have a neat freezy pack that I got from Bliss filled with glass beads for eyes that's designed to reduce eye puffiness. I put it over my eyes and along with the ice packs, it really helps the whole package.

Freeze that migraine out!

The only exception to the Ice Rule for me is for cluster headaches. For those only heat will help my pain. I put a heating pad right on my right cheekbone once I've taken my meds and that helps. Ice just makes clusters worse for me.

Oh My....

OK... so cold helps me too. But my problem was that I couldn't seem to hold each ice pack in place at the same time. So I found this contraption (which is from England and VERY expensive but I'm not naming it so I'm hoping I don't get my knuckles swatted with the ruler) , that looked and sounded pretty darn good.

Let's just say.... one size does NOT fit all, like they claim. It fit my big headed (literally) husband just perfect, but the part that was supposed to be over my eyes was down over my nose. It just sits in my refrigerator taking up space, now. I don't have the heart to just get rid of it. I paid a pretty penny for it, you see. That's what I get for not doing enough research, I guess. But darn it... I was DESPERATE.

WOW... frozen bags of veggies (especially peas cuz they kind of let you mold the bag to whatever spot you like) are so much cheaper and work better.

I just wanted to post this incase anyone else considers purchasing it. In my opinion, it's not all it's cracked up to be. And I could have paid for almost 2 massages with what I spent on this. If you've seen this thing advertised, you'll know precisely what I'm referring to.***Note to self - DON'T go looking for quick fixes while in the midst of a killer migraine!***

Blessings,

~Sandi~

Sandi,

I know how you feel, at least to some degree anyway

I recently spent a pretty penny on a pillow wedge because my doctor recommended that I sleep with my head elevated. I figured the more money I spent, the better the product, but it was not meant for me. It was to hard for me to stay on the wedge the entire night plus it is uncomfortable. I think it may be because I'm only 5'2" and don't fit on it correctly.

I should have done exactly what the doctor said, just put some bricks and a piece of plywood under the bed, it would have been a lot cheaper LOL. Oh well, all in the name of trying to keep the beast at bay.