this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2023
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Hey there!

So I’ve had a migraine that has been going for a couple days now. Nothing entirely new, but it’s frustrating. Dark room, low noise, tried sleeping it off, taken multiple medications for it including my Ubrelvy which normally knocks it. It took the edge off, but now I’m going on day 3 with the migraine with no perceivable end in sight.

Anyone got any tips that normally helps them to knock their migraine that’s worth considering? Normally I don’t care too much as I’ve put up with them for years, but this one has me all nauseous which makes it that much more miserable.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Sorry for not seeing the responses on this sooner. I went back to bed afterward and mostly stayed in bed and holy crap the responses blew up. I also called my neurologist and told them about it much like some of the advise that others have mentioned, and they started me on a round of prednisone to help. Fingers crossed it gets rid of it. Seems to be helping, but only time will tell. If it doesn't, I'll see about giving some of these a try. Thank you so much!

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[–] RBWells 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh no!

If you are not puking:

Water with electrolytes, dried cherries, and also sex with orgasm (or close to it) can help. A hot bath with ice cold cloths for your head.

But "status migraine" like that, for me at least, always involved so much vomiting that it got dangerous, has only happened maybe 6 times in the 40 years I have gotten occasional migraine, and has never stopped without emergency treatment. Heavy doses of opioids and promethazine, by injection, then sleep, is the only thing that really worked (the drugs don't really break it just put you far enough away that you can stop.) This treatment worked every time for me but is no longer available. Now the protocol is some cocktail of liquid, electrolytes, Reglan, ibuprofen, and Benadryl. Which is slow and doesn't really work but can stop the vomiting and make it less intense at least, and prevent the serious consequences of dehydration.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Fortunately I haven't been puking, but got pretty close. I'm mostly recovered now but I'll have to keep that in mind. The doctor set me up on a round of prednisone and that seems to be knocking it.

I've only had these kinds of migraines a handful of times and fortunately they've gone away on their own, though I had one that was like 10 days (which I know because it made me break down and download a migraine tracker). That was brutal. Figured after that one, and seeing that this one was taking its time I decided to call the doc, though I might just try the ER next time to see if they can do something even quicker.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Ask your doctor or medical advisor if CBD could be a possible option worth trying

Works for me, light dose before sleeping in a dark cool room

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've heard that suggested before, and that should be much easier to get here too. Might be worth at least asking.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Methylation vitamins like B2

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I do take a multivitamin that does have some B vitamins in it.

Err...correction. I did take a multivitamin, but apparently I ran out and never picked up more. Checked after I started typing. So maybe I should see about picking up either B vitamins or multivitamins.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

My b2 says 100mg daily is used for migraines, maybe read into that

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Generally speaking, a migraine episode should take a maximum of 72 hours. This is actually one of the diagnostic criteria (4-72 hours). If it takes a lot longer than that, my advice would be to contact your caregiver and discuss this. Try getting enough sleep, listen to your body signals. Some neck stretches focused on the trapezius can also help alleviate a headache loop. This last suggestion always helps me out a lot.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This comment right here.

Any migraine (or headache) longer than 72 hours is not normal and should be looked at.

I've had 2x migraine periods in my life, one caused by a gum infection. Worst pain in my life Felt just like an ocular light induced migraine until day 4 or 5 when the pain got to ice pick levels of pain. Ended up needing oral surgery and tubes placed inside my mouth / sinus for a few weeks to belp drain pus and stuff.

Check any part of your face / forehead for pain and swelling.

The other was series of minor and micro strokes. I only experienced tingling, migraines and hand pain.

Had no idea! Get bad and frequent migraines checked out!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well it probably isn't great that this is far from being the longest I've had then, with that being around 10 days. I have run this by my neurologist, and she said that unfortunately sometimes this can happen. Then again she also told me that the thunderclap headaches I sometimes get are likely also a way in which my migraines manifest, so maybe I should look into a second opinion?

That being said, I've had MRIs, EEGs and stuff like that to rule out physiological and electrical issues, so presumably I'm not knocking on death's door just yet. I'm planning on having a sleep study done though, as I do struggle at sleeping, so that likely could be a contributing factor.

As for the neck stretches, do you have any links on how to do those? Happy to give them a shot.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, unfortunately, it definitely can’t happen that it takes longer than 72 hours, but it’s a good call to run it by your doctor.

Also, there is a clear yet complex relationship between bed, sleep and headache, so seems like a good plan to explore this a little bit further.

As for the stretch exercises, I couldn’t find the perfect video online, but there is an adequate one. I will share with some footnotes. https://youtu.be/MI9o8SOxldY

I don’t really like the commercial tone of the video, and I have never performed stretch 2 (but number one in the slightly altered version of number three really work for me). The way I do number three differently, is that after tilting my neck sidewards, I then proceed to tilting it forward, whilst still tilted sidewards, if that makes any sense. So first tilt it all the way to the side, then proceed to rolling it forward without tilting it back to center. While doing this pay attention to the shoulder on the other side, making sure you are not lifting it. You should feel the stretch on the side you’re not tilting to. Feel free to send me a PM if you still have questions about it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Here is an alternative Piped link(s): https://piped.video/MI9o8SOxldY

Piped is a privacy-respecting open-source alternative frontend to YouTube.

I'm open-source, check me out at GitHub.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you have access to LSD you can try a microdose of it. Just put one or 2 hits in a pint jar of water, shake it up really good, and take a sip to a shot. Don't overdo it, if it doesn't work you don't want to be tripping with a migraine. It's never failed me though.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've seen this mentioned in other places too. Unfortunately like with weed, there is the legal issue of that where I live, but beyond that honestly I am a little reluctant to try it as I'm a bit of a control freak lol. I think that is something I would prefer to try in a very controlled environment first before jumping into it with a migraine. Appreciate the recommendation though!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well I was talking more about a microdose. Taking a tiny fraction of the amount required to actually trip. You don't get high at all from it.

Either way, I hope you've recovered from your migraine!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Ha, and that tells you just how much I know about any of that. I'm of the way better now, thank you. For some reason I started smelling brown sugar, which is interesting.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Tums. (If it is indigestion caused). Rose colored glasses

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I didn't take tums specifically for the nausea, but rather pepto bismol. Didn't really help though...might have to try tums next time though.

As for rose colored glasses...do you mean positivity? Or do you mean literal rose colored glasses?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Acid migraines are the worst if your family has a history of ulcers or acid reflux. Tums is 10x better that Pepto if that is the cause.

https://www.theraspecs.com/

Those are the rose colored glasses that my wife uses. They are a general light preventative. (She can "relax" in public). Also concert earplugs like "eargasm" are something that allow focusing through the pain.

Sometimes nerve pain in the legs like sciatic can contribute as well. If you have weird "someone hit my funnybone" pain in your legs then you could look into neural flossing. Sometimes the pain in the legs cause tension all over which makes a migraine until everything resets.

Good luck!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Oh dang, I remember reading about those glasses a while back. Appreciate the reminder. I'll check them out. Technically my eyeglasses have blue light filtering, but given I work IT, improving the blue light limitation could prove beneficial so it's at least worth a shot.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I don’t get migraines but just pretty bad headaches and what helps me is staying in a dark room, putting an ice pack on my forehead and using a peppermint essential oil roller on my forehead and temples and then a muscle balm on my neck because often my neck muscles stiffen and that tends to make the headaches worse.

I hope your migraine lessens soon!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, I hear you. Typically for me my migraines manifest as just really bad headaches and a complete inability to focus, and last for a few hours. Like what the other person said, if it is reacting to light, it's probably a migraine.

I've heard of those peppermint rollers being useful before. Do you happen to have any you recommend? I can see about looking into getting one.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I make them myself! I buy the best peppermint essential oil I can find and I have some aromatherapy rollers on Amazon.

Then I add 5 to 10 drops of the oil to the bottle, top it off with almond oil or something like that and then put on the roller top. Put on the lid, and shake it and then remove the top. Roll it on your hand and check the scent, opening it up if the roller needs more and then I roll it on my forehead and temples when needed.

And I might have migraines then because I can’t stand light when the headaches strike.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Huh, interesting. Not sure why I never thought to try making my own. I might look into that. Appreciate it!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Most welcome! If you need any help, just ask. I make my own rollers a lot so I can help with any question.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That sounds like migraines to me, based on what my doctor said. She said that headaches don't really react to light changes, don't normally react to ice packs, and don't usually come with neck or back pains. Migraines, on the other hand, almost always do.

Did you know that some migraines are painless? I had no idea!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wow, I had no idea! I was diagnosed with headaches due to wrong posture and wrong lens prescription as a child and I never had it checked afterwards, even though the headaches remained. I just did the exercises my physical therapist prescribed and had my lenses checked every year.

I just accepted the headaches as something I sometimes get and didn’t think it was anything worse, also because my younger brother has migraines and he has vision-like symptoms, I don’t. Figured that meant I didn’t have migraines.

I have all those things you mention. And no, had no ideas they can be painless! How weird is that! I see a lot of reading in my future and a talk with my doctor.

Thank you so much for your comment, it might help me get the right diagnosis for my life long headaches.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

One thing I've learned with medical things: never accept a diagnosis years later. Things change in the medical field. Doctors learn new things. What was once diagnosed as forever headaches, can now be diagnosed as treatable or curable (depending on the root cause) migraines. I'm no doctor, but I always recommend to get reevaluated every few years. For me, regularly taking high quality vitamin D (5000 IU) cured my migraines.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

See a doctor. My migraines were cured by taking an anti seizure medication for 3 years. That was 45 years ago. Haven’t had one since

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've actually been going to a neurologist, so it's funny you mention that. I used to have seizures as a kid and was prescribed keppra for them. I don't recall them having an impact on my migraines then, but maybe others could help there. I'm on Aimovig now which has helped immensely, but every now and then a nasty one like this comes through, so they're looking at upping the dose.

I ended up calling my neurologist and they put me on a round of prednisone which seems to be helping knock this one out.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was described Dilantin. Apparently my migraines were actual seizures.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Funnily enough, I started to have seizures shortly after I first started having my migraines. That was many years ago, and fortunately they stopped, or at least they appear to have. I did ask about that, which prompted a followup EEG, which showed all clear though.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Might sound kinda dumb, but try dumping a bucket of (ice) cold water on your head.
The trick is to dump all the water at once and not gradually to get your body into a "I'm being attacked by lions!" state.
This is for instant relief. For gradual improvement try increasing your daily water intake - set reminders to drink a glass or two during the day and drink right before going to sleep and right after waking up.
Source: inherited migraines from my grandma and started getting them regularly around my teens.
Doing the above has made me nearly migraine-free except for when there's drastic weather changes (when I get them with auras and everything 😵‍💫).
Good luck!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm currently on a preventative medication called Vyepti and 5 mg nasal zolmitriptan for those pop-up cases.

Those two medications have literally changed my life, I went from 8 - 10 absolutely crippling migraines to 3 - 4 easily saved off with a dose of zolmitriptan.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good to hear those are helping you! I'm actually on a couple preventatives currently, Aimovig 70mg and Amitriptyline 30mg, and then Ubrelvy for those pop-up cases as needed. They haven't been perfect, but pretty awesome. I used to have headaches and/or migraines almost daily. Now I am down to maybe a couple times a month, and typically much less severe. Looking at upping the dose of the Aimovig as that has had the biggest impact. Hopefully doing so will help even further reduce it all.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, much like you I had crippling migraines nearly everyday. I dtried Amitriptyline but it really didn't help. Switched to topiramate which improved things dramatically but the long term side effects of that were unbearable. Then moved to Vyepti about two months ago.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How has the Vyepti been helping out? Depending on how things go when we up the Aimovig, I might consider switching. Overall it's been pretty great though, so I don't want to switch away from it yet. No huge side effects and for the most part it's been pretty effective.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've only had the one dose of it. Next one is due later this month but tbh it's been great so far.

No side effects so far which is nice as I have had varying side effects from all the meds I've taken so far.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My wife has a few things she tries - success varies from migraine to migraine....

  • She has flexible ice pack hats she keeps in the freezer.
  • She chugs water.
  • She chugs caffeine.
  • She smokes/eats weed.
  • She takes a caffeine pill, l-theanine (for caffeine jitters), acetaminophen, and ibuprofen and tries to nap before they kick in.
  • She does the usual dark room, no screens thing.

Good luck! I hope you find some relief soon :)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Someone else mentioned the ice packs, which besides the weed is the main thing from that list I haven't really tried already. I'll have to give that a try since I do have some ice packs in the freezer...not sure why I haven't thought to try it. I'll probably pass on the weed though. Between legal issues with it where I live and just overall poor experiences in the past with it, just doesn't sound appealing. Glad it helps your wife though!

And fortunately I was able to get in touch with my neurologist, who set me up with a round of prednisone. That seems to be helping, which is a huge relief.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

So happy to hear that you're getting some relief :) and I hope the ice packs help! Good luck to you, friend.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’ve had migraines for 8+ years now. I’m fortunate enough to have free healthcare. So, I’ve been working with a neurologist for 2.5 years now.

Their advice for migraines that last longer than 24 hours is to go to the ER. The ER will give you a migraine concoction to stop the migraine in its tracks. They hook you up to a liquid drip for a couple hours and then you feel better. It’s worked some magic for me before. Each ER neuro’s concoction is a little different.

Reason for going in after 24 hours (as they’ve explained it to me), is that your body gets stuck almost reacting to itself.

(Think: Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself? Except, it’s your brain and it can’t stop.)

Even if you make it through this long-ass migraine (with the mentality of “mind over matter, I can handle anything”), you’ve just made yourself more susceptible to another long-ass migraine by allowing this one to last longer.

Basically, by helping your body to shorten your migraines, you’re helping to break your body’s cycle and acceptance of long migraines. You’re helping it to realize that “hitting itself” is dumb, and it stops.

Anyway - this is my understanding of it. But, I’m not a professional.

Working with my neurologist (plus loads of meds) has helped cut the length of my multi-day migraines down as well as their frequency and severity. Hope this helps you a little bit too!

So, if you can afford it, I recommend popping in to the ER for a bag or two of magic from the docs there.

If you can’t, then I recommend trying an over the counter pain medication (in addition to caffeine). If you take pain meds fairly often, then I like to switch it up, so my system has something different to try and hasn’t gotten used to it. Just remember to take the correct dosage and don’t mix with others to accidentally OD.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Unfortunately I live in the US, where healthcare is considered a luxury. I could go on a full rant about that, and in college even wrote an essay on the subject. Fortunately, my health insurance is actually decent, so I could go to the ER if I wanted.

The logic makes sense though - basically a positive feedback loop, and you need to break the loop. In this case, I called up my neurologist, who hooked me up with a round of prednisone, and that seems to be helping. I'll keep that in mind though for the future. Never thought a migraine was worth an ER visit, but hey if they can help too then why not.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I live in the US too. I’m in the military though, so we get free healthcare. I genuinely appreciate the luxury of it and am a fierce advocate of free healthcare for the rest of the US too. I’ve spent sometime overseas and just marveled at the lack of stress other countries’ citizens have with regard to their access to healthcare. We deserve that too.

I’m so glad you have decent healthcare and access to the ER. It’s definitely worth the trip! The best metaphor I can think of is going to your aunt’s house to use her pool on a hot, summer day. You still have to do the travel (wait a little in the waiting room), and it takes a bit to get there (for the meds to work), but once you jump in the pool (once the meds actually work), it’s such a relief and well worth it.

Here’s hoping you don’t experience a migraine like this for a while though, and it just remains a tool in your tool bag!

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