Katybug Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Ok, I'm on day #7 of a migraine. I am on Depakote as a preventative which seemed to be working wonders for the 1st 3 weeks I was on it. Then, last Tuesday it started. It has been lingering, sometimes better, sometimes worse, since then. I take Maxalt MLT for acute migraine and have been taking 2 a day since last Tuesday but I will run out soon and they will not refill this med early. I have also been taking Tylenol to keep the edge knocked off. I've done ice packs, heating pads, no light, normal light, no noise. It isn't the worst I've ever had pain wise, but, it is definitely the longest and I would really like it to go away now. Anyone have any home remedies I haven't tried? I don't even feel like calling the doctor cause we've already tried most meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekliz Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 My dr told me that steroids will break the cycle. Either the medrol dose pack or go to an urgent care for an injection/iv. I hope you feel better soon!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kclynn Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 No instant ideas to help, but my son takes Magnesium Malate 400 mg, and he also took B2 (riboflavin) 400 mg. The Dr. had told us Magnesium Citrate 400 mg which is what he started with and took for months. His headaches, migraines declined significantly. We just switched to Malate because it is supposed to be a little better for the muscles which is a bigger need for him right now. My son was having extended multi day migraines (even 9 days once) and we went into the urgent care to get the IV meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted November 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks ladies! I'm gonna try the magnesium and riboflavin first. If it doesn't help I'll go for the steroids (I'm trying to avoid the steroids if possible cause I just finally got blood work that is actually showing abnormalities and I don't want to have to go for follow ups with steroids in me.) I also talked to one of my friends and she has to take phenylbarbital for her migraines, so I am going to try one of those tonight since I have them for my lower GI issues. I'll let you know if that works too...can never hurt to have another option in your arsenal!While we're on this subject, do you (your son) get earaches with your migraines? I have been having earaches with them with increasing frequency and severity (and the fluttering of my eardrum) but I have had the docs check and my ears seem fine by normal standards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kclynn Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 No Sorry, He didn't have ear pain that I recall. The Magnesium should be one of the "ates" not the magnesium oxide with or with out calcium which is poorly absorbed. Kinda hard to find. Your regular chain stores probably won't have either one, try whole foods or a supplement store though GNC didn't have it, Vitamin world did and another one here did as well. You can also try amazon which is where I ordered some from. GNC did have the B2.My son also took Amytriptyline with some limited success but stopped that when we went to the supplements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted November 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 A friend of mine swears by Butterbur. She hardly ever gets miagraines any more and she had them BADDDD. Hope you feel better. I get them but they don't usually last very long and it's not something that I feel I need to medicate for. Hope you feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 When I had a 6 day migraine my doc offered the Medrol dose pack. Not crazy about steroids but they were like a miracle drug for me that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gertie Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Someone mentioned Butterbur. My dr send me home with "Petadolex" by Integrative Therapeutics.He said his wife had had less migraines since she had been taking this. I haven't tried it yet because justabout everything triggers a migraines for me.I have also heard that drinking a tsp of Epsom salts in a glass of water helps. It's magnesium so that maybe the reason. That's a very old remedy. Hope you're better by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Today's update: I took the Phenylbarbitol last might and I had two whole hours of peace from all my symptoms. When I was getting ready for bed the headache started to start up again. I was able to take some Tylenol and ice my neck and the back of my head which allowed me to fall asleep. I woke up with the headache again. My POTS/migraine doc's assistant called this morning about something else, so I told her about the headache while she was on the phone. She had the doc call me...he's having me double my nighttime dose of Depakote since I have not had any bad side effects from it. He said to call him later this week if it isn't working. He suspects it is not strictly a migraine. He said he thinks it may have started as a migraine that has now developed into a different type of headache because I was tensing my neck and jaw muscles in response to the migraine pain and that we may have to treat for a different type of headache (my jaw is really hurting me in addition to the earache which he said could actually be muscular.) He is really not wanting to give me steroids because of the things that showed up in my bloodwork. So, I looked up the magnesium options and I'm a little worried about trying them because they actually use magnesium citrate as a treatment to get your gut moving. My gut really doesn't need any encouragement! It leans toward being overactive from POTS. Has anyone that has used the magnesium options had any issues with diarrhea or abdominal issues?Thanks for everyone's input on this. The headache let up for a few hours this afternoon but its back again...day #8! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekliz Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Magnesium Oxide has a laxative effect but Magnesium Citrate does not. It helps my migraines most of the time. I have been taking it daily and no gut problems at all. You cannot get it at the regular grocery store or walmart. Whole Foods/vitamin stores will have it. I take 400mg at nite (was taking 800). It lowers bp, has a calming effect and helps with headaches among many other things. Do a google search on uses for magnesium....it is amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted November 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Cool...thanks for the update, derekliz! Just wanted to check before I added to my issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekliz Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 I think you will be good with it. We can be magnesium deficient in the cells but have a normal magnesium serum test. I have always suspected that i am low in magnesium and suffer from menstrual migraines since i was 11...i am 42 now....they are terrible and i am sorry you have had one so long. For temporary relief, i use rubbing alcohol on a washcloth and put one on my forehead and one on the back of my neck....it helps for some strange reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 You just reminded me of something. Witchhazel is an old fashion rememdy for muscle tension - that might help the neck and jaw too. It helps with spasms in the muscles. Put it on a pad and rub it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiysa Posted November 9, 2011 Report Share Posted November 9, 2011 Katybug,I just wanted to tell you that I just went through this a few weeks ago and the migraine lasted 12 days and I had so much pain all over my body. I was hysterical by the 12th day, so my doc did an iron panel and I was anemic. Now, I'm not saying that's what it is for you, but I have migraines all the time, but I never had it where I never had even a single day or a few hours of reprieve, so I knew something was wrong. Is it possible for you to be anemic? I hope that's all it is..such an easy solution. I took 84 mg. of iron with a buffalo burger-the red meat causes the iron to absorb 300% more and the iron from red meat is absorbed immediately, unlike other iron sources that can take days or weeks And within a day I noticed a difference and by the third day, the headache was mostly gone...as much as it can go away. WE took a blood test just 7 days later and by taking the iron with meat, my numbers were at least on the borderline normal, which helps a lot. Have you had your iron levels checked lately? My low numbers were not in my red blood count as much, but low low numbers in my ferritin and saturation level. Good luck to you. Hope you feel better soon. I hope it's okay to pray for you? And I hope you find the cause and fix soon!Maiysa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenwic Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 I can't offer any advice, but I just wanted to comment on the ear fluttering sound. I have been having a headache that has been going on for almost 2 weeks. It hurts most when I cough or bend over, but hurts off and on at other times too. I also have the same ear fluttering or popping sounds you described. I thought it was a sinus infection, but finished a course of antibiotics and I still have it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted November 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 Day #9...I thought I had escaped the headache but it came back around 6:30 this evening. I could still feel the soreness in my neck and jaw earlier but thought the headache was done...not so much. But today was better and I did take the higher dose of Depakote last night, so maybe a couple more days of the higher dose will work.In the meantime, I will try the alcohol or witch hazel, I have both.I actually had a set of bloodtests last week (actually the same day this headache started) and my iron came back normal. But, thanks for the suggestion.And, as a very POTSy funny sidenote...I have been having a real time trying to regulate my body temp...cold one minute, then having hot flashes. So I have an ice pack on the back of my neck and am using the towel its wrapped in to also wrap around the front of my neck to keep the draft off. I don't think I wouldn't even want to tell a doctor that I need to cool my back side and warm my front. Only someone with this crazy illness could possibly understand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkweavers Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 I don't have autonomic illness myself but I do get lots of migraines. I was up to 18 a month until I tried bio-identical progesterone and I also went off of birth control. My migraines have been cut in half and I actually went 10 days without one. It's been over 5 years since I've gone that long without one!Obviously, I don't have the many other issues that others on here have but I tried everything before this - preventative meds, accupuncture, massage, chiropractor, headache meds, supplements and nothing was working. I had also been to plenty of neurologists and headache specialists and I was sick and tired of all the medications and side affects.Just another comment to add to this but my daughter has been having more headaches in the past 3 weeks or so and I'm wondering if it's the change in season/weather.Brenda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted November 10, 2011 Report Share Posted November 10, 2011 I don't know what your age is - but the way you describe the hot and cold eposoides almost back to back and the headache that pressure helps with - this describes what happens to me with a hot flash. So, the previous reply about the progesterone (progesterone makes my POTS worse) or possibly estriol might help. Something to help balance your hormones more. I always know when I'm going to get a hot flash - the headache comes first. And believe it or not - my husband can tell - before me - that I'm going to have one by the temperature of my skin. After the hot flash comes the freezing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted November 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 ok...Day #10...I was good until the evening again...same pattern mild muscle pain in neck and jaw, fluttering in ear drum through out the day then I got the headache this evening. I noticed yesterday and again today that the headache comes when I feel the veins in my neck constrict which is one of my POTS symptoms. I can almost feel the constriction leading the way up my neck to the headache...does that make sense? I also notice I have little spikes in the headache when changing position from laying to sitting to standing. I am really starting to think this has something to do with my blood pooling and how much blood is getting to my brain. I was able to take the dog to the park for a little while today and there were no headache symtpoms while we were on the move but when I stopped I felt awful including the headache symptoms.BTW, I'm 36 and I just changed back to Depo Provera from Nuvaring (but I don't think that's the issue cause the headache started a week after I got the shot. I don't think it would take that long to react to the shot as it makes other things change within 24 hours of injection). The Depo is straight progesterone. I have to be on something that prevents menstruation becuase my POTS goes haywire if I get my period. We use this as a preventative and I do actually feel better on the Depo, in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted November 11, 2011 Report Share Posted November 11, 2011 Well you just figured out the cause. I looked up the shot on Wikipedia and it said that the effects take a week and it is counter - indicative if you have miagraines. It is not progesterone but a synthetic version progesten and progesten has all sorts of side effects. Progesterone, for me, makes my POTS allot worse. Unfortuantely, it takes awhile for the shot to wear off. Wonder if there is some sort of antidote? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted November 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Hmmm. Why have the docs not said that!? I had discussions with them all before I switched back to Depo. I don't think there's an antidote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
issie Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 I don't know why they wouldn't have thought of that. Maybe taking some estrogen to balance the progestin out. Did you look it up in Wikipedia? It will show all these things. I always do research on a drug before I'll take it. Doctors can't possibly remember all of our symptoms or realize the effects of all medicines. It's just too bad that this is a long acting and lasting one. You might call and ask if there is an antidote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katybug Posted November 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 Good news...Day #1 of NO HEADACHE!!! Yeah!!!Issie - I did look it up on Wikipedia last night after reading your post but I didn't before because I took Depo shots for almost 10 years through my 20's and early 30's with no problem and I had migraines then too (had them before the shots and did not have any increase with the shots). Thanks to everyone for the support and suggestions. I am going to go the Vitamin Shoppe tomorrow to see what they stock in magnesium (had to wait til Mom could drive me). Hopefully this will help prevent future issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubytuesday Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 I have had periods of clustering of migraines. Once it began around Christmas and it was in February (after trials of many things, and I do take Mg every evening), neuro finally started me on DHE infusion for a month. As the month drew on, the medication dose was tapered down. I was on short term dose of Reglan to also help.I've suffered migraines all my life but clustering didn't start til I was in my 40s. I cannot take aspirin or NSAIDs due to allergies. I had tried each and every migraine product on the market. Imitrex works better for me but the problem is it doesn't always work for me and you can only repeat it once in 24 hours. My neuro added that trying to 'reduce' pain by Tylenol was no good as if I took it 3 or more times a week, I could have a rebound headache that mirrors a migraine.I hope this finds you feeling better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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