NWR: Migraines and headaches..ugh

I frequently get severe tension headaches that cycle with really intense neck pain. While they are not migraines, I feel your pain so to speak. You and I have similar fears for our wedding day. I've been tracking mine for several months and they are usually the week before my period. I'm on sumatripan for the headaches and cyclobenzaprine for the muscle relaxer. I've found seeing a chiropractor has been really helpful at shortening my headache cycles. Previously was having probably 3 to 4 days a week with muscle tension and now I'm down to 1 or 2 around my cycle. I'm not sure if you have tried that or not but may be worth looking into. Botox as others have suggested has had good results from what I've read. I hope you find the relief you are looking for!

I used to get them about three times a week. Caffeine is my huge trigger. I stay away from it but heat and stress are also triggers and hard to avoid. My doc put me on Topamax which is a maintenance Med not a treatment for an actual migraine. I take it every night. I have had two migraines since February. Life changing! And the only side affect is it makes me sleepy so I take it night before bed.

Eta words

The peppermint oil goes on your temples. Some people are sensitive to the straight oils so dab a carrier oil such as coconut oil on the spot first than a couple dabs on peppermint.

I've also gotten a humidifier that can use essential oils and use it on particularly bad days too

I get chronic migraines all the time. I have tried everything you have and I have yet to get any relief. I want to try the piercing as well but a lot people said it didn't work. I don't want to try Botox for the fear of a mess up, and the pills work for a small amount of time. FH doesn't believe that I have migraines so I have no idea what to do.

Vicks vapor rub helps me so much. I rub it on my temples, put on a sleeping mask and take a nap. I wake up and feel 10x better

I also have really bad migraines and I know a bunch of people who have gotten a daith piercing and it has really worked for them! I'm definitely going to get one soon, I recommend doing some research and seeing if it's right for you

I used to take Imitrex (sumatriptan). I now instead take the dissolvable Maxalt - works way better for me.

I take a maxalt and a few ibuprofen the second I feel one coming on. If pain hits, I take some narcotics. Sometimes throw in a zofran, too. If it's been a few hours since having any caffeine, I'll add in a cup of coffee.

I used to get migraines and had several doctor prescribed medications as well as over the counter and nothing worked. Then I read the weirdest thing.... Hard boiled eggs. I tried and it is truly the only thing that alleviates or at the very least, makes it tolerable! Hope it helps :/

How's your diet? My migraines are gone now that I don't eat gluten.

If you do decide to go GF or gluten free you will most likely have to cook/make from scratch everything. Gluten hides and has strange names. Labeling is getting better but still imperfect. Some people are so sensitive that even being processed in the same facility as wheat will trigger their symptoms.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. My mom has chronic migraines as well. She gets all the same treatments and no solutions yet. She wants to try acupuncture to see if it helps.

I get them smells and Chemical senativity, so cleaners, perfumes, shampoos anything with added smells. Also mold and mildew, and rooms without fresh air, a hot stuffy car can ruin my day. The worst smells for people like us are flower smells, the best safer smells are foods smells like vanilla, strawberry, coffee etc. It might be a mix of this, food senativity, medication and stress.. I hope all goes well on your day.. good luck figuring it out.

Topiramate and Topamax are the same thing. Topiramate is the generic. I also want to say I went gluten free at the beginning of the year, so that very well could be contributing to the decrease in migraines along with the use of Topamax.

Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Getting realigned can open the pathways in the nervous system and help alleviate headaches.

Chiropractors are useless if you arent getting massage/nmt as well. your crappy muscles just pull your bones back into the same dumb spot they were in.

The only thing that works for me is straight up peppermint oil. I put a single drop on the roof of my mouth and hold for 10 seconds, and another drop I rub on my temples. I was skeptical at first, but oh my marbles, it is the best thing and relieves the pain in 2 minutes.

Go see a neurologist who specialises in migraine. It's the best thing I ever did, I was able to have a properly tailored treatment for the types of migraine that I have. I'm not going to mention my treatment because what I do won't work for everyone because I have a very specific type of migraine. I do recommend finding treatments that work for you through a doctor.

Thanks for all the advice I'm going save a lot of it. I actually screen shot a lot and sent it to FH (he's at drill and super bored lol) I'm blessed with a FH that is super compassionate. Those that never experienced it don't quite understand the pain. My pcp did adjust my neck, but as far as a chiropractor, my ortho specialist pretty much said he would no longer see if I went to one :/ I have rods/screws in my spine so if they some how tweak any of the hardware, he won't fix it. I plan to try some these suggestions before getting myself another doctor bill Lynsey, thanks so much, I'm going to go look for that app!!!

Do you have glasses or have you had an eye exam recently?

I get migraines whenever I don't have my glasses or contacts. Like, terrible ones, and my vision isn't even that bad.

@Becky, those are my triggers, too, down to the flowery scents vs. vanilla. I literally get sharp, shooting pain the instant I smell someone's perfume, cleaner, smoke.