What do you do?
By coconutpatty
@coconutpatty (834)
United States
April 11, 2007 10:39am CST
Migraines were never a huge issue for me. Sure I would get some pretty bad headaches but they would quickly pass and all would be well again. After I was in a car accident in 2003, I think it was, I started to get horrible migraines. Some so bad that I would just hide under the covers and hope for there to be no noise or light peeking through. I couldn't move. I didn't want to speak or to be spoken to. I just wanted to be left along. Other times, I would just walk around like any other day...only difference was the constant throbbing of a migraine. I had finally seen a neurologist and they tried me on all kinds of medications. Finally I told them the side effects of the meds were worse than the migraines themself. So I opted to go without meds. I don't get them as often as before and they don't seem to last for days. Yesterday I woke up with one and it was horrible. My vison was slightly blurred, my head throbbed and I was so nauseated.
So my question is, what do you think helps you when you have a migraine (besides taking meds)? Any home remedies that are useful?
4 people like this
8 responses
@roniroxas (10559)
• Philippines
12 Apr 07
migraines are really terrible, horrible that is how i define it. i just want to lie still on the bed. now that my kids are teens i can really have a rest when migraines strikes. but when they were much younger it was really hard to relax. i end up puking because my kids wont allow me to lie still on the bed. theyll be jumping up and down on the bed or just kid around and let me stand to let them help to get something. it was really horrible.
@roniroxas (10559)
• Philippines
13 Apr 07
yes that is true some people think that it is only acting. if they only knew how painful it is.
2 people like this
@coconutpatty (834)
• United States
14 Apr 07
Exactly. I wish those people would get a few of them so that they could see how horrible it is. I know that all of us suffered would chose not to get them if given the option. We would never choose to go through that pain!
1 person likes this
@coconutpatty (834)
• United States
13 Apr 07
Yeah, I've done my fair share of puking due to migraines. Not fun at all. Some people just don't understand how horrible they are!! Many people think that we are just using them as an excuse not to do something. They just don't realize it's not an excuse and we really can't do things sometimes. I'm glad that there are others who understand.
1 person likes this
@crimsonblues (1191)
• United States
13 Apr 07
try head on for migraines..(Its AMAZING!) I have horrible migraines and nothing has helped..also try mentholatum or vicks and rub it under your nose - that menthol smell sometimes helps.. Also try blue ice packs(on your head/neck)
2 people like this
@coconutpatty (834)
• United States
13 Apr 07
I've heard about that head on stuff. I will have to try that.
The vicks seems like a good idea. I swear that stuff can be used for many purposes. hehe Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be sure to try them out.
1 person likes this
@Island_Geko (3758)
• Canada
12 Apr 07
I take a perscription, I also use a acupen to release to pain. If that does not work I then take a gravol and go to sleep and it usually works, but that is a last and final measure.
2 people like this
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
12 Apr 07
I've suffered from bad headaches and migraines all my life. I know how miserable they can be. I can recommend a couple of things for you. One is take bengay (or something similar like deep heat, icy hot) and rub it on your temples, forehead and the back of your neck. This can really help. Also try coffee or chocolate. The caffiene in it can help. Most migraine medication has caffiene in it. Layig down in a dark room can also aid in relieving the headache. A cold pack on the eyes might help but I've also had it make it worse, so that you'd have to check on for yourself.
Hope these help.
2 people like this
@coconutpatty (834)
• United States
12 Apr 07
I think I have heard the bengay one before. I will have to try it. I've semi tried the caffeine thing. But should really try it.
Thank you so much for some wonderful ideas. I will have to try them!
1 person likes this
@kelly60 (4546)
• United States
15 Apr 07
Prescription medications are the only things that even begin to touch mine when they are bad, but there are a few things that might help a mild one.
Try laying down in a quiet place and putting a cool cloth over your eyes. This will sometimes help at least a little. Also, a cold pack on the back of the neck can sometimes help. Massaging the temples gently is another technique that may help.
Usually, mine are bad enough that these things don't do much good, but if I catch mine early enough it can sometimes be slowed down by using some of them so it might help.
@kelly60 (4546)
• United States
17 Apr 07
Sometimes caffiene is also helpful in large doses. I used to sit down and drink cup after cup of coffee, even though I'm not a coffee drinker, just to keep my migraines from getting as bad. It didn't prevent the migraine entirely, but it did lessen the severity.
1 person likes this
@coconutpatty (834)
• United States
15 Apr 07
I know a lot of these don't work. I may have to at some point get a prescription again....but something to only take when i have a migraine. Not a regimen to try to prevent them....because that I didn't like for many reasons. But right now I do not have health insurance and most of these meds are VERY expensive....and riht now I'm not working.
1 person likes this
@vwlssknght (653)
• United States
11 Apr 07
I would recommend closing your eyes and putting a "cold mask" over them. Try not to squint. Just do it for as long as you can stand the cold. That's a wonderfully soothing way of helping yourself.
@coconutpatty (834)
• United States
11 Apr 07
I will have to try that out. Any particular type of "cold mask" to use? It does seem like it would be soothing as well!
1 person likes this
@tsledd (154)
• United States
27 Apr 07
I have had migraines for 30 years now.. I have tried the journal but nothing seems to fit the same.. each time its different. I thought it was chocolate to trigger mine but most of the time I didnt have any chocolate..I usally get admitted to hospital for 3 days with around the clock treatment, of DHE and ragland for nausea. I dont have any idea what DHE is but it works.. I need to stay on rest no work for 1 week which is nice if you can afford it. This would keep me good for about 3-6 months. I also was taking Depakote and zoloft(depression) daily..
My headaches would last 40 days straight pure hell no relief. No meds did anything.. I go to er 0nce every 2-3 months for shots of morphine,dilaudid,toradall, these help after about 3 injections. Eating ice chips helps.but the crunching is annoying.
Migraines are awful,I think we should all qualify for social security benefits. This is a serous illness that we cannot control.I have fought to keep my job over and over,missing way to much work..missing way to much life time.
I wish all migraine sufferes the best.
1 person likes this
@coconutpatty (834)
• United States
27 Apr 07
Wow. That is horrible. I don't know how you do it. I give you so much respect and credit for it. I cannot imagine how horrible that all is. You make me want to cry for the pain you have gone through and continue to go through!
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
2 Sep 10
Yes it affect normal life especially when i am at work. I cannot even see my computer screen, so i will take off and back to home. I have to postpone my work. We can use warm and cold towel massaging on the head and shoulders, that was best releaving.
