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Migraines & Headaches Community

Reply: Migraines in the middle of the night

To Warrior Maiden - just to add itmatsb's reply. I was told the same thing you were, and...

Posted by mymygraine

20 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Migraines in the middle of the night To Warrior Maiden - just to add itmatsb's reply. I was told the same thing you were, and...

Reply: Migraines in the middle of the night

Hi Michelle - I have migraines that wake me in the middle of the night - some of them...

Posted by mymygraine

Hi Michelle -
I have migraines that wake me in the middle of the night - some of them start before I go to bed, and I use ice to try and stop them before taking meds, but within 3 hours I am awake and in more pain than I was 3 hrs. prior. Some wake me around 4:00am - it varies.

As for your doctors, you need to find a migraine specialist, not a neuro who has no specialty in migraines, and certainly not a primary care doc. Neither of those doctors will really be able to help you get control of your migraines, and the very fact that a neuro would stop seeing you because all your med needs could be handled by a PC doc is horrifying to me!

Most migraineurs go through lots of trial and error finding a medication regimen that will work for them. Everyone is different and what works for 1 person won't work for another. Also your body may become used to the medication, and it will no longer work for stopping the migraine, but instead cause a "rebound" migraine, which for me, are more painful and harder to get rid of. I usually have no other rescue med around to get rid of the pain, and rather than go to the ER, I just use ice packs, hot packs, stay in a dark room, and wait it out. This can sometimes take up to 60 hrs. but sitting in the ER for 10 hrs. with that kind of pain waiting to get seen, is not my idea of a good time.

Look on the NIH (National Institue of Headaches) website for neurologists that are certified to specialize in Migraines. Find the one closest to you (may be in the next state over), call, make and app't, and they probably will send you an application to fill out and return before you come. You may have to wait for the app't up to 4 months, but don't be discouraged. Use the time to keep a very specific diary of your migraines, when they start and stop, how much sleep you are getting, possible triggers for the migraine - such as weather change, sleeping pattern, or food), what meds you took, how much and did they work, the severity of the migraine on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest, 1 the lowest). Add any notes, or questions you may have as you go. This will help you when you get to see the migraine specialist. These docs are neurologist with specialties in migraines, and they will help get you a correct diagnosis because there are many kinds of migraines, and also put you on a regimen that will start helping you control the pain and severity, and also frequency of your migraines. The more information you have with you, the better your app't will be.

Do not expect everything to be solved with 1 visit, but it will get you on the way towards leading a more normal life.

Keep us posted, and good luck!View Thread

Posted bymymygraine

20 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Migraines in the middle of the night Hi Michelle - I have migraines that wake me in the middle of the night - some of them...

Reply: Desperate for help!

Hi Marie - I am coming to this discussion a little later, but I do know how frustrating...

Posted by mymygraine

13 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Desperate for help! Hi Marie - I am coming to this discussion a little later, but I do know how frustrating...

Reply: The never-ending migraine

Great attitude! Everyone is different and it will take time for you to figure out what...

Posted by mymygraine

88 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:The never-ending migraine Great attitude! Everyone is different and it will take time for you to figure out what...

Reply: The never-ending migraine

Migraineurs are always fighting dehydration, I know this from experience, and from my...

Posted by mymygraine

Migraineurs are always fighting dehydration, I know this from experience, and from my own research. Make sure you get enough fluids each day, and this means water, not coffee, tea, juice or any other kind of beverage. Lack of water, will bring on dehydration and so will the vomiting an nausea, so the water is important to keep all of that away. One trick I have found over the years (42 and counting) I have been dealing with this disease, and yes it is a disease without a cure, is to make sure you have some kind of white bread (not multi grain or whole wheat) or cooked white potatoes in the refrigerator at all times. The frozen ones don't work as well. Take a piece of white bread with no butter - jelly if you cannot stand it - and eat a piece as soon as you feel the nausea coming on. If one piece does not do it, have 2. That will usually quell the nausea and stop the vomiting unless it is really bad. Sometimes it is hard to get even the bread down, or some warmed mashed potatoes (my fav), but keep going until it is in your stomach. Vomiting is caused by too much stomach acid and the potato or flour starch is a quick way to even that out. Then keep drinking water, or weak tea if you must, and lie down with an ice pack and try to rest. Take your meds a half hour apart so they do not upset your stomach so much and call your doc. Try not to end up in the ER dehydrated if possible. Keep drinking water. Tea has caffeine in in and will put you on a rebound cycle of headaches caused by the caffeine. I am a big proponent for anyone with migraines to be off caffeine of any kind, and that includes chocoloate! Some people can tolerate a little, but as you get older your system gets more sensitive and you may have to let those go, just keep it in mind. The bread/potato trick should help you a lot - do it as soon as you feel it coming on, don't wait. Most of us wait too long, and then no medication has a chance to overcome anything. Good luck, and keep us posted!View Thread

Posted bymymygraine

(FromMigraines & Headaches: Support Group)

88 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:The never-ending migraine Migraineurs are always fighting dehydration, I know this from experience, and from my...

Reply: How do I work with doctors who think I'm drug seek...

Imitrex does not work for me, but I would definitely not go to the ER for the imitrex....

Posted by mymygraine

20 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:How do I work with doctors who think I'm drug seeking? Imitrex does not work for me, but I would definitely not go to the ER for the imitrex....

Reply: The never-ending migraine

On the Prednisone issue - everyone is different - the first time I took Pred. it was a...

Posted by mymygraine

88 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:The never-ending migraine On the Prednisone issue - everyone is different - the first time I took Pred. it was a...

Reply: Hemiplegic Migraines and epilepsy

Has anyone suggested that you might have had a stroke? Nowhere in your description have...

Posted by mymygraine

2 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Hemiplegic Migraines and epilepsy Has anyone suggested that you might have had a stroke? Nowhere in your description have...

Reply: Migraines in the middle of the night

Hi Michelle - Have you been to a headache specialist - that is a neurologist who...

Posted by mymygraine

Hi Michelle - Have you been to a headache specialist - that is a neurologist who specializes in headaches? I don't think your primary or even your neurologist will be able to help you with the kind of headache you have, and you need to find a neurologist in your area that specializes only in headaches. There are a lot of places around the country that have large hospitals and clinics that will accept you for tx on an inpatient basis where they will get you a real diagnosis in about an 8 day to 2 week span where they can do more within an in-patient setting than is possible on an out patient basis. This is something to look into if you have insurance and it will cover it. There are good clinics in all the majore cities - just google National Institute of Headaches for some Doctors in your area to try.

Based on my own experience, which is similar to yours, I was diagnosed with "hemicrania continua" which simply means a one sided continuous headache. I described it as 2 headache, but it was really 1 headache with intermittent flare-up or acute attacks. I was given indocin, which is an arthritis medication and is a super aspirin mixture. The proof of the diagnosis is in the medication. If the medication stops the headache then the diagnosis is correct. That is why you need a headache specialist neuro to help you get a proper diagnosis. It is not just a case of moving from one med to another to see what works, and then walking away if nothing helps. You may have to wait a bit to get in to see one of these docs, and if you have good records of your headaches, when they come during the month, when the acute attacks come, what you eat, how much sleep you lose, how much work you lose, etc., all these are helpful for correct diagnosis. There is a lot of help out there, you need to keep looking, but look for specialists, and drop the ones you have been using. I hope this will help you get out of the pain you are in. Best wishes for success and keep in touch.View Thread

Posted bymymygraine

20 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Migraines in the middle of the night Hi Michelle - Have you been to a headache specialist - that is a neurologist who...

Reply: Migraines causing numbness?

I am sorry you are having this trouble and that now one has seen this post earlier. If...

Posted by mymygraine

1 Reply | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Migraines causing numbness? I am sorry you are having this trouble and that now one has seen this post earlier. If...

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