Migraines and headaches. Live

[eggyg]

I have suffered from some stinking headaches this last couple of weeks on waking. I have assumed it is due to my neck/shoulder problems which have worsened in the cooler weather. But the last couple of days I have had visual/ optical migraines with a zig zag aura. I have had them before a handful of times over the last 15 years or so, once due to excess alcohol, which I understood, but the others seem to just come on suddenly. The aura lasts for about 30/40 minutes then the pain starts. The pharmacist won’t give me Migraleve as I am diabetic so just take paracetamol. I have also noticed my waking BGs are higher than normal, I am usually about 5 but at the moment am usually 7 or above. Could it be connected? Don’t feel ill at all, but they are wiping me out for most of the day. Any suggestions?
Don’t know why it says ‘ live’ in title, please ignore!

 

[KARNAK]

Aww eggyg sorry you are feeling so unwell. Bare in mind you`ve a lot to put up with over the last few months, with Mr eggyg and his problems, major surgery, yes I do follow. When I had a similar problem doc gave me co-dydramol took a couple of days to kick in but did work. Not available over the counter but certainly worth a try. Your BGL seem within spec but probably a bit higher than you would want it on waking. Getting pissed now and then ain`t going to hurt. I think you may of hit it on the nail with the neck problem, seems to affect spine head and eyes. I`ve had it for @:"^ years, go months without a problem then smack full blown pain, can`t see, unable to move, nausea etc. etc. Obviously BGL is important but your main concern is the pain/migraine you are halving, physio to your neck shoulders and upper torso will almost definitely help. You should be able to refer yourself in your area for treatment, just go to NHS Choices in your area or your docs website if available and click on physio. Take care and good luck, hope this helps.

 

[mikeyB]

Tell your pharmacist to get lost, eggy, there isn’t any contraindication in the product info to suggest diabetic folk can’t take Migraleve. The only mention is that the codeine element might affect the gastric motility effect of Metformin, which I would have thought was a blessing, not a side effect.

Ask a tame offspring member to get it for you.🙂

 

[Carolg]

Hope you feel better soon eggy. Can’t offer suggestions but here is a {hug}

 

[Sprogladite]

There is no reason you can't take Migraleve - I have migraines on a regular basis and am on amytriptiline as a preventative. It may be worth visiting your GP to see if they can give you Sumatriptan or Zolmatriptan - they work by mimicking seratonin in the brain and can be very effective at heading off a migraine if you take them at the start of an attack. Good luck, I hope it improves for you x

 

[anniehi]

Hi eggyg,
I do empathise with you. I have been having classic migraine with the horrible aura since childhood and I am over seventy now and I have tried most medicines, the only one that has helped is Migraleve. I still get the aura but not the debilitating headache and sickness. I tried not eating all the trigger foods and drinks i.e. cheese, chocolate and wine for years but that didn’t lessen the attacks, all I can put mine down to is stress. I had a total pancreatectomy five years ago and obviously am now a type 3, but my doctor still prescribes Migraleve for me. I have been taking them at least 15 years. If I were you I would have a word with your GP. Hope you feel better soon. x

 

[eggyg]

Aww eggyg sorry you are feeling so unwell. Bare in mind you`ve a lot to put up with over the last few months, with Mr eggyg and his problems, major surgery, yes I do follow. When I had a similar problem doc gave me co-dydramol took a couple of days to kick in but did work. Not available over the counter but certainly worth a try. Your BGL seem within spec but probably a bit higher than you would want it on waking. Getting pissed now and then ain`t going to hurt. I think you may of hit it on the nail with the neck problem, seems to affect spine head and eyes. I`ve had it for @:"^ years, go months without a problem then smack full blown pain, can`t see, unable to move, nausea etc. etc. Obviously BGL is important but your main concern is the pain/migraine you are halving, physio to your neck shoulders and upper torso will almost definitely help. You should be able to refer yourself in your area for treatment, just go to NHS Choices in your area or your docs website if available and click on physio. Take care and good luck, hope this helps.

It think it could be stressed related even though Mr Eggy is feeling 100% better I still worry all the time, so my neck tenses up and it’s a vicious circle! Have been doing my neck exercises as prescribed by physio and it does loosen up,but not for long. Think I will make an appointment with an osteopath who has helped with my shoulders in the past. It’s £40 a pop but worth it. Thanks.

 

[eggyg]

Hi eggyg,
I do empathise with you. I have been having classic migraine with the horrible aura since childhood and I am over seventy now and I have tried most medicines, the only one that has helped is Migraleve. I still get the aura but not the debilitating headache and sickness. I tried not eating all the trigger foods and drinks i.e. cheese, chocolate and wine for years but that didn’t lessen the attacks, all I can put mine down to is stress. I had a total pancreatectomy five years ago and obviously am now a type 3, but my doctor still prescribes Migraleve for me. I have been taking them at least 15 years. If I were you I would have a word with your GP. Hope you feel better soon. x

Hi @anniehi I too am type 3c, distal pancreatectomy 11 years ago. I have to be careful with painkillers, prescription codein gives me acute pancreatitis symptoms so can’t take them, I used to take Migraleve before op and diabetes but my pharmacist’s computer says no! Maybe try again at another chemist who doesn’t know me! I also think stress plays a big part and I have been under a fair bit recently. Been for a long walk today as haven’t been out much and thought it would help, my head feels like it’s going to fall off my shoulders at the moment, trying my best not to give in but it’s difficult. Going on holiday on Saturday and so want to feel better and not be a big drip all week! Thanks for your advise.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Is there any chance you're hypo-ing in the night, @eggyg ? I wake up with awful headaches if that happens to me, and it often means a higher waking reading because of my body compensating for the hypo with a surge of glucose.

Can you tolerate caffeine, and can you tolerate aspirin? If so Anadin Extra might be more effective than the paracetamol (it's a mix of aspirin and paracetamol with caffeine) - my GP recommended it for migraines & it's the only thing which works for me when I have one. I don't have very serious ones though. R does, and a neurologist prescribed him Sumatriptan, which has been brilliant - before when he had a migraine he used to spend half the night throwing up and all morning in bed sleeping it off; now if he has one I don't even know about it, he's just taken a pill in the night and then gone back to sleep and got up for work as normal.

 

[pippaandben]

My husband had debillitating migraines for years until a fellow caravanner mentioned the medication he was on which had worked. Saw GP and was put on Pizotifen immediately. He is on what GP says is maximum dose which is 2 at bedtime and one in morning . At the very first symptom he takes one Naratriptan. This has reduced migraines to one every 2 months and the after effects to about 2-3 hours rather than 2 days bedridden. Dr knew about his migraines but had never suggested anything apart from over the counter drugs so certainly worth asking.

 

[eggyg]

Is there any chance you're hypo-ing in the night, @eggyg ? I wake up with awful headaches if that happens to me, and it often means a higher waking reading because of my body compensating for the hypo with a surge of glucose.

Can you tolerate caffeine, and can you tolerate aspirin? If so Anadin Extra might be more effective than the paracetamol (it's a mix of aspirin and paracetamol with caffeine) - my GP recommended it for migraines & it's the only thing which works for me when I have one. I don't have very serious ones though. R does, and a neurologist prescribed him Sumatriptan, which has been brilliant - before when he had a migraine he used to spend half the night throwing up and all morning in bed sleeping it off; now if he has one I don't even know about it, he's just taken a pill in the night and then gone back to sleep and got up for work as normal.

That did cross my mind at one point, I wake a lot through the night usually sweating, always put it down to being menopausal, I should maybe check. I have been headache/ migraine free for a couple of days but as I am going off on holiday tomorrow I popped into a “ strange” chemist and asked for Migraleve, preparing to fib, and was told that they couldn’t get them and hadn’t had them for months and our customers had tried other pharmacies and they didn’t have them. So have purchased Paramol and hope I don’t need them!

 

[Carolg]

Hi @anniehi I too am type 3c, distal pancreatectomy 11 years ago. I have to be careful with painkillers, prescription codein gives me acute pancreatitis symptoms so can’t take them, I used to take Migraleve before op and diabetes but my pharmacist’s computer says no! Maybe try again at another chemist who doesn’t know me! I also think stress plays a big part and I have been under a fair bit recently. Been for a long walk today as haven’t been out much and thought it would help, my head feels like it’s going to fall off my shoulders at the moment, trying my best not to give in but it’s difficult. Going on holiday on Saturday and so want to feel better and not be a big drip all week! Thanks for your advise.

Enjoy your holiday Elaine