migraine and pregnant

Diseases & Conditions Migraine Headache
1
Hi everyone,
 
I'm new here! I've looked on the web for migraine forums in the past, but I think my mistake was restricting the search to the UK - I couldn't find a single one! But finally I have...
 
I've been suffering from migraine since I was 12 - I had a blood test, passed out and had a migraine when I came round. I had absolutely no idea what was happening to me (I have migraine with aura), but luckily my dad had them too (I didn't know till then) so he could tell me what it was.
 
Throughout my teenage years, and till about I was about 19, I had about 1 every 6 months, usually when I was burning the candle at both ends.
 
Since then, they have been getting progressively worse - whereas before, bed and sleep fixed them, bit groggy the next day then ok, now the nausea and pounding head lasts about 3 days.
In the last year, they've got much worse for me, usually one or two every couple of weeks.
I react really badly to drugs - taking things like Piriton, Benylin, or paracetamol and codeine completely spaces me out - dry mouth, unable to move, dizzy, totally exhausted.
My doctor tried me on Maxalt Melt a couple of months ago - within an hour of taking it I'd had a further 4 aura attacks and threw up - something I'd never done before with migraine.
 
Now for the slightly happier news - I'm about two months pregnant!! However, this is not as great as I first thought - I'd read that pregnancy can improve or get rid of migraine totally. Not so for me. I had four aura attacks in one day a couple of weeks ago, and since then have only had 2 days where I haven't suffered a migraine - although I still felt groggy and 'thick'.
 
Now my million dollar question: does anyone have any idea of anything 'alternative' I can try - doctor has said I can take paracetamol if the pain is unbearable, but since that has never made any difference for me anyway, and wouldn't be great for bump, I'd rather not.
 
Any suggestions would be massively appreciated!!
 
Polly
2

Hi,

Sorry you are going through this. I too get worse headaches and migraines when I am pregnant. Actually it is the tell tale sign that I am pregnant. I get migraine about twice a week and daily headaches. I have had these since I was 10 yrs old.I am now 29 yrs old. I don't know about alternatives in treating migraine while you are pregnant but I take paracetamol/codiene in pregnany which is a category A, safe while pregnant. But considering that you react badly to meds it may not be the best thing for you. Have you asked your Dr about what you could take?

I know how hard it is going to be for you throughout the next 7 months. They told me that most of the time migraine gets better while pregnant and the same as you mine got worse. I knew that they would because they get really bad around the time of my period. You will fine this site good because it seems that most of the people on here are from the states (I'm in Australia) and they tend to be infront of us with the meds. Which means that you will be able to get the low down of how migraine are being treated over there.

Good luck with your searching and I hope that somebody else can help ypou more than I have.

Ps. Congratulations on the pregnancy.

Trace

Chronic Daily Headache and Migraine sufferer for 19 yrs.

Post Edited (Tracey D) : 7/28/2005 8:19:52 PM (GMT-6)

3
Hi Trace,
 
Thanks for your reply, it feels nice to know I'm not the only one who bucks the trend! My doctor is sympathetic, which is nice, and has said it would be ok for me to take paracetamol. The thing is, I don't find normal strength paracetamol helps with 'normal' headaches, let alone full on migraines! So I'm going to try and avoid any drugs if I can. So far, I'm managing on willpower and a very understanding boss!
 
fingers crossed for the rest of it....!
 
polly
4

Hi Polly, We don't have all the answers here in the US, but we have a few things available in the form of natural supplements.

But even vitamin supplements and herbs should be checked with your doctor to make sure they won't harm that precious little baby, OK?

Some people use an herb called Feverfew, 50 to 100mg, to get rid of a migraine. It sometimes has to be taken regularly in order to become effective in preventing migraines. You can probably find this in a health food store. Feverfew can cause nausea, which you might experience with your pregnancy. Ginger tablets can help that. Another thing that works for me is sucking on peppermint candy. Avoid candy that shows artificial flavor. It has to have peppermint oil in it or it won't help.

Another supplement that works for some people is Magnesium. Try to find magnesium as citrate or oxide. Sometimes it's a combination of both. If you take Magnesium by itself, get about 250mg. Some people get some good results taking a magnesium tablet at the first signs of a migraine, along with a cup of coffee or a soda with caffiene.  I was very surprised, it has worked for me a few times. Takes about an hour if I lie down as soon as I finish the soda. (I drink the soda because I can drink that faster than I can drink a cup of hot coffee!)

The other good supplement is B2, also known as Riboflavin. The amount to take is 200mg twice a day. That is far greater than the usual amount that our body needs. But it is not harmful. Not to healthy adults, anyway. But be sure to check with your doctor. I don't know if it's OK for your baby!

I listed these items seperately because it might be easier for you to find them this way. There is a product that combines all of these ingredients that is to be taken twice daily for at least 90 days before you get the maximum benefit. Then you continue to take it twice a day for continued benefit. I've been taking it for about 6 weeks so far and I'm going to stick with it. Combined, the ingredients will be about:

B2--200mg  Magnesium--180mg   Feverfew--50mg

It's marketed under the names: MigraHealth and MigreLief. (Do not buy MigreLief from Canada, because their brand only has Feverfew in it.)

I am not selling a product. I'm only telling you about something that's mentioned elsewhere in this forum. My neurologist has told me to take it, and other members' doctors have also recommened it. If you can't find it where you live, you might be able to buy it on line.

I get migraines, too, so I know what you're going through. This might sound too simple, but in addition to the coffee, tea or soda, when you get a migraine, tie a scarf around your head (dip it in cold water first and wring it out a bit) tighly or loosely, whatever feels better, put a cold cloth over your eyes, and retreat to a dark room. If it's noisy in your home, put on some soft music to help block out the other noise.

I do hope you feel better soon. I know how careful you must be and how difficult it must be to be feeling so bad this early in your pregnancy.

Write often. You will be encouraged by the people here. They are wonderful!

~~Pegasis yeah

5
You are right Pegasis, I'm encouraged already by you guys and this is only my first posting! I know it's probably been said before, but it really does make such a difference to talk to people who actually know what it feels like - the only person I know of with migraine is a work colleague's husband, and I've never met him. Other people make the sympathetic noises but its not the same... Big thanks to all of you, and whoever put this forum in place!!
 
Thank you so much for your suggestions, I've got an appointment coming up with my midwife next week hopefully, so I'm going to check it all out with her. The magnesium sounds interesting - I've not heard of that before, but with all the others as well definitely sounds worth a go - but don't worry, I will be carefully checking that bump's ok with it too!
 
Things are looking up slightly - I've not had a migraine for three days now, it's nice to have a break. I think the worst thing is knowing that my trigger is most probably hormones, so it feels like I have no control over preventing them. Hopefully they'll settle down soon!
 
My pregnancy seems to be pretty good apart from the migraine (and the need to sleep for 20 hours a day!) No sickness or anything else nasty (so far....), which is good!
 
I'll let you know how I get on, so if anyone else gets stuck in the same place it's easier for them.
 
Thanks again,
 
Polly
6

Good to hear from you again, Polly. I just wrote about a relaxation technique in another post. I'm just going to copy and paste it here:

I've found that to be really helpful. I lie down and concentrate on each body part individually, beginning at my feet, working my way up to my head. A friend gave me a "lesson" that included deep breathing and slow exhaling. When you exhale, you allow the tension to flow out of the body part that you're relaxing. It's been really helpful!

I leave my head for the last part because that's the part where the most pain is. By the time I get there, I've been concentrating AWAY from it, so the pain has had a chance to ease up a little. It takes a bit of work to get your concentration to stay with what you're doing and try to ignore your migraine, but that's part of the point of the exercise. It's a good idea to learn this now. After your baby is born, you will be so good at it that you'll be able to really relax while your baby takes a nap!

It's interesting that Tracey was saying that you'll hear about how migraines are treated here in the States because we're in front of you with the meds. I've never even HEARD of
paracetamol! tongue
I'm guessing it's like tylenol that we have here. It, too, can be prescribed with codiene.
 
Be sure to keep in touch!
~~Pegasis yeah
7
Try prenatal massage! If it deosn't help the head, it will definitely help all of your other aching body parts and it will relax you- which might help the headache.


NERAK

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Polly, Have you been following Tracey's posts? She's pregnant, too. She, too, is going against the odds. Migraines in women are frequently affected by hormones. For most women, migraines improve during pregnancy. But, as with you, Trace doesn't have the improvement during pregnancy. Keep in touch and let us know what your doctor and/or midwife have to say about the alternative meds I mentioned.

~~Pegasis yeah

9
Hi guys,
 
sorry I've not been on a couple of days, been a bit here and there and not much time to think!
Nerak - I'm defs going for the massage!! I'm very very lucky at work, in that we have it written into our contract that the company provides 4 massage treatments a year for us (1 free a quarter). We can have more than that if we like, and pay a discounted rate which is nice! (my boss's sister is a masseur).
 
Pegasis - not heard of paracetamol?? only joking, I've never heard of tylenol either! You must not know the GREAT joke then.... why is there never any asprin in the jungle? cos the paracetamol (parrots-et-em-all) oh isn't it good..!!
 
I will have a look at some other posts when I get home tonight, I still haven't been sent an appointment with my midwife.
 
A distant contact of mine is into homeopathy, and has suggested I try Bryonia 30. I'm going to give it a go, and will report back with the results!
 
Best wishes to all,
 
Polly
10

Thanks for the laugh, Polly tongue

~~Pegasis yeah