# Migraine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 19, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057 "2009-01-19T22:47:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/21 "2009-01-20T23:37:52Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > As to caffeine, I find that getting some into my system quickly tends to help, but that may just be my wishful thinking. > > Robin The one time I had one (and I think I’ve been been getting several lately - this was the only one bad enough to earn the title of a true migraine), four ibuprofen didn’t put so much as a dent in the pain. What did the trick was finally forcing a little espresso past the pain-induced nausea. Ten minutes after two swallows of espresso, the pain suddenly subsided to a manageable level. I’ve never in my life been a headachey person. It’s this damned menopause, the doc says. I also wake up with them already in full blast, as stated upthread. ---
**Author:** ![stucco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@stucco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stucco)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/22 "2009-01-21T00:57:29Z")
What really put an end to my migraines was birth control pills (well I’m down to 1-2 a year). Who knew? I’m not looking forward to trying to have children though… ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/23 "2009-01-21T00:59:56Z")
> [@Heckity](#): > > My husband bless-his-heart (and aching head) has suffered since he was 14 years old. Imitrex has saved him. He also wakes with a full blown attack - up to 4 or 5 times a week and Imitrex will take a while to work - but it does work for him - most of the time. He has the okay to take two when necessary - and it has been necessary at times. > > He has the puking, drooping eyelid, sheer unadulterated pain variety. He used to be in throes 14+ hours prior to the wonderous development of Imitrex. His response to the quote?? “Ambiguous at best”. > > I hope you feel better soon **LouisB**. I could almost claim to be your husband’s twin except for the Imitrex; my symptoms are identical to his except that Imitrex just doen’t work for me. I sometimes think my 357 Magnum might do the trick except the cure doesn’t allow for any recovery. I started having the damn things when I was about twelve and I was in my early twenties before I even knew there were medications other than aspirin that were available. Before then, aspirin, dark rooms and cold wash cloths were the only things that got me through one. I lived in darkest Texas in those days. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/24 "2009-01-21T01:07:17Z")
That sucks. But count your blessings. When I have a migraine, there’s no way I can get on the computer. Also, when my doctor gave me Imitrex and I used it when i had a super bad one, I had the very unfortunate luck to find out that I’m allergic to it. The result? A migraine ten times as bad. I kept the phone in my hand and kept dialing 911 just in case my head exploded, so I just had to turn the phone on. I also unlocked my door so the ambulance guys could get in. Talk about hell. ---
**Author:** ![leafrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@leafrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leafrog)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/25 "2009-01-21T01:24:35Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The result? A migraine ten times as bad. I kept the phone in my hand and kept dialing 911 just in case my head exploded, so I just had to turn the phone on. I also unlocked my door so the ambulance guys could get in. Talk about hell. This is making me want to crawl to the corner and simper in fear! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/26 "2009-01-21T02:01:46Z")
I second the use of beta-blockers - It may be worth looking into. I was prescribed Inderal in 2006 for a different problem, and lo and behold have only had one full-blown migraine since (I’d had between 8-20 migraines per year for quite some time). I got the aura several times in the past two years, (peripheral “light” flashes mostly) but not the headache. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/27 "2009-01-21T02:58:01Z")
> [@leafrog](#): > > One of the main symptoms of my migraines is intense nausea, to the point that if I think about food I gag, much less seeing or smelling it. That’s _exactly_ the reason I use injectable Imitrex. The first time I tried imitrex, I threw the pill up before I could really even get it down. Now, I think I’m spoiled. Even with a migrane that allows me to still keep stuff down, I’d rather give myself a shot and have it gone in 5 minutes rather then taking a pill and waiting 45. ---
**Author:** ![Blueberry\_Buckle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@Blueberry\_Buckle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blueberry_Buckle)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/28 "2009-01-21T03:52:18Z")
I have suffered from both migraine headaches and cluster headaches for as long as I can remember. As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned how to avoid some triggers (although many migraines I get have unidentifiable triggers). I’ve also modified my diet. Narcotics & Excedrin, may help some but are known to cause massive rebound headaches and migraines. I have been around the block with medicines until finding a combination that helps. I hate that I’m not even 40 and I use a large AM/PM pill box. I have had many walls patched up in the house from banging my head too hard on (and through) them. Cluster cycles? They are the demon. Suicide headaches. I go into cycle twice a year, very predictable. I’d go through labor without drugs again any day, to not have to go through cluster cycles. I hope you are feeling better soon. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/29 "2009-01-21T04:13:55Z")
Get off the computer! Light sources make mine a lot lot worse. YMMV, though. Drink lots of water. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/30 "2009-01-23T02:53:27Z")
> [@Mr.Kobayashi](#): > > Get off the computer! Light sources make mine a lot lot worse. YMMV, though. Drink lots of water. Well, I did get off the computer and into bed with my beloved codeine pills; two of them knocked me out and one the next morning killed the remaining pain. I do love those things and have abused the hell out of them in the past. Now my Darling Marcie keeps the suckers locked in a small office safe, the key to which is always on her person. Anyway, I’m feeling much better now. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/31 "2009-01-23T04:12:28Z")
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Migraine makes me feel like my brain is being killed. Imitrex works for me most of the time (sometimes it takes more than one pill), but last year I started getting more of the throw-up kind of migraine. Called the doc, who wanted to give me a script for nausea meds. Another pill I can’t keep down? No thanks, please get me some inhale-able imitrex. That really does the trick for the nauseous episodes and the ones I didn’t catch soon enough for the pills. No needles, stick it up the nose and snort. It works really fast. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/32 "2009-01-23T04:40:16Z")
> [@Alpine](#): > > Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Migraine makes me feel like my brain is being killed. > > Imitrex works for me most of the time (sometimes it takes more than one pill), but last year I started getting more of the throw-up kind of migraine. Called the doc, who wanted to give me a script for nausea meds. Another pill I can’t keep down? No thanks, please get me some inhale-able imitrex. That really does the trick for the nauseous episodes and the ones I didn’t catch soon enough for the pills. No needles, stick it up the nose and snort. It works really fast. Oo, I had the nasal stuff, the drip tasted so bitter I wound up puking from it. Give me a shot in the arm anytime. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/33 "2009-01-23T05:11:10Z")
> [@stucco](#): > > What really put an end to my migraines was birth control pills (well I’m down to 1-2 a year). Who knew? I’m not looking forward to trying to have children though… The fun part of migraines? I never have menstrual migraines unless I’m on the damn Pill. They would arrive the day my period did and didn’t leave for three days or so, until my period ended. Three different brands did this to me, mind you, aside from the minipill which didn’t do that to me but did screw up my cycles therefore providing fun pregnancy scares. Yep, being a woman is fun. Not! (I’m truly glad you’ve had the opposite experience! But it’s odd how one thing will help one person and totally screw up another.) **LouisB** , glad to see you’re feeling better. I’ve only had a few wish-for-death migraines, but having been there, I totally get it. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/34 "2009-01-23T05:47:39Z")
Is the nose spray stuff Imitrex? I tried it a few times, and while it helped (but didn’t cure) my migraine, it tasted so horrible, made my nose burn so badly, and had me gacking so much, it really wasn’t any better than the migraine. Currently, I use Excedrin migraine if I catch it earlier. Otherwise, it’s Vicodin, baby. Worst migraine I’ve ever had started off not too bad. I was working the evening shift at an internal call center, and it was nice and slow. Then, the building owners decided to test the alarm system. You know the one, with the flashing lights and booooooOOOOEEEEEE! alarm every five seconds. All three of the guys I was working with offered to walk me outside and away from the badness, but I was so sick, I couldn’t move. So, they brought me icebags, which I wrapped around my head. Then I plugged my ears and covered my eyes for the twenty minutes it took for the test to finish. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/35 "2009-01-23T07:58:50Z")
> [@Alpine](#): > > Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Migraine makes me feel like my brain is being killed. > > Imitrex works for me most of the time (sometimes it takes more than one pill), but last year I started getting more of the throw-up kind of migraine. Called the doc, who wanted to give me a script for nausea meds. Another pill I can’t keep down? No thanks, please get me some inhale-able imitrex. That really does the trick for the nauseous episodes and the ones I didn’t catch soon enough for the pills. No needles, stick it up the nose and snort. It works really fast. I lurvs me some Imitrex, and I hates me some needles. Before I got turned on to Imitrex, I used Ketoprofen Intramuscular for migraines. (It’s not available in the States.) That big intramuscular needle looks like a goddamn railroad spike when you’re trying to steel yourself to driving it into your thigh muscle. Gah. I’ll take some nasty-tasting post-nasal drip any day of the week. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/36 "2009-01-23T17:23:49Z")
Zomig works for me, Imitrex didn’t. It really works well if I can take it before it starts rolling. After, well, sometimes it works, sometimes it’s off to the hospital for some morphine. I tried beta-blockers, didn’t help. I am currently on calcium blockers, they are so-so. I miss about a day of work a month for migraine. Luckily my boss is really understanding. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/37 "2009-01-23T17:34:31Z")
> [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](#): > > I lurvs me some Imitrex, and I hates me some needles. Before I got turned on to Imitrex, I used Ketoprofen Intramuscular for migraines. (It’s not available in the States.) That big intramuscular needle looks like a goddamn railroad spike when you’re trying to steel yourself to driving it into your thigh muscle. Gah. I’ll take some nasty-tasting post-nasal drip any day of the week. The imitrex needle is pretty small, 25/26/27 gauge, somewhere in there. Also, it’s inside an auto-injector thing so you don’t really see it and you don’t have to do anything. You just hold it against your arm/leg/butt and push the button. Hurts like hell for about 5 seconds and then you have relief within 5-10 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Gwyen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/858c86/32.png) [@Gwyen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gwyen)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/38 "2009-01-23T17:43:02Z")
Midol. Male or female, it works wonders. I take it at the first sign, menstrual migraine or not. I suggested this to my SO, who is male. Worked like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057/39 "2009-01-23T17:47:26Z")
I hope you feel better soon. I’ve only had three in my lifetime: one that lasted three days, one that lasted a week and another that lasted two weeks. Just find someplace nice and dark and quiet and, for the love of God, don’t move your head! Here’s hoping you’re nice and drugged up soon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/migraine/482057.md?page=1)