Migraine vs. headache question...for Dana?

[Regina]

Dana,

I was diagnosed with migraines several years ago, but it seems like I get headaches, that if left untreated, go into migraines.

My migraines have gotten a lot worse in this specific pregnancy. It first starts off with something like a tension type headache...stiffness in the neck and upper back area. I try to do some relaxation techniques, take meds that I am aloud to take etc., try to relieve some of the stress, etc., but then sometimes, it goes into the back of one of my eyes....and leads to a migraine. The doctor has prescribed fiorocet for me to use in my pregnancy, but that doesn't always work. My husband was told by his mom and a former surgeon at our Church that I truely don't have migraines (even though a neurologist that I use to see said they were true migraines). My ob said that they were migraines. So, it is difficult to figure out what to do. Migraines can be triggered by stress....so, I have been working on that.

I was wondering if you know of anything else I might be able to do to help relieve them? I think some of them might be rebounds. I know that the fluxuation of hormones in pregnancy doesn't help. I am getting desperate. I know that depression can cause them or that they can trigger the depression. Now, I am not sure if one is responsible for the other, but I would like to figure it out. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks, again, Dana.

[Kristie]

I know i'm not dana... but just a question/suggestion...

do you wear glasses or contacts? if so/not, have you had your prescription checked to see if you need them?

I get 95% of my headaches and migraines from my eyes alone....i can tell when there's a big difference in how my "head" feels when i actually put my glasses on.

I'm actually getting a migraine now (just took some excedrin) because of the eye problem i'm having (i am not having a good day haha)...

most of mine start either above an eye, behind an eye or evolve from the top of forehead to behind the eye...


just a thought.

[katbuad]

I had a friend that had severe migraines during pregancy (and before and after). She couldn't take her normal stuff during pregancy and nothing else seemed to work. She went to an acupuncturist. She loved it and still goes.

[Regina]

My eyes are actually perfect...one thing about me that I can't complain about....ha ha

I would like to try an acupunturist, but it makes me nervous with all the blood and needles...not pain wise, but sanitary and safety issues. Did your friend get a lot of relief from the acupuncture?

[Dana]

Originally Posted by Regina

My eyes are actually perfect...one thing about me that I can't complain about....ha ha

I would like to try an acupunturist, but it makes me nervous with all the blood and needles...not pain wise, but sanitary and safety issues. Did your friend get a lot of relief from the acupuncture?

I don't know alot about acupuncture but I think that they use new needles with each pt. and I am pretty sure there is not a lot of bleeding. I have heard mixed reviews on outcomes.... some people it works for, some it doesn't. Would be worth a try but make sure you get someone who is board certified to do the procedures.

[katbuad]

I think Dana is correct. New needle and I don't think there is much blood (or even any that the patient sees). My friend really raves about it. She was miserable and out of commission with the migraines and willing to try anthing that wouldn't hurt the baby. From what I understand the relief is pretty immediate too.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by Regina

Dana,

I was diagnosed with migraines several years ago, but it seems like I get headaches, that if left untreated, go into migraines.

My migraines have gotten a lot worse in this specific pregnancy. It first starts off with something like a tension type headache...stiffness in the neck and upper back area. I try to do some relaxation techniques, take meds that I am aloud to take etc., try to relieve some of the stress, etc., but then sometimes, it goes into the back of one of my eyes....and leads to a migraine. The doctor has prescribed fiorocet for me to use in my pregnancy, but that doesn't always work. My husband was told by his mom and a former surgeon at our Church that I truely don't have migraines (even though a neurologist that I use to see said they were true migraines). My ob said that they were migraines. So, it is difficult to figure out what to do. Migraines can be triggered by stress....so, I have been working on that.

I was wondering if you know of anything else I might be able to do to help relieve them? I think some of them might be rebounds. I know that the fluxuation of hormones in pregnancy doesn't help. I am getting desperate. I know that depression can cause them or that they can trigger the depression. Now, I am not sure if one is responsible for the other, but I would like to figure it out. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks, again, Dana.

The best advice I have for you is to make sure that you are well rested and keep well hydrated. You said your vision is perfect so that rules out that aspect. It certainly sounds like your HA's are hormone induced as well, which really complicates things right now. Your stress is another contributing factor....

"Typical" migraine HA's are one sided HA's, throbbing like, may or may not cause nausea or vomiting. May or may not make you sensitive to light and noise, wipe you out and most of the time are debilitating.

YOu need to take your med right at the onset of the HA. DON'T WAIT. Most people make this mistake. By the time they take the med, the HA is full blown and it makes it harder to get relief.

Depression can make HA's worse and more frequent. Another reason to talk with the OB ASAP to see if antidepressants are an option for you right now.
When you are not pregnant, if you continue to have migraines frequently, Topamax is a fairly new drug that works well for suppressive treatment of migraines. It is also used as an anti-seizure med.

This is certainly something that you want to get under control before you get pregnant again. Keep a log when you are no longer pregnant, are your HA's worse around your period or do they come anytime? Are they better if you are on antidepressants, are they triggered by certain foods or when you are tired/ stressed? A good neurologist may be helpful also.
D

[flyershoe]

I take Imitrex for my migraines and it's been a lifesaver for me. Of course, I don't know if that's suggested for pg or not, but it's a miracle drug.

I also tried acupuncture when I was in high school... it's sterile like others have said - they use new needles every time. The needles that they use aren't like a typical needle that you would use to give an injection, but are more like a piece of wire. They're extremely thin and many times barely hurt going in. One thing that I did experience was that sometimes they would hit a spot and it would feel like an electric zap... that was a little unnerving, but according to the acupuncturist, that was good. Energy being released or something. I wouldn't mind going back and trying it again sometime.

Also, have you thought of getting a pregnancy massage? They do offer those and I bet it would help a lot with all the stress you're under.

I hope you start feeling better!!

[Imachickadee75]

Hey there Regina! I also would encourage you to check out acupuncture -definately sterile if done by a board certified professional. You also might want to check out seeing a chiropractor -misalignment can put pressure on nerves causing pain and or muscle tension that can cause headaches and migraine.

Also, do you have any allergies? Any lymph nodes enlarged? Here is my story. I used to have migranes that scared the begeezus out of me. They started around puberty. I would lose sight in one eye and lose sensation on one side of my body. One early symptom was numbness across my lower face. One day I was in for a chiropractic adjustment and she asked me if I was having numbness across my face. I said yes and she palpated the node between my jaw bone and ear. It was enlarged and painful. She told me that it very well could be pressing on the nerve across my face causing the numbness. Also, I would get spots in my eyes prior to a migraine that now I've identified to be related to sinus pressure. I don't know if allergies can cause migraines or if I was talking myself into them but I was having temporary blindness, numbness (half my tongue would go numb and I couldn't feel my keys in my hand) along with horrible head pain. Now when I get those symptoms I massage the sinus area or jaw and the symptoms go away. I haven't had a migrane in years.

Hope that helps
Jackie

[Regina]

I appreciate all the suggestions, and I will definelty be checking into all of them. It's funny, during my first pregnancy, I did see a chiropractor for migraines (they weren't as bad, but I was going through a lot of stress and the co-pays were a lot cheaper than now.). Then, my second pregnancy I got more migraines, and my husband would let me get pregnancy massages a couple of times a month (this is on a regional f.o.'s salary). Now, it just seems like he thinks I should just be able to deal with them or something...no springing for the extras. Don't get me wrong, he's great about watching the kids and helping out while he is home, but I just think after 7 years he just thinks I should have gotten used to the pregnancy migraines by now....or he pulls the get your spiritual life in order and things will get better mumbo jumbo.

I think I will have to do the whole pregnancy massage thing again and I did call about the chiropractor and our insurance. For all you expressjet wives on the epo plan, it is 30 dollars each visit...kind of expensive, but right now, I am definetly willing to pay it.