DH's migraine! help!

[naturallyspeaking]

I wanted to know if anyone has a success story what worked for your/your family member's migraine. My DH gets excruciating headaches often, did X ray, CAT scan, MRI, saw a neurologist, took anti-depressant, sleep aid meds from prescriptions, acupuncture, etc and so far nothing seem to work.
He sometimes can't go to work and having to make up hours by working late so he doesn't have to use sick or vacation times. He also goes to school 3 night a week so our family time is pretty slim on the weekends.
Any suggestions, recommendations and prayers LOL are appreciated.

[Punchy Kaby]

I used to get migraines all the time. I have completely changed what I eat and the supplements I take, now I rarely get them and usually only when I am stressed and I forget to take my supplements. I do not take any analgesics, at one point I did and they can cause rebound headaches.

What kind of foods does he eat? What supplements does he take? Does he have any food allergies? Does he exercise? It sounds like his life is stressful, that can exacerbate any headaches.


The biggest thing that I cannot forget to take is magnesium. I use this:http://www.traceminerals.com/product...onic-magnesium I rub it into my skin, usually one dropper full a day, but 2-3 times a day if I have a lot of stress. The body needs B-6 to process magnesium, so I also have a B complex that I take and during high stress times I take extra B-6 in the P-5-P form.

I empathize with someone who has a lot of migraines. Several times in my life I have not been able to function for months because of them. People don't understand because you look normal.

[Strong Mama]

My dh was getting them a LOT. He got on blood pressure tablets(he does not have high blood pressure, however) and they have stopped...the neurologist says they help with migraines for some people. Has he tried those?Does he need glasses?If he has glasses are they the right strength?Does he smoke? If he does, he needs to quit, definitely. Does he have sleep apnea?Not sleeping well at night can cause severe migraines. Does he have TMJ? If he does, at night he can be clenching his jaw and that can cause migraines in the am. These are just some ideas thrown out there..I feel bad for you because I have had to see my sweet DH incompacitated due to migraines and I feel so bad for him.

[CarrieMF]

It depends on the triggers.

If he knows what triggers them then he needs to avoid them at all costs. Now some triggers are impossible to avoid & that is very hard to deal with.

I get them from hormone changes(pregnancy/bf'ing), since I had my last kid 8 years ago my migraines have dropped dramatically & I'd never had one since I was pg with my first kid.

I also get them from rapid weather changes & strong winds, they will show up 1-2 days after. The worse the changes the earlier it shows up.

When I get them I take 2 extra strength advil for migraine liquid gels. If that doesn't get rid of it I take 2 more within 4 hours. That USUALLY takes care of it but if it doesn't I get a coke. If that doesn't I know I'm doomed & can only wait it out. If the migraine lasts more than a day & I HAVE to take more advil to function then I know I'm going to end up with rebound headaches.

now my migraines are such that I can still function I'm just in a very very very bad mood due to the pain & any noise that happens makes me cringe. When I get them at work it really sucks as the boy I work with screetches lots. I get auras, but I do not vomit, get dizzy, have to lay in a dark room, etc.

My worst ones were when I was pg & I had them for 13 days in a row.

oh, I also find I get more migraines when I stop getting my B12 shots every 2 weeks.

[californiajenn]

Acupuncture is proven to help migraines. If you don't have acupuncture coverage, some cities have group acupuncture that is very affordable. Dietary changes would likely help as well.

[ameliabedelia]

I definitely agree on the mg and b6 suggestion. Both my brother and my 8-yo daughter (I guess she just gets headaches and not migraines) have been helped by taking super-nu-thera which is specially balanced for B6 and Mg.

[skai]

My early migraine treatment is ibuprofen + caffeine, late migraine needs Imigran. Mine are hormonal though so sadly I don't have any advice on avoiding them.

[Purple*Lotus]

Could he have sleep apnea? I got migraines weekly before I was diagnosed and started using a BiPap machine. So now that is the first thing I suggest when someone is having migraines. They are miserable, I hope he gets some relief!

[happysmileylady]

I have hormonal migraines that also have triggers. Knowing my triggers and avoiding them have been my best bet. My triggers are too much caffiene, dehydration, not eating at the right time (I don't have diabetes, but I assume that would be low blood sugar,) too much bright winter sunshine (a strange one) and tension headaches.

If however I still get one, or get one triggered by homones only, I have to resort to relpax. No OTC med will work for me at all. And I went through about 6 different scripts before I found one that worked. I have to take the Relpax when I feel it coming, if I wait, then I have to take two of them...and then go to bed because two will put me to sleep.

[ASusan]

Another vote for acupuncture. I was getting acupuncture primarily for lupus and wonky cycles, but I never had another migraine after 6 months of weekly acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

I would get them if I was low on sleep. For that reason, I was very nervous when DS was born. But, despite short nights and constant sleep interruptions, I remained migraine-free.