2nd Trimester Migraines?

[belle0720]

I get migraines maybe once a month normally and sleep + shower + massage + Excedrin Migraine usually help. I've had a few since being pregnant and not being able to take Excedrin Migraine made them pretty unbearable. Unfortunately my doctor said that there's nothing I could take besides Tylenol, which does nothing for me, so I just slept and rested as much as possible.

I have heard that acupuncture helps with migraines, but I haven't personally looked into it because it freaks me out. If you're open to it though, I think you should definitely give it a shot!

[upandbelow]

I've been a migraine sufferer all my life - the kind that make you see dots and leave you bedridden in the dark for the day. The best advice I was given was when you feel one coming on (you've got to catch it early, or there's nothing you can do about it) take 2 regular strength Tylenol and a 1/2 a can of coke. The sugar and the caffeine mixed with the Tylenol works wonders. It's all about timing though, recognizing when one is coming on and catching it ahead of time!

[mmo2112]

My experience: I get debilitating migraines (throbbing pain, vomiting, can't eat/sleep/interact) triggered by abrupt hormone changes. Pre-pregnancy I got them about once a month--the day before my period, and treated them with triptans. I had them sporadically through the first tri and mostly just suffered through them/called in sick because I really didn't want to take tylenol. It sucked to say the least. :/

My advice: I'd talk to your doctor about other meds before you take whatever you were prescribed before. My understanding is that commonly prescribed migraine meds in the triptan family (Imitrex/sumatriptan, Frova, etc.) are out... Period. There are other options, though, some of which include narcotics at low doses. My doctor told me the brand name of the med she's going to prescribe post partum, but I can't remember what it is--it's definitely a blended med, and it's sort of a last resort for us. I'll only take them if the migraines are so bad that I'll essentially be missing the first few days of my LO's life.

If you don't like the physical act of taking pills, as long as your doctor has okay'ed it, I'd also recommend switching to extra strength Tylenol and trying to take one as soon as you feel a migraine coming on. In my experience, nipping it in the bud can make a huge difference both in terms of duration and intensity of the migraine. Plus, it sounds like you're taking a lot of Tylenol anyway--why not just frontload the dose and see if it helps?

If you don't like taking pills because they're meds, my best advice is to stay super hydrated, lay down in a dark room with a cold compress, and try to distract yourself from the pain (listen to a podcast or something). Different things work for different people, but that's usually the best plan of attack for me.  I've never tried essential oils, but I imagine they would just make me sick.  And a hot bath during a migraine sounds like absolute hell.  But again, different remedies for different people.

Hope this helps.

ETA: The name of the drug I couldn't remember was Fioricet -- @littlebee's post reminded me. 

[mmo2112]

*deleted double post*

[Deleted]

I've had migraines for years. I used to take Imitrex injections but there's no way I would do that pregnant!! I was also prescribed Fioricet (which I was given the OK to continue taking). I have chosen not to take the Fioricet during this pregnancy either, just because...

Extra strength Tylenol, a cold eye mask, and some BioFreeze gel on the temples and back of my neck seem to do the trick these days.

[trixi282]

Even Extra Strength Tylenol does nothing for even a regular every day headache. If I get a headache though and don't treat it with something after a certain point it almost certainly turns into a migraine that is very difficult to get rid of for me. I was in the ER for a full day with one years ago that even their drugs wouldn't kick.

I had one bad migraine in my first pregnancy, and when I felt it, I took 2 extra strength Tylenol with a coke (a full one) and it took the edge off so I could function, but it certainly didn't make it go away. I followed that with TONS of water, lots of sleep/rest, and just had to let it run it's course. And it sucked. Big time.

This pregnancy I haven't had a migrane yet, but I've had a few bad headaches. Again, I have to do the 2 Tylenol and a full can of coke to even help. With the headaches this time around it helps, but I wouldn't say it helps them as much as Excedrin does.

If you can do it, I would say kick the children's Tylenol... it's literally not doing you any favors, and go for at least regular strength adult... and extra strength if your doc allows it. Take what you can with a coke and see if that helps you - then make sure you're staying extra hydrated and rested.

As long as you can keep yours at bay, I think good for you. My migraines never go away so easy. They typically last a day or more even with meds.

[mmo2112]

Feb 17, 2015 17:10:19 GMT -5 @demanda88 said:

So I'm not against taking medication because it's medication at all. It's that pre-pregnancy, my headaches were classified as migraines, even though they weren't classic migraines, because nothing over the counter (advil, tylenol, etc) did a thing to get rid of them, so I always had to take Rizatriptan (maxalt). So, my thing is that if the only medication I can take is tylenol and it's not working, then I don't see the point in continuing to take it.

I have been taking tylenol when I feel a headache coming on in the morning and *sometimes* that is enough to kick it, but not always. I agree, that the longer it goes on, the worse it gets, and thats definitely when it gets harder to get rid of. The headaches I get just don't respond well to OTC medications and since there's not much in the way of prescription medications I can take right now, the next best solution is to figure out something that will help that doesn't involve medicine.

I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. I want to be able to take my migraine medicine but I can't. So I keep taking tylenol in the hopes that if I get enough doses of it, it will finally help. Eventually it does, but it requires so many doses and a night of sleep, that I dont even know if it was worth taking in the first place or if just sleeping it off would have solved it.

I don't have much else to add other than I feel your pain! It totally sucks to be knocked out with a headache.

I really would try front-loading the Tylenol with your first pill. It might make a difference to take a slightly higher dose during that critical window (i.e., around onset). Good luck!

[periwinkledaydreams]

I was about to make a post about this today, but I had a migraine. I actually still do. Ive had it since last Friday and I'm starting to lose my mind!

I used to get maybe 3 or 4 bad ones a year prepregnancy that would last a whole day and sometimes a second day. I took prescriptions for them back in highschool but haven't really needed it since then. Thennn... tail end of first trimester I had a few, one or two day migraines. If I caught it early enough 2 Tylenol and a cup of coffee would knock it out. Theeeennn.. it wouldn't. Then they started lasting longer and getting worse and not responding to Tylenol, so begining of 2nd tri my OB prescribed Fioricet. It helped make it tolerable, and if I timed it just right it would keep one from turning into a multi-day affair.

Then Friday happened. I went in for my A/S and 20 wk appointment, and I told her the Fioricet was pretty much working. Not ending them entirely but keeping them at bay. I left the appointment (my baby looked totally healthy and on point so for THAT I am grateful!) and started a migraine and went home and took my med. 2 hours later I felt alright then 2 more hours and it was right back again. This now happens each time, and Im left counting down the hours til I can take another dose. That was Friday. Ive been taking the max dose all week now. Its Wednesday night and I still have a damn migraine, and I'm starting to get worried. If I wake up tomorrow and it hasnt left me, Im definitely calling her office.

Migraines are terrible. If they're mild, Fioricet might help. I also usually swear by heat pack on my neck cold pack on my forehead, and darkness. Not this time though. This is the worst and longest migraine Ive ever had.

[maddib]

I have had migraines my whole life and was diagnosed with chiari malformation at 15 and had a surgery where they took out the bottom part of my skull and two top vertebrae and put cadaver skin in my membrane. Kind gross I know!! And it helped a little but they told me it almost always requires another surgery. I haven't had insurance for a long time and now I am pregnant so it's not an option right now. My doctor first prescribed Tylenol 3 with codeine and when that didn't work Percocet at a small does starting in my 2nd trimester. Which helps now. But before that I found this trick on the internet where you put your feet in a pretty hot bath tub and put an ice pack on the base of your neck. It actually helped. Maybe give that a try! Otherwise I just uses my bean bag that's microwaveable on my neck and would rub my temples and pinch my eyebrows. Rest and water too of course! Hopefully you can find some relief soon!!

[jessila]

My OB said tylenol and to drink a Mt dew (gross - I drink coke) quickly with it to get the caffeine in. She also told me that taking sudafed after 1st tri is okay. I try to avoid the sudafed unless nothing else (hot shower, netipot, warm compress, and trying to sleep) works.
My migraines are usually sinus induced so heat helps. If you don't have a microwavable heating pad (filled with rice, corn, buckwheat) you can get a hand towel damp and microwave it for about a minute and a half then apply it over your eyes.
You can also easily make a heating/cooling pad easily. Buy some fleece, stitch it up so you have a 4 inch wide, 10 inch long tube. Pour in white rice. You can make segments to keep the rice evenly distributed if desired. Then stitch up the end. Microwave it for 30-45 seconds and it holds the heat for a while.
Good luck?

Edited thoughts - I've also found that my migraines get a lot worse during pregnancy if I'm less than overly hydrated or haven't eaten. So if you can keep anything down, get some protein and carbs in, and drink your water. it's helped to cut the edge on a few of my migraines.