I need info on migraines.

[babylonsister]

I have been getting severe headaches (never had head issues before/I am 66 y.o.) off and on for several months that go away after an hour or two. For the last 2-3 days they have been consistent with no breaks. In desperation yesterday I took aspirin, motrin, ibuprofin, a sinus med and a muscle relaxer (not at the same time) in hopes of alleviating the pain.

Finally went to bed but woke up at 3, still in pain, so took an 800mg of ibuprofen. Well that worked well, pain practically vanished.

Spoke to my PCP on the phone today and she thinks I have a migraine condition. She is prescribing me sumatriptan succinate-price seems to be $95.99 per bottle. I just can't afford that on my limited income and don't even know if it will work.

My question is... would ibuprofen 800mg usually erase migraine pain? How do you deal with it, what is the frequency, and what helps? Do you know of any tests that can be done to diagnose this definitively?

I'm not at all convinced she has the right diagnosis but we're just getting started. I did kind of freak because I'm due for surgery in the next week and am not wanting to deal with both of these health issues at the same time.

I am not asking for medical advice, just curious to know what you think about all this. Thank you!

[niyad]

1. I use 1,000 mg of ibuprofen and a glass of red wine for my headaches every

couple of hours. That is a bit high for some people, but what works for me. Possibly try Aleve (naproxen sodium).

You might want to try the herb feverfew, which, despite its name, works on headaches. Or try coffee (which opens constricted blood vessels) followed by a glass of strong lemonade ( something I learned from an old apothecary many years ago.

I have had migraines and other kinds of headaches since I was seven.

[babylonsister]

4. I'm a big fan of ibuprofen

but PCP was intent on letting me know the dangers of it. I think if it works, it'd be fine by me taken according to directions. I had a cyst on my ovary a couple of years ago; worked like a charm.

[niyad]

5. Ibuprofen is a definite blessing.

One quick thought. .are you hydrating sufficiently? Dehydration, even in early stages, can cause headaches. So can lack of sufficient oxygen. Breathe!

[Atticus]

2. I have no medical advice to give, but I did a quick on line search for that med the doc recommended

and generics are available in the $25 to $35 range. Make sure you price the correct size (mgs or whatever ) if you shop on line.

Good luck. Hope you find something that helps.

[babylonsister]

3. Thanks! I also did that, and am on Medicare, so that price would

hopefully go down, but still, I don't really want to medicate myself with something I'm not even sure I can afford or will work. I think more convos with the doc are in order.

[Twoflower]

6. Be careful with any drug that will open your blood vessels when you are getting hit.

Sumatriptan succinate helps with the pain and will help stop your current episode. Opiates usually will do nothing for these types of headaches.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. I am prescribed this and it works for me...

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=326c83fc-afed-45ad-9c87-f47968fa1d2a

I would also suggest checking out information on diet related headaches and making sure you stay hydrated, especially during this time of year. Dehydration can cause wicked headaches and it doesn't take much of a deficit to cause one.

Good luck. Hope this helps.



❤pants

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Go to a doctor.

Given this is a relatively new issue, there may be something new and serious going on. OTC medications will only help so much, and the advice here on DU is limited at best.

So GO SEE A DOCTOR.

[babylonsister]

10. My PCP is my primary care physician, so

I am going to a doctor, thanks.

[AllBlue]

9. Ibuprofen risks

Ibuprofen is risky for long term use. See more here :

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/symptoms-and-conditions/how-much-ibuprofen-is-safe-to-take-long-term

Also, we have a neighbor who was a moderately healthy older guy who would work in his yard and
end up with some pain and aches and wanted to feel better, so took ibuprofen. I don't have a good
sense of how much and how long, but they were generally following directions, and let his doctor
know that he was doing this. Over time, he began to feel unwell, and blood tests showed reduced
kidney function, which gradually got worse and he ended up needing daily dialysis. The general sense
is that the longer term use of ibuprofen damaged his kidneys beyond recovery, and because of his age,
he was not seen as eligible for transplant.

I am an acupressure enthusiast, and am fairly knowlegeable about Jin Shin Jyusu acupressure.
Many people think acupressure is a "placebo"; I am clear that this is not true and feel that it
can encourage health and healing quickly. A short video with a migrane specific treatment
is here :

https://m.

[lamp_shade]

11. I could have written your OP. Exact same story... headache for 3.5 months.

Finally told my PCP about it 2 weeks ago and she ordered a brain scan. No bleeds and no tumors. However, the scan showed "some" plaque buildup in a carotid artery(ies)... not unusual for someone my age (75). She thinks this could be causing what appears to be some kind of migraine. Only risky surgery will remove the plaque so the best thing to prevent further damage is to change my diet to low fat, saturated fat particularly, and to monitor my blood pressure. That's what I'm doing. The headaches (most are dull, some are sharp) still come and go, but they're nowhere near as intense as when they started months ago. To control them, I take naproxen early in the morning, acetaminophen mid-day and again at night. It does the job... not completely... but keeps me comfortable.

My PCP's diagnosis might not be accurate. Time will tell.

No more buttered toast. 2T is 70% of DNV. I had no idea there was so much saturated fat in so many of the foods I eat.

[Warpy]

12. If your pain is on one side of the head, suspect migraine

especially if you are sensitive to light and sound. A lot of people with them have nausea and vomiting, usually toward the end of the headache.

My mother realized I was getting migraines when I was four, I'd go quiet and she'd find me crouched in back of the living room sofa where it was dark and sounds were muffled. Menopause took care of the frequent ones, but I still get them infrequently.

If 800 mg. of ibuprofen works, that's great. You can take that dosage up to four times a day, that's the maximum. You'll want to stop it a day or two before surgery and make sure the surgeon knows you've been taking it, it makes you bleed.

I don't know how old you are, but new onset, severe headaches mean you need to be seen, especially since this one has hung on for so long. Don't worry there's a tumor, those are usually painless and show up as paralysis, inability to speak, or other symptoms. There are other things this could be that need to be ruled out.

Since you mentioned facing surgery, this could be a stress headache, also. They can be just as bad as migraines, but they affect both sides of the head and don't involve other symptoms, just pain and they don't keep coming back like migraine does. There are also mixed type headaches, icepick headaches, cluster headaches, tension headaches, post traumatic headaches. There are big city doctors who specialize in headaches.

I hope you get some answers and that it doesn't break the bank. $95/month is chump change to a doctor, but it's a budget buster for too many of us out in the real world. Talk to the doc about it, there might be some free samples around and you'd find out if the stuff works for you or not.

[OnionPatch]

13. I've heard of ibuprofen sometimes helping migraine but it does nothing for mine.

Neither does Excedrin or any over-the-counter pain killers. I get migraines a couple times a week and take MaxAlt for them, which is Rizatriptan. It works really well. If you use the GoodRX discount you can get it for less than $15 a prescription at Walgreens or Walmart, no insurance needed.

I would follow up with a specialist if this continues though. Good luck and I hope you find relief.

[womanofthehills]

14. A search online will come up with lots of studies saying taking magnesium citrate

is really good at preventing migraines. Two magnesium citrate before bed and you will definitely be heading to the bathroom in the morning too.

If, you want to try the med the dr recommends, many pharmacists will sell you half or a fourth of a bottle.

[PennyC]

15. Have you looked into Botox?

I am currently receiving injections to help with TMJ symptoms (the night guard alone isn't enough) and also to help with eyeglass discomfort (I scrunch my face to keep them in place). It's supposed to help with migraines. For me, it's a treatment every 3 to 4 months.

Also, look into GoodRx for discounts on sumatriptan succinate. I've done much better using that for my Lyrica than my Part D drug plan.