migraines and pregnancy

My migraines have gotten extremely bad since I have been pregnant. My OB doesn't know what else to try, so basically I'm in his office once a week getting a demerol injection. He has had me try maxalt, darvocet, vicodin and tylenol 3 with no success. I was vomiting alot also, enough to where I was getting IV's once a week because we could not control it with reglan or phenergan. He finally put me on zofran and that has helped alot with the vomiting but I am still getting the migraines. They are to the point where I can't even function to take care of my other 2 children. I have also tried biofeedback and am waiting for a referal to go through for accupuncture. I have kaiser (not very good) so switching doctors isn't really a good option because they said it would be a few months before I would be able to schedule an appointment with a new OB. I am 23 weeks right now, and was really hoping they would get better after the first trimester but that didn't happen. Do you have any other suggestions? The doctor and the nurses keep telling me that the injections are ok for the baby, but I am still kind of leery about it. My blood pressure gets really high when I'm in pain and I know that is really bad for the baby or else I would try to just tolerate it a little bit longer. Any suggestions you might have would be appreciated. Thanks.

[nurse12hr]

Sandrah
What a bad problem to have during what should be an exciting time in your life.  
Sounds like you have had close contact with your doctor about this issue.  
The only think I can think to suggest is a neurology consult.  They are experienced with migraine management, and with your OB may come up with a plan.  Or, ask for a referral to a pain clinic.
Be careful of the narcotics...dependency issues may arise for you, although one shot of Demerol a week isn't very much.  The problem may arise if your body becomes tolerant of that one shot, and you need 2, then 3, etc.  Just be careful.

How awful.  I hope the acupuncture works for you.

[silo]

Hey, I am a migraine sufferer as well.  I am not currently pregnant, in fact I just had a miscarriage a few weeks ago.  I got migraines so bad from birth control pills.  I was on b/c for about 8 years and got off of them last year......amazingly, the migraines totally stopped.  I started having them terribly after my miscarriage and found that the more I took to try to get rid of them, the worse I got.  I think your nausea has a lot to do with the migraine itself, but a lot to do with all the pain medicine as well.  I also don't know why doctors treat migraines with pain killers like Demoral, Darvocet and other pain medicine....all that does is make you very loopy, nauseated with a migraine.  The only thing that works is slowing down the blood flow to the brain, since that's what causes a migraine (too much blood flow to the brain).  I'm sure you've tried ice on your head and neck to constrict the vessels slowing down blood flow.  I was also told by a neurologist that putting your feet in very hot water while keeping ice on your head directs much more blood flow to the feet away from the head.  You should check with your doctor to make sure that's safe during pregnancy.  I want so bad to be able to help you because I know how debilitating migraines can be and can only imagine the hell you are going through suffering from them AND being pregnant.  The only other thing that I think might work sounds kinda stupid, but it actually worked for me when I got a migraine when I  was pregnant.  I took the new Excedrin Quick Tabs that dissolve on your tongue.  I thought for sure there would be no way they'd work, but I tried them and they worked great.  If you'll notice the ingredients on them, they are a combination of Acetaminophen (same thing in Tylenol) AND caffeine (not a harmful amount).  The combination of Acetaminophen and Caffeine works in addition to the fact that it's melting on your tongue which reaches your blood stream faster.  I remember being about 12 or so and I started getting terrible headaches and my mom always gave me three Tylenol and a Coke (caffeine) and it always got rid of my headaches.  I know this sounds like a very simple solution but I think it would be a safe try since you're pregnant; and if you're like me you'll try pretty much anything....I've always said I'll let you stick a needle right in my eye if it means getting rid of a damn migraine.  Well, I hope you find some releif, and until then I'll keep you in my prayers.  Please let me know if you find anything that works, and if you haven't ever tried the Exedrin Quick Tabs, at least give them a shot and let me know if they give you some releif.  Good Luck!

[silo]

I got to thinking, after reading my last comment to your post.....Oh my Gosh! It's so long, I really rambled!..If you didn't have a headache when you started reading it, you probably had a killer one after you got done....sorry, I hope something works for you...let me know!

[sandrah27]

Thank you so much for your suggestions, I really appreciate it!

[amandaherr]

I am pregnant and due in April. I have migraines at least twice a week now that I am pregnant. I have had demoral and I have been told it is safe but I am worried. I am only 6 weeks normally when I am not pregnant I get migraines one or twice a month. I have also tried vicodin and tylenol 3 with no avail. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I think my OB thinks I am addicted to drugs and I am in pain.