Aa
Holy headache!
For those of you who have been getting headaches and migraines, what do you do that seems to help? I have had a migraine for the past week and it sort of comes and goes with different intesites. Its the kind that you go to bed with and wake up with in the morning. I find that after I eat I feel better, but it seems to come back shortly after. I am so sick of this, I feel totally worthless and can hardly even muster the strength to make a sandwich. So frustrating!
I dont know if there is any logic behind this but when I get a headache I drink a big ice cold glass of water with about three squeezed slices of lemon in it. Sometimes if my headache is in the morning I know it is caffeine withdrawl and I will have a half a cup of coffee...hope this helps
Hi ladies,
i just got back from the doc and apparently I have been suffering with occipital migraines for the past 5 days. He recommended that I take Extra Strength Tylenol. ABSOLUTELY NO IB PROFEN or MOTRIN! I didnt ask why....just going with what he says.
i just got back from the doc and apparently I have been suffering with occipital migraines for the past 5 days. He recommended that I take Extra Strength Tylenol. ABSOLUTELY NO IB PROFEN or MOTRIN! I didnt ask why....just going with what he says.
Mine have let up a lot lately, just a little nagging headache here and there. I hope our migraines are gone for good kc.
My doctor said it has something to do with the extreme changes in your hormones while being pregnant. She did say that after week 18 or 19 they should go away. Mine has finally let up, but I did have it really badly for a good 9 or 10 days. Hope it never comes back!
i have had the worst headache since last night..... im gonna go try some of the stuff that Jess said...... but does anyone know what causes them to be so bad while pregnant??? I was just relaxing watching tv last nite when it started.... i tried to go to sleep hoping to just sleep it off, woke up thru the nite and it was still there.... i hate this and want it to go away!!! hope u ladies have a good valentines!!!!
lol, poor kc---the only cure is fried food! ;-)
as you can see, i'm up with my aching head too. i hope you get some help at the docs. i saw a neurologist today and he thinks i may have paroxysmal hemicrania... LOVELY! even more rare than Cluster Headache Syndrome (my current diagnosis)... they're similar, but the PH responds to this one particular medicine...
only, you can't take it when you're pregnant... OF COURSE you can't... that would be too easy...
egads... my head hurts.
as you can see, i'm up with my aching head too. i hope you get some help at the docs. i saw a neurologist today and he thinks i may have paroxysmal hemicrania... LOVELY! even more rare than Cluster Headache Syndrome (my current diagnosis)... they're similar, but the PH responds to this one particular medicine...
only, you can't take it when you're pregnant... OF COURSE you can't... that would be too easy...
egads... my head hurts.
just an update - my doctor also recommended using ibuprofen or aleve if the migraine is very bad and wont let up. She said not to use it after 20 weeks, and not for more than a few days, but it should be just fine.
Today my headache was getting worse, but it went completely away after I ate some french fries from McDonalds. So weird! I don't remember all of this with my last pregnancy, ugh!
Today my headache was getting worse, but it went completely away after I ate some french fries from McDonalds. So weird! I don't remember all of this with my last pregnancy, ugh!
about the ibuprofen - a friend of mine was pregnant with twins and had an incompetent cervix so they required her to take ibuprofen every day in early pregnancy to prevent complications. So, Im sure it will not hurt.
My headache has unfortunately returned this morning but Im headed to the doctor for a check up so I am going to let her know about my whole struggle with migraines and see if she has any special advice.
My headache has unfortunately returned this morning but Im headed to the doctor for a check up so I am going to let her know about my whole struggle with migraines and see if she has any special advice.
rose and kc - that sounds like it would be very helpful. sometimes we just need more oxygen. it's not a "pulse-ox" issue, but rather, the more oxygen you take in, the more the vessels in the brain constrict (though i don't know why yet).
it's why i have to do the oxygen therapy to abort a cluster attack. i have to hyperventilate on 100% oxygen. so lots of deep breathing makes sense. i'm glad you discovered it, kc--rose, i hope it works for you too!
also, i've done a lot of research on meds and headahes, and i know this will probably freak a lot of people out, but it is actually ok to take ibuprofen during pregnancy... as long as it's not ongoing (like to manage arthritis or something). and it's best to avoid it altogether in the third trimester if you can, but there is no evidence it will cause any harm and it's more just precautionary. other than that it's ok to take.
if all else fails and you're hurting that bad, take one dose of ibuprofen. i've done it a couple of times now. anyway, just a thought. wanted to share the insight i've gotten over the last week.
it's why i have to do the oxygen therapy to abort a cluster attack. i have to hyperventilate on 100% oxygen. so lots of deep breathing makes sense. i'm glad you discovered it, kc--rose, i hope it works for you too!
also, i've done a lot of research on meds and headahes, and i know this will probably freak a lot of people out, but it is actually ok to take ibuprofen during pregnancy... as long as it's not ongoing (like to manage arthritis or something). and it's best to avoid it altogether in the third trimester if you can, but there is no evidence it will cause any harm and it's more just precautionary. other than that it's ok to take.
if all else fails and you're hurting that bad, take one dose of ibuprofen. i've done it a couple of times now. anyway, just a thought. wanted to share the insight i've gotten over the last week.
I tried something last night that actually has worked. Before I went to sleep I took long deep breaths and exhaled very slowly for about 30 minutes. Within about 10 minutes of doing this type of breathing my head started to feel so much better. I woke up this morning and did the breathing again, long deep breath in, slow breath out, and now I feel great. Its amazing. Last night was the worst migraine ever, I was worried that something else was wrong. I dont know if this will always work, but try to lay in a dark room and concentrate on each breath in and out. It's sort of amazing! Hope you feel better.
I have tried all of these and nothing helps, ice packs make me feel better at the time but it doesn't take the headaches away. I have now gotten to the point where I am throwing up, not sure if it the meds or the migraines that are causing the queasiness. I am miserable.
Wow! Thanks for all of the great advice. I am going to try icing and placing cold compresses over my eyes. I definitely think my particular migraine originates in my neck because after massaging it for a little while makes it feel better. Thanks again I will definitely reference back to your tips!
I found it! That was easy. (insert staples logo here) i am pasting and then adding little bits about things i've learned more about. :-) hope it makes sense.
Headache Causes and remedies
There are several different culprits that you can try to alleviate. I'm finding myself in the same boat though, having tried all the remedies. The most common reasons are:
Dehydration - chug a ton of water (2+ liters) and you will feel better in literally about 2 - 5 minutes if this is the case
Protein deficiency - your body could be fiending for more building materials for your baby, try to eat a bunch of grilled chicken and see if that doesn't help. You can also conversely try a large quantity of carbs in one sitting if the protein doesn't work. i have found some relief and comfort in this. pasta and corn have been most effective thus far for me on the carb side. for protein, chicken works well for me.
Caffeine withdrawal - you've already tried that (if you haven't, chug 2 cans of soda or one cup of coffee)
Vaso-dilation - a lot of migraines are alleviated by constricting the blood vessels in the head and neck, but it takes 15 minutes or so of uninterrupted icing (which is painful to get through til it begins to constrict and numb), but worth a shot if the pain is severe. (for those who care to know, this is apparently also why oxygen therapy is effective for the severely debilitating pain associated with cluster headache syndrome)
Vaso-constriction - opening up the blood vessels, conversely, if icing isn't the solution, can often help. This can be accomplished by soaking in a warm bath.
And sometimes, we just don't know what's causing it, and none of the remedies for the above culprits work (i'm in that category at the moment). Hopefully one of these will give you some relief... I hope you feel better soon!!
Headache Causes and remedies
There are several different culprits that you can try to alleviate. I'm finding myself in the same boat though, having tried all the remedies. The most common reasons are:
Dehydration - chug a ton of water (2+ liters) and you will feel better in literally about 2 - 5 minutes if this is the case
Protein deficiency - your body could be fiending for more building materials for your baby, try to eat a bunch of grilled chicken and see if that doesn't help. You can also conversely try a large quantity of carbs in one sitting if the protein doesn't work. i have found some relief and comfort in this. pasta and corn have been most effective thus far for me on the carb side. for protein, chicken works well for me.
Caffeine withdrawal - you've already tried that (if you haven't, chug 2 cans of soda or one cup of coffee)
Vaso-dilation - a lot of migraines are alleviated by constricting the blood vessels in the head and neck, but it takes 15 minutes or so of uninterrupted icing (which is painful to get through til it begins to constrict and numb), but worth a shot if the pain is severe. (for those who care to know, this is apparently also why oxygen therapy is effective for the severely debilitating pain associated with cluster headache syndrome)
Vaso-constriction - opening up the blood vessels, conversely, if icing isn't the solution, can often help. This can be accomplished by soaking in a warm bath.
And sometimes, we just don't know what's causing it, and none of the remedies for the above culprits work (i'm in that category at the moment). Hopefully one of these will give you some relief... I hope you feel better soon!!
I'm becoming an expert on headaches! woohoo! yeah! ahem... let's see.
I will try after i post this to go back and find the order in which i go through the cures for the basic pregnancy-induced headaches.
But i'm also learning 100% oxygen therapy can be VERY effective for migraines and clusters (don't worry, less than 1% of the population gets those, you probably don't have cluster headaches), and another thing I have learned is that a large portion of headaches can originate in the neck (that is what is causing the migraine-like headaches i feel in between my Cluster Headaches. If I lay my head down (even on a desk or the door of the car, and release ALL tension from my neck, it is almost instantaneous relief)...
so lemme get back to you on the other stuff---it was an effective little laundry list go tick your way down until you feel better. Proactive is better than just wondering, right?? haha... bleah. headaches s u c k.
I will try after i post this to go back and find the order in which i go through the cures for the basic pregnancy-induced headaches.
But i'm also learning 100% oxygen therapy can be VERY effective for migraines and clusters (don't worry, less than 1% of the population gets those, you probably don't have cluster headaches), and another thing I have learned is that a large portion of headaches can originate in the neck (that is what is causing the migraine-like headaches i feel in between my Cluster Headaches. If I lay my head down (even on a desk or the door of the car, and release ALL tension from my neck, it is almost instantaneous relief)...
so lemme get back to you on the other stuff---it was an effective little laundry list go tick your way down until you feel better. Proactive is better than just wondering, right?? haha... bleah. headaches s u c k.
Ugh join the club, it s u c k s. I have still found nothing that helps. My OB gave me tylenol with codeine and that helps a little but it doesn't take it all the way away. I am calling him on monday to try and figure something else out.
Are you drinking enough fluids? Is your body craving caffeine? Watch your diet and see if anything is triggering the headaches. I found that if I avoid chocolate (my best friend) that my headaches are fewer and farther in between but it is hard to stay away from chocolate.
Are you drinking enough fluids? Is your body craving caffeine? Watch your diet and see if anything is triggering the headaches. I found that if I avoid chocolate (my best friend) that my headaches are fewer and farther in between but it is hard to stay away from chocolate.
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