Migraine in Pregnancy

[LucindaE]

Hello, everyone!

I wonder what everyone thinks of a thread on migraine in pregnancy? I'm not TTC or pregnant now, but I remember with horror the vicious migraines I had when I was pregnant. A nice little run-in with HG seemed to make them worse. Sorry to whinge!

I get migraines anyway, and nasty ones, too, but the ones I had when pregnant were ?????!!!!***! Two day head-down-the-loo wet-the-bathroom floor (sorry if tmi) horrors. I used to be in tears.

I had one every week for 12 weeks to about 24 weeks, then went off miraculously until my cycle returned. Then, they turned up again, sadly for me, but at least only every few weeks...

The problem was partly that they felt so isolating. People thought I was making a fuss about a headache. The doctors suggested panadol. 'Yes, Doctor. Well...'

Acupuncture didn't help, or homeopathy either.

What do people think? Would a thread be useful? I hope nobody feels that they need one, but just in case.

LucindaE

XX

 

[Samemka]

I used to suffer from awful migraines & I do understand how you feel. People would always annoy me when they'd say 'yeah I had a migraine once..' then make out it's nothing more than a bad headache. We wish!

I was prescribed pizotifen (sp) which I took every morning and it stopped my migraines eventually. Then the dose was reduced and touchwood I've been migraine free for years.

Might be worth doing some research then asking your doc? x x x

 

[country_girl8]

im getting them too...but constant its a nitemare

 

[LucindaE]

Country Girl: - I'm sorry to hear that, hun. My goodness, constant ones must be horrendous. Do the doctors allow any sort of medication now if you were to ask for it? They told me that as mine were only two days out of seven, I could manage without but that was a few years ago, and if yours are constant that's infinitely worse.

Hey, is that eye in the photo -it is so lovely, that I am overcome with envy! Think I'll get one myself.

Sam:- Thanks for the advice. I think that's a drug I haven't tried, and not being preg now I will go ahead and ask my GP for it. Might work. I was on a horrible one that didn't work and made me put on weight, but I forget its name.

LucindaXXX

 

[LucindaE]

Oh, dear! While some people have viewed this thread, ony two people have replied; yet I am all too familiar with the misery that migraine causes in pregnancy.

I hope people aren't being put off by my silly jokes ! It's just my way of dealing with a miserable enough topic.

LucindaE

XX

 

[barney76]

I have always suffered with migraines but since being pregnant I'm 23 wkd I've been getting at least 2 or 3 a wk not sure how long I can put up with them I get tunnel vision with them as well I have midwife nxt wk so will discuss with her I love my partner dearly but he has never had a migraine and just puts it down to another headache! Could cry right now!

 

[LucindaE]

Dear Barney

So sorry that you are suffering that many of those horrible things a week. That is DISMAL. to you. I hope the midwife can suggest something that helps, my goodness. It seems to be twice as bad when your pregnant.

I know we can't really blame people who've never had them from thinking that we must be exaggerating the pain, my husband's the same.

Let me know how you get on with the midwife. Wish you better soon.

Lucinda

XXXX

 

[LucindaE]

Because I found those migraines in pregnancy so awful, and have heard that various women suffer from them far worse during pregnancy, I wonder if a support thread on migraine would be useful to sufferers?

In my case, it even prevented a diagnoses of what must have been Hyperemesis, because my then GP (no longer) insisted that as I am normally prone to migraine, when my sickness got more and more severe and started leading to violent headaches, it must be that, and didn't refused all medication and didn't test my urine (this was several years ago, when ignorance about that condition was even worse).
Of course, with migraine, the headaches start before the sickness, not afterwards, and I now know that they must have been dehydration headaches, which was dodgy enough. I was lucky that an Acupuncturist was able to help me with the constantly being sick, or I don't know what I would have done.

I did get migraines too, and unfortunately, I have to say the Acupuncturist didn't seem to be able to help much with the genuine ones.


to anyone suffering out there now.

LucindaE
XXXX

 

[poppy]

I suffer from the occasional migraine (I think they call it a classic migraine - light flashing ( the 'aura'), restricted vision, over bright colours/senses, feeling spaced out, then the mother of all headaches).

When I was pregnant with my son, from about 11 weeks to about 17/18 weeks I had almost daily headaches with a few migraines thrown in weekly, it was awful. Luckily, throughout that period, I had two weeks holiday and got signed off work for another three weeks. So i could relax and try to manage them. I took nothing for them for around four weeks and for the last couple of weeks I just took paracetemol as the doctor convinced me it was safe for the baby. It was hard though. I also had cool patches for my head and a warm wheat lavendar bag that I put round my shoulders/ neck to ease tension.

I hope to get pregnant again this year - I am wondering how I will manage if the headaches and migraines come back as this time I will be also looking after a toddler and won't be able to curl up in bed if a headache/ migraine hits.

Good luck to all dealing with this. I was lucky, in that mine only lasted for around 7 weeks. Hopefully you won't have to put up with them for your whole pregnancy. If they are really bad, don't feel afraid to get signed off work.

 

[Terrilea]

I've had a headache on/off since thursday it's now sunday night and i can still feel it
Hope it's not the start of pregnancy migraines, i never normally suffer from headaches.............x

 

[AngelzEye]

I had a bad spell yesterday Ended up calling the midwife over as I couldn't see properly, co-ordinate properly (posibbly due to the weird vision) my hand went numb then yes... hello headache... To make matters worse she found my blood pressure had went up (not dangerously, but previously 100/60 now 130/80) so got to go back to be checked on tuesday.
I wonder whether theres any connection between raised blood pressure and migraines... because a few hours after she left I went on to have another migraine on the other side.. (Two in one day... my mum was congratulating my migraine prowess) grr... ruined my day though as Id planned to goto a party at work but instead was lying in bed x

 

[LucindaE]

Oh, dear! Poor you. to you.

There could well be a connection - I never had my blood pressure checked during them, but it may well have gone up. Still, if they're monitoring it then that's reassuring.

When I have a migraine it starts off in one place - usually the left hand side, behind the head and behind the eye - and then wanders all over the place after a few hours. Ugh!


LucindaE
XX

 

[price27]

DONT ignore migraines or raised blood pressure!

I do not want to panick anybody here but I had migraines with visual distrurbances daily+high BP+ slight swelling on ankles and hands the week before xmas at 35 weeks pregnancy. I did not tick all the boxes for pre-eclampsia as my BP didnt shoot up rapidly but was slightly raised.

I had extra check on xmas day for Bp .......unfortunatly my baby had died. My daughter was still born on 27/12/10.

I am awaiting post mortem results.......I now that my BP dropped immediatly after delivery......a classic with pre-eclampsia.

If only I wasnt as laid back and thought all would be fine. Next time I will not ignore anything like this.

|I really hope and I am sure all will be fine for you but DONt ignore anything.
xx

 

[LucindaE]

Price 27, what can I say? I am so sorry for your loss.

I hope everyone here takes that as a warning and it is good of you to post that to help people.

LucindaE
XXXX

 

[AngelzEye]

BP went down for this weeks check (120/70) still higher than average but definitely not worry level. Got another one on Monday just to make sure am staying somewhat consistant. Everything else was fine also (no protein + glucose this time, had them a couple of weeks ago & was a little worried but it was a UTI & got antibiotics)
I do have slight swelling in my hands/feet sometimes, but as of yet not unordinary. Hoping I stay migraine free.

I am so sorry for your loss Price27, I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like for you xxxxxxx
And will definitely make sure I keep getting checked, especially if the headaches come back. xxxxxxx

 

[LucindaE]

I'm glad that all is going well for you, Angelzeye. You can't play too safe in pregancy... I hope you stay migraine free, because they are foul at any time, but somehow twice as bad when pregnant.

LucindaE
XX

 

[hayles503]

Price27, im so sorry to hear your experience.
im really worried about migraines in pregnancy, i usually get less than one a month normally, with zig zag aura and then a dull headache for one or two days. Since being pregnant they've got much more frequent although not more severe. i got two the day before i got my BFP and then about one or two a week since then (now 6 weeks). Iv even been getting them in my sleep - last night i dreamt i had an aura and Im sure it was real.
will definitely tell midwife at 10 weeks but its scary when you wonder if it is something that could also affect your pregnancy.

 

[LucindaE]

Sorry, Terrilea Angelzeye, hayles503 and everyone, I had a problem logging in - the system accused me of impersonating myself (that could only happen to me!) and it took ages to sort out.

Terrilea I hope that foul headache wasn't the start of pregnancy migraines, or it it was, it was the only one.

Poppy - I hope you can have a migaine free pregnacy. It is SOO hard to manage with a toddler and a migraine.

Hope you haven't had any more?

Hayles I know how foul it is. Tell the doctor or midwife, and they might be able to suggest something. As long as your blood pressure isn't high and you're staying hydrated it doesn't seem to do any harm. I had many foul ones and it had no effect on the baby - but they are awful for you.
Sending you waves of sympathy!

LucindaE
xx
LucindaE
xx

 

[AngelzEye]

I've been getting migraines on a just about daily basis (occasionally twice a day) for the last couple of weeks, presume it must have something to do with hormones Am hoping it reduces after I have the baby urghx

 

[LucindaE]

Oh dear, that does sound foul. Sending you cyber

That really spoils things, and paracetomol doesn't seem to go near them. I suppose the Dr's are anxious to avoid meds, but when they are so frequent, it must be hard to eat.

I had them badly after my little run in with HG, between weeks 12-24 approximately, but why then I don't know. How far along are you? With me they seemed to tail off a lot in the third tri, and I hope the same happens to you if you're not there yet.

LucindaE
xx: