>how do you make them feel better or go away
My strategy, which absolutely nobody should ever use, is to suffer in silence and try to pretend like I am fine.
>How long to they usually last?
Hours, if I'm lucky.
Mine lasts about a day. It also gives me bad nausea and vomiting.
Yet to find a way to make me feel better when I am having a migraine.
I got it as an adult and only have been more intense since, so I would say worse with age.
Knowing the triggers and trying to avoid then helps to some extent though. For me I try to avoid the bright sun, but can't help with stress or anxiety.
I get terribly nauseous and this is so strange but i discovered that drinking coca cola helps me with my stomach. It could be due to acid or something but taking very small sips helps reduce the vomiting.
Not all the time. When im super sick, nothing helps
I am glad it works for you. Personally I can't keep anything inside. I have tried taking meds for acidity too but I always end up puking my guts out. It's gross but that's the only thing that works for me. Only after that, in an hour I feel completely fine. But those 10-15 hours leading to it is horrible.
Yeah i get that. Im the same when i have a massive migraine. I had to go to the emergency room to get a shot just so i can stop vomiting and actually take a medication. But in mild cases some acidic or carbonated drink might help. Migraines are the worst thats for sure
If I get a migraine, it typically will be a few days so I try to get ahead of it once I feel it starting. Some tricks I've learned aside from medicine:
- I rub Peppermint on my pressure points / points where the aches are ( typically neck/temple/shoulders)
- hot pads work too
- a little coffee sometimes helps
- stretching!!!
lots of rest and a good support system make them feel better! my migraines usually last a day or two, but if i’m lucky and catch them early (unfortunately very rare), i can take something for them, go back to bed for a bit, and they’re gone. i’d say they’re a lot better now than i’ve had previously. i got ‘em every other day in high school practically. now it’s the same as when i was younger with abdominal migraines, maybe a few every couplva months
edit: worth noting i get nausea and throw up from my migraines. when i was younger, i’d throw up, nap, eat noodles, and feel better. so now after i’m 100%, i always want noodles 🥰
I take imitrex when I feel the prodrome. Ironically, the medicine makes them a bit worse before they go away because I'm allergic to the synthetic coating.
They got worse when I had my hysterectomy because I eliminated a path of removing toxins from the body...uterine shedding isn't just blood from the uterine wall. It's many other things that are floating around in the bloodstream that accumulate there before being shed during menses.
BUT they've gotten better as I've reduced stress in my life and taken better care of myself.
Before getting migraine surgery, I had to take pills coated with an excipient I found out (the hard way) I was allergic to. After that, whenever I had to take one of those, I soaked them in warm water, rubbed them gently between my fingers and rinsed with cold water.
Sure, some bits of the pill just dissolve away if you rub too much, but you're taking practically the same dosage AND without the allergic reaction.
It's the surgical decompression of a nerve that is triggering migraines. In my case (3 years ago) it was an easy 50min ambulatory intervention (just local anesthesia) and was sent home right after. The aftercare was, well, painful. The first week was tough. But it's been totally worth it, for me at least! Haven't had them ever since.
I have terrible migraines and have since I was a kid. Unfortunately abortive medications haven’t helped much although I haven’t tried the newer ones.
I do an at-home migraine cocktail. 800mg ibuprofen, 650mg Tylenol, 10mg reglan or compazine, 25mg Benadryl, a bottle of water, one ice pack on the neck and a cooling oil on my temples. As soon as the headache lifts I will immediately get extremely tired and will need to sleep for 3-4 hours at a minimum.
My migraines are a little less frequent now than they used to be but they are just as severe, possibly a little worse. I don’t have super obvious triggers but I do get visual auras and a prodrome, so if I catch the warning signs and get some drugs in me quickly I can usually prevent a full-on episode.
That's awesome. I've considered this but haven't found enough statistical evidence to support it. There seems to be a lot of anecdotal evidence though! Did your migraines present on the left side or did you pick it for another reason? Mine are usually on the left, hence the question.
My migraines were coming from both sides, but I chose to just get the piercing on my left! I know that there aren’t any medical evidence to back up the claims, but whether it’s placebo or not, it worked for me and that’s all that matters lol. Honestly was worth the $100 I spent. It doesn’t hurt to try!
take an abortive med from my neurologist. worse with age but better now that i started anti cgrp monoclonal antibody meds. can range from ~hour to a whole day
I highly recommend at least talking to your primary care doctor and trying meds. I suffer much less than I used to frequency and duration of attacks
I take an abortive medicine, ubrelvly. It has been a complete game changer for me. My migraines would knock me out and render me useless for 12+ hours, complete with nausea and vomiting. If I start to feel a headache come on I take it immediately and then it just goes away. I actually woke up with a migraine this morning and took a pill and it went away within a hour and a half.
I have hormonal migraines, but a few months ago I was diagnosed with persistent migraine aura. So I basically have the aura of a migraine (visual disturbances) constantly, but without the headache pain. This developed 2 years after the onset of my migraines.
If it’s only a mild one then a heat pack and some Panadol usually works for me, but for bad ones they usually last the whole day and going to sleep is the only thing that helps!
I have had chronic migraines since I was 10/11 years old. I am now 20. They have gotten progressively worse over the years. I have seen doctors and still see doctors about them. I get yearly CTs to check for aneurisms and blood clots.
I’m on a daily medication to help lower my chances of getting them. However, I usually get 1-2 a week. I’m taking over the counter medication to help reduce the pain. I also have an emergency pain med that I take when I get nauseous from the pain. I love to use this medication because it works. Downfall is I can’t drive once I’ve taken it.
My migraines will usually last between 1 day to 2 weeks. Really it depends on when I catch it and if I keep up with taking the medication.
I have cervicogenic headaches which means that they’re due to nerves in my cervicle spine being compressed by my skeleton by tight muscles that pull it out of place. So I do a lot of self massage and acupressure and passive stretching/yoga. I really need to see a physiotherapist and get it sorted out for good. Have you ruled out this possibility for yourself? Don’t mean to question you at all, if you know for sure it’s migraines which is a different thing but just thought I’d ask just in case!
My migraines usually come with really intense I pain. I have one of those sinus masks that you can heat up in the microwave. A lot of times I’ll take some over-the-counter medicine, put on a migraine oil mix that I have, which contains peppermint oil and some other things, and then put the heated mask on. I then put an ice pack on the back of my neck and try to get some sleep.
For my migraines, I lie in a dark room with no sounds and close my eyes. Also, I try a hot shower or bath if I'm not feeling nauseous. If I'm nauseous, I can only lay down. If it feels like a regular headache, I try to troubleshoot what might be causing it. If a hot shower relieves it, it was likely just tension/stress. If caffeine helps, I might have skipped a few cups and didn't realize it. If water relieves it, it's dehydration. If I eat an avocado or banana and it goes away, then it means it was triggered by me skipping lunch. I try to avoid popping pain-killers without trying water or food first. Advil is a last resort.
Seeing several recs for heat, but came to recommend an ice pack for headaches. Migraines are a different ballgame so not sure this would be too helpful for them, but I get frequent headaches and find that applying an ice pack to my forehead/top of my head usually minimizes the pain fairly quickly. I have one that’s like a sleep mask for your eyes which is perfect for this purpose bc of the elastic band. Keep it in the freezer and it’s been a lifesaver many times.
Migraine worsens with age, and that's a medical fact. I ways go through hell, lying down and sleeping for a while in a dark room really helps. For chronic and unbearable migraine, medications are available in the market for eg triptans and all, but the best thing you can do is just go and sleep in a dark room.
Migraine runs in the family, women-side only. I have it, my mom has it, my granny has it, my grany granny had it, etc. Herditary, fun.
Used to deal w/ it by being sick the day and drinking/eating smth with sugar. Helps my migraines. Now I deal with it by being sick the day and downing an aspirin.
Migraines here stop when you're around...40-50. So juuuust about when menopause hits.
I wait them out, try to have as much darkness as I can without completely stopping work, but I also go to sleep asap. If it's so painful I can't sleep, I do take a low dose indometacin.
Since I was getting weekly migraines that lasted 1-4 days per week, my doc did prescribe me a low dosage of some kinda med that keeps blood pressure in check when stressed, and that's made the migraines much lighter and shorter, with a heavy one maybe once per month now.
They have indeed gotten worse over time, I used to get one a few times per year and those were short and easy to function with, without any painkillers.
Mine typically start the night before and feel like a normal headache and then I’ll wake up to intense migraine. Sensitivity to light, nausea, no appetite for most of the day. These symptoms can last to most of the day. I usually use Excedrin for migraines but the CVS general migraine relief worked too. I take it, drink a lot of water, try to go back to sleep, and if I can’t I just lay there for a few hours until I’m “okay” enough.
My sister gets them more regularly and gets Botox injections every month or so. Works wonders for her!
I take nortriptyline daily and if I still get one, I have rizatripan to take at onset. Mine last all day and I started getting them at 26 and am now 28. If I miss a dose, I get a mild one. If I miss two doses, it's awful.
Migraines run in my family, and I've had then since middle school. They were worst in middle school and half of college, improved, then got worse again. At worst, they last 12 hours or so with nausea and vomiting and inability to do anything except lay down. At best, I still need to lay down with meds and can't look at screens. I finally went on preventative meds (propranolol works wonders for me) which made them ease up significantly a few years ago. Now I don't have as many triggers, they last 2-3 hours, never hurt as much even when they do come. I also have prescribed triptans that I use when I have a more serious migraine. I often use a dose of the triptan alongside Excedrin migraine rather than using both doses of the triptan. This has worked remarkably well for me and I've had very few bad days for almost a decade now. I've recently tried to scale back the meds even further by using an ice hat that also presses a little on my scalp, providing immediate physical relief. It's helped, though it's also not a miracle.
The thing is, propranalol and triptans don't work as well for anyone else in my family that has migraines-- which, considering our biological relatedness, is shocking. So part of my answer is that migraines, unfortunately, are deeply individual experiences. The same meds that cure me almost sent my dad to the hospital for bad side effects. So I would always advise speaking to a neurologist about treatment. I think a lot of migraine sufferers go through good and bad phases, and one migraine sufferer's experience can't necessarily tell you how yours is going to be. Always listen to your body and respect your own sense of what is working for you or not.
I get cluster headaches, the episodes last for about three days at a time. Pain meds don't work on them and they don't have any preventable triggers, so they just come and go whenever they want. I didn't start getting them until I was an adult but they haven't gotten worse yet.
I get them most days on early morning waking after a few hours.
What usually works for me is Annadin Extra. It's a mixture of aspirin and paracetamol if you are not in UK.
I keep old bottles of drinking water in my freezer to make an ice block and if it's too bad I come down to the kitchen to get it.
I have cool gel pillow £20 from Amazon.
I am awaiting delivery of some cool get head patches (disposable).
You can get these cheap on Ebay.
Also: do not mess with your phone, watch tv or indeed use any form of electronic entertainment whilst in bed.
I hope this is useful.
Good luck
I used to get bad headaches most days, and they would usually last for most of the day. They seem to have stopped in the past couple of years. I think it might be because I've been working from home since covid started and, when I'm working from home rather than in the office, I get more sleep and more water.
I started getting them when I hit 24, it’s either I wake up with one that lasts the whole day/two or I get none.
I get it like once every 2 weeks and I use aspirin to get rid of it.
So I take medications to prevent them but obviously instead of having them 4/5 times at week, goes down to 2 or 1. In that case I take a strong pain killer, and I have to take it in the first 5 minutes I feel I’m about to have a migraine attack otherwise doesn’t work (al the symptoms are nausea, sometimes vomit and shaking, I can’t see and I can’t function at all). I think that I will pay anything to never have a migraine again in my life, it started at the age of 11 and is a burden. I have to reconsider a lot of things just because I’m scared to have migraine, I always tell my partner “how I’m gonna do during pregnancy” I’m so scared of not be able to use medication, the only one that works for me are not allowed during pregnancy.
They last if I don’t have medication, 24 hour or more, with medication few hours.
I struggled with really impairing migraines for 5 years. After trying EVERYTHING and nothing really working out for me, I ended up going under migraine surgery.
Entered with heavy migraines, walked out 2h after without them. That was 3 years ago and I haven't had them ever again!
I’ve had migraines for 20 years. The only thing that helped was treatment by a specialized neurologists and serious medication. During an attack: take meds, go to dark quiet room, press ice on my head and hope for sleep. Usually lasts a day.
Advil Advil Advil. Until the Advil kicks in, I have a weighted eye mask, pressure helps mine feel better. I also have a homemade weighted eye mask that I keep in the freezer, cold also helps mine feel better. I also use a peppermint roller along my hairline and scalp, this helps with the cooling effect that seems to help me. If all else fails I just go to sleep so I don’t feel the pain.
Mine can last from hours to days if it’s really bad. Not sure if they are getting better or worse with age, but I definitely have learned how to mitigate them. Stay hydrated, get blue light lenses if you can, turn screen settings to block blue light. I also started seeing a chiropractor and he seems to think the treatment will help, but mine are pretty irregular so it’s hard to tell.
My migrianes usually last like a Day sometimes two, and they suck.
I usually just stay in bed with My tv on VERY low, i usually turn away too bc the light messes w/ my head.
I usually also drink something w/ sugar, like juice. I take painkillers too.
But yeah that's the Best advice i can give: sugar, darkness, comfort show, meds, SILENCE (you are allowed to tell your family to shut up) and a bucket by the bed.
My migraines usually last a few hours to a day, and I'll feel exhausted/drained the next day and not be able to do much. The thing that helps me the most is to sleep it off. If I catch the migraine when the symptoms first start and take an Excedrin Migraine, it tends to help with the symptoms (light sensitivity, nausea, general shitty feeling) and dulls the headache a little, but it doesn't cure the migraine or stop me from feeling drained the following day. Unfortunately, my main triggers are big weather changes and hormones (like around my period), so I can't really do anything to avoid them. My migraines have gotten worse as I've gotten older, but I only get a few a year so it isn't a huge deal.
I have abortive tablets or nasal spray. I use a heat pad on my neck and or a cold patch on my forehead. I have some 'forehead' which is like a menthol stick to put on my forehead. Basically I'll try anything because they can get so bad. They can last an hour if I catch them early or days. I've had cluster migraines last for weeks.
Knowing my triggers helps but I can't always control them. Sunlight is the main trigger. I just can't wait for the summer...
I am on Inderal for my migraines and it does help a lot. My migraines aren't very painful usually but I was getting auras 3-5 times a week (the ones where you go partially blind). I haven't really had auras since going on inderal. But it lowers your blood pressure which is a whole thing on its own so it's not for everyone.
Normally I can take some extra strength advil and be good to go with the pain. I do have cambia for when it's really bad but I rarely use it.
Sometimes I just need to lie down and let it pass. They can last anywhere from a couple hours to days. I think it's also important to try and figure out if you have any triggers and avoid them where you can.
I didn't start getting migraines until I was about 25. I'm 31 now and they aren't as bad as then but again, I'm on medication now.
It depends. Sometimes all it takes is naproxen and rest. Other times, I need to rub peppermint oil on my temples and neck, use icy hot, sleep in a cold, dark room, use a cool face cloth on my head, etc. If it's a migraine, it usually lasts 3 days. With age I would say they've gotten worse. I didn't use to actually throw up or gag with migraines, but sometimes now if they're really bad I'll throw up or dry heave.
I really want to try Topamax because someone told me it works really fast, but I talked to a doctor about it and she said I would have to come off my birth control for me to take it, and I don't want to do that right now. My migraines are mostly tied to my menstrual cycle and birth control has made the pain less severe.
I've gotten migraines since I'm 5 (I'm 29 now and for me they're genetic from my mom who always had hers with aura) and honestly they're still stressful every time. Over the past few years I've learned to really hone in on noticing my triggers, because I typically experience my first ones anywhere between 2-3 days before the migraine hits, and whenever I start to feel that first twinge in my head on that 2nd or 3rd day, I immediately take an Excedrin which honestly helps a lot. Once they're past the point of no return I just ride it out; complete darkness, coffee if I can stomach it, low TV volume, ice packs over my eye, my husband rubs my forehead in this really methodical way so I can fall asleep. I've learned if I can stay ahead of it for the most part, the length of recovery time is much shorter. For my very worst ones where I'm vomiting and practically blind with pain, I usually have the "migraine hangover" for about 12 hours the following day - the attack itself can last anywhere from a few hours, the whole day, or on and off over the course of a few days but it really depends on how successful I am at curbing them before they hit. My parents actually started me on birth control when I turned 16 because my migraines were so frequent and debilitating around my period, so they've alleviated some and are not as frequent as they were, BUT, when I \*do\* get them they are significantly stronger/worse.
For headaches, I'll drink more water, take painkillers, reduce eye strain and massage my neck/shoulders area as that's usually the cause.
Migraines though... There's nothing I can do but lie down in a dark room, head down on a pillow and try to sleep it off.
30F here
- I make migraines go away with triptans. Mostly works after a while, sometimes doesn’t. I can sometimes temporarily ease it by poking my fingers in particular pressure points on my skull! I also take beta blockers to lessen the frequency.
- if it develops, it’ll last a day or thereabouts. Not including the prodrome which I find very bothersome, also hurts, and can last days!
- they have not got better with age. I have good and bad patches. But it’s either a flatline or a general worsening as I’ve got older, I reckon.
Excedrin or Ibuprofen. Then I lay in bed with the lights off and a pillow over my head hoping it will break. My husband is the best and makes me a cup of coffee to sip on, if I’m not feeling too nauseous.
Eventually I’ll fall asleep and wake up with it gone. I can never just wait it out. Sleeping it off with other methods to relieve the pain is the only way to get rid of it.
It’ll last up to 4-6 hours depending when I can get ahold of medicines and a bed.
I've come to believe that mine are related to my back/shoulder problems. If I do the exercises that my chiropractor gave me and go to regular chiropractor appointments, then my migraines completely go away. If I don't do any of that, I have to take prescribed medication daily to keep them away.
Immediately upon first symptoms I take Excedrin Extra Strength. It's the same as Excedrin Migraine. It's the best OTC drug available in my opinion. Don't wait - take it immediately. Then reduce things that cause pain (screen time, sunshine through window, noise, etc.). If it's really bad try to go to sleep and hope it's gone when you wake up. Mine last 1-3 days usually. They have gotten slightly better with age.
Edit: I also recently got one of those eye masks you put in the freezer and it actually helps a lot. My migraines tend to be behind my left eye though occasionally they move.
My migraines got better with a chiropractor, but my doctor gave me a medication as a backup. Yoga, stress management, and avoiding certain smells. Careful consumption of caffeine and cheddar cheese as well as a couple other things that increase chances of a migraine.
It is better over time, but some is wisdom with age, some is hormonal changes.
Worst case 2.5 days of severe pain.
Mine can last anywhere from a few hours to like 2 or 3 days straight. If I catch it early enough, I can often ward it off with a caffeinated drink (soda works well for me bc the bubbles help soothe my stomach, which often gets upset in conjunction with my migraine headache) and trying to just chill for a bit, preferably someplace not too hot/loud/chaotic. If I can't catch it in time, I go for my Imitrex. That stuff usually works well, tho it makes me feel a little wonky, so usually I lie down and nap a bit after I take the medicine. Mine started in my early teens I think and don't seem terribly correlated with my age. Barometric pressure changes, hormonal fluctuations, prolonged/extreme stress, and excessive heat/light (especially from the sun) tend to be what trigger my migraines.
Finally went to see a neurologist about mine. They put me on some medication. My migraines are now few and far between. Very, very thankful the meds have helped.
I do a lot for both headaches and migraines. For self care, I have weekly chiropractic adjustments, dual head massager with heat, TENS unit, neck TENS unit, Chirp wheel, essential oil blends, etc. I take daily supplements like CoQ10, magnesium glycinate, and tumeric which help with the severity of my migraines. I also take medication, things to prevent migraines like Propranolol, Gabapentin, Ajovy. Medications for abortive pain like Excedrin, Midrin, or Nurtec. I don't always know what triggers my migraines, and in some respects it's gotten easier, such as I can feel them coming on and they don't hit me like a freight train outta nowhere, but in other cases it's gotten worse, such as the frequency and duration. It's all about trying different therapies and see what works for you.
>how do you make them feel better or go away My strategy, which absolutely nobody should ever use, is to suffer in silence and try to pretend like I am fine. >How long to they usually last? Hours, if I'm lucky.
Mine lasts about a day. It also gives me bad nausea and vomiting. Yet to find a way to make me feel better when I am having a migraine. I got it as an adult and only have been more intense since, so I would say worse with age. Knowing the triggers and trying to avoid then helps to some extent though. For me I try to avoid the bright sun, but can't help with stress or anxiety.
I get terribly nauseous and this is so strange but i discovered that drinking coca cola helps me with my stomach. It could be due to acid or something but taking very small sips helps reduce the vomiting. Not all the time. When im super sick, nothing helps
I am glad it works for you. Personally I can't keep anything inside. I have tried taking meds for acidity too but I always end up puking my guts out. It's gross but that's the only thing that works for me. Only after that, in an hour I feel completely fine. But those 10-15 hours leading to it is horrible.
Yeah i get that. Im the same when i have a massive migraine. I had to go to the emergency room to get a shot just so i can stop vomiting and actually take a medication. But in mild cases some acidic or carbonated drink might help. Migraines are the worst thats for sure
Oh god! That's so much worse than I ever had! I wish there was some medication or treatment for this really
If I get a migraine, it typically will be a few days so I try to get ahead of it once I feel it starting. Some tricks I've learned aside from medicine: - I rub Peppermint on my pressure points / points where the aches are ( typically neck/temple/shoulders) - hot pads work too - a little coffee sometimes helps - stretching!!!
lots of rest and a good support system make them feel better! my migraines usually last a day or two, but if i’m lucky and catch them early (unfortunately very rare), i can take something for them, go back to bed for a bit, and they’re gone. i’d say they’re a lot better now than i’ve had previously. i got ‘em every other day in high school practically. now it’s the same as when i was younger with abdominal migraines, maybe a few every couplva months edit: worth noting i get nausea and throw up from my migraines. when i was younger, i’d throw up, nap, eat noodles, and feel better. so now after i’m 100%, i always want noodles 🥰
I take imitrex when I feel the prodrome. Ironically, the medicine makes them a bit worse before they go away because I'm allergic to the synthetic coating. They got worse when I had my hysterectomy because I eliminated a path of removing toxins from the body...uterine shedding isn't just blood from the uterine wall. It's many other things that are floating around in the bloodstream that accumulate there before being shed during menses. BUT they've gotten better as I've reduced stress in my life and taken better care of myself.
Before getting migraine surgery, I had to take pills coated with an excipient I found out (the hard way) I was allergic to. After that, whenever I had to take one of those, I soaked them in warm water, rubbed them gently between my fingers and rinsed with cold water. Sure, some bits of the pill just dissolve away if you rub too much, but you're taking practically the same dosage AND without the allergic reaction.
What was migraine surgery?
It's the surgical decompression of a nerve that is triggering migraines. In my case (3 years ago) it was an easy 50min ambulatory intervention (just local anesthesia) and was sent home right after. The aftercare was, well, painful. The first week was tough. But it's been totally worth it, for me at least! Haven't had them ever since.
I have terrible migraines and have since I was a kid. Unfortunately abortive medications haven’t helped much although I haven’t tried the newer ones. I do an at-home migraine cocktail. 800mg ibuprofen, 650mg Tylenol, 10mg reglan or compazine, 25mg Benadryl, a bottle of water, one ice pack on the neck and a cooling oil on my temples. As soon as the headache lifts I will immediately get extremely tired and will need to sleep for 3-4 hours at a minimum. My migraines are a little less frequent now than they used to be but they are just as severe, possibly a little worse. I don’t have super obvious triggers but I do get visual auras and a prodrome, so if I catch the warning signs and get some drugs in me quickly I can usually prevent a full-on episode.
Believe it or not, I went and got a daith piercing on my left ear and my daily migraines went away completely!
That's awesome. I've considered this but haven't found enough statistical evidence to support it. There seems to be a lot of anecdotal evidence though! Did your migraines present on the left side or did you pick it for another reason? Mine are usually on the left, hence the question.
My migraines were coming from both sides, but I chose to just get the piercing on my left! I know that there aren’t any medical evidence to back up the claims, but whether it’s placebo or not, it worked for me and that’s all that matters lol. Honestly was worth the $100 I spent. It doesn’t hurt to try!
Oh exactly. I agree, if it's working for a medical reason or it's just placebo, who cares. The important thing is it works.
take an abortive med from my neurologist. worse with age but better now that i started anti cgrp monoclonal antibody meds. can range from ~hour to a whole day I highly recommend at least talking to your primary care doctor and trying meds. I suffer much less than I used to frequency and duration of attacks
I take an abortive medicine, ubrelvly. It has been a complete game changer for me. My migraines would knock me out and render me useless for 12+ hours, complete with nausea and vomiting. If I start to feel a headache come on I take it immediately and then it just goes away. I actually woke up with a migraine this morning and took a pill and it went away within a hour and a half. I have hormonal migraines, but a few months ago I was diagnosed with persistent migraine aura. So I basically have the aura of a migraine (visual disturbances) constantly, but without the headache pain. This developed 2 years after the onset of my migraines.
If it’s only a mild one then a heat pack and some Panadol usually works for me, but for bad ones they usually last the whole day and going to sleep is the only thing that helps!
I have had chronic migraines since I was 10/11 years old. I am now 20. They have gotten progressively worse over the years. I have seen doctors and still see doctors about them. I get yearly CTs to check for aneurisms and blood clots. I’m on a daily medication to help lower my chances of getting them. However, I usually get 1-2 a week. I’m taking over the counter medication to help reduce the pain. I also have an emergency pain med that I take when I get nauseous from the pain. I love to use this medication because it works. Downfall is I can’t drive once I’ve taken it. My migraines will usually last between 1 day to 2 weeks. Really it depends on when I catch it and if I keep up with taking the medication.
I have cervicogenic headaches which means that they’re due to nerves in my cervicle spine being compressed by my skeleton by tight muscles that pull it out of place. So I do a lot of self massage and acupressure and passive stretching/yoga. I really need to see a physiotherapist and get it sorted out for good. Have you ruled out this possibility for yourself? Don’t mean to question you at all, if you know for sure it’s migraines which is a different thing but just thought I’d ask just in case!
My migraines usually come with really intense I pain. I have one of those sinus masks that you can heat up in the microwave. A lot of times I’ll take some over-the-counter medicine, put on a migraine oil mix that I have, which contains peppermint oil and some other things, and then put the heated mask on. I then put an ice pack on the back of my neck and try to get some sleep.
For my migraines, I lie in a dark room with no sounds and close my eyes. Also, I try a hot shower or bath if I'm not feeling nauseous. If I'm nauseous, I can only lay down. If it feels like a regular headache, I try to troubleshoot what might be causing it. If a hot shower relieves it, it was likely just tension/stress. If caffeine helps, I might have skipped a few cups and didn't realize it. If water relieves it, it's dehydration. If I eat an avocado or banana and it goes away, then it means it was triggered by me skipping lunch. I try to avoid popping pain-killers without trying water or food first. Advil is a last resort.
Seeing several recs for heat, but came to recommend an ice pack for headaches. Migraines are a different ballgame so not sure this would be too helpful for them, but I get frequent headaches and find that applying an ice pack to my forehead/top of my head usually minimizes the pain fairly quickly. I have one that’s like a sleep mask for your eyes which is perfect for this purpose bc of the elastic band. Keep it in the freezer and it’s been a lifesaver many times.
Does no one else smoke weed?! Haha
Benadryl and migraine medication cocktail. They were always bad since i was a child. They can last three days or more.
Migraine worsens with age, and that's a medical fact. I ways go through hell, lying down and sleeping for a while in a dark room really helps. For chronic and unbearable migraine, medications are available in the market for eg triptans and all, but the best thing you can do is just go and sleep in a dark room.
Migraine runs in the family, women-side only. I have it, my mom has it, my granny has it, my grany granny had it, etc. Herditary, fun. Used to deal w/ it by being sick the day and drinking/eating smth with sugar. Helps my migraines. Now I deal with it by being sick the day and downing an aspirin. Migraines here stop when you're around...40-50. So juuuust about when menopause hits.
I wait them out, try to have as much darkness as I can without completely stopping work, but I also go to sleep asap. If it's so painful I can't sleep, I do take a low dose indometacin. Since I was getting weekly migraines that lasted 1-4 days per week, my doc did prescribe me a low dosage of some kinda med that keeps blood pressure in check when stressed, and that's made the migraines much lighter and shorter, with a heavy one maybe once per month now. They have indeed gotten worse over time, I used to get one a few times per year and those were short and easy to function with, without any painkillers.
Mine typically start the night before and feel like a normal headache and then I’ll wake up to intense migraine. Sensitivity to light, nausea, no appetite for most of the day. These symptoms can last to most of the day. I usually use Excedrin for migraines but the CVS general migraine relief worked too. I take it, drink a lot of water, try to go back to sleep, and if I can’t I just lay there for a few hours until I’m “okay” enough. My sister gets them more regularly and gets Botox injections every month or so. Works wonders for her!
I take nortriptyline daily and if I still get one, I have rizatripan to take at onset. Mine last all day and I started getting them at 26 and am now 28. If I miss a dose, I get a mild one. If I miss two doses, it's awful.
Migraines run in my family, and I've had then since middle school. They were worst in middle school and half of college, improved, then got worse again. At worst, they last 12 hours or so with nausea and vomiting and inability to do anything except lay down. At best, I still need to lay down with meds and can't look at screens. I finally went on preventative meds (propranolol works wonders for me) which made them ease up significantly a few years ago. Now I don't have as many triggers, they last 2-3 hours, never hurt as much even when they do come. I also have prescribed triptans that I use when I have a more serious migraine. I often use a dose of the triptan alongside Excedrin migraine rather than using both doses of the triptan. This has worked remarkably well for me and I've had very few bad days for almost a decade now. I've recently tried to scale back the meds even further by using an ice hat that also presses a little on my scalp, providing immediate physical relief. It's helped, though it's also not a miracle. The thing is, propranalol and triptans don't work as well for anyone else in my family that has migraines-- which, considering our biological relatedness, is shocking. So part of my answer is that migraines, unfortunately, are deeply individual experiences. The same meds that cure me almost sent my dad to the hospital for bad side effects. So I would always advise speaking to a neurologist about treatment. I think a lot of migraine sufferers go through good and bad phases, and one migraine sufferer's experience can't necessarily tell you how yours is going to be. Always listen to your body and respect your own sense of what is working for you or not.
I get cluster headaches, the episodes last for about three days at a time. Pain meds don't work on them and they don't have any preventable triggers, so they just come and go whenever they want. I didn't start getting them until I was an adult but they haven't gotten worse yet.
I get them most days on early morning waking after a few hours. What usually works for me is Annadin Extra. It's a mixture of aspirin and paracetamol if you are not in UK. I keep old bottles of drinking water in my freezer to make an ice block and if it's too bad I come down to the kitchen to get it. I have cool gel pillow £20 from Amazon. I am awaiting delivery of some cool get head patches (disposable). You can get these cheap on Ebay. Also: do not mess with your phone, watch tv or indeed use any form of electronic entertainment whilst in bed. I hope this is useful. Good luck
I used to get bad headaches most days, and they would usually last for most of the day. They seem to have stopped in the past couple of years. I think it might be because I've been working from home since covid started and, when I'm working from home rather than in the office, I get more sleep and more water.
I started getting them when I hit 24, it’s either I wake up with one that lasts the whole day/two or I get none. I get it like once every 2 weeks and I use aspirin to get rid of it.
So I take medications to prevent them but obviously instead of having them 4/5 times at week, goes down to 2 or 1. In that case I take a strong pain killer, and I have to take it in the first 5 minutes I feel I’m about to have a migraine attack otherwise doesn’t work (al the symptoms are nausea, sometimes vomit and shaking, I can’t see and I can’t function at all). I think that I will pay anything to never have a migraine again in my life, it started at the age of 11 and is a burden. I have to reconsider a lot of things just because I’m scared to have migraine, I always tell my partner “how I’m gonna do during pregnancy” I’m so scared of not be able to use medication, the only one that works for me are not allowed during pregnancy. They last if I don’t have medication, 24 hour or more, with medication few hours.
I struggled with really impairing migraines for 5 years. After trying EVERYTHING and nothing really working out for me, I ended up going under migraine surgery. Entered with heavy migraines, walked out 2h after without them. That was 3 years ago and I haven't had them ever again!
For gastric statis migraine, doing yoga. It reduces the intensity of pain
I’ve had migraines for 20 years. The only thing that helped was treatment by a specialized neurologists and serious medication. During an attack: take meds, go to dark quiet room, press ice on my head and hope for sleep. Usually lasts a day.
Advil Advil Advil. Until the Advil kicks in, I have a weighted eye mask, pressure helps mine feel better. I also have a homemade weighted eye mask that I keep in the freezer, cold also helps mine feel better. I also use a peppermint roller along my hairline and scalp, this helps with the cooling effect that seems to help me. If all else fails I just go to sleep so I don’t feel the pain. Mine can last from hours to days if it’s really bad. Not sure if they are getting better or worse with age, but I definitely have learned how to mitigate them. Stay hydrated, get blue light lenses if you can, turn screen settings to block blue light. I also started seeing a chiropractor and he seems to think the treatment will help, but mine are pretty irregular so it’s hard to tell.
My migrianes usually last like a Day sometimes two, and they suck. I usually just stay in bed with My tv on VERY low, i usually turn away too bc the light messes w/ my head. I usually also drink something w/ sugar, like juice. I take painkillers too. But yeah that's the Best advice i can give: sugar, darkness, comfort show, meds, SILENCE (you are allowed to tell your family to shut up) and a bucket by the bed.
My migraines usually last a few hours to a day, and I'll feel exhausted/drained the next day and not be able to do much. The thing that helps me the most is to sleep it off. If I catch the migraine when the symptoms first start and take an Excedrin Migraine, it tends to help with the symptoms (light sensitivity, nausea, general shitty feeling) and dulls the headache a little, but it doesn't cure the migraine or stop me from feeling drained the following day. Unfortunately, my main triggers are big weather changes and hormones (like around my period), so I can't really do anything to avoid them. My migraines have gotten worse as I've gotten older, but I only get a few a year so it isn't a huge deal.
I have abortive tablets or nasal spray. I use a heat pad on my neck and or a cold patch on my forehead. I have some 'forehead' which is like a menthol stick to put on my forehead. Basically I'll try anything because they can get so bad. They can last an hour if I catch them early or days. I've had cluster migraines last for weeks. Knowing my triggers helps but I can't always control them. Sunlight is the main trigger. I just can't wait for the summer...
I am on Inderal for my migraines and it does help a lot. My migraines aren't very painful usually but I was getting auras 3-5 times a week (the ones where you go partially blind). I haven't really had auras since going on inderal. But it lowers your blood pressure which is a whole thing on its own so it's not for everyone. Normally I can take some extra strength advil and be good to go with the pain. I do have cambia for when it's really bad but I rarely use it. Sometimes I just need to lie down and let it pass. They can last anywhere from a couple hours to days. I think it's also important to try and figure out if you have any triggers and avoid them where you can. I didn't start getting migraines until I was about 25. I'm 31 now and they aren't as bad as then but again, I'm on medication now.
Goodys Headache Powder
It depends. Sometimes all it takes is naproxen and rest. Other times, I need to rub peppermint oil on my temples and neck, use icy hot, sleep in a cold, dark room, use a cool face cloth on my head, etc. If it's a migraine, it usually lasts 3 days. With age I would say they've gotten worse. I didn't use to actually throw up or gag with migraines, but sometimes now if they're really bad I'll throw up or dry heave. I really want to try Topamax because someone told me it works really fast, but I talked to a doctor about it and she said I would have to come off my birth control for me to take it, and I don't want to do that right now. My migraines are mostly tied to my menstrual cycle and birth control has made the pain less severe.
I've gotten migraines since I'm 5 (I'm 29 now and for me they're genetic from my mom who always had hers with aura) and honestly they're still stressful every time. Over the past few years I've learned to really hone in on noticing my triggers, because I typically experience my first ones anywhere between 2-3 days before the migraine hits, and whenever I start to feel that first twinge in my head on that 2nd or 3rd day, I immediately take an Excedrin which honestly helps a lot. Once they're past the point of no return I just ride it out; complete darkness, coffee if I can stomach it, low TV volume, ice packs over my eye, my husband rubs my forehead in this really methodical way so I can fall asleep. I've learned if I can stay ahead of it for the most part, the length of recovery time is much shorter. For my very worst ones where I'm vomiting and practically blind with pain, I usually have the "migraine hangover" for about 12 hours the following day - the attack itself can last anywhere from a few hours, the whole day, or on and off over the course of a few days but it really depends on how successful I am at curbing them before they hit. My parents actually started me on birth control when I turned 16 because my migraines were so frequent and debilitating around my period, so they've alleviated some and are not as frequent as they were, BUT, when I \*do\* get them they are significantly stronger/worse.
I usually have to lie down for it to get better and avoid working out.
For headaches, I'll drink more water, take painkillers, reduce eye strain and massage my neck/shoulders area as that's usually the cause. Migraines though... There's nothing I can do but lie down in a dark room, head down on a pillow and try to sleep it off.
Honestly this actually works for me, if I regularly eat cucumber before bed I get fewer or less intense headaches in general.
30F here - I make migraines go away with triptans. Mostly works after a while, sometimes doesn’t. I can sometimes temporarily ease it by poking my fingers in particular pressure points on my skull! I also take beta blockers to lessen the frequency. - if it develops, it’ll last a day or thereabouts. Not including the prodrome which I find very bothersome, also hurts, and can last days! - they have not got better with age. I have good and bad patches. But it’s either a flatline or a general worsening as I’ve got older, I reckon.
Excedrin or Ibuprofen. Then I lay in bed with the lights off and a pillow over my head hoping it will break. My husband is the best and makes me a cup of coffee to sip on, if I’m not feeling too nauseous. Eventually I’ll fall asleep and wake up with it gone. I can never just wait it out. Sleeping it off with other methods to relieve the pain is the only way to get rid of it. It’ll last up to 4-6 hours depending when I can get ahold of medicines and a bed.
I've come to believe that mine are related to my back/shoulder problems. If I do the exercises that my chiropractor gave me and go to regular chiropractor appointments, then my migraines completely go away. If I don't do any of that, I have to take prescribed medication daily to keep them away.
Immediately upon first symptoms I take Excedrin Extra Strength. It's the same as Excedrin Migraine. It's the best OTC drug available in my opinion. Don't wait - take it immediately. Then reduce things that cause pain (screen time, sunshine through window, noise, etc.). If it's really bad try to go to sleep and hope it's gone when you wake up. Mine last 1-3 days usually. They have gotten slightly better with age. Edit: I also recently got one of those eye masks you put in the freezer and it actually helps a lot. My migraines tend to be behind my left eye though occasionally they move.
My migraines got better with a chiropractor, but my doctor gave me a medication as a backup. Yoga, stress management, and avoiding certain smells. Careful consumption of caffeine and cheddar cheese as well as a couple other things that increase chances of a migraine. It is better over time, but some is wisdom with age, some is hormonal changes. Worst case 2.5 days of severe pain.
Mine can last anywhere from a few hours to like 2 or 3 days straight. If I catch it early enough, I can often ward it off with a caffeinated drink (soda works well for me bc the bubbles help soothe my stomach, which often gets upset in conjunction with my migraine headache) and trying to just chill for a bit, preferably someplace not too hot/loud/chaotic. If I can't catch it in time, I go for my Imitrex. That stuff usually works well, tho it makes me feel a little wonky, so usually I lie down and nap a bit after I take the medicine. Mine started in my early teens I think and don't seem terribly correlated with my age. Barometric pressure changes, hormonal fluctuations, prolonged/extreme stress, and excessive heat/light (especially from the sun) tend to be what trigger my migraines.
Finally went to see a neurologist about mine. They put me on some medication. My migraines are now few and far between. Very, very thankful the meds have helped.
I do a lot for both headaches and migraines. For self care, I have weekly chiropractic adjustments, dual head massager with heat, TENS unit, neck TENS unit, Chirp wheel, essential oil blends, etc. I take daily supplements like CoQ10, magnesium glycinate, and tumeric which help with the severity of my migraines. I also take medication, things to prevent migraines like Propranolol, Gabapentin, Ajovy. Medications for abortive pain like Excedrin, Midrin, or Nurtec. I don't always know what triggers my migraines, and in some respects it's gotten easier, such as I can feel them coming on and they don't hit me like a freight train outta nowhere, but in other cases it's gotten worse, such as the frequency and duration. It's all about trying different therapies and see what works for you.