Migraines and nursing?

excited1 · Jul 1, 2015

I am not a nurse yet, but I am in the middle of my RN program. Like you, I suffer from migraines and have made it through clinical days with few. I just wish there was something more that we could do for ourselves other than lay in agony.

Only thing that has helped cut down the level of intensity from "i am decapitating myself" down to "brutal" is taking my imitrex the minute I feel one coming on. For me, I get the aura, so once I see that, I pop my med. Works 50% of the time, but I will take those odds for my sanity.

Good luck to you!

BeachsideRN, ASN · Jul 1, 2015

Following.... in nursing school and suffer from terrible migraines. Stress and hormones are my biggest triggers - YAY! /sarcasm/ I am actually going to see a new neurologist next week about my options as being miserable for 1-2 weeks a month is NOT an option. I have been researching botox therapy among other things.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 1, 2015

I've had migraines since I was 8; I'm in my 30s now. I have complex migraines when not treated promptly, will have intractable vomiting, ear pain, and pressure; one time I work up with a start with excruciating pain; by the time I arrived at the ED, I was vomiting.

I have yet to encounter having a migraine at work; I have auras and will take Excedrin for migraine or ibuprofen before it gets much worse. I see a neurologist for my migraines and he specialized in pain management, and I haven't had a horrible migraine for months; usually I take something before it gets that bad.

Purple_roses · Jul 1, 2015

As others have said, if you get aura with your migraines, that can actually be a small blessing. It's a little warning sign. As soon as you feel the aura coming on, take your meds. Often, the migraine will be less severe. Also, work with your neurologist until you find something that really makes a difference for you.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 1, 2015

I get migraines and so does my son. They are not fun. I would talk to your physician about something that could help prevent them also. I would not tell a potential employer about it. Employers are not very sympathetic to people with health issues.

FlyingScot, RN · Jul 1, 2015

You need to work with your neurologist to figure out your triggers and to find something that is more than "somewhat helpful". Weekly migraines doesn't indicate your condition is under control. Unfortunately this can and will affect your ability to work. You will have a choice of working with one which, as a fellow migraineur, I know is sometimes impossible. Or you will have to call off which will lead to poor performance evaluations. It's a no-win situation as you will not be eligible for intermittent FMLA until you have worked 1000 hours. Even with intermittent FMLA frequent call-offs will do nothing for your relationship with your colleagues and may put your job in jeopardy especially if you work in an at-will state.

toomuchbaloney · Jul 1, 2015

My spouse suffers with migraines.

I know that what helped her was discovering the primary triggers for her pain. They certainly were triggered by her menstrual cycle when she was a teen, but that sorted itself out in her early adulthood.

As others have said, the aura can be a blessing in disguise as it allows you to anticipate and premedicate.

Good luck.

allnurses Guide · Jul 1, 2015

First of all this is not medical advice simply a description of what has worked for me. I suffereded from dibilitating migraines for several years. I am talking aboutthe kind that left me no choice but to go home and lay in the dark until I fully recovered. I have only had one migraine in the past year so I must be doing something right. We eat pretty much gluten/Yeast product free and I personally consume an alkaline diet high in cruciferous vegetables. Almost no simple and very few complex carbs. When I eat carbs it's always in the form of whole grains (grains I can see and identify) cooked up in much the same manner as oat meal or rice. My favs are farro, spelt, quinio (sic) and buck wheat.

One I was doingthis for about 6 weeks my migraines lessened to the point that they are now an occasional annoyance. Of course I was right in the middle of menopause when they were at their worst so hormones probably played a big factor as well.

Hppy

MeganStar · Jul 1, 2015

Thanks all for the advice. I do take Propranolol as a prophylactic, which has cut down my migraines from 3 a week to 1 a week. I unfortunately don't have any warning signs before the start of a migraine. No aura's no nothing. The migraines typically come up pretty quickly, and I try to take my Maxalt (a triptan) at the first sign of a migraine. Sometimes it stops the migraine from progressing, other times, it's not as helpful.

I have many triggers, some of them I can prevent (such as hunger, even though nurses aren't always able to eat a full lunch...), others are not preventable. I have long thought about trying Botox, and I probably will try it at some point, although I am afraid to try it. Risk vs. benefit type thing. I have also thought about eliminating most processed food from my diet to see if that would be effective. Thanks all for sharing your stories. It gives me hope when I hear of success stories relating to migraines.

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 14, 2015

I tried the Botox for migraines, and it did help. Anecdotal evidence, but it's something.

I'll try to remember to come back to this thread. I've have had migraines since childhood, but they didn't get severe until shortly out of nursing school.

caliotter3 · Jul 14, 2015

Have a relative who works in a hospital. When one hits them at work, they go on down to the ER and take it from there. It has happened more than once and so far there has been no problem from the employer.