Migraines! How do you deal with this?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm currently a Pre-nursing student, and been suffering from migraines for about a year. They wont go away, unfortunately, but I'm not going to let them interfere with my daily life. Being that Nursing is a stressful job, how do you deal with these awful headaches? Does taking medication actually work? Even if you're working in a stressful environment? How did you deal with this during nursing school? I can't even study without taking my pill. It's awful!

Note: I'm not asking for medical advice, but would like to read your comments on how you got through this with school or work. Thanks!

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Specializes in Progressive Care.

I too suffer from migraines. When I was in nursing school I would often have migraines and discovered Midrin. This is a miracle medication for me. I have learned that one thing I can do to prevent my migraines is to eat a good breakfast, have a quick mid-morning snackbar, and then eat lunch around 1:00. If I do this then I typically will not get a migraine. I suggest that you work with your physician or NP to figure out what is causing your migraines and then do what you can to prevent them. Don't let migraines get in the way of your dreams. Good luck!!!

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I've been suffering from Migraines since I was 19. That's 14 years. Anything from smelling pesticides in the isle at Home Depot to my period, caused them. Had no less than 4 a month. Finally went to see a Neurologist and he put me on a preventative medication and gave me a script for Maxalt.

I'm loving life now! Please see a doctor and get the help you need to. It makes a world of difference.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

I am predisposed to them since my Grandmother suffered with them for years. Hers disappeared once she hit 40, but mine continue. Oddly enough, since I've started working in May, I've not had one migraine. I don't know if it's cause I'm busy and I've cut back on caffiene (not intentionally, but it's hard to grab a soda when you've got a bed to change or a patient to turn and reposition), but not one in over 6 weeks.

The only things that help mine are Motrin (2 600 mg tablets) or Alleve, but when I take an Alleve, it's usally an hour or more before I get any sort of relief. Of course, the ultimate luxury would be being able to just lay down and sleep it off, but in reality, that never happens.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Orthosurgery, Rehab, Homecare.

There are many rx's both preventative and abortive. Also identifying the triggers can be key. Please see your MD about them and if possible/necessary a referal to a neurologist. They will have suggestions. Look online for a list of potential triggers and try to see if any of them are relevent to you, take this info to your appointment with your healthcare provider. Triggers are different for everyone, but there are many common ones too. See your Doctor, there is no need to suffer.

~Jen

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Specializes in ub-Acute/LTC, Home Health, L&D, Peds.

This is NOT medical advice, just relating my experience. My husband has horrific migraines where if he didn't have his medication he could be vomiting and in bed for days. He was started on Imitrex and he has to take the shot because the pill didn't work. But within a half hour he can get up and go on with his day migraine free. So meds do work but you have to find the one that works for you. He tried a couple different ones before he found this. Also there are different reasons people get migraines so that should be worked up by your doctor. My husband had a CT of his head and other tests to R/O reasons for his migraines.

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After 12 years of suffering with horrible migraines, I started keeping a food diary -- I discovered mine were triggered by potatoes! As little as one chip or french fry, and I'm certain to have a migraine. Since I realised what my trigger was, I've been migraine free for 2 years.

-- Tho i must admit, there have been a couple times when I've craved a baked potato so badly, I've taken a couple Excedrin as a preventative before eating one.

It seems that wine and almonds also will cause me to get migraines, but those were much easier for me to give up.

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Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.

:idea: I have migraines. I have a few ways of dealing with them.

First, as was mentioned above, a naproxen sodium pain reliever like Aleve. This workds best in the earliest stages of a migraine.

If that doesn't seem to be working, I take acetominophen like Extra Strength Tylenol. Aleve and Tylenol are different classes of painkillers and have different targets, so you won't be in danger of overdose if you take both together.

Sometimes I add ginger root to control nausea and caffeine to increase the painkillers' effect. If you have a high tolerance for caffeine or suspect caffeine is a trigger for you, don't take it.

Finally, if all this fails I take 5mg of Zomig. About 60-90 minutes later the pain is gone. Be warned that Zomig can cause drowsiness and in rare cases people have serious side effects.

In any case, go to your doctor and discuss the various options.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

This is what works for me:

No MSG, Nutra Sweet or artificial colors

Plenty of sleep and on a consistent schedule (this hasn't been happening lately and I've paid for it)

Taking my Imitrex at the first sign of a headache (there are always warning signs if you know what to look for)

Depakote ER was a lifesaver for me during college

I visited a comprehensive headache center that had a more holistic approach- this helped me to identify triggers and find non-pharmacological ways to manage my headaches

Good luck with nursing school

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I AM NOT GIVING MEDICAL ADVISE - JUST MY OPINION

GO SEE YOUR DR ASAP!!!

As a fellow student, I can tell you that there is NO way to control migraines with diet and rest right now (at least for me, I realize everyone is different)!!! You need to seek assistance from your Dr. and get on meds ASAP to control your migraines. There is not enough time for you to figure out your triggers (can take years) and then you have to determine how to treat them can take months. Let the meds do their job and worry about prevention after nursing school. I have suffered since age 12 and my triggers change periodically, so there is NO WAY for me to prevent them. And being a student and keeping the hrs that I keep and the stress that we are under, I keep my meds within an arms reach 24/7! Hopefully once I graduate I can control my migraines naturally, but right now there is no way. Too much stress and too little rest!!!!

I take Maxalt 10mg and won't leave home without it. I have very little time from onset to full blown migraine, so I have to be prepared. And it has gotten worse since starting nursing school.

Good luck!!!

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Specializes in orthopaedics.

as per site policy no medical advice. i too am a migraine sufferer. you really need to talk to a doctor and find out what is going to work best for you. i wish you the best there really is help for you out there.

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my experience: i've had migraines for quite a few years now...7 yrs ago they started coming more frequently (car accident). mine are mostly stress/tension related and a chiropractor has helped LOTS! if i go twice a month, i'm usually migraine free that month! relpax works for me if i do get one...made me sleepy at first but now can function after taking one. imitrex doesn't work on me anymore and despite everything, nobody will refer me to a neuro dr! i got my first ct scan last fall afer an ER trip for a migraine! good luck!

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