I need your advice. I suffer from migraines about 2-3 times a month for many reasons. It used to just be caffeine and nitrates, but now it's also premenstrual and I can't control those. I'm 36 and just starting my nursing prereqs and doing well, but I keep wondering what in the world I'm going to do about these migraines? I had a past heart condition, so it's unlikely that I will be allowed to take Imitrex (even though I am healed from my heart condition, I still take precautionary medicines for the rest of my life).
I can't see any employer being too happy about me calling in suddenly two or three days a month. These migraines are not anything I can work through. I become confused, disoriented, nauseated and the pain is so intense that I usually take some pain meds and go to bed, or hold ice on my head for the four-five hours it goes on.
After chatting with my husband about this, I told him I'd ask on this board. He feels that I'm not going to be a very good candidate as a nurse, no matter how good I am, because I have this problem. I'm worried that these stupid headaches are going to mean I'm a prisoner, no matter how talented I am or my potential. Do any of you have experience with this, or know of other nurses who do? How do they cope with it, how will employers look at it?
Thanks! I just passed my anatomy and phys class and my psych class, both with "A's".
The best advice you have received thus far is to arrange for a nerurological consult. Many posters will tell you what works for them and will advance their own personal preferences in management of migraine. You will doubtless receive suggested remedies ranging from Acupuncture to Zen. SEE A NEUROLOGIST.
Probably the foremost authority on headaches in the US is Seymour Diamond of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago.
I empathize...I've been dealing with migranes since 1997 (the year I took a break from nursing, incidentally). That first migrane was a godawful experience; I basically had a headache for a whole week, that wasn't relieved by anything. I was also sleep deprived as a result, which worsened them. Finally, I went to a doctor, and after a two week trial on Sedapap (which killed the migrane, and also put me right to sleep; fortunately he told me to stay out of work that first day), I started taking Midrin for migranes. I find that helpful if I take it right away (especially if I first have an aura), but unfortunately that's not always possible. Since it has sedative effects, I can't take it on the job. So then, I usually have to suffer until I get home. Of course if I can't get it under control, and I end up losing sleep, I don't go to work. Better safe than sorry (for patients, job, and self). When I was going from one medine to the other for my blood pressure, my doctor put me on a beta blocker, hoping that would give me additional help with the migranes (it didn't). I have in recent months been on Xanax for anxiety and mood problems, and I have found that that helps too; unfortunately I can't take that at work either (or I'd be a very happy calm nurse. That or I'd be unhappy but I wouldn't care). You just have to find out what works for you. I was always told to look for triggers (I noticed you identified some); aside from stress, and noticing I had a higher propensity to develop migranes with sinus headaches, I never really quite found any identifiable dietary triggers (unless I've missed something); oh yeah, St. John's Wort triggered them. Anyway, don't let them stop you. It's just something you have to manage the best you can, once you find what works for you. Fortunately most of my employers since then have been understanding about the situation. I'm betting you'll find that your future employers will be too, for the most part. Stick with nursing school. We need more nurses. :)
I am going into my senior year of my RN-BSN program. I have been through the whole migraine thing throughout the last three years of nursing school. I tried so many different meds I can't name them all right now. I have had them for years, so treating them has been a hardship. Right now Frova is helping. I did the neuro consult and we have tried alot of different medications. It is a trial and error situation. I have a supportive husband, so that helps. He has read my book to me when I couldn't see anymore due to these horrible headaches. Try to keep your meds with you at all times. Keep on a resonable eating schedule and sleep schedule. I know sometimes that's impossible, but it seems to help me. If you have to go part time for work or school then do it, because these headaches are not worth your dreams of being a nurse not becoming a reality.
Well if you have migraines you will have lots of compay in the nursing profession!!!!!!!! See a neuro, but also keep a log of your migraines to see if you can ID some more triggers. I did that thinking d/t my age (30s) that maybe it was hormonal. I did get one around the time of ovulation, but also discovered a secondary pattern. I noticed (doing agency home health work as an aide) that whenever I had a certain patient I got a headache. Well, this particular gentlemans care was (drum roll) provide socialization. Well, that usually meant drinking diet pepsi and eating his diabetic chocolates with him. :rotfl: ANyway, I cant eat diabetic candies AT ALL. I shared a few with Mom the other night and promptly triggered one. So, it can be all sorts of weird things.
I'm in an ADN program right now (entering my last year) and I'm a long time migraine sufferer. First of all, you'll find that lots of people are sympathetic to migraines, so don't worry about the nursing school/working issue. Plus, we're nurses, what better field could you go in to that would understand so much?
Second, see a neurologist. There's a lot of great meds out there that could probably work for your situation, and new drugs are being approved all the time. There are drugs for prevention at the first sign of migraine, drugs for full-blown migraines, and drugs for daily prevention. There are drugs that you can take specifically around that time of the month to prevent migraines. I'm sure a neurologist can work with you.
If you're going to see a neurologist, start keeping a headache journal now. Write down when you have a headache, what the pain is like (where it originated, how long it lasts, how it progresses, etc.), and score it on a scale of 0-10. Also write down what you did as treatment.
Pay conscious attention to the foods/beverages you intake to figure out triggers. Stay on a normal sleeping schedule 7 days a week with the same bed time and wake-up time. Sleep pattern disturbance is usually a big contributer. If you're drinking any caffiene at all, get off it. Don't drink any alcohol.
A good neurologist can kick migraine butt or at least make then managable. It may take you a while to find the right combo, but stick with it. All the other posts are full of great advice - watch your BP. If you had braces, you may need to see your dentist/orthodontist for a check because jaw problems can lead to severe headaches (like TMJ, bruxing, etc.).
Salty1
76 Posts
The best advice you have received thus far is to arrange for a nerurological consult. Many posters will tell you what works for them and will advance their own personal preferences in management of migraine. You will doubtless receive suggested remedies ranging from Acupuncture to Zen. SEE A NEUROLOGIST.
Probably the foremost authority on headaches in the US is Seymour Diamond of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago.
Best wishes for resolution of your headaches.