Migraine headaches

[rshawhan]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone else gets migraine headaches??? I have had some bad headaches lately, and I am wondering if they are migraines. When I was first diagnosed with IC, the nurse asked me if I got migraines. She said that many patients who have IC seem to have migraines.
Thanks,
Claire

[kadi]

I get them with my periods, usually the second & third day.

[DianeRN]

I've had migraines for years, way before I was diagnosed with IC. Do you get the symptoms that usually go along with migraines like photophobia, nausea, and pain usually on one side of the head?

[rshawhan]

Kadi,
Thanks. What do you take for your migraines?
Claire

[rshawhan]

Diane,
I am not sure if the pain is on one side of the head. I will have to pay more attention, but I do get nausea. Regular painkillers do not seem to relieve the pain. I seem to get them every 3 months or so.
Claire

[kadi]

Nothing yet. I just got an estrogen patch from the doctor to wear the week I am off the birth control pill, to try to avoid the migraine. And then she gave me a script for Imitrex in case I get it anyway. But I've not tried it yet... I just dread my periods & now I'm dreading trying new medicines too. But if I don't try it, I could miss out on a good solution. So, gotta be brave, I guess.

[mary124]

I have been having migraines for as long as I can remember-way before IC hit me. Been on every kind of meds. For a few years I didn't have any headaches, but late last year they took me off one medication-Topomax and had to put me on 2 other ones, however started getting headaches again. At first the doctors upped my dosage which really didn't help, this time at my last appointment he finally took notice that this is the 2nd time that I was in there complaining (which i usually don't) and gave me some samples of Zomig-which I had to take one and thankfully it worked!

[westiemom]

I too have migraines - I've had them since I was young. Mine are pretty severe ones. I get them at least twice a month, but if I'm having a bad IC month I definitely get them more. They seem to feed off of each other. Before I was diagnosed with IC I always thought there was a connection between my "bladder issues" and my migraines, but my neuro thought this wasn't possible. My uro was the one who told me they are believed to be connected by some.

I've been on almost every abortive available (according to my neuro) and have been on many preventive meds too.

If you think you are having migraines it may be best to see a neurologist. But, if you don't get them often and they are easily treated with common abortive medications your GP may be able to treat them without having to see a new doctor.

[DianeRN]

Like I said above, I've also been getting migraines years before I was diagnosed with IC. I've tried EVERYTHING! My neuro finally put me on Vivactil and topamax. This did it, I maybe get a migraine once every 6-9 months. If I get really upset about something, it may come more often. You may want to ask your doctor about these meds. The Vivactil is also used to treat IC.

[ICNDonna]

I don't get migraines, but I have a daughter-in-law who does. She had tried everything and nothing seemed to work. She finally gave up sugar and the problem has lessened --- not totally gone, but the headaches are less frequent. She does see a neurologist.

Donna

[westiemom]

Migraines are alot like IC in that the severity and symptoms differ from person to person and the response to treatments differ from person to person. Migraines are also one of those illnesses that are triggered by foods for some people. Mine are personally triggered by artificial sweetner (even a trace amount - I can pick it up), hot dogs, wine -any alcohol actually (but oh how I miss my white wine) and many other things.

And just like many IC patients, I've been on plenty of migraine meds throughout the years that have worked wonders for some but did absolutely nothing for me, but just the same, I've been on some that have worked wonders and after a long period of time have just stopped working and I've had to find a new med. I've never heard of Vivactil, but I did take Topomax and it worked wonders for me, until I my body developed a reaction to it after taking it for over a year, then the cycle started all over again. If you can handle the side effects of Topomax it can be a wonder drug for some.

All these things that are so common between the two - I definitely agree that they must be connected somehow. Autoimmune, neurological - either way, more research needs to be done and better treatments need to be available for both illnesses in my opinion.

[westiemom]

Just wanted to add that for both illnesses, a flare can also come out of nowhere with no known triggers from what I've experienced and read. Which is how my migraines usually happen since I avoid all my controllable triggers like the plague! And both can be extremely debilitating. There is still a large misconception that a migraine is just a bad headache - nothing can be further from the truth.

Just FYI.

[nottoc4]

I used to have migraines but they suddenly stopped in 1978.Every once in awhile I get the "aura" but no headache follows.

[westiemom]

It is possible to have the aura without the following pain. It is still considered a migraine when this happens.

Contrary to what many people believe migraine comes in many forms and affects many different areas of the body, not just head pain.

[nottoc4]

I think they run in families. My grandma used to get them and I have 2 daughters that get them. All 3 of my daughters have IBS but I don't.

[karenapp]

I've had migraines off and on since I was 19 or 20 (I'm 36 now). I do not get them as often, but I do get some bad ones once every couple of months. Mine usually come during my period and are set off by smells (perfumes, air freshners, etc.) I do have the aura, with or without the head pain. My doc has me on Relpac and phenergan for the nausea. I would highly recommend seeing a neurologist, first off to make sure it is a migraine and not something else, and secondly because they are a lot more knowlegable about the newest meds and what works best for you. Sending healing thoughts, I know migraines totally suck!:pray::pray::pray:

[breannavich]

Just this past month I've had two horrible headaches. One actually woke me up in the middle of the night..I took vicodin, it didn't help the pain but it did make me sleepy enough to go back to bed for a couple hours. I've never had headaches before. I'm assuming it might be a reaction to meds or IC. My mom has migraines but this is something new to me. The first one I got felt like someone was hammering into my left temple. The second one wasn't as bad and seemed to be centered in my forehead behind my eyes. Delightful.