Anyone suffer from migranes or sinus headaches?

[Family Ties Forever!]

I get them and they are awful. They hurt so much more than a regular headache. The only thing that helps is Aspirin. Sometimes even that's not enough.

[Family Ties Forever!]

I have one now. I'm going to have to lay down and take Aspirin.

For those who suffer, what do you do?

[tiredmike59]

I have been cursed with migraines since I was a kid. I also have one right now because storms kept me up all night. I found out long ago that I can steam them away by laying in a bathtub with the back of my head in very hot water and breath thru a wet wash rag that I keep soaking in the hot water and placing on my face. After about 30 minutes the pain is gone and I will relax in a recliner but I have to be careful because I get very dizzy.

[Bonniegirl]

I was getting headaches from high blood pressure. I'm on medication now so the headaches stopped. I do have sinus headaches sometimes. I take Tylenol sinus.

[Zoneboy]

I don't have migraines but I've read in several publications including Prevention magazine that peppermint oil is supposed to be very effective.

Link

[MrCleveland]

I have something like that...I even had a blocked tear duct and one night I took an allergy pill and some white substance came out...I don't wanna be graphic, but what was in my nose?

[AB]

I take Benadryl for my sinus headaches. It usually get's rid of them but it also makes me sleepy.
For migraine headaches I take Excedrin Migraine. But I never take both at the same time. With any medicine be sure to read the directions and the possible side effects they may cause.

[sara]

I get migraines, and I take generic fioricet for them. I have tried to take excedrin migrain but it doesn't work as well and if I take a full dose I have gotten really really bad heartburn.

[veggie-tari-jenn]

I get horrible sinus headaches/ migraines......to the point I cant tolerate light or sound....it stinks......I cant take asprin I am allergic.....but I take ibuprofen and try a few holistic things like meditation, massage such as reflexology, accupuncture & accupressure.....lavender oil, peppermint oil, basil oil......sleep......I try to rest as much as I can.......cutting down on stress...yeah right....I know...haha.....and cutting down my junk eating....cause I luv my junk food unfortunately.....

[Family Ties Forever!]

Thanks everyone.

The one thing I could never try is accupuncture. I have a terrible phobia when it comes to needles.

[ponytail]

I used to get sinus headaches a lot. Lately I have been doing a nasal wash and that has really helped. The health food store has a nasal wash kit. I tried the neti pot,but didn't seem to work. I have never had migraines, but I have read that changing your diet helps.

[Penny Lane]

I rarely get headaches but when I do I take Ibuprofin. Aspirin doesn't work for me. My brother In Law gets cluster headaches, which are different from Migraines but every bit as painful. His doctor prescribed
Oxygen. As soon as he feels a cluster headache coming on he immediately inhales pure oxygen and that relieves it instantly. I suppose that could work for Migraines too? But the trick is to use the oxygen before the headache goes full blown or it won't work. My friend Katie always gets Migraines during the night and by the time she wakes up it's too late to use oxygen. She uses a prescription painkiller that works great but leaves her like a zombie all day long.

[Family Ties Forever!]

They're back . In the last six days, I've had 4 of them. That's a lot.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
What is fioricet?
I can't use a nasal spray wash. I can't put anything in my nose or ears. Something about it just flips me out.

Thanks for the link on peppermint oil. After reading it I don't think I should take it. It can cause eye irritation among other side effects I'm not comfortable with..

Peppermint oil for migraines
Peppermint is an herb, which is a combination of water mint and spearmint. It’s often used to flavor chewing gum and toothpaste. Its Latin Name is Mentha x piperita and its leaves are used as a food flavoring or dried as a tea.

Peppermint oil has been used as a natural remedy and herbal treatment for headaches, nausea, gas, indigestion, cold symptoms, skin irritations, anxiety, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, muscle and nerve pain as well as stomach and bowel conditions. Peppermint can also be found in chest rubs.

A 2002 survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Survey found that 12% of the 30,000 people polled have tried peppermint.

How Peppermint Oil works for migraines
Peppermint is known to be calming and numbing. It is believed that these properties make it helpful for people who suffer from migraines. For some people, applying Peppermint Oil to the forehead and temples serves as a natural medication for migraine.

Formulations of Peppermint and Peppermint Oil for migraines available
Fresh peppermint, Soft gels, Enteric coated soft gels, Chewables, Sublingual tablets that dissolve under the tongue, Liquid oil, Flavored syrups, Candy, Gum, Tea, Concentrated drops, Aromatherapy peppermint oil, Soap, Shampoo,
Skin cream, Foot spray, Candles, Aromatherapy sticks, Inhalation beads, Air freshener

Side effects of Peppermint Oil
Heartburn
Allergic reaction
Rash when applied to the skin
Mouth ulcers
Eye irritation
Dizziness
Heartburn
Slow heart rate
Muscle tremor

Overdose of Peppermint Oil can cause:
Muscle weakness
Brain damage
Seizure
Menthol, main ingredient in Peppermint may be deadly in humans or cause brain damage
Use on the skin can cause rash, severe skin damage (necrosis), or kidney damage (interstitial nephritis)
Inhaling large doses of menthol can lead to dizziness, confusion, muscle weakness, nausea or double vision

Who should not take Peppermint Oil for migraines
Never put peppermint oil on an infant’s face or a small child’s face. It may cause spasms that cause breathing problems.

Do not take Peppermint if you take the anti rejection drug cyclosporine, medications for diabetes, high blood pressure medications.

Peppermint may also make gallstones worse,

Peppermint oil for migraines in pregnant women, women who may become pregnant or women who are breastfeeding should not take Peppermint or drink Peppermint Tea.

If Peppermint is taken along with antacids, coating of capsules can breakdown and increase the chance of heartburn.

Pure menthol, which is found in peppermint oil, is poisonous. It should not be eaten or taken internally at all. It is important not to confuse oil and tincture preparations.

As with many herbal supplements and natural migraine remedies, Peppermint hasn’t been studied enough in children and therefore shouldn’t be given to children.

[shotzette]

Originally Posted by Family Ties Forever!

I get them and they are awful. They hurt so much more than a regular headache. The only thing that helps is Aspirin. Sometimes even that's not enough.

I'm sorry that you get migraines, Jenny. I don't, but the majority of my female friends over 40 do and they are debilitating. The friend who has them the worse (blurred vision, extreme pain, light sensitivity, and projectile vomiting) uses Imitrex (rx). It knocks her totally out and when she wakes up, the pain is gone. It's pretty extreme and not for everyone, but that's the only way hers go away.

Feel better!

[Family Ties Forever!]

Originally Posted by shotzette

I'm sorry that you get migraines, Jenny. I don't, but the majority of my female friends over 40 do and they are debilitating. The friend who has them the worse (blurred vision, extreme pain, light sensitivity, and projectile vomiting) uses Imitrex (rx). It knocks her totally out and when she wakes up, the pain is gone. It's pretty extreme and not for everyone, but that's the only way hers go away.

Feel better!

Thanks. Sorry to hear your friend has to go through that. That is good that there is a medicine that works for her. I'm not sure if I've heard of Imitex. I can relate to the extreme light sensitivity, sensitivity to sound. The pain is extreme too. I already have blurred vision and light sensitivity due to my eye conditions. I've never vomited because of the migraines/sinus headaches, but depending on the severity I have felt nauseous before. I try to make sure if I have to go somewhere that I have Aspirin with me.