As I Recall It: My First Migraine
I was pregnant with my first child. At the very beginning of my second trimester, I had this (what I thought) was extreme head pain, so much so that I thought I was having a stroke (though I didn't say that out loud to my husband, who was a very nervous first-time dad). I called my OBGYN's office to ask what I should do. He rightly told me to head for the medical center on the USMC base where my husband was stationed. He was already prepping for another delivery, so he checked me in and prescribed a safe pain reliever and fluids to be run through an IV. I was a bit dehydrated (I'd been dealing with some residual morning sickness). I felt better but extremely tired. I went home to sleep most of the evening right through to the next day. My baby, however, wasn't sleepy, LOL. She was born in March of '91. She and my son both experience migraines. I feel pretty guilty about that when I see the two of them suffer the same experience. I know, objectively, that there isn't anything I could have done to change the genetics, but still.... I think some of you must understand that feeling.
Migraines don't just run through the family; there's a stampede of migraine sufferers.
What a scary experience that sounds like,
, to experience those symptoms during your first pregnancy! Thank goodness your doctor was able to get you rehydrated and some pregnancy-safe pain meds. And I'm sorry to hear that both your son and daughter suffer with migraine attacks as well. It certainly isn't your fault, although I'm sure other parents can relate to that feeling you mention. Not to mention how painful it is as a mother to watch our children suffer and hurting. Do any of the three of you find any medications or treatments helpful in managing migraine? I'm also curious if, with similar genetics, the three of you have found that you find that you react to medications similarly. Sending you all gentle hugs! -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member) It was truly heart rending to watch my 11 year old daughter (she experienced puberty very young) struggle with that kind of horrible pain. She responds pretty well to the traditional Imitrix and we also visit the chiropractor with her when she gets hit with the pain. She has traditional migraine and also vertigo migraines. The vertigo migraines are the most intense, thank Heaven she still lives at home. Routine: She will immediately take meclizine, and Aleve when she feels a migraine coming on. If she's able to lay down, put on her music cozy or "Vibes" ear plugs to cut down on the noise, we close the room darkening curtains, then she goes to sleep. (Vibes are a lifesaver by the way)
My son gets traditional migraine and also abdominal migraine. (sometimes called cyclic vomiting) My son does not respond as well to imitrix. His migraines DO respond well to chiropractic treatment he also takes a calcium channel blocker, gabapentin, and when nausea strikes he takes OTC meclizine if it's really bad then ondansetron. He has been to the hospital more often for nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Normally the doctors give him a cocktail of meds via his IV usually it includes something to help him relax. At one point he was in the hospital 2x per month with abdominal migraine. Finally one doctor said... This is migraine and we're going to treat it with sumatriptan. I was grateful that someone had an idea.
Now there are a few exceptional things that might influence the medication outcomes. Both my daughter and myself are neurodivergent. I'm dyslexic... my daughter has Audio Processing Disorder. My son and I have an arachnoid cyst in our brains. I believe the arachnoid cyst does made a difference in how the brain responds to medicines though I've no proof of that... just mother's intuition. (Normally the cyst, if it is inherited by a child, passes from mother to daughter) I have Celiac, POTS syndrome and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Bilateral peripheral neuropathy. Any of these things can influence migraine and absolutely makes a difference in how medicines are processed by my body. If I catch it in time I use the old fashioned Goody's headache powder. I also take Lyrica for the
