Migraines and depression

Cassar · ‎04-06-2017

Migraines and depression, not a good combo.Having a bad one today they last 3 days,and the pain is so bad try to keep doing things but it makes you feel real sick through in my mood and i have spent my day trying to do house work and crying most of the day the pain gets unbearable ,I have had them for30 odd years and they can come on by simple day to day things.I pray that depression can simply be fixed and not return ,i struggle enough emotionaly with the migraines...These 2 together to much i just want to curl up in a fetal position and wake up normal and my old happy self that i havn,t seen in a long time....

Hope_for_the_best · ‎04-06-2017

I am sorry to hear that you are suffering badly from migraine and depression. Have you consulted your doctor for both conditions? It is essential to control your migraine as the pain is excruciating enough to depress you further. Known migraine triggers include food and stress. Avoiding triggering food and stress are helpful. It is wise to have your depression meds reviewed by your doctor to see if they are at the proper dosage for you. Depression stresses your body, which is not good for your migraine. There is prophylactic medication for migraine, which you take to prevent a headache when you don't have one. Please check with your doctor.

Get well soon.

MsPurple · ‎04-06-2017

HI Cassar. Sorry to hear about your migraines and depression. I think I have only had a migraine once. It was terrible. It was caused by a virus and at the same time I had tonsilitus and sinisitus. It was terrible and painful and I couldn't get out of bed without pain relief. Lucky as soon as I got antibiotics I started to get better and the migraine went. But that was probably the most painful 3-4 days of my life. My mum also used to suffer from migraaines. They were so bad that if we sore here eyes red as a kid we knew so was in so much pain. She would use a hot pack and some pain medication as prescribed by her doctor. She was later changed medication for another condition which stopped her getting her periods and migraines. She was very lucky that she found something that helped. For most that is not the case. My mum said she didn't have trigger food but as hope above said some people do. One of the main food ingredients that can affect headaches is MSG so maybe trying to avoid that may help but the evidence for it is limited. What my mum would do is use a hot pack, have lots of water, avoid light and make sure she was comfortable. Not sure if this is helpful but she said it helped her.

With your depression have you discussed it with your doctor? I have found me going to counselling for my depression and anxiety was really helpful for me. I also find meditation helps me with my racing mind. It also helps me think better of myself or it helps me stop the negative voice in my head. Maybe this is something you could consider.

BballJ · ‎04-06-2017

Hi Cassar,

Migraines are terrible just on their own, add in depression which makes anything a lot more tougher. As Hope.for.the.best and MsPurple have asked, have you seen your GP about both of these conditions as they are paramount to be monitored by a professional?

I suffer from anxiety and headaches, I know not as bad as migraines but that sort of came hand in hand with my anxiety and once I understood why I was getting headaches, I found they were not as prominent and didn't come as often, I know it may not be the same but getting control of both things is key here.

My best for you,

Jay

Cassar · ‎05-06-2017

Thanks for all the feed back.My migraines are triggered by a large tear in my shoulder blade that i have had for years. They have only just found it and i am waiting in line for quatorzone injections,if they don,t work it,s an operation that can take six months to recover from and having to sleep upright in a chair,which i have never been able to do.Stresses me out even more thinking of it. I am on high dose for depression and seeing a pchyctrist for head.Get the migraines from a click in shoulder pinched nerves,from pegging washing or brush hair you never no what.But every 2 weeks or so.Stops me from doing things i love and then more depressed.

BballJ · ‎05-06-2017

Hi Cassar,

I am really sorry to read that, I wish I had the great piece of advice to offer you but I don't, I am glad to read that you are seeking out all the help you can, but I can also see how this would affect you. I do hope you the cortisone injections work for you and you get the relief you need.

My best,

Jay

kbkman · ‎12-06-2017

You're definitely right. I've had chronic migraines since I was a little boy... they really complicate an issue like depression where you're already at a deficit with vitality and energy. I remember it made days, back when I had full blown depression, very long and difficult.

I'm actually off to my GP soon for the first time in years to discuss them as they have been increasing in the past 12 months in intensity, duration and regularity. I am largely past my periods of depression and chronic anxiety, this remains the last real scourge of my health that stops me from studying and working, sometimes from simply sitting in bed and eating food. I am also sick of relying on strong pain killers to treat them, and then being treated like a criminal at the chemist when I need to buy more (even with a certificate from the doctor!)

I hope they sort your shoulder problem - on the bright side if this can be remedied, you may be relieved of migraines afterward? Good luck I hope it works out. In the mean time surely a GP can prescribe you something to treat them? I usually manage to treat them with over the counter pain killers, if I can catch them quick enough (I am "lucky" in that I have the aura thing, I get some weird cognitive stuff and visual disturbances before one comes on). I was also prescribed a beta blocker for a few years, that seemed semi-effective in preventing them.