This deserved an asinine tag, subby.

The lingual frenectomy I got in the military sure helped my 'speech impediment.' Thanks US Taxpayer!

serpent_sky: As someone who has suffered with migraines most of her life, and is in no need of plastic surgery, I'd try this. If there was honestly evidence that this stopped them? It would truly be life-changing.

I had to call off my band practice on Wednesday, as much as I wanted to go, because I was sitting on my couch watching swirls move around in my field of vision, and then I spent the night sleeping off crushing pain over my left eye. Yeah. Awesome.

Maybe you have the head demons. You should have that drilled out, ASAP!

As someone who suffers from chronic migraines (literally almost everyday and right now in fact) I would do this in a farking heartbeat.

Skeptical migraine sufferer is skeptical.

Yeah and I need a hair transplant to keep my brain from freezing...

I came here for bad facelifts
/Don't you disappoint me Fark

FTA:
operation, which is based on the forehead lifts carried out by cosmetic surgeons, is more than 90 per cent effective at easing the pain.

...sounds like it's well worth it to anyone who has serious migraines..

The zydrate comes in a little glass vial...

It's no different than using Dimoxinil to keep your brain from freezing.

The original use for botox was for migrane or stess headaches.

paloma: FTA:
operation, which is based on the forehead lifts carried out by cosmetic surgeons, is more than 90 per cent effective at easing the pain.

...sounds like it's well worth it to anyone who has serious migraines..

I am skeptical because it involves botox and I was in a botox study where it didn't work. Even regardless of this I want to try it though. Anything to live a normal life. I wanted to go out with my friends today but I am only allowed 4 migraine pills a week and I had to work this week. And regardless of this week I want to be a mother someday but I don't know how I can take care of a baby 24/7 with this. If someone told me I needed brain surgery I would do it. If someone told me I needed to smash my head into a wall I would do it. Anything. A facelift (even at a babyfaced 24yrs old) seems like a great option.

Joan Rivers' face gives me migraines so your headline is invalid.

Considering that people with migraines have vastly differing sets of triggers, I am very skeptical of this. And the "90%" claim has to be complete horseshiat.

serpent_sky
swirls move around in my field of vision

Yeah, I get a similar thing. Mine is concentric circular clouds that move in steps like poof poof poof. It is truly horrifying cuz I know when that starts I have 15 mins to get somewhere to lay down in the dark. I feel lucky that it only happened twice while I was driving and only once where I had to pull over and sleep in My truck.

There needs to be more research into the cause of migraines. Why is it mostly women 20-40? Why are they so powerful? Why is there a sudden explosion of them now?

/GIS
//migraine worthy

So, can I get my wife a boob job if I claim it will cure erectile disfunction?

I have suffered from debilitating migraines for the past 5 years or so. In 2006 I had a browlift (not for migraines) and while it didn't get rid of them completely, I haven't had them as bad. Would I do it JUST to get rid of the migraines? Hard to say. If you've never had a migraine, you can't understand how horrible they are. It's not "just a headache" and if a facelift will fix them, I say go for it.

pipco: serpent_sky
swirls move around in my field of vision

Yeah, I get a similar thing. Mine is concentric circular clouds that move in steps like poof poof poof. It is truly horrifying cuz I know when that starts I have 15 mins to get somewhere to lay down in the dark. I feel lucky that it only happened twice while I was driving and only once where I had to pull over and sleep in My truck.

My visual issues are really weird compared to you two. I get, and this is the only way I can think to describe it, TV snow spots. It's as if a snowy TV screen is trying to wedge into my field of view and keeps moving toward the center. I know when I first see it at the outward edges of my eye that I have about 20 minutes to pop some sort of medicine, get a super hot shower, and turn my bedroom into a cave while curled up in a ball of pain. Insult to injury? For some reason my husband's voice, when he starts talking rapidly and his volume increases, makes me think that a mentally challenged face-hugger got to me while I slept and it's idiot offspring is trying to burrow out of my skull instead of my stomach. Or for a simpler example of how a migraine may feel: Like a drunk ferret in my brain trying to get out.

/migraines suck.

I suffer from [thankfully infrequent] migraines. They vary from throbbing, "beat my head against a wall, it'll feel better" pain to "oh my god my head is going to explode" pain.

I would do this in a heartbeat, and I'm A: 30 years old and B: a guy.

ChrisSuperstar: I have suffered from debilitating migraines for the past 5 years or so. In 2006 I had a browlift

Heh. In 2005, no one found you attractive.

I get the classic migraine auras about 20-30 min before my 2 or 3 day long migraines set in. It's like seeing a billion pinpricks of color with no real image and field of normal vision the relative size of a dime. They started in my early 20s and don't seem to have any perfect trigger, although I know lack of caffeine definitely affects their onset. I've even gone completely clean of caffeine with no effect. I have linked the exhaust from diesel burning engines to be a definite trigger, especially when I get behind a school bus while driving. Long sun exposure doesn't help either. I've long since given up on over-the-counter meds, but they do curb the peak pain level if I can get something down in the 30-minute window.

The upshot is that when I get a migraine, it helps me to completely forget the kidney pain from my many stones. I've passed four this year so far, the biggest one being the size of a popcorn kernel. It was fun.

Needless to say, I'm lucky to have found doctors who are completely understanding of pain management and freely offer Vicodin and other necessary meds as needed.

My mother suffered from horrendous migraines for twenty years. A few years back she had a course of botox injections in her forehead (hairline, not for cosmetic benefit) & scalp. Cured. I'd recommend anyone that suffers to look into it. At the very least your scalp will be as smooth as a baby's arse, and that's something we can all get behind.

crieger: I have linked the exhaust from diesel burning engines to be a definite trigger

Then I'd say you should find all volatile solvents suspicious.

I'd start wondering about MSG and aspartame/etc as well.

/some of mine

Iron Chef Scottish: My mother suffered from horrendous migraines for twenty years. A few years back she had a course of botox injections in her forehead (hairline, not for cosmetic benefit) & scalp. Cured. I'd recommend anyone that suffers to look into it. At the very least your scalp will be as smooth as a baby's arse, and that's something we can all get behind.

The amount of Botox they put in you for migraines as opposed to for cosmetic purposes is much less. When you get it it does not make your wrinkles go away. More than that it didn't work for me at all and while I would recommend anyone who has it to try it (as I would anything else that has failed for me) don't go into thinking that 1. your wrinkles will diminish or 2. That it works for everyone.

crieger: I get the classic migraine auras about 20-30 min before my 2 or 3 day long migraines set in. It's like seeing a billion pinpricks of color with no real image and field of normal vision the relative size of a dime. They started in my early 20s and don't seem to have any perfect trigger, although I know lack of caffeine definitely affects their onset. I've even gone completely clean of caffeine with no effect. I have linked the exhaust from diesel burning engines to be a definite trigger, especially when I get behind a school bus while driving. Long sun exposure doesn't help either. I've long since given up on over-the-counter meds, but they do curb the peak pain level if I can get something down in the 30-minute window.

The upshot is that when I get a migraine, it helps me to completely forget the kidney pain from my many stones. I've passed four this year so far, the biggest one being the size of a popcorn kernel. It was fun.

Needless to say, I'm lucky to have found doctors who are completely understanding of pain management and freely offer Vicodin and other necessary meds as needed.

Try Maxalt or relpax. To me- vicodin might as well be tylenol, complete crap. The maxalt and relpax are pretty reliable. I take the strongest doses of both.

One of My triggers is strange; frying onions. ..and I love fried onions. I use a fan to keep the fumes away.

ace in your face: When you get it it does not make your wrinkles go away. More than that it didn't work for me

Placebo? Has that crossed your mind?

/the double blind leading the blind

pipco: One of My triggers is strange; frying onions. ..and I love fried onions.

I love a lot of my triggers.
Like bacon :'(

F42
If you've had migraines, you don't give a flying f*ck what it is as long as it it works.
ace in your face
The remark about the wrinkle loss was tongue in cheek. I'm aware that botox doesn't work for everyone, but it's relatively cheap and certainly worth a shot.

Bacon? awww man! and I thought mine was bad. bummer.

Shevaresh: I would do this in a heartbeat, and I'm A: 30 years old and B: a guy.

If it was proven to work, I'd do it. 32/M. Sadly I'd put money of there being an extremely weak correlation and/or the reporting being copy pasta PR guff.

Unfortunately one of the few prophylactic approaches that does appear to have a statistically significant effect, Amitriptyline, turned me into a total farking nutjob. This was (marginally) worse than the migraines.

Hey, ace in your face...have you tried combining Fioricet with the Maxalt MLT? Works like a champ, and my migraines are BIATCHES!

F42: ace in your face: When you get it it does not make your wrinkles go away. More than that it didn't work for me

Placebo? Has that crossed your mind?

/the double blind leading the blind

Yes they did a double blind study for 6 months and then everyone goes on the real stuff for three. But thank you for outing yourself as a douchebag.

It sounds like it might work, and for the reasons given. Certainly worth more clinical trials. I'm wondering if it's more the nerve severing, rather than the muscle excising, that does the trick.

I get cluster migraines in that area about every six-8 months, and I'd gladly have a face lift if they'd stop.

tishstapf: Hey, ace in your face...have you tried combining Fioricet with the Maxalt MLT? Works like a champ, and my migraines are BIATCHES!

I've never taken fioricet. For a long time I was in this battle with no insurance and the other two pills are 25 bucks a pop- I took 4 a week-so I didn't have tons of money to see a doctor. I have health insurance now so I will look into it. Thanks for the tip.

Iron Chef Scottish: F42
If you've had migraines, you don't give a flying f*ck what it is as long as it it works.
ace in your face
The remark about the wrinkle loss was tongue in cheek. I'm aware that botox doesn't work for everyone, but it's relatively cheap and certainly worth a shot.

You're cute. If you have the accent then you are cute squared.

My dad wanted to inject me with botox because it was found that it prevented migraines for months. I refused because I don't get migraines that often and I didn't really want a lot of injections in my forehead. But for those of you who suffer frequent migraines, worth considering.

Although I would recommend Imitrex more than botox. It's so nice, just carry around a little container with the spring loaded injector and the cartridge like things loaded with the medicine. Load it up, smack it against the arm, needle goes in, medicine comes out, relief comes quickly.

Interestingly enough, one of the side effects of imitrex (although for a larger dose than you would use) is your blood turning blackish green. It doesn't kill you either.

Oh, yeah, it can also cause a fatal heart attack, but if your migraines are anything like mine, it is very much worth the risk.

ChicagoJohn: There needs to be more research into the cause of migraines. Why is it mostly women 20-40? Why are they so powerful? Why is there a sudden explosion of them now?

Tried botox (back of the skull) but it didn't work.

As for why there seem to be more of them now, both my sister and I get migraines, she's 6 years older than me. She had to fight with doctors for years who thought it was a minor headache and that she couldn't take a little pain. I've had exactly one doctor who didn't get it (and she didn't last long). Research and fewer asinine old men* who don't understand that the wimmins can handle pain.


*my experience with doctors: old dudes think you're just PMSing, young dudes way overreact and think it's a tumor, and young women (for the most part) treat the pain. Haven't had any old women doctors.

ace in your face Imagine a huskier version of Groundskeeper Willie. Mmmm. The ladies go wild for it.
/EIP.

It sounds like they're putting a Band-Aid on a bullet hole.

My migraines start from deep within...the best way to describe it is behind the eyes, nose and sinus, above the mouth, and then blossoms to the temples.

I seriously doubt plastic surgery could fix that.

/Plus, they might fark up what I'm used to seeing in the morning.

Well hello to all you fellow migraine sufferers! My condolences for having to deal with such pain! Anyone had any good luck with any sort of preventative treatments? I'm having trouble finding anything that helps. A lot of medicines like the triptans (Imitrex, Relpax) and ergots are contraindicated because of a heart condition and Fiorcet causes too much sedation for me and also rebound headaches.

Any ideas? I'm thinking of maybe trying the botox injections, anyone know if insurance typically covers those or how well they work? My doctors are no longer being helpful and have basically told me to just deal with it since my treatment options are so limited so I could use some advice from people who understand the frustration!

Two words: medicinal marijuana

/fraking chronic migraines and tension headaches since the 5th grade
//now 35
///thank God I live in California

darkanomaly: Anyone had any good luck with any sort of preventative treatments?

No insurance here for a few years so I don't get the usual meds. (Imitrex worked for me sometimes & sometimes not.)

I have had a lot of success in reducing the number and severity of mine by identifying and avoiding my triggers. For me they are processed meats (hot dogs, salami, pepperoni, some deli meats...), nuts, certain types of booze even in small amounts, and MSG which is in darn near everything. I read labels religiously and avoid the stuff by doing a lot of home-cooking (no pre-packaged sauces, etc.)

And when one is coming on I take a benadryl and have one alcoholic beverage and knock myself out. The headache is usually gone when I wake up, or is down to a tolerable level.

Keep a food diary, y'all; it will help a bunch in IDing triggers.

My best friend is a migraine sufferer, and took part in a botox study. I held her hand as she got 27 rapid fire injections all around her face, ears, shoulders, and the back of her scalp.

She couldn't frown as deeply for three months, but the migraines kept happening 20-25 days a month.

That's the main reason I'm skeptical. Talking to her doctor at the Montefiori Headache Clinic, he revealed after that even though the study was double blind--that is, that neither the participants nor the doctors involved knew whether or not a placebo was administered--no relief was found by any of his patients. My friend definately got the botox (our dermatologist confirmed it for us), but she got no relief whatsoever.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like what the docs are relieving with these face lifts are tension headaches, not migraines.

Darkanamoly:

My friend took an anti-sizure medication called Topomax (Topamax, maybe?), as her migraines were so severe they had totally destroyed her life.

We call it her miracle drug, but beware: Though it DRASTICALLY reduced her frequency, it caused unbelievable mood swings and rage for the first five weeks or so. Also, after that, it caused clinical depression and suicidal thoughts. She had to adjust her dosage, and eventually weaned herself off it. It's potent stuff, but it broke what her doctor was calling a "Migraine cycle." I don't know all the details, but she's now free of the drug, and though it was rough taking it, it was still better than the constant, blinding, life-obliterating pain. If you're not suffering as frequently, you might want to do the food journal thing--that helped her a lot too, once she got off her pain cycle and could actually have space between migraines to track results.

She can't have ANY processed sugars, and even fruits are risky.

Good luck!

Serpentsky:

I had to call off my band practice on Wednesday, as much as I wanted to go, because I was sitting on my couch watching swirls move around in my field of vision, and then I spent the night sleeping off crushing pain over my left eye. Yeah. Awesome.

If it's unilateral like you're describing, check out Sluder's Neuralgia and see if the symptoms fit. If they do, try $6 worth of loratadine (and/or desloratadine.)

There's no such thing as migraines. If they existed then men would get them too.

I rarely have any warning that a headache is going to be a migraine, the way that a lot of people have auras or flashes. They build pretty slowly for me, though. If the pain manages to cross my threshold before the medication can work, I have to put myself in a totally dark room, because any little light is blinding. All of which somehow leads me to my point, which is: I would have a facelift tonight if it would keep migraines away.

Since it probably wouldn't, I recommend the Maxalt MLTs to anyone and everyone. They're lightning fast.

ace in your face: Try Maxalt or relpax. To me- vicodin might as well be tylenol, complete crap. The maxalt and relpax are pretty reliable. I take the strongest doses of both.

I've tried both Maxalt and Imitrex with no notable effect. You're right, the hydrocodone doesn't really do much for the pain - it just makes me not care about it as much. Given the current practice of running patients through the triptans is the first course, I'm just keeping with what sort of works for me until the liver or kidneys speak otherwise. I'd prefer to avoid the tricyclic antidepressants like amitryptiline.