A guest post by Kate, CEO of Headway Cambridgeshire, of which I am a 
trustee.
Kate suffered excruciating migraines for many years until she took part in a trial using a well known herb organised by the Migraine Action Association which has transformed her life. Her story is to be published in She magazine, but you can read it here first:
I started suffering from migraine when I was about 18 and for the following 7 or so years my life was not ruled, but considerably influenced, by the effects of my condition. Migraines would mean 12 to 18 hours of excruciating pain and repeated vomiting – during which it was impossible for me to do anything but lie in bed, waiting for it to pass.
My migraines were from the start stress or excitement related – with the sad consequence that I often missed big social occasions that I had really been looking forward to, and I have left more parties early, and cancelled more arrangements with my long-suffering friends than I care to remember.
Because I vomited so much, none of the medications that are taken orally would work, so when one drug called Imigran was developed to be taken as an injection into the thigh, my life was revolutionised. I didn’t stop getting migraines, but when I did, a jab of Imigran and a quick lie down meant I could be back up and running in an hour or two. This continued until few years ago when I noticed that, whilst the Imigran injections were still working, my migraines were becoming more frequent and would ‘bounce back’ – leaving me taking more Imigran to get rid of an attack.
As well as a visit to a consultant at Addenbrooke’s who reassured me and prescribed a sophisticated new drug that melts on the tongue and so is absorbed through the lining of the mouth, I also embarked on a 3-month trial of a herb called Feverfew, organised by the Migraine Action Association, a migraine support group that I have long been a member of.
I cannot explain the results – and am open to the suggestion that it is all mind over matter, who cares? – but from the day I started taking Feverfew the frequency of my migraine attacks has reduced more than I can quantify – I would almost say that I am no longer a migraine sufferer.
Feverfew is a fairly well-known and commonplace herb as far as I know – it is certainly readily available in Boots – and has had no other side effects on me, apart from the very welcome one of almost eliminating my migraine attacks. Before I started taking it in autumn 2005 I was having roughly one migraine every 10 days or so and probably using 2 or 3 Imigran injections to shift it, I was also probably making things worse for myself by desperately trying to ‘keep going’ at work and not taking the time off I needed to really recover. To tell you when I last had a migraine I’ve just had to look in my diary to remind myself – it was 26 April – and before that ….. I can’t remember!
very interesting post.
I have suffered from migraines for about 10 years now. I started getting them after I had an Epileptic fit.I only ever had one fit and no doctors ever found out why, But thats another story.
I got a migraine every month and was certainly due to hormone changes in my body.Other things also trigger them off like strong perfume smells.
Then my doctor gave me SANOMIGRAN tablets , I take one each day and it stops the build up of the chemical that causes migraines.It worked really well and stopped almost all of my migraines but the ones brought on by hormone changes.Then I started having the contraception injection,this stopped my hormone changes and now I only get the occasional migraine.
I suppose its all about finding what works for you.
wow thats the longest comment I have ever left anyone….
Sally, I’m sorry to hear about your migraines. Have you tried Feverfew? Are you in touch with the Migraine Action Association too?
Headway is the most fantastic organisation and I am so pleased Kate has found a cure, migraines can be hell and those who have never had them often think they are mild headaches suffered by overly dramatic wimps. How wrong they are.
Sally – so pleased you too have found a cure. I think some people underestimate the power of hormones.
Migraines are horrible things. Fortunately I only suffer them on average about once a year. The tell-tale signs of blurred vision make the heart sink.
Usually caused by my own doing through a combination of missed meals, overworking and not relaxing enough. Once I recognised the causes I managed to largely control them to the point that I rarely suffer them now.
Philipa, you are right about Headway. I’ve never suffered from migraines, but I believe what you say about them.
David, well done to you for recognising the warning signs and being able to control it. Stress is a key word here, how we need to avoid it and relax more.
I’ve suffered migraines for close on 50 years. I’m off to find out about taking Feverfew!
I have found the topical treatment 4 Head really helps.
Migraines – ghastly and sickenning. I know this will sound weird to sufferers and they might accuse me of not having the real thing, but shutting myself in a darkened room only makes it worse. The best thing to do, I find, is to get involved in something which requires my concentration.
I know when I’m vulnerable to an attack a day or so in advance – I have a fragile feeling before hand.
That’s very interesting. I believe in herbal medicine. I also agree with Kate that if it works because you believe in it, it doesn’t matter. The point is she is free of these terrible migraines. Like Sally, I used to always get a migraine before a period but luckily they were not as severe as the ones Kate was suffering from. I rarely get one now.