Migraines, beta blockers, and riding

[badger]

*raises hand* another mentrual migraine sufferer here. I just came back from a 2 day snowboarding trip, yesterday was ruined because of the migraine. I managed only 2 runs before I felt like I was going to chuck my breakfast and pass out from the pain. I'm sure the mountain altitude didn't help matters, nor the bright, sunny, warm conditions.

Since mine seems to be somewhat muscular related (especially in my trapezius and neck muscles), I find taking Robaxacet sometimes helps. But for the most part all they do is dent the pain and put a fog. Still does nothing for that beat-up feeling and lethargy.

I actually forgot about my butterbur extract. I also sometimes take homeopathic migraine pills with butterbur, feverfew, and 5-htp. If taken with acetominophen or ibuprophen I find it speeds things along.

Ugh, I sometimes really hate being a girl!

[Lise]

Interestingly enough, it was when I *stopped* using contraception that the migraine frequency skyrocketed. I'd been using the NuvaRing for about 10 years, with no breaks, to stop my endometriosis. I started having slightly more frequent migraines in the past year, so decided to stop the NuvaRing. I'm 49, and figured I was close to menopause anyway. It is hard to be a girl. Some womens' migraines increase in menopause, and it seems I'm one of them.

We'll just have to see what happens when I start riding again. Luckily, I don't feel lethargic or fogged out with the Bystolic and Butterbur.

[Lise]

I took the Bystolic for two months, didn't have a single migraine the whole time. I also took the Butterbur (Petadolex). 5/20 I was hospitalized with a kidney infection, and my blood pressure got as low as 70/44. I was advised to stop the Bystolic, which I did, gladly. Continued the Butterbur. Since then I've had one migraine, easily nipped in the bud with Maxalt.

Once I was off the Bystolic, I realized how much better I felt. I enjoy having my normal BP back, and hope the Butterbur alone will prevent a lot of migraines.

[badger]

I'm sure you've tried feverfew? as mine is not considered a "classic migraine", I found that feverfew didn't do much for my migrained. But some do swear that they reduce the fequency and intensity.

[Lise]

I'm sure you've tried feverfew? as mine is not considered a "classic migraine", I found that feverfew didn't do much for my migrained. But some do swear that they reduce the fequency and intensity.

I have *not* tried Feverfew. I'm happy with Butterbur so far.

[MommyBird]

I take Toprol for HBP.
The added benefit is that it has tamed my migraines. I still get them but not as often and not even close to as severe. Almost always tied to my cycle now.

I have been in hypertensive crisis twice so I am just thrilled to have my BP in control with the two drugs at the moderate dosage that is working at the moment. In the past I have had to take the max dosage of four separate drugs just to keep my BP out of the danger zone. I have very difficult to control HBP.
I do not notice any negative side effects beyond the lower heart rate during exercise.
I also have high cholesterol that does not respond to dietary changes. My eating habits do not leave any room for improvement compared to the docs recommendation. My good is very, very low and my bad is moderately high. My doc has me on meds.
The coronary calcium scan I had done a year ago rated me at 0% chance of having a heart attack. I eat well, exercise and do not smoke or drink. My docs say the cholesterol and HBP are genetic. They feel that my unexpectedly positive scan can be attributed to lifestyle choices.

[colorisnt]

Never taken beta blockers due to a bad reaction that would most likely happen, but I am now on an Alzheimer's med to avoid kidney stones (topomax may have caused one) and to keep my migraines under control. It's called Namenda and is kinda experimental, but has been really helping so far. I don't know if it is luck or the med though at this time.

Regardless, they put my younger sister on a beta blocker as a treatment. She's a runner and it just about killed her. She had no energy and also couldn't sleep properly (would wake up for hours at a time). I know a few other people who also had issues with it.

I take Maxalt as my quick acting med, but it is almost useless without a daily controller med. I am also on Zoloft, so taking it all the time is dangerous thanks to serotonin syndrome.

I also have endo, but my migraines aren't hormone driven like some. I can't imagine what that would be like. The immense pain from the endo was enough to deal with, let alone a migraine. I haven't had a period in more than a year, so I don't know about that.

[WindingRoad]

Since mine seems to be somewhat muscular related (especially in my trapezius and neck muscles), I find taking Robaxacet sometimes helps.

Wow, that is what I'm thinking is going on with me? I have been having some serious shoulder and low trap pain on the bike and found that my sternum is uneven and that shifting my handlebars to the right really helps. However the muscles and nerves are still really irritated from before and when I ride it is better but I'm still getting flares of pain. Yesterday at work I picked up something wrong and flared that already angry little ball of nerves up again. Last night about 3 AM I awoke with the worse migraine to date and yes I am having my period right now so I'm sure like most of you it seems mine is also cycle/hormone related. I was actually scared last night the pain got so bad. I felt like I was going to die! It feels muscular though because every time I would try to lay on my side I could feel my shoulder flare up and my head would pound worse. Right now the pain is a dull murmur but I feel like someone grabbed the back of my neck and just squeezed as hard as they could. I guess it's hard to say because I ended up with dry heaves too, gawd I'm a mess.

[malkin]

I had been an intermittant migraine girl forever--after a fall and concussion I had constant headaches. The doc put me on a low dose of amitriptyline (so low, she called it 'tincture of nothing') and it has cut down on ALL my headaches, to the point where I have headaches like a normal person--you know, those people who notice that their head hurts, and then they can take tylenol and feel better.

[soprano]

The doc put me on a low dose of amitriptyline (so low, she called it 'tincture of nothing') and it has cut down on ALL my headaches, to the point where I have headaches like a normal person--you know, those people who notice that their head hurts, and then they can take tylenol and feel better.

I've had a similar experience with nortriptyline. I have many fewer headaches, and the ones that I do get generally respond well to medication. For me, it's a wonder drug. Taking a daily preventative means that I take far fewer pills overall.

Before the nortriptyline, my doctors had me try verapamil, a calcium-channel blocker which is sometimes used off-label for migraine prevention. The reason that we tried a heart drug first was that the continuous migraines were sending my blood pressure quite high. (Funny how unending severe pain will do that to you.) My BP dropped like a stone, but I also became lethargic and depressed. I couldn't exercise without blacking out, and my heat tolerance was seriously affected. About the only good thing was that it helped some with the migraines, and I started sleeping well for the first time in a decade. After a few months of trying to make it work, and after a few blackouts which resulted in falls, I finally told the doctor, "I'd rather have the migraines. I'm not taking this anymore."

[abejita]

Since mine seems to be somewhat muscular related (especially in my trapezius and neck muscles), I find taking Robaxacet sometimes helps.

Wow, that is what I'm thinking is going on with me? I have been having some serious shoulder and low trap pain on the bike and found that my sternum is uneven and that shifting my handlebars to the right really helps. However the muscles and nerves are still really irritated from before and when I ride it is better but I'm still getting flares of pain. Yesterday at work I picked up something wrong and flared that already angry little ball of nerves up again. Last night about 3 AM I awoke with the worse migraine to date and yes I am having my period right now so I'm sure like most of you it seems mine is also cycle/hormone related. I was actually scared last night the pain got so bad. I felt like I was going to die! It feels muscular though because every time I would try to lay on my side I could feel my shoulder flare up and my head would pound worse. Right now the pain is a dull murmur but I feel like someone grabbed the back of my neck and just squeezed as hard as they could. I guess it's hard to say because I ended up with dry heaves too, gawd I'm a mess.

Try going to a chiropractor.

When I was taking preventive meds for my migraines, I tried a dozen or so things without success. The my neuro put me on zonegran (an anti-seizure med) and it worked like a charm. I also didn't have any problems with being tired.