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I have had debilitating migraines (1-2/week every week). They run in my family, most of my aunts, my Dad and a lot of my cousins all get them in varying intensity and frequency.
I have managed to figure out how to manage mine, though. First, I figured out that the bcp was causing most of them. Once I stopped taking that, I realized my other triggers: stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, too much sugar, hormones and caffeine addiction. Even changes to the weather will set me off if something else is out of balance in my life. Knowing this helps me try to stay on top of them so I don't get them as often or as frequently as I did before - now I get 1/month that I can take OTC meds for and still function. This is a life saver for me really. Before, I was almost fired from jobs, missed exams in university, all because of headaches.
So, my advice would be to journal for a few weeks and see if you can identify a pattern to them. What did you eat? How did you sleep? What was the weather like? Are you stressed out unusually? Things like that.
When you get one - as soon as you feel it coming on take something for it. Don't wait or it'll get hold and be harder to get rid of. Then try to put ice on your head, soak your feet in hot water and relax for a while. I know this is hard with kids, but trying to plow through it only makes it worse for me. A dark, quiet room is really good, if you can manage that. If you are a caffeine person, make a strong cup of coffee.
I have not tried topomax, but did take imitrex for my headaches. At their peak nothing really worked well enough for me to function. I was groggy and spaced out, but at least the pain was bearable.
Every migraine sufferer is unique, so take what you can and leave the rest. Good luck to you.
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