Migraine

[krazibabigirl 8]

Omg I have woken up with a Migraine. I was told no. Nsaid medication. I have always taken excedrine. What now!!!!

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[Darcia 23]

That's odd, I get Migraines regularly and was concerned about medications but I talked to my nurse yesterday on the phone and my meds are fine to take. In fact they told me to bring them w me next Tuesday-day of my surgery-in case I need them. Mind you-I take imitrex - the injectable kind. Maybe that is worth checking into with your doctor. Living with Migraine pain is the pits! Good luck. Hope u feel better.

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[heidikat72 935]

While imitrex is an NSAID, it is probably because you take the injection that the nurse said it was ok. The concern with NSAIDs post-sleeve or bypass is because oral NSAIDs are known to put you at ulcer risk and compound that with the surgery putting you at higher risk for ulcers, and you have a bad combination.

For the OP - call you surgeon's office and see what they can suggest. Fortunately, in the 5 months since my surgery I have only had 1 Migraine (I used to get them frequently and excedrin was my best friend) and it was mild enough that just plain tylenol and a dark room for a while took care of it.

[RNMomof4 86]

I would suggest the imitrex injection. Absorbed into the body without going through your stomach and highly effective.

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[theantichick 2,204]

Long time migraineur here, and an RN as well.

I just want to clarify for everyone: the triptan class is NOT an NSAID. There are ZERO contraindications for the triptan class and VSG. This includes Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, Zomig, etc. If the generic name ends in -triptan then it's in this class of drugs. There are a couple of formulations that mix a triptan with naproxen, it's the naproxen component that is the NSAID, not the triptan.

My team allows me to take NSAIDs because I have auto-immune conditions and the benefits outweigh the ulcer risk. I am minimizing my NSAID intake however, because I only want to use it when I absolutely need it. Knock on wood, haven't needed it since surgery.

Excedrin usually will knock out my Migraines if I take it fast enough. Since surgery, I've switched to going ahead and taking my triptan instead, and it's working GREAT. I have the kind that melts on the tongue - gets in the system faster that way - and it tastes like a dirty mint but it works amazingly well. My doc is going to put me on topiramate as a preventative if I start having them regularly, but so far that hasn't been needed.

Talk to your team, though. They may be OK with an occasional use of Excedrin for migraines. I highly recommend switching to a triptan or even an ergotamine if you tolerate them.

Also, the biggest triggers of Migraine are dehydration and low blood sugar. In the words of my daughter's neurologist - never let yourself get hungry or thirsty. I had a string of migraines one week when I wasn't on top of my Fluid intake.

Oh, the dissolvable one I take is Maxalt ODT, btw.

Edited November 23, 2016 by theantichick

[Montana Gal 448]

Like @theanitchick, my bariatric program allows for NSAIDS due to a chronic illness. When my Migraines hit, I can usually think back to what I ate or what I did to bring on the Migraine. Such as not realizing something I ate had MSG in it. I try to avoid all the triggers if possible. You were given some great suggestions, talk them over with your surgeon.

[theantichick 2,204]

Like @theanitchick, my bariatric program allows for NSAIDS due to a chronic illness. When my Migraines hit, I can usually think back to what I ate or what I did to bring on the Migraine. Such as not realizing something I ate had MSG in it. I try to avoid all the triggers if possible. You were given some great suggestions, talk them over with your surgeon.

My biggest trigger after dehydration/low blood sugar is nutrasweet/aspartame. The hops in beer or the nitrates in red wine will do me in, also. And of course, weather fronts and hormones, which I can't do much about. I'm lucky that cheese and chocolate don't trigger me.

[NikkiRT 265]

Long time migraineur here, and an RN as well.

I just want to clarify for everyone: the triptan class is NOT an NSAID. There are ZERO contraindications for the triptan class and VSG. This includes Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, Zomig, etc. If the generic name ends in -triptan then it's in this class of drugs. There are a couple of formulations that mix a triptan with naproxen, it's the naproxen component that is the NSAID, not the triptan.

My team allows me to take NSAIDs because I have auto-immune conditions and the benefits outweigh the ulcer risk. I am minimizing my NSAID intake however, because I only want to use it when I absolutely need it. Knock on wood, haven't needed it since surgery.

Excedrin usually will knock out my Migraines if I take it fast enough. Since surgery, I've switched to going ahead and taking my triptan instead, and it's working GREAT. I have the kind that melts on the tongue - gets in the system faster that way - and it tastes like a dirty mint but it works amazingly well. My doc is going to put me on topiramate as a preventative if I start having them regularly, but so far that hasn't been needed.

Talk to your team, though. They may be OK with an occasional use of Excedrin for migraines. I highly recommend switching to a triptan or even an ergotamine if you tolerate them.

Also, the biggest triggers of Migraine are dehydration and low blood sugar. In the words of my daughter's neurologist - never let yourself get hungry or thirsty. I had a string of migraines one week when I wasn't on top of my Fluid intake.

Oh, the dissolvable one I take is Maxalt ODT, btw.

Thanks you for passing along the correct information here!

Be careful when consulting on medical issues in this group. Always best to call your doctor!

I too take imitrex and have taken since surgery.

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[bbwhite77 12]

My gastrictomy was on 11/17. I was able to take the liquid acetaminophen the hospital sent me home with for my Migraines. I needed it more for the migraines than the actual pain......

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