I'm going to get fired

[Anonymous]

..... if I miss anymore work due to freaking MIGRAINES! I'm 14 weeks, second pregnancy, and I never got a migraine in my life before I got pregnant. I only get them during pregnancy, and they are totally merciless. They incapacitate me for 3 days straight, and I am getting them every 1.5 weeks. Can't get out of bed, can't take care of my toddler, projectile vomit everytime I even roll over. Seriously, they are horrendous. I would rather puke for 9 months straight than deal with this. So I went to my doctor yesterday, and he said that besides tylenol and advil (until 28 weeks), he doesn't "feel comfortable" prescribing me anything else. GAH. I don't want to hurt the baby in any way, but I don't know how much more of this I can handle. Anyone have any tips, I am really up a creek here and I know if I miss anymore work there will be repercussions. Help!

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you can get another opinion from a different OB? Some are more overly cautious than others. It sounds like the damage to you might outweigh the potential detriment to the baby by taking medication. It doesnt hurt to get a 2nd opinion.

Sorry that you are going through this - good luck

[Anonymous]

I've always had migraines, and was relieved not to have any my first trimester. Then second trimester began, and BAM!, I know what you mean about them being merciless. My mouth waters at the thought of an Imitrex these days! Here are some of my recommendations from years of trial and error (and this does seem to apply to these pregnancy migraines I have been having): Keep your blood sugar at an even keel. If I go too long without eating, I can feel the start of one. I always wear sunglasses on bright days (that includes cloudy days when the clouds are particularly white). I try to stay hydrated, and not allow myself to get overheated (sitting in a stuffy car will surely give me one). When I feel the start of pain, sometimes being out in fresh air helps (esp. with the nausea). When my head is touchy I never watch TV or go to the movies -something about the movement and light from the screens can set off a three day jag of terrible pain. Also, I've found that if I feel something coming on, a can of Coke helps (quick caffeine injection -warning: this seems to make the pain worse when the migraine is full blown).

I wish I had fool proof suggestions. I just wanted to let you know I feel your pain (literally)!! Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Can you benefit from the protection of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? If you have been working for your company for more than 1 year and your company has a certain number of employees, you are eligible to get the FMLA protection. You need to ask them for the FMLA paperwork and complete it and once it is approved, they cannot fire you b/c of absences due to pregnancy/sickness related to pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

10:40 here again, I would agree with poster who said to get a second opinion. You can take things like Tylenol with codeine on a limited basis. I don't have my Rx here (from my OB), but it does help. Not quite as good as Imitrex, etc., but it does work sometimes. I try to limit how much I take, but I don't think with a migraine every 10 days that taking a little bit would hurt.

[Anonymous]

I had a friend that started getting horrible migraines during her pregnancy. She realized she had also cut out all caffeine when they began happening. While it didn't totally eliminate them, she did find she got far fewer when she consumed some caffeine on a daily basis-- even half a cup of coffee made a big difference.

[zumbamama]

Is your job very stressful? Maybe too much stress is causing the migraines. Are you getting any exercise at all? Even just light exercise/stretching? Enough water? Enough sleep? I would try acu if nothing else works.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the quick replies! I hadn't thought of accupuncture, that's a good idea. I am open to getting a second opinion, but since my doctor is not normally overly cautious, I am inclined to think he's probably onto something. I am going to call about the percocet, though, since that's something that might be good just to get me over the hump. I hate the idea of taking meds while pregnant, and try to put off taking even tylenol for as long as I can, but honestly, these lay me out and I truly can't tolerate them. All great ideas, particularly appreciate the other migraine sufferer's words of advice! Thanks for the support, really appreciate it

[Anonymous]

I second the caffeine- I drank a half cup of coffee every day when I was pregnant and had headaches. I wasn't a coffee drinker before so it wasn't withdrawl. It really helped.

[Anonymous]

I've suffered from migraines for 15+ years (many times landing in the ER to get the hard core drugs because my normal hard core drugs didn't cut it). I've been so lucky that I have actually not had any (could have gone either way) but the few that I have had, I've taken 2 extra strength tylenol with a cup of coffee or diet coke and it has worked well. If you can close your eyes for 15-30 minutes after you take it, that helps too (do you have a lacation or relaxation room at work you can sneak into?)

Do talk to your Doc - I was very worried about this pre-pregancy and asked lots of 'what if' questions and my doc said that they could give me narcotics if they wouldn't go away.

I'm so sorry - I feel your pain

[Anonymous]

I suffered from migraines so frequently and so badly at one point that I often would leave work for Suburban Hospital as my meds were not working. My neurologist actually wanted me to go on short term disabiltiy because we could not get the migraines under control. It was horrible. I think as long as you bring in a note from the doctor explaing you are having a vaild medical issue you should be safe. Dont risk your job, get something in writing from the dr.

[Anonymous]

I agree with another poster, check out FMLA for protection. You'll need it when you go on maternity leave anyway.

My doc was willing to give me Tylenol w/ codeine for sciatic nerve pain at 12 wks (she's real drug-friendly) so that may be an option.

[Anonymous]

I also suffer from migraines and they were AWFUL during my first pregnancy. I was finally prescribed tylenol with codeine, so that should be an option. I'm just at the very beginning of my second pregnancy and am panicked about making it through the next 8 months w/o my medication (so much so that I seriously considered not having a second child because I didn't know if I could make it w/o migraine meds...or wine, but that's another story). The first day after the test (last Sunday) I cut my morning caffeine (coffee) and BIG MISTAKE. Instant bad headache. I was miserable all day, so I immediately went back to having just one cup of coffee in the morning. As I understand it, that should be fine health-wise and it seems to help - so I concur with other posters suggesting caffeine. The headache "what ifs" is definitely one of my top-of-mind questions for my first appt, though. Sorry that you are going through such misery. I think that people who have never had them just can't relate to how much they suck.

[Anonymous]

I get migraines normally...about 1 a month. Since I've been pregnant (now 17 weeks) I've only had 1, but it was awful and tylenol just didn't begin to touch it. I actually felt like it made my stomach more nauseous. In desperation I called my doc and asked what else I could take. They took almost a week to get back to me b/c they checked with several pregnancy associations, the cdc, etc to see what was safe. To my surprise, they prescribed me Vicodin (I was expecting Tylenol w/Codine) and said if that didn't help I could move up to Demerol. I haven't had anything severe since, and even if I do, am hesitant to take the Vicodin, but its filled and sitting in my cabinet just in case I'm desperate. You may want to ask your doc about it.

[Anonymous]

I was also prescribed Vicodin and have used it when I'm at the point of desperation. Luckily the headaches have seemed to subside as the pregnancy progresses. I've also gone to have accupuncture and chiropractic. Best of luck to you, those headaches really suck!