I found a lot of relief from migraines through a beta-blocker blood pressure pill (Atenolol) that I take daily, & I can't afford to come off the OCP or they go crazy (but talk to your doc - some OCP's help, some make them worse). And, you've heard it before, exercise, daily, absolute must. Guessing you've already tried beta-blockers?
When a migraine hits despite all this, I use an anti-nausea wafer (so I don't throw it up) and Imigran (not a painkiller oddly enough - helps with migraines, does didley squat for any other type of headache) as a nasal spray (again, so I don't throw it up - works miracles for me, but everyone's different). Once it's reasonably under control, I hit it with way strong painkillers, along with valium regularly to reduce the muscle tension that sits there ready to bring on another one, & help me sleep through it.
Nb. Imigran is enough to deal with most of my migraines on their own. Like, 45 minutes and it's gone, no nausea, no drowsiness, perfect. I add the other stuff because my migraines are tension related (I should be doing yoga still but can't deal with the classes) and I need to actually knock down the muscle tension in my neck to make sure I don't cycle into another one. I get tension headaches as well, which are crazy similar to migraines when they're really bad, but I have to treat them differently.
Knowing the type of migraine is critical to treating it properly - sounds like these ones might be cluster migraines? But also try neck muscle exercises - if you feel a twinge in the front of your head or around one eye when you stretch your neck in a particular direction, then it's tension. If there's pressure behind both eyes, that's tension.
Nasty tension headaches bring the same nausea and photosensitivity as migraines, and will often lodge in a particular part of the hesd, usually at the front somewhere, just like migraines.
On top of that, if you start to get the rubber band sensation around your forehead, that's probably dehydration on top, which can cause crippling headaches as well. These often follow suit because it's too hard to keep fluids down. Rehydration icy poles from the drug store are my go-to for dealing with dehydration during a migraine.
Not sure what all those drugs are called elsewhere, but google the brand names and it should give you the different generic names.
And if you can find a doc that has personal experience with migraines - reeeally helpful.
Not gonna apologise for the long post. I get migraines. So yeah, happy to share any and all info I have if it will help just a little bit.
