Although I have already contributed my "nickel's worth" (and then some!) I have a personal update.
It turns out that I'm diabetic! I understand that a lot of middle-ages guys like myself become diabetic (Type II- adult onset) when they get a little overweight. And I'm six foot tall and weigh 190 lbs, which *is* a little heavy. Anyway, I got to feeling really ROTTEN and had a battery of tests done by my excellent doctor. Normal blood sugar test readings are around 100 and I scored a 460. That's like brain damage level.
I've been on medication (glucophage) for three weeks and my sugar levels are down and so are my headaches. However, there are a couple of other things that have happened lately that might also be giving me a respite (I closed my business, for instance.)
"Never give advice" is good advice. But fools rush in....
1. Get a great doctor. That's right: great. Your "average" GP is probably going to make things worse and most specialists are just as bad but cost more.
2. Imitrex doesn't work for everybody. Studies done by the drug company only claim a 60% success rate (and they lie worse than tobacco executives). However, in Canada, you can get Imitrex as a nasal spray. My "significant other" [Ex-wife, my kids' Mom, design collaborator, best friend] has "classic" cyclical migraines [you can set your sundial by them] and didn't get much relief from the pills, but does from the spray. My Dad says that we had so many kids because being pregnant prevented her migraines ;-}
3. Get a COMPLETE "work up." Otherwise minor problems like.. oh....say "diabetes" may go undetected.
4. MEN: watch out for taking Inderol. It gives me headaches just when... how can I put this delicately? Let's see......Ah, heck: they give me headaches when I reach "sexual climax." Real monsters (not migraine) it's like what I would imagine having a stroke feels like. Anything that hurts that bad, in that way, really scares me.
5. Don't take blood pressure medication unless you have high blood pressure. I have been given Corgard and such (before I found my current wonderful doctor) and it was awful. I was so TIRED!!! Not sedated, not drowsy ---exhausted!
6. The only thing worse than a migraine, is having a migraine and going to an ER without having your own doctor to call and tell the twit on duty that night to give me the #@%%^$#*&% shot and let me go back to my own little bed (in a dark room, with the room AC running for the gentle background "white noise" as well as cooling and my favorite quiet CD playing) (I suggest "Screen Playing" by Mark Knopfler; its his movie music: serene, but not cloying)
This site is great, I'm thankful to have found it. My prayers are with everyone. Direct responses are more than welcome!
I have been to many doctors in many states and have not found much help. I have been on 30 or 40 different drugs and had all the usual testing done. I have at least one headache per week. Sometimes they will last 6 to 8 days.
I go to bed fine and I will wake up with one. Or it might start in the middle of the day. I get 4 kinds. Migraines, tention, sinus, and cluster. The only medication's I have come across that help have been Immitrex shots I use at home, Fioricet and Valium together, Benadryl, Sudafed,Tylonal ,Tylonal P.M. Thats about all I have found that works. My family doctor has just put me on Atenolol 50 mg per day. I went to a neurologist for four years and he said he was sorry he could not help me. Some times I end up at the hospital they get so bad. I have passed out and get very sick to my stomach. I don't know where to get help. I was on the web when I saw your letter. Please if you know where I can get help write back to me at RJORDAN4@AOL.com. I will be looking for your letter.
Thank-You
---Kathy Jordan
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My Daughter is extemely active in sports and numberous other school clubs. She puts herself under alot of pressure to get all A's in school, she strives for perfection constantly. I try to get her to lighten up, but when I force her to take it easy, it actually causes her more stress. So I just let her do what makes her happy. I have been told that this personality type is common with Migraine suffers. I tend to beleive this more and more, because over the summer when my Daughter is not in school, the number of migraines decrease drastically. I can't help but think there is a connection.
My Daughter has been seeing a Nurologist for over a year now. We started out with the Imetrix injections, they helped, but caused a prolonged migraine hang-over. When the migraines started coming 2 or more per week, I could see my Daughter falling into a depressed state. She was afraid to go anywhere, in fear that she would get a killer migraine and puke in front of her friends. This is when the Nurologist suggested a daily medication. I really didn't want my Daughter on a daily medication. I then attempted treating her with herbs. Unfortunatley she did not respond to herbal treatment.
We finally gave up and started our Migrainonaught on "Inderal" 80 ml per day time release. Her migraine attacks decreased to about 1 every month. She is doing so much better. She is happy and not afraid to go places with her friends. Our Daughter has been on the Inderal for about 3.5 months now and is doing great. I still don't like that my Daughter is taking a blood presure medication every day, but the medication has given her, her life back, so I have to say it's well worth it.
If anyone has any questions about our experience with "Inderal", I would be happy to answer your e-mail. I have never had a migraine myself, but I have seen the extreme pain my Daughter went through. I have tremendous respect for all of you out there who have the courage to continue searching, don't give up, relief is out there, but unfortunatley the answer is not the same for everyone.
Sincerely,
---Migraine Mom in Reno,NV garrettg@intercomm.com
Drugs of any kind were ineffective after onset of an attack. I'd get one of these bangers about once or twice a week - great career makers!
I started with Subilium as a propholactic and Imitrex as a treatment, as I say, about two years ago.
I find that the Imitrex is usually very effective if taken early enough. The Subilium reduced the intensity of the headaches, but has resulted in an increase in the frequency.
I'm now taking 120 mg of Inderal a day and I seem to be seeing only minor improvement over Subilium. I will probably try something new next month. I'm taking about 4 Imitrex a week.I take lots of Tylenol 1 for the not-quite-a-banger jobs. A good portion of these are likely rebound headaches caused by too much Tylenol 1over the years! Thank heaven for employer drug plans!
My attacks now occur almost exclusivley between 3 and 5 in the morning. Luckily, I'm a light sleeper so I wake up very early in the cycle. I consider my results so far to be a major improvement over my unmedicated lifestyle.
I respond to all the common triggers - booze, processed food, MSG, stress, lack of sleep, missed meals.
I would be interested in hearing comments on the frequency and intensity changes others are experiencing as a result of medication.
---Steve speacock@spectranet.ca
