---dee smith-johns <dsjohns@adms.purdue.edu>
USA -

I'm 28 years old and I've had migraines since I was about 16, but they've only been frequent enough to worry about in the last 3 years or so. I haven't had much luck with preventive medication. When the Imitrex pill came out, I started taking it when I had attacks, but because the headaches made me so nauseous, I could never keep it down long enough for it to do any good. So I switched to the injection, which works, but I find it painful, and also I feel really dizzy and sick for about 15 minutes after I take it. This passes, but is very unpleasant. I just recently tried the nasal spray for the first time - it doesn't make me sick, but I also don't find it nearly as effective as the injection. Has anyone else had this same experience? I've found that vigorous exercise (running, stairmaster, etc.) alleviates the pain without medicine, if I can drag myself to do it, but it seems to be only a temporary fix, the headache comes back a few hours later. I am also interested in hearing about other peoples' preventive methods (preferably non-drug!). When I get into a bad migraine cycle, I end up taking the shot 4 or 5 times in one week, and I'm concerned about long-term effects.

---Amy <amybucket@hotmail.com>
boston, ma USA -

I love this site! It's so great to read others' stories about being treated like a junkie, etc. when all you want is some relief from the screaming pain! I'm very fortunate in that my neurologist also suffers from migraines and will give me plenty of pain meds. I have run the gamut of all the different preventative meds and now I just treat the migraines as they come with percocet. Once in a while if the vomiting and pain is too bad I will go to the ER - my primary doctor used to give me demerol shots in her office, but now she thinks I am just looking for drugs and she actually refused to treat me last time! And I don't go there very often - maybe once a month at most. So now I rely on the percocet and if things get unbearable I go to the ER and hope that the nurse who I have become friendly with is there and he makes sure that I'm treated like a real human! I have tried EVERYTHING - except the banana peel thing - I just can't stand the thought of a crummy banana peel on my neck when my head is stuck in the toilet! I haven't heard much about the "new imitrex" does anyone have any info on it? Thanks for being there - here's to pain free days for us all.

---Michele Milliard <m2hgo@aol.com>
Paoli, PA USA -

I can't believe there are others who understand what I am going through I am so relieved to know that I am not alone. I have had migraines for 22 years. I used to not realize what they were, and I used to become seriously sick. I have learned to take care of them promptly, and only occasionally vomit. Still, they are a burden I wish I did not have. No one understands how much they actually hurt. I am so sick of people saying,"it's just a headache, take some aspirin." Yeah, right!!! I have to take about 2000 milligrams of ibuprofen to even make a dent in one. I experience one a week at least, sometimes more. Thank you for making me feel less alone.

---Karla Lanch <karlaj13@hotmail.com>
Santa Clara, CA USA -

I am a 45 year old female who has suffered miserably with migraine headaches for more than 20 years. I cannot count the number of trips to the ER for the usual "migraine cocktail", Demerol and Visterol! I have been waiting for months for the arrival of the new "over the counter" medication and finally...today, I tried it. I must tell you, if you have not yet tried "EXCEDRIN MIGRAINE", you absolutely should! I was amazed. I normally take the Imitrex 50mg tablets for my migraines and at $150 for 9 pills, it gets VERY EXPENSIVE. Within 30 minutes, I felt MUCH better and was experiencing MUCH LESS PAIN. It seems to be an excellent medication. I certainly empathize with all of you and I hope that you will try EXCEDRIN MIGRAINE and that you too will get relief. If you cannot yet find it at the drug store, ask your pharmacist. IT REALLY DOES HELP!!! Good luck to all of you. I wish you all the very best.

---Debbie <MegsGMa@aol.com>
Anaheim, CA USA -

I am a 21y.o. who has mugraines as long as i can remember. Luckily, my mother was also a migraine sufferer and recognized the light sensitivity, pain over one eye, etc, for what they were. I have been very lucky in that while my migraines have become more serious since pubert, and worse as I get older, they have not become more frequent. I have also found that they have become much more infrequent (down to one or two per year!) since going on depo-provera. I have also found that for me at least, having coffee when i feel a migraine coming (ie, the visual disturbances and aphagia) either prevents it or considerably lessens the normal severity and length. Many people seem to think that migraines are just "all in the head" (no pun intended), and are a symptom of modern hypochondria. This is to me the most disturbing part of having these problems. To those people I only have to say that they should read some ancient greek texts, as migraines (and their symptoms) are mentioned. I recently got a book of Celtic fairytales, in which one charachter suffers from a migraine. So any others out there, know that it is not just in your head, but exists and is nothing new.

---Melanie <pipebetty@aol.com>
USA -

Hello My name is Valerie and I've been a migraine sufferer since I was 17. Now I'm 30 years old and I've been through all the tests, neuroligists, interalists...etc. I am also pregnant with our second child and am in my 3rd trimester. My problem is that I cannot get a Dr., not even my OB to prescribe a preventative maintenanace drug. I've had 6 complex migraines and all they do is give 1 or 2 shots of demerol(which always make me vomit) or they give me Nubane. I would like to not have to get the Migraine first and then treat it. Does any one know of a drug that would not directly affect my unborn child that I could take on a daily basis to prevent these intolerable pains of the Skull? I sympathise with Curt who has had the Complex Migraines, everyone of them that I have ever had has been what you classify as Comlpex. I have had paralisys for up to seven days on my left side and pain from my brain stem up on both sides. The ones that I have had lately have not lasted that long, my last one on Jan 19th only left me numb on my face, left arm and left leg for 15 hours. I had 2shots of Nubane in that time and finally the headache broke at 3:30AM on Tuesday morning. I have all the garbage that goes along with migraines, portions of my vision goes, my small motor skills and my ability to talk and complete a thought also leave, it is very tiresome and I pray that all of us who suffer from this infirmity will find releif soon. Please, if anyone has had this situation before as to being pregnant and not being able to find a drug that can be taken as a preventative daily please e-mail me. My OB/GYN is VERY conservative and I would have to ahve some kind of documentation for her to go on from another Doctor and patient, before she would even consider the thought of putting me on something. Thank you for the opportunity to reach out, because up till now I was at a loss. Sincerely, Valerie L. B. Hoeffel of Fort Wayne, IN.

---Valerie L Hoeffel <mikeguit@aol.com>
Fort Wayne, IN USA -