---kristine starling <kstarling@sisna.com>
spokane, wa USA -
I'm a 29 yo, male. I can rember in all of my school life I cryed do to headache's and the fear of them. Two days ago I saw a new nerologist, because my old one left town. The new guy, a Dr. Warner, feels after revewing my chart I have been having CLUSTER HEADACHES. I'm in fear in the Cluster headache. Anyone with advice? I know how mutch we hate to go to the E.R, The staff thinks we are all druggies. I have been reading a lot of erevyone eleses comments, I dont know if I'm as brave as most of the people out hear. Good luck to all, WE NEED IT.
---Eric Martinson <emartinhh@aol.com>
Hilton Head, sc USA -
Last Week I took my 17 year old Daughter to U.C. Davis Medical College. We took along her MRI film; Her Neurology case history; and lots of notes on her migraine history and triggers.
They did basically the identical exam that her Neurologist did 2 years ago. The looked over her MRI's and her records and in the end, told us what we already know.
They confirmed that she has Migraine with Aura; That true Migraines are caused by a Gene inherited from a parent; In time she may out grow them or more commonly have them less often and less severe.
The only advice they gave us was as follows: Keep adjusting medication to best manage the migraines; Keep trying to identify Triggers (Even though they may come & go over time); Persue your life as you would, as if you didn't suffer migraine; Don't put life on hold because migraines are a part of her genetic make up and she will need to learn to manage and live with them.
They also told her most important was to relize that migraine pain is triggered by a chemical reaction in the brain. Numberous things can trigger a chemical reaction. Most basic answers to the avoiding a chemical imbalance is Eat 6 little meals instead of 3 large, go to bed and wake up the same times each day.
Yes, we were disappointed. We really were hoping for more answers. It was only 2 years ago that the Migraine Gene was Identified, I really hope everyone out there who is a migraine sufferer or has a Loved one or friend that suffers migraine, will do what it takes to help the Migraine Gene Research proceed quickly. I will begin my quest to locate the foundations, in which this reseach is being done. When I find out more I will let you all know. The more money and attention this subject gets, the sooner the releif will follow.
I wish you all a pain free life, Sincerely, Migraine Mom
---Cindy Gilliland <garretg@intercomm.com>
Reno, NV USA -
I am 26 years old and have been suffering from Migraines for as long as I can remember. I even remember being in elementary school and crying cause my head hurt so bad. I would ask the nurse if I could call my mom so I could go home. I think they thought I just wanted attention. Sometimes I think the doctors in the ER are the same way. Recently I had to have my mother take me to the ER cause I had a really severe migraine. I had had the headache for 3 days with no success of getting rid of it. I was at my wits end one day crying cause it hurt so bad and I was about to vomit again. So she took me in right away. I explained to him that Demorall does nothing to me. So ofcourse what does he do he gives me 75mg of Demorall. They said it would knock me out. Well 45 minutes later I was still crying from the pain. So he gave me 50mg more. It did absolutely nothing. After three hours I was begging him to do something. He said go home and get some rest and your headache will go away soon. He said it was not meant to take it away right away and that it might take a few more hours. But if my headache wasnt gone that night to come back to the ER. Well I didnt go back. My mother took me home and stayed with me overnight. The next morning I still had it. It took 3 more days of taking Fiorinal with Codeine several times a day before it went away. Since then I have gone back to my Neurologist to try any kinds of new medicine. I have been on so many different meds. Midrin, Migratine, Elavil, Vicodin, Inderal, Tylenol 3, Fiorinal 3, There are more but I cant remember the names right now. The one he put me on recently was Depakote. It did nothing I took it 3 times a day for 2 weeks and I have had several headaches. I have a history of complicated Migraine for those of you that dont know what that is I will explain. One night I had a Migraine so I took some medicine. Then all of a sudden I realized the whole left side of my body felt weird. It was like I had a stroke on the left side of my body. My speech was slurred and I was walking funny I couldnt hold my arm up on that side and I was totally numb. I was taken to the emergency where they did a cat scan to see what was wrong. they also did a miocardiogram to check my heart. It turned out it was a complicated migraine. It lasted for 2 weeks. Then one day I was speaking normal the headache was gone and I could walk normal. I so I cannot take the drugs like Imitrex. My doctor says I could have a stroke if I take any of the medicines like it. I am so frustrated. I feel like I am at the end of my rope. Are there any people out there that have taken Depakote and have had success with it? I know that everyone is different but I am just curious if theres anyone out there that has used it and has ceased to have their Migraines. Thanks for letting me share.
Jenny HAFL30A@PRODIGY.COM
---Jenny Schultz <HAFL30A@PRODIGY.COM>
Granada Hills, CA USA -
Wow!! I can't believe I have found other people that suffer with migraines like I do. Mine started after my daughter was born, I was 25. I am now 33 and can't remember what it is like not to have them. I have been on all kinds of medicines: Midrin, Cardizem, Cafergot,Wigraine,Elavil, Phenergin, and Inderal. I weaned myself off of the Inderal and It seems to have helped with the frequency of the migraines. I am now currently taking Zoloft 100mg(Anti-Depressant), Imitrex, and Percocet. Recently I have found if I can catch it in time, Execedrin will take it away. For the last few weeks I have started taking Feverfew and Gingko Giloba, but haven't seen any results yet.
When I get a migraine on the right side,which is the side that hurts the worst, I find myself begging my hubby to blow my head off and if I am driving I keep picking out trees I could run into. But what stops me there is thinking of my hubby and daughter, I wouldn't want to leave them. My dad has migraines and cluster headaches and my mom used to get migraines until she had one so bad, dad took her to the hospital and they did a MRI on her and found out she had an aneurysm. I have been wanting to have a MRI done but I'm afraid they might find something up there.(Or maybe a empty head!!LOL)
This past week I have been talking to someone online that has migraines and has started taking Biometrics, it's herbs and vitamins. She was having migraines at least once a day, but since she started taking it she hasn't had one. I am considering doing the same. I would love to get back to a normal life!!! If anyone wants to check out the site on Biometrics it is www.Biometrics.com
If anyone has any ideas please let me know!!! I will keep you all up to date if I decide to take Biometrics. Thanks for reading this and I hope that it doesn't sound like I am whining, because I'm not. Just telling the truth.
Cathy <GoESadlr66>
Bethera, SC USA -
Hi, I am a 17 y.o. female who has suffered from migraine and
other types of headaches for the past year and a half. I started to
get them when I was in an automobile accident. Before that, I never experienced
any headaches before. Then one month later, BAM it hit mt hard. My shoulders and
back would get all spastic and I couldnt move my neck, sometimes my arms would tingle
and I would get an intense pounding and throbbing headache that lasted for days at a time.
At first I went to a chiropractor and thought it was the best. Until one day I went and each time
I would get adjusted my headache would either come back or get worse. So I stopped. Then I started
going to countless numbers of neurologists and they all said that it was because of my age and because
I am an overacheiver and blah blah. I have been called a liar infinite times and a druggie. I have
tried Midrin, Motrin, Acetiphenomen, Tylenol 3, ergomet, Imitrex, and darvon. None
of these work, the only thing that takes my headache sometimes is Vicodin.
Knowing this, when I go to a neurologist or the ER and tell them this, they look
at me and say you are a druggie. PLease, when I take vicodin, I take a half of a pill at
a time. I found a lot of doctors can not handle it when a patient tells them
what meds they need. Also I have recently been getting a lot of bloody noses when I have a headache
and I am getting concerned. Since the accident I have not had one CT or MRI of my head, I have had numerous
back and neck ones though. I have had to give up practically my life to these headaches.
I had to stop my dance lessons, I had to quit my jobs, and I can not
live an active teen life.
Amber McCann <Modrngrl@aol.com>
Fremont, CA USA -
I HAVE SUFFERED WITH MIGRAINES FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. I GO FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT ONE AND THEN BOOM! I HAVE ONE FOR 4 OR 5 DAYS ---I ALSO HAVE TMJ WHICH DOESNT HELP! I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL PRESCIPTION MEDICATIONS.. RIGHT NOW I AM ON ISOCET AND SOMA FOR TENSION HEADACHES AND IMITREX FOR THE MORE SEVERE MIGRAINES. SOMETIMES IT HELPS OTHER TIMES ---NOT SO LUCKY! CALLANETICS (EXERCISE) SEEM TO HELP (SOMETIMES). I SLEEP ON A SPECIAL PILLOW -- WATCH WHAT I EAT (LOW FAT).. AND EXERCISE SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. SO FAR NOTHING SEEMS TO REALLY HELP. I WORK AS A COLLECTOR FOR A BANK; ALTHOUGH THIS CAN BE CONSIDERED A STRESSFUL JOB. I LOVE IT! IT CERTAINLY KEEPS ME BUSY. I HAVE WORKED WITH MIGRAINES AND THE TENSION HEADACHES SO BAD THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY HELD MY HEAD UP. SLEEP SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS BUT WHO CAN SLEEP ALL THERE LIFE!! ANY HELPFUL -- HINTS??? PLEASE E-MAIL ME. THANKS!!!! I AM REALLY GLAD I FOUND THIS SITE.
---D L WESTON <DWe5817`9`@AOL.COM>
HUNTINGTON, WV USA -
I have suffered from migraines for over 20 years (about 3 per week), my mother and my 3 children also suffer from this terror. On top of this pain, I have had 10 surgical procedures and need the 11th. I am in a great deal of pain right now and my doctor decided to just say no to my drugs.... More like just say no to life. Also, for the past 5 years, my husband has had 3 back operations and was out of work until recently. This put us in a position with low income and no insurance. I decided to help myself and wrote a few scripts on my own, got caught (because I am not good at being bad I guess), and now I am in lots of trouble with no lawyer. I am so scared. I was just so desperate and hurt so bad. I don't know what is to become of me now. Is anyone out there that could give me some advice, help, or just a word of encouragement? I was just in so much pain and didn't know where to turn. My husband's 'temporary' position is now permanent and we finally will have insurance in 2 days. Needless to say, I will be in my surgeon's office next week and then the dentist(BIG hole in my tooth = another source of pain). I am totally exhausted and I hurt sooo much. I know what works but for some reason there are so many doctors that are fearful of prescribing Lorcet 10/650 like I need it. I do very well on it and I can have a high quality of life with it. Without it I am in bed at least 3 days weekly with a migraine. My abdomen is tolerable and I can do work that doesn't require me to be on my feet much. I need to work but can't due to this and now I have this legal problem hanging over my head. Just a new source for a headache. Any help or encouragement would be VERY appreciated. Danna
---Danna Neely <kneely@centuryinter.net>
