Case Histories - May 1998 #2

On May 11, I am going into the hospital at the New England Center for Headaches in CT. for treatment to get off all medications that have been causing daily “rebound” headaches. I have been getting daily headaches for over 5 months now. The Doctors at the Center say they are definitely from the Imitrex and Butalbital (Fioricet) I have been taking almost twice a day for the pain. These medicines are very effective in relieving the pain, but have caused the headaches to come more frequently. Prior to these medicines, I would get, maybe 1 a week. This was my history for about 4 years. When I moved and went to a new Neurologist, he prescribed these new drugs, and then the increase. It is a vicious cycle ...pain ...medicine...pain. I usually wake up at about 4 AM with one and later in the afternoon. Since going to the clinic about 10 days ago, the Doctor has taken me off these and I am taking prednisone (decreasing dosage) and Elival (increasing dosage) and the preventive Atenolol to help take the edge off. I have made it through these 10 days, but still get the headaches. They are bearable most times. The Doctor said it could take 3 to 6 weeks to show an improvement. Since the hospital is available and my insurance has approved, I will take advantage and go in for the 5-7 day process. They will give me DHE-45 intravenously daily. After this treatment, the rebound headaches should subside, the intermittent migraines may still come, but the preventative will have a chance to work. I have spoken to a few people who have successfully gone through this treatment. I will let you know the results of the hospital stay...............Good Luck to ALL ......... Ray.

---Ray <ryeager@monmouth.com>
Manasquan, NJ USA -

Hello I am a 34 year old male married 17 years to a great wife . two children 11 year old son and 8 year old angel. To day is 8 weeks and 1 day with headache. seen neuro took all of the test all look good . still have headache 24 hours a day ,pain in right arm ,light and sound drive me nuts . presently taking talwin nx helps some,also taking prednisone,midren,trazodone,depakote and taking viciden to change off with talwin. If i take talwin a few days it seem to stop working . only one headache before this one ,it lasted a week . i tryed a water exerice class to day , I can not stand long or the headache goes super bad. did not help much seeing i could not keep up with all the retired people there. do not get me wrong i glad they still move like that . I`ve all way been in good health ,not over weight or any thing. now it hurts to do any thing . thanks for giving me a place to vent and may GOD HELP US ALL DR. CAN`T

---Daniel <nzqb95a@prodigy.com>
Malvern, Ar USA -

It has been about 3 months since I have written about my 17 year old Daughter who has been a Migrainaut, with aura for over 2 years now. Things have been not as bad lately. I don't really contribute this break to anything in particular. My Daughter has been on Inderal 120 mg daily for about a year. It does help, but she still gets break throughs a couple times a month. I know she is growing more tolerable of the pain. She only takes the Imitrex when she feels death knocking. I don't get her. She would rather suffer that horrible pain, then get a shot. Well anyway. We are still hanging in there and as always, still searching and praying for answers. Good luck to you all. Sincerely, Migraine Mom

---Cindy Gilliland aka Migraine Mom <garrettg@intercomm.com>
Reno, NV USA -

I have suffered from migraines very severely for quite some time now. I need to know if anyone has ever heard of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, MI?? I am considering seeking help there and would love to hear others experience with this facility. Please email me at JTROUTEN@aol.com Thanks! Jana

---Jana <JTROUTEN@AOL.COM>
Atlanta, GA USA -

I know you guys just heard from me. But I have to add a couple of things to this. First, I'm not afraid of waking up in the morning, I'm actually afraid I'll awaken with a headache again. I had to clarify that. A couple more things that occur with my headaches. I get extremely high blood pressure. It is usually 126 over 80, but during peak headache time it is 148 over 100. Last week they had to take my blood pressure three times before I could leave the doctor's office. I am uncertain if high blood causes severe headaches or headaches cause high blood pressure. Oh, by the way, I am a 42 year old female if has anything to do with headaches. Hope to hear from someone soon. Debbie

---Debbie Robertson <SMTP:RobertsD@mail.ci.tlh.fl.us>
Tallahassee, FL USA -

Hi there, this is my first time ever typing something on the net, but I have been searching all day on the net for some causes and cures for my severe headaches. Sometimes an injection of imitrex works in about 15 minutes. But most of the time I have to be given injections of stadol. I never feel my headaches coming on, I always awaken with them. I have absolutely no control over them. The night after the day of the headache, I'm always afraid to go to sleep, in fear I'll wake up tomorrow morning. I hate these headaches. I miss too much work because I can't function when I have them, then I am unable to function after getting the injection of stadol. I need some help here. I have to go this afternoon and have another MRI. Any suggestions on how to prevent these will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Debbie

---Debbie Roberson <SMTP:RobertsD@mail.ci.tlh.fl.us>
Tallahassee, FL USA -

I have suffered migraines since about 8-9 but more severe and more often at about 14-15. I have been to many diff Dr., tried many diff meds but the only thing that really works is imitrex shots, but only if I take it in my arm and lay down for a few hours and do not do anything strenuous for the rest of the day. THe pills work most of the time, but if I take it very often over a couple of months it takes more or doesn't work at all... so I stop taking it for a couple of months then start again. The nasal spray form did nothing. I have still had to go to the Dr. a couple of times and to the ER to get additional shoots of Demoral etc... when imitrex didn't work and I had a migraine for days. This has only been about 3 times over about 4 yrs. I've learned so much about migraines since then. My symptoms are that I feel funny just before it starts, then very sleepy and have slurred speech, constantly yawn, then the constant nausea and pain sets in... the pain has varied as far as location. At one point it always started at the base of my head and neck, now it is always around my eye, usually left sometimes right and then may spread over that entire side of my head. I have had one on the left side for about 24 hrs, then the middle of my head for 24 hrs then the right side for 24 hrs. I have triggers from so many diff kinds of food..... choc, toffee, caramel, butterscotch, peppermint, peanut butter, nuts, cookies, cookie dough, pork, donuts, honey buns and oatmeal. As well as going without sleep, food and getting very hot. I also can't get very excited or anxious about something and I try to keep the same mind set on the weekend as I do during the week ie I don't relax too much just keep busy. You've probably heard of those weekend migraines that come from so much work and stress during the week and when you relax you get one. Luckily though my job isn't too stressful. Those are the main triggers but there's probably more I can't think of or don't know about. Some of these didn't bother me until I had my daughter. BUt she's worth it. Also before having her the migraines would start about 2-2.5 days from the time I ate the trigger food, now it may be 30 mins-12 hrs. I got them more frequently after a car accident but my headaches have varied from 2-3 a week, 2-3 a month to 1 a month, and back and forth. I have a wonderful husband who is very understanding and looks after me when I get one. Even when we had first started dating and sometimes spent our Sat and Sun night dates on the couch with me throwing up. He has been a God send. I have found something that I've tried a couple of times that worked to get rid of my headache. Ginger powder and ground up pure unprocessed sugar in a 50:50 combination. Take 1 teaspoon full and mix in a glass of water. I've taken it twice at the onset of a headache and rested and it got rid of it, once I didn't rest and it didn't go away. I also tried it on one I woke up with, the hardest kind to get rid of, and it didn't work. I am drinking a glass a day now to see if it helps prevent it.... if I get one I plan drink a glass on onset of it. If you try this let me warn you it takes very, very bad. It should also help with nausea and other things. I suggest searching on the web to read about it. The pure unproc. sugar comes in very large pellets. Not very easy to find, I got mine at a Indian/pakastan store and the ginger as well bec. they sell it in large bags and its grown (the ginger that is) in India... so its cheaper there. I had to grind up the sugar by using a hammer with the sugar in a ziploc bag and placed a towel over it and my husb banged away. Once you mix it in water if you let it sit a min the sugar will melt and it doens't taste quite as bad. Luck to all.

---Jennifer <sweetpsma@aol.com>
Clayton, NC USA -