Fellow sufferers'; I have endured the same pain and chastisement from fellow co-workers and medical staff in regards to my so-called' plain headaches'. I've had the same migraine for 3days and just recently took an Imitrex shot for the severe pain. Now I may possibly loose my job and have been on FMLA and disability because of the vomiting and shallowness/drugged feelings I get daily because of all the meds I am on. Does anyone know the LAW about what I can do to avoid the suffering & pain one can endure from the perspective of a job loss or disabilty claim not being taken seriously from the insurance companies?????? I have no assistance coming in since Feb'. My doctor suggested I go on welfare and quit my job. Isn't that ironic? Any suggestions or inquires are deeply appreciated.
God Bless Everyone in this Journal and its' founder-
Sandra J.....
Sandra J. <ROBSANDY1@prodigy.net>
Sacramento, Ca USA - Tue Jul 7 19:22:49 1998
I am 52 years old and have been suffering from migraines for
about 30 years. They have transformed over the years, and I
have tried just about every medication mentioned in this
section. I also went to the Diamond Headache Clinic, a well
known place in this section of the country. NO GO! Anyway,
when my husband and I went online, I was surprised and very
happy to find all these sites dedicated to migraine and
migraine sufferers, because I feel that the worst part of it
is getting people to take your pain seriously,including many
supposed doctors. It really helps to know that others go
thru the same frustration and lack of understanding that I
do.
Rosalind Beane <rollerball1@mediaone.net>
Niles , Il USA - Tue Jul 7 14:18:34 1998
I am on my third day of the same EVIL migraine as I write this. I took Excedrin and sat in a cool dark room for the first day then yesterday I couldn't take the pain anymore so my dad took me first to my MD where I got a shot (which wore off after 2 hrs) then to the ER about 6 hrs later (another shot) then home to sleep. I woke up about 10 times last night from pain and now this morning I am again in severe pain. Does anyone out there know how to tell if you are simply having a "rebound headache" or if you just have a really bad migraine that rears it's ugly head when the pain shots wear off? I keep thinking I am just having rebound headache because my migraines normally only last 2 days at the most. I am still "seeing stars" in my peripheral vision and nausea and waves of severe pounding headache pain that feel like a migraine to me. I am concerned that if this is only rebound headache then it is dumb to keep getting pain shots when I could just break that cycle by waiting it out. If it is migraine, then I am worried something is wrong because my migraines have doubled in frequency and longevity. I welcome anyone's opinions, please email!!
I thank God for this site!! Thanks, Angel
Angel <AngelVipond@yahoo.com>
Grass Valley, CA USA - Tue Jul 7 14:12:46 1998
Greetings fellow sufferers. I am 37y.o. female who has been plaqued with migraines since I was in my teens. I now have is, but I think we all have to find that little bit of extra strength to live through those awful hospital visits. At least until the medical community smartens up and some public education takes place. Migraines are one of the most commonly misdiagnosed/not treated conditions. All too often sufferers are left alone with out a whole lot of support from their doctors and misunderstandings with family and friends. I wish you all courage.
Karen Hayes <kahayes@compusmart.ab.ca>
Canada - Tue Jul 7 2:13:45 1998
Now when I go to the hospital, I am very honest with the attending docs. I tell them flat out that I have "been there done that, Demerol/Gravol is what I need right now." I have a migraine journal which I show to every doctor and I go to the same hospital every visit. I try to remember my doctors' names and that sometimes helps. I think if we could all be a little more confident, we would do much better in the emergency rooms. I know how hard it is and I know how painful it is, but I think we all have to find that little bit of extra strength to live through those awful hospital visits. At least until the medical community smartens up and some public education takes place. Migraines are one of the most commonly misdiagnosed/not treated conditions. All too often sufferers are left alone with out a whole lot of support from their doctors and misunderstandings with family and friends. I wish you all courage.
Karen Hayes <kahayes@compusmart.ab.ca>
Canada - Tue Jul 7 2:13:21 1998
I JUST FOUND THIS JOURNAL AND I THINK IT IS REALLY COOL. I'M 19 YEARS OLD AND HAVE HAD MIGRAINES SINCE I WAS 13. I NEVER DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL THIS PAST YEAR, MY ROOMMATE HAD TO TAKE ME TO A MINOR MEDICAL CENTER BECAUSE I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN AND HAD BEEN VOMITTING FOR SO LONG. I THEN HAD TO GO TO SOME FREAKAZOID OF A DOCTOR WHO JUST PRESCRIBED MIDRIN AND HAVEN'T TALKED TO SINCE. HOWEVER, MIDRIN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL ON ANY MIGRAINE I HAVE HAD EVER. I WOULD LIKE TO TRY SOME DIFFERENT MEDICINES BUT I AM TOO SCARED BECAUSE I HAVE A SRTONG HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE AND MY DAD IS A BORDERLINE DIABETIC. IT IS REALLY COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE KNOW HOW I FEEL WHEN I GET A MIGRAINE--THAY DO NOT RUN IN MY FAMILY SO NO ONE ELSE UNDERSTANDS. MY BOYFRIEND IS A LITTLE BIT OF A HELP BY TRYING TO BE AS SWEET AS HE CAN, BUT HE JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE CAN'T TURN THE TV OR RADIO UP ALL THE WAY. I LIVE IN THE DORMS AT SCHOOL AND ALL MY FRIENDS JUST THINK I AM BEING LAZY WHEN I GET A MIGRAINE NOBODY AROUND THERE UNDERSTANDS HOW MUCH PAIN AND DISCOMFORT YOU ARE IN WHEN YOU GET A MIGRAINE. IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS ABOUT ANY MEDICINES I CAN TAKE THAT ACTUALLY WORK PLEASE EMAIL ME!!!!! THANK YOU! HAVE A GREAT DAY:)
LAURIE SHELTON <ANCHOR97@WEBTV.NET>
MEMPHIS, TN USA - Tue Jul 7 1:53:14 1998
Hi all. I've been getting migraines for about 8 years, and I'm only 16.
When I was about 13, I had someone (my previous physician) tell me that
they weren't so bad. I think after about 3 or 4 years of these headaches,
my mom knew what was wrong and how I felt. (She's had migraines since she
was 9 and they didn't let up until her early 50's.) I tried every over the
counter pain reliever there was and nothing provided any relief, so I went
to the doctor, got all the usual tests, blah, blah, blah, and was told nothing.
Nice of him, wasn't it? Well, we moved and I got a new doctor who listened
and finally prescribed Midrin. It helped for awhile, but now it does nothing.
And if I decide to take one, on the chance it might work, I feel like I'm
going to faint. I get a migraine, on average, 3 times a month, and a really
bad one 2 or 3 times a year. The not-so-bad migraines usually last for a couple
of days, during which: I can't stand the light of day, require twice as much
sleep as normal, and can't take any noise of any kind. It makes high school a
real blast. The BAD migraines can last anywhere from 3 days to a couple of weeks.
The pain gets so bad sometimes that I have to come straight home and sleep until
I have to do homework or some other frivolity (or so it seems during those times.)
I'm sorry to hear about all of you who have migraines, trust me, I know what it's
like. But it's also good to know that other people understand, and I'm not the only
one who gets them (believe me, it feels like that sometimes.)
Bye for now.
laura <lauremw@hotmail.com>
USA - Mon Jul 6 22:13:57 1998
