Case Histories - August #4

I do not have migraine headaches but I was searching for information for my cousin. I did not realize there are so many of you suffering so much. My cousin has had a migraine for three weeks now. Her pain is so excruciating she goes to the Dr. office during the day for demerol or morphine injections and to a treatment center at night. Last night when I talked with her she was crying and said I just cannot seem to break the cycle of this headache. I just felt so bad for her. I cannot understand why the Dr.s do not keep trying till they find the cause. My cousin lives about 200 miles away from me so that does not help. It seems they have done all the tests, given her injections in her head, head ache blockers and the list goes on and on. But it seems now they are not trying to find the cause anymore. I feel helpless and useless. If anyone has any suggestions please e-mail me. It seems alot of people here have the same problem. I know it is not consolation but my heart goes out to all of you.
CONNIE GEORGES <constan476@aol.com >
Taylor, MI USA - Tue Aug 4 20:57:48 1998

It's been interesting reading all the comments on this page, however, I have a slightly different experience. My problems it that I have the other type of migraine - quite acute aura symptoms (visual disturbances, numbness, etc) and relatively mild headache. I am most interested in hearing from people who have this type of migraine, and how they deal with them (esp whether they are preventable) I am also keen to talk to anyone who has any sort of breathing disturbance, Lately I have noticed that I seem to stop breathing, and then get a massive wave of dizziness, which quickly subsides when I take a deep breath, I think this is involuntary and so it's a little scary. I've have EEG, which checked out OK (except for unusually high frontal lobe activity - which is consistent with being an emotional person - so I was told). It takes months to get on the list for an MRI when the neurologist thinks that there's nothing wrong with you. I also had a series of spells which consisted with a general feeling of anxiety, then severe dizziness, and the feeling that someone was pushing down and in on my scalp. It is very distracting, and my then boyfriend (now husband) has been with me for most of them, and cannot necessarily see any actual physical change, he just had to respond to my verbal explanations. I think they're migraines but the anxiety and breathing and severe dizziness is a bit scary. I would like to get direct replies via email if possible. Thanks for your listening ears, Jess.
Jess <araqyl@spin.net.au>
NS Australia - Tue Aug 4 7:19:34 1998

Hi you all once again. I just thought I would remind you all that tomorrow is my big day! Hopefully it will be the beginning of a new life without migraines, or with less frequent migraines and not as severe. You see, I am experiencing "rebounds" from overusage of narcotic pain meds, so therefore, my doc is admitting me to the hospital tomorrow. I am scared to death! However, the individuals that have responded to my previous posting about going into the hospital have really given me hope! You know who all of you are that have responded, and I want to take this oppurtunity to say THANK YOU for caring! :) Unfortunately, I do not have a laptop that I can take with me to the hospital, so I will have to wait until I get discharged on Sat. to access all of your messages and postings. Boo-hoo. :( I really appreciate all the support you guys have given me! I really do!! Have any of you gone through just a 3-day inpatient hospital program to detox? Was it a successful program for you? Please write me back and if you would, share with me your experiences. Remember, for anyone that writes to me after today, I will not receive your message until I get out of the hospital on Sat. Good luck to all of you and I sure will miss each and everyone of you when I am away from my computer. Love to all of you! ~Jana~
Jana <JTROUTEN@aol.com>
Atlanta, GA USA - Tue Aug 4 5:15:02 1998

Hi again. I've been doing alot of research on migraines, particularly since I now am on the internet. There's a lot of information out there. I've been up and down and all around the "rebound headache track". I'm now taking Paxil and Pamelor as preventatives from my previously every-day migraines. Now it seems the only headaches I'm getting are the week of my period, the last week of the cycle, when I am taking no estrogen. I am firmly convinced that the deprival of thus estrogen is what causes the serotonin levels in my brain to fall, reslting in the migraines. So the hormones, or lack of hormones,are the trigger of these. The rest of them month, my head is feeling wonderful. My life has made a big improvement to say the least. I love you, Dr. Brewer!!!!! (My neuro, who is also a migraines sufferer, so she actually understands and believes me). I'm so glad I've found her. Do most of you have a family history of migraines? I found out recently that my paternal grandmother also suffered (and lived to be 95 anyway). I empathize with your pain, I really do, we truly know what suffering with chronic pain is. Good luck, everybody! Talk to you later.
Nelia <n.j.stiles@prodigy.net>
USA - Mon Aug 3 18:49:33 1998

Hi, this is my first message to this board. I wanted to send some encouragement in the form of my own story. I have now spent the first 10 months of my life free from migraines and it's like being reborn. Prior to this, I'd suffered from "migraine seiges" (migraines that come for 10 - 14 days, with constant symptoms that require continuous medications and never seem to fully resolve) for 15 years, since I was a teenager. I have used all medications and been hospitalized with injections of Stadol, Demerol, Phenargan, etc. I'm sure many of you can relate! Anyway, after a 2-week seige last fall I decided I would take a different approach. First, I went on a "radical" nutritional approach that eliminates all foods I'm allergic to and also substitutes pure, whole foods for anything processed. I began acupuncture treatment and underwent 3 sessions a week initially. I sought out a chiropracter and he successfully used deep muscle and spinal therapy to prevent the tension headaches I'd felt were related to the migraines. I also began an exercise program. I am now 30 lbs. lighter, fit, and best of all, migraine-free. I would never have believed that this would work, but it did. I still suffer from asthma and allergies and I still keep my migraine medication around just in case. I see traditional doctors and they are thrilled with my success. I am convinced that my many health problems affected my immune system and that these problems combined to create the migraine process, like my body had turned on itself. Best of luck to all of you in your own search for relief. a.v.
Annette Visty <avisty@aol.com>
Dallas, TX USA - Mon Aug 3 15:45:33 1998