Hi fellow sufferers:
I have been having "tension" headaches since I reached my teen years.
I went to a chiropracter when I was 15 & was told that my spine curves
the wrong way in my skull (how fun). He prescribed therapy & it seemed
to help. Once I was feeling better I quit. I went about being a teenager
just like every one else. When I was 18 I was in a head on collision
that I walked away from. Since that day the headaches came back. Well
I am 28 now and as of last August, I was diagnosed with Chronic Migraines.
I have been on so many medications: Zomig (nope, didn't work) Stadol NS
(worked but addiction set in) Imitrex (usually works about 66% of the time)
Soma(to reduce muscle tension) Halcion (to help me sleep) Butabital w/
codine(for the baby migraines)as well as Claritin (because of alergies).
With all this medication, I am still suffering from terrible headaches
at LEAST weekly.
This week I visited the ER because the Maximum Dosage of Imitrex
didn't do its job. The Doctor gave me a shot of compazine for the
naseua & then demoral for the pain. It worked pretty well, but I still
have residual pain. If you can list any other medications that mught be
beneficial, I would be much appreciative.
I find that a weekly massage & chiropractic care do help, but only
for a shor time. My insurance is good & they cover this for me. If they
didn;t I would still go for the massage, It really does help.
God/dess bless you all. May you not have to suffer long with these
painful problems.
One thing I would like to mention to you. If you are a worker &
get them at work, consult your HR department about Family Medical Leave
act. Chronic Migraines cause absenteeism & you may be elligble to have
you job protected. Its how I am still working today. Good Luck.
Dianna
Dianna <ghost@gte.net >
New Port Richey, Fl USA - Date: 08/27/98 (Thu)
Time: 01:12:55 AM
I'm a 30 year old working mother of 3. I suffer from severe headaches. I like others get the spots before my eyes (blinding) before the onset of pain. Such pain that I can not lift my head from the pillow. Nausea is part of it as well. I have been put on Furocet(SP) Worked well for awhile, then put on Darvocet and that worked well for sometime. I also used Midrin (never worked). Recently I had a new MD put me on Lortab and Motrin 800. Which works if I catch it in time. But, I have found that my severe headaches have dragged out for 4 1/2 - 12hrs, faintly continue for about a day, and they wipe me out. I am interested to know if others have had the same symptoms?. If a MD has diagnosed them with any diagnosis?
Michelle <jonesn@lvcm.com>
Las Vegas, nv USA - Date: 08/27/98 (Thu)
Time: 12:25:12 AM
HELLO MY NAME IS PATRICIA I HAD MY FRIST MIGRAIN WHEN I WAS 16 AT THE TIME
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT WHEN I GOT OLDER THE HEADACHS WOULD LAST
LONGER SO I WENT TO THE D.R AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS A MIGRAIN SO HE GAVE
ME A SHOT WELL NOW I'M 28 AND MY HEADACH ARE REAL BAD.I HAVE HAD ALL
OF THE TEST AND I HAVE HAD ALL OF THE MEDS AND NOTHER WORK .SO WHEN
I GET A REAL BAD HEADACH I HAVE TO GO GET A SHOT.I DON'T LIKE SHOTS
BUT THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT HELP AND SOMETIME THAT DON'T WORK.
I HAVE STARTER HAVE THEM MORE .I WISH THEY WOULD COME UP WITH
SOMETHING THAT WOULD WORK FOR ME BECOUES I GET TIRED OF GOING TO THE
DR.THEY LIKE AT ME LIKE I'M LIEING ARE SOMETHING BUT I'M GLADE TO
KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS MIGRAIN.
PATRICIA HOWARD <pattom@vci.net>
PADUCAH, KY USA - Date: 08/26/98 (Wed)
Time: 11:40:39 PM
Thought I would update you all on my current Neurologist status.... I posted this in another migraine site too.....
Ok, I just got back from the neurologists office..... Im beginning to wonder
about how this man is held together at this point..... Ok.. brief history... I
was on depakote for a while back(First med they tried on me - different doc)
was taken off of it due to excessive weight gain and still having migraines....
was told to go on my merry way... So I did right to a new doctor.... Then was
put on 25 mg of Inderal.... this wound up lowering my BP and doc couldnt
increase dosage so that was the end of that one.... Then they put me on the
pamalour...... ok great... for 6 weeks didnt do a blessed thing, they
increased my dosage to 100 mg of that one.... last tuesday. I almost wound up
in ER with severe reaction to the med... called my doc at 4am making sure I
wasnt having a heartattack... real bad reaction..... was terrified to sleep
for two days (hit my all time record of being awake for 48 hours!) Ok great...
They did EKG next day, all was well with the ole ticker.... had appt with neuro
again today to discuss new med....... thought this one was going to be great
right? get this hopeful optimistic feeling every time they try something new
on you.... maybe this will be it right? Ok... now up to present time.... this
is what the wonderful doc told me today.... wanted to put me back on 100mg of
pamalour..... ok.. sure, now at this point im wondering if the man was more
asleep than I thought at 4am?.... Maybe aliens invaded his body? So, I gave him
the benefit of the doubt.... I retold him what I had gone through last week
with the medication........so here is his brilliant solution..... to put me on
75mg of the pamalour (his reasoning you ask? because there arent all that many
meds out there for me to try..... Even though the 50 mg did NOTHING for me...
and the 100 mg tried to KILL me..... Hey we will try again right? Didnt get
rid of me the first time lets go for round two! Makes sense to me right?) I
told him. Look doc, im a bit skeptical here... youre not the one waking up
thinking youre having a heartattack in the middle of the night..... he still
insists on giving me prescript for 75 mg of the stuff..... Ok, now youre all
thinking the same thing as I did right? as if this wasnt bad enough..... heres
the clincher..... he writes me a prescript for midrin........ to take one at
the onset of migraine and one a bit later on...... Ok, not a problem you say
right? WRONG>.... I have been on Imitrix since I was diagnosed with migraines
a year ago.... it works FINE... usually only takes one dosage. No side
effects.... havent even been using it all that often lately.... now maybe its
me but why mess with something that is working? So, I basically told him to
keep that one. He started to tell me that my insurance pays like $50 for the
box of imitrix ( I have $15 copay)... my point to him was ... SO WHAT? it
works, im happy, theyre not complaining, im keeping in my monthly
allowence..... Why mess with it? so he kept that prescript and still gave me
the one for the 75mg of pamalour...... Oh wait, it gets better....... you all
thought this was enough right???? oh no... not for me it isnt....... Next, I
make mention of the fact that my PCP wants to start me on Paxil to help with
the mild depression I have been having ( I WONDER WHY?) So his answer to me?
Well, I can write you a script for that but then I have to moniter your mental
health... best bet is to see a psych...well that would be all well and good but
ins only covers half of that visit... so I cant afford to do it..... and his
answer was that Pamalour is an antidepressant anyway... well this is all well
and good BUT I WAS ON THE PAMALOUR WHEN I HAD MY 2 DAY BREAKDOWN in my PCP's
office!!!!!!!!! Makes sense to me,.... keep me on it, keep me depressed and
try to KILL ME!
Ok, I think I have calmed down a bit now that I got it all out.... My question
to you is just as the subject says... IS THIS NUTS OR WHAT????????????? I have
a call into my PCP wont get back to me till tomorrow though... FIGURES! So,
needless to say Im NOT starting the pamalour again tonight... will wait to talk
to PCP in the morning...... hey Ive been off the meds for a week and hanging in
there so far... but do feel a migraine starting up now... and who says stress
doesnt set these babys off????
So, Please, any advice or methods of murder that you might suggest are
appreciated (am considering the woodchopper that friend has offered in the
past)
Thank you!
Kristen Leigh
Kristen Leigh <KLeigh888@AOL.COM>
Jericho, NY USA - Date: 08/26/98 (Wed)
Time: 11:22:58 PM
Maybe I should add to my case history that I have had an MRI and CT scan, and both were negative. I have questioned the doctor about strokes, and he said that my neurological tests have ruled out anything like an aneurism. The doctor said that as long as I don't "wake up with a headache", I shouldn't have anything to worry about. I usually don't wake up with one.
I've just been getting a lot of email from people wondering if I had had these tests and getting concerned about strokes and things. Thanks for your concern!
Jennifer <Jennij572@aol.com>
Birmingham, AL USA - Date: 08/26/98 (Wed)
Time: 10:36:25 PM
I am 27 and have been suffering migraines since I was 6 or 7.
I didn't want to take medications for them. I was very afraid
of becoming addicted. I went to a neurologist and found out that
I have a congenital nerve disorder that might be what's triggering
them, but when he said that he could prescribe me some medication
I completely refused. Well, I then began to get worse. They started
coming three to four times a week and staying for alot longer. I gave
up and went to another physician. She was simply a family
practitioner. It seemed like everyone told me that you had to go to a
specialist to get any relief. Well, I learned different. She
immediately prescribed me Paxil 20mg daily and guess what? I've been
virtually migraine free for seven months! Now, if I am under alot
of stress or eat chinese food, I will get one, but that is all. Before
I was getting them all of the time for what seemed like no reason
at all. I thought I was suffering some kind of punishment or some-
thing. Now I go through life normally. I can enjoy my children,
hobbies, and other things, that I couldn't before. Don't be afraid
to get help. There is a solution.
Elizabeth Vaughn <eava@swbell.net>
Chickasha, OK USA - Date: 08/26/98 (Wed)
Time: 09:49:49 PM
Has anyone experienced "ocular migraines" like mine? You get this weird "shaking" or "vibrating" in your field of vision, or you get a "blind spot" and you can't see anything for a while. Then, your vision comes back, and the pain starts. It is the strangest thing. I was scared at first, but I have been to the neuro-opthamologist, and he said that is "classic ocular migraine" and I don't have anything to worry about. I'm so afraid this will happen when I am driving or something. It comes on so fast. If you have had these symptoms and know what I can do about them, please let me know. The doctors don't really seem to be concerned about it, but it's kind of scary. Thanks!
Jennifer <jennij572@aol.com>
Birmingham, AL USA - Date: 08/26/98 (Wed)
Time: 08:11:11 PM
