Case Histories - August #14

Has anyone had any luck with the recommended 400 mg of riboflavin? I have about 10 headaches a month, and have tried numerous other things...
Lynn <LynHeil@aol.com>
Dallas, tx USA - Date: 08/31/98 (Mon) Time: 05:56:01 PM

Hello fellow sufferers, I guess I should first start out with that I am so happy to have found this site, for quite a while I have felt all alone with my pain and the Dr's reactions have been less than comforting. I have heard over and over again that my headaches and migraines are all from stress, yet I can always pinpoint when they will start, right after my menstrual cycle. I am trying my 10th different type of medication today, and I have to admit I am quite scared. I will be trying Migronal and well I have this fear of it being like Stadol (yuk!) or Imitrex, Amerge or Zomig. I find no comfort in having the tightness in my chest and throat. I am almost to the point of doubting myself, wondering if maybe I am just looking for attention, but I know that is not the case, but the Dr's just dont seem to be helping me. I already take prozac and I take Naprosen and skelaxin (sp) for stress headaches, and now it looks like I have to be stoned in order to get relief from the migraines. I want my life back........ I hate having to tell my children "mommy has a headache and is going to bed". The looks on their face is so compeling. The concern in my loved ones eyes is so heart breaking, cause there is nothing they can do to make "mommy stop hurting". I am sorry but I just need a place to vent, without being labeled a whiner or hypochondriac. I wish I could have one day without a single headache, or one menstrual cycle without the massive pain behind my eye. I have trouble writing and typing sometimes........Dizzyness, and confusion. I have had MRI's and CT scans........all come up with not a single thing. I can't help but wonder if maybe my estrogen level may be off, and that is what is leading to these problems. I have Pelvic Inflamatory Disease that has affected my ovaries and maybe it has messed my hormonal balance all up. Has anyone had this be found to be the cause and if so, how was it isolated? Thank you for the space to vent.
Tracey <tracylyn@gte.net>
Dallas, Tx USA - Date: 08/31/98 (Mon) Time: 10:57:07 AM

To Suffers: It's time for a Lifestyle Change. In 1985 I had a heart attack and have had two open heart surgeries. I suffered with migraine headaches for 15-years previously, went to every doctor, M.D., Chriopractor, Osteopathy, you name it, I'd been there. However, after the last heart surgery, 1989, I changed my lifestyle. I heard a preacher give a sermon on why christians get sick. He gave us a diet and suggested we take Barleygreen as an additive to the diet. After taking the Barleygreen and following the diet I have not had a migraine or even a headache since. Sometimes when I slip and go off the diet for a short time I will get a slight headache and I know its back to the Barleygreen and the diet. I also take pychnogenol with the other aforementioned. If anyone would like to know more about the diet, Barleygreen, and Pychnogenol please feel free to email me. God Bless, George
George Ballard <Zooey@cwv.net>
Bolt, WV USA - Date: 08/31/98 (Mon) Time: 10:33:22 AM

Am so grateful to find this page! Have had severe, daily headaches since a car accident in 1983 caused whiplash injuries to my neck. Have tried M.D.'s, neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, chiropractors, D.O.'s, acupuncturists, even the Headache Clinic in San Francisco! Got addicted to several different Rx's through the years, finding some relief initially, but then needing to up the dosages to get the same relief, ultimately ending in reliance and abuse. My chiropractor got me off of all meds in '88, it took over a year to do it without going to a hospital to detox, but it was the best thing I have done to date. He adjusts me as often as I need it, which sometimes is as often as several times a day/night, but it helps more than anything else. Sometimes I get an unmanageable migraine, & must resort to the E.R. for a shot of Demerol and Phenergan (which USUALLY works, but not always). Also have experienced the frustration of being seen as a 'drug-seeker' which is most infuriating when you're at your most vulnerable and helpless... Family & friends do not understand, they think I'm overly sensitive, self-pitying, yadda yadda yadda. Lost a 14-yr career job at a good company over the headache problem with its resultant absenteeism, hospital stays, etc. Depression is an intermittent and continuing problem. I'm trying to stop taking Prozac in favor of 5-HTP & some other supplements which are supposed to help support the neurotransmitters. Really appreciate hearing other people's stories & experiences with Rx's & other treatments for pain. Like someone else said, there's nothing so valuable as empathy or affirmation! This condition is so isolating without it. Thanks for this page & all the comments. Would enjoy hearing from others in the same boat. Thanks.
Lani Gallimore <panache@prodigy.net>
Boise, ID USA - Date: 08/31/98 (Mon) Time: 04:48:21 AM

hi everyone I've had migraines for more years than I care to think about. There have been times when it has been very hard to do my job over the years. I work in a retail store and have to deal with customers all the time and when I have one of these headaches I can"t do my job very well. I also try very hard to hide the fact that I have these headaches becuse as we all know alot of people hve no understanding of migraine headaches and the severe pain that is involved. They tend to think we"re a bunch of whining babies. Over the years I"ve been to tons of doctors in serarch of some kind of solution. I"ve taken all the same drugs that I"m sure everyone else has-----imitrex,prozac,codiene,darvocet,amitrypiline,inderal,calan,lithum,demerol,oxycodone and so many more I can't even remember there names. I tried bio-feedback and had absolutely no luck with it at all--I just couldn't concentrate when I was in pain. I also went to a pain clinic and they really didn't do much for me except prescribe more pain pills. I als went into the hospital when the headaches reached a point where I just couldn't handle them anymore. At the time I was on so many pain pills that first I had to get off them before the headache specialist could treat me and find out how bad the migraines were. I then had a five day treatment of dhe 45 which didn't work that great for me. At this point in time I'm taking imitrex,darvocet,amitipilyme and prozac. This month I only had 3 decent days where I actually was pain free. Thats not very good. Tomorrow I see the doctor again and I'm not very optimistic. If anyone out there has any ideas please e-mail me at dennie20@webtv.net Thanks--I hope to hear from you Carol
carol <dennie20@webtv.net>
northsyracuse , ny USA - Date: 08/30/98 (Sun) Time: 10:47:31 PM

Hello fellow sufferers; Thank You Soooo!!!Much!!Ronda for this migraine journal.It's so comforting to know I'm not alone.The other da I went to a Doctor's appointment from Hell.First let me start by telling a little about my history.I started to get migraines as a child.They got more frequent the older I got.So I went to see a neurologist.He tried me on alot of different preventative medication.None of the medication worked.The neurologist said there was nothing else he could do for me.A few weeks later I get a prescription of Nortriptyline in the mail from the neurologist.I got the prescription filled and started taking it.I went from 3 to 5 migraines a week to 3 to 5 migraines a month.I took it for three years.I gained 50 lbs.I never had a problem with my weight before.I found out it was the Nortriptyline I was taking.So I quit taking it.I started to get 3 to 5 migrains a week again.My husband had to take me to the weekend clinic for a migraine shot. The doctor there asked me if I was taking any preventative medication for my migraines. I told him about the other medications I had taken and that Nortriptyline worked the best but I had stopped taking it because of weight gain. He told me about Zoloft and asked me if I wanted to try that. I asked him if there were any side effects. He told me, no there was no weight gain. What he was telling me about Zoloft sounded good. So I decided to try it. The doctor said wanted to see me in two weeks. I went back in two weeks. The medicine was not working so he doubled the dose and said he wanted to see me in a month. This past Monday was a month. I went back to see the docter and thats when I had the doctors appointment from hell. The doctor asked me if the Zoloft was working. I told him that the medicine was not working. I did some research on the internet on migraine medication. I printed some of it thinking maybe one of the medications could help me.I showed it to the doctor. He acted like he didn't want to see it. He would not take the paper. So I asked him about two of the medications;Dapakote and Neurontin. He didn't think it a good idea to take them, so I didn't say anymore about it. I told him I was having 3 to 5 migraines a week and I was worried about taking too many Cafergot and Phenergen suppositories.He told me it would not hurt me taking so many of them.I told him since I get so many migrains I never take anything narcoticfor fear of becomng addicted.I told him how I use to give myself DHE shots and they worked I had to stop taking them because I couldn't afford them.I asked for a prescription for DHE.He gave me one.He then told me he wanted to try me on some calcium blockers.He left the room to get some samples to give me.When he came back I asked what calcium blockers were and if there were any side effects. Thats when my doctors appointment became the doctors appointment from Hell. He told me if I didn't trust him then this was not going to work out. He said that he was the doctor and that I should trust him. Then he said,"Do you think you're the only one with problems around here? Right now there is a girl in the room next to yours in a lot of pain that I have to admit into the hospital and her parents are very angry with me because I'm spending so much time with you." He then said," If this is going to work you're going to have to trust me. Do you understand?" I was in shock and holding back tears. I didn't want to say anything for fear I would cry. He told me," You're going to have to answer me. Say something." I looked at him and said," I don't see nothing wrong with me wanting to know about the drug I'm going to be taking." THen he said," NO there's nothing wrong with you asking a few questions but you don't have to be a fanatic about it." He then said," You come in here with that stuff from the internet and asking all these questions."I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. I was confused, shocked and so hurt. He then said," Are you crying?" He then got up, got a box of tissues and dropped them in my lap and said," I'll be back when you get yourself together." He left me for about twenty minutes. I wanted to leave but I wanted to stop crying first. I didn't want anyone to see me this upset. By the time I stopped crying he came back into the room. He sat down and asked me if I understood how it was going to be. He said that he had bent over backwards for me and was not going to do it anymore. I don't understand what he meant about bending over backwards for me. I have only seen this doctor 3 times. When he said that, I walked out. When I got to my car I was so upset I could not stop crying. I had to call my family to come get me. I ended up with a number 10 full blown migraine. I was taken to the emergency room. I have filed a report against the doctor. I am so distraught over this. I just dont understand what went wrong. I am afraid to see another doctor, but I don't want to suffer with these migraines. If someone knows something to help me out, please let me know.
Susan Southerland <SIBSouther@aol.com>
Little River, Tx USA - Date: 08/30/98 (Sun) Time: 10:29:27 PM