Case Histories - September #5

Hello Everyone! I have visited this site before, asked for help, and given advice as well. I don't wish to go back into a long history, so let me give you the "Reader's Digest" version. I have a 17 year history of migraines. I have tried every doctor and I've been told everything that the rest of you have heard, from "you're a psycho" to "we don't know." I finally found Dr. Ford at the Ford Headache Clinic here in Birmingham. He put me on Depakote for seizures, and it has helped. Seriously, I've gone from an attack every 2 to 3 days, lasting 2 to 3 days to having one every 4 to 5 weeks. I have too many neurological factors with my migraines. I see stars, have vertigo, lose my speech, lose my eye sight, and to top it all off, I suffer from very low self-esteem. The pain has helped worsen this in my opinion. I have struggled for most of my life to "prove" that I am very intelligent, and can hold my own. (Single mom with two boys, full time legal clerk, t-ball coach, homework sargent, you name it....) This weekend, I have hit a different plane in my life. I want off of all of the drugs. I am tired of being a "legalized junkie" who has to carry around a bunch of drugs, "just in case." I was listening to a show the other day and they began talking about the technique ROLFING. From what I have been able to find out, it is a deep muscle massaging technique designed to strengthen your soft tissue. The idea is to reduce the muscle contractions that can trigger attacks. I already see a chiropractor, who on one visit found 14 trigger points in my shoulder and neck. (Yes, this was during an attack.) So I am thinking that this might help. My questions is this.... Has anyone heard of this technique? I would appreciate any and all responses. There has to be a better way of life. Thanks! Lisa, Birmingham, Alabama
Lisa <SPRKLN31@AOL.COM>
Birmingham, AL USA - Date: 09/07/98 (Mon) Time: 07:18:38 PM

Hi, I'm 46 years old and had my first migraine at the age of 10. At first my headaches came once or twice a year, but in my early 20's they came once a month and began to last longer, up to 3 days at a time. Now my headaches come at least once a week. Until I was 30, I never saw a doctor for my headaches, and the first time I did I was amazed that there was some small relief for this pain. I was put on various prophylactic treatments (Inderal, Nortriptyline, Elavil, Effexor, Depakote, Klonapin, you name it) but have side effects with nearly every medication I take. Imitrex and the newer treatments also have horrific side effects, so I'm left taking Fiorinal #3 with codeine for my worst attacks. While I hold a full-time job, the rest of my life is pretty much nonexistant. If I didn't have to work I wouldn't. My boss gave me an ultimatum a couple of years ago, if I took even one sick day because of migraine or came to work even looking like I might be ill with one, I would be replaced on the spot. Since I need my job, I work no matter how badly I might be feeling, but as a result am taking many more pills than is safe. I've tried chiropractic, aromatherapy, homeopathic remedies, yoga, biofeedback, massage, and even magnet therapy to try to relieve some of the headaches. It would be such a relief to find something that truly works. While the doctor suggested my headaches were rebounds, I reminded him I didn't take any kind of medication for 20 of the years I've had these headaches. The most frustrating aspect of this is that of being treated like a whining malingerer.I've been looking for a mailing list for migraineurs, I'm happy I found this site.
Cynthia Merritt <clmerritt@mindspring.com>
Nashville, TN USA - Date: 09/07/98 (Mon) Time: 06:26:22 PM

Hey there is one thing I forgot to add to my last post... as evervigilant as I am about migraine pain relife & the elusiveness of it, there is an article on page 50 of the September 21, issue of FIRST for Women Magazine. It is about a woman with Sclearoderma & Juicing. There is a recipe for a "Migraine Cure" Here it is: Juice 5 Carrots, 2 handfuls of Spinich, 5 celery stalks & a pinch of parsley... drink within 1 hour of juicing. This will supposedly take care of your migraines. Why not go out & drink a V8? Its interestin & I think I might try it! Again, Take care!
Dianna <ghost@gte.net>
You know Where by now!, FL USA - Date: 09/07/98 (Mon) Time: 12:52:12 PM

Howdy All, well its Labor Day, a supposed day of rest for the work weary. *sigh* If only it was a day without Migraine pain for all of us sufferers! I just got back from a friends wedding. Let me tell you something, Smoky clubs & Loud music do not make for a Happy Migraine-free weekend. :P This was anything but a conventional wedding & pre-wedding party. The Bachelor stayed home & played card games, while the Bachelorette (the group I was with)party went out & did things. All in all it was fun & I was determined NOT to let the migraine ruin my friend's day. The whole time we were out, I was popping my pills & praying that I didn't just drop & have to be taken to an ER in a strange city. All day people in the party, many of whom I had just met the night before, told me how "tired & unhappy" I looked. *GREAT* I tried to explain that the pain is constant. I let the Hostess know what to look out for if I got worse. Thankfully it didn't Blossom. I had to eat lightly because of the naseua & since I don't drink, I was elected Designated Driver. By the end of the night my head was throbbing. I took my furinol & soma Cocktail & for added relief a sinus pill. In the morning (the day of the wedding) I was pain free. I was able to dress the bride & even manage to look pretty presentable myself. Then the RECEPTION.. Well lets just say that the food was awesome but so was the pain. I think I had been stressing just a little bit & the athmosphere was VERY conduscive to a migraine. When my hubby & I left the party it took us 3 hours to get home because my normal sense of direction was off (we got lost for an hour in BFE-Orlando,FLA.. this is normally a 2 hour drive). When we got home, the last thing I wanted to do was take care of the "normal" household & Animal chores... but they had to get done & so it was. I finally fell into bed & woke up some 12 hours later & signed on here. The pain is still present but it is probably a 3 not a 7 (on a scale of 10) Sorry if I am whining, but sometimes it feels good to vent! Hope you all have a pain free day and don't forget to "RELAX", we've earned it! ----{--@
Dianna <ghost@gte.net>
New Port Richey, FL USA - Date: 09/07/98 (Mon) Time: 12:46:22 PM

I LOVE your page. I felt so alone. I am 16, and for the last 2 years have suffered from severe migraines with aura. I finally am getting help for them. I have missed 2 years of high school, and just now started working. Though I can work 12 hours a week, tops. The school nurse knows me very very well, and I've only known her a week already. My doctor thinks I'm some sort of addict because I take my pain medication too often. I get a really bad headache every day!!! ALL day, just gets worse later. And 4 doses of Imitrex and 6 of Midrin is supposed to last me 3 weeks?? I am depressed most of the time. People don't get along with me because I'm always scowling and bitter, tho I try not to be. I hate being like this. I would love to talk to others like me, so as not to feel so alone. So write me, ok? my email is crickey82@aol.com. thank u for listening love, fellow poet and sufferer
Amy Lowe <crickey82@aol.com>
Moon Twp. , PA USA - Date: 09/06/98 (Sun) Time: 09:35:23 PM

This message is for Rod from Dunn, NC. I have tried to e-mail you some information regarding a Pain Specialist in Virginia who may be able to help you. The message was returned due to a problem with your e-mail address. I sent the message to rgbmw@intrstar.net. Is this address incorrect? Please send correct address if you are interested in this information. Anyone else out there who is at the end your rope, feeling helpless because you have tried everything and have been through the gammet of doctors, tests, meds and specialists who is interested in getting info on one of the most respected Pain Specialist in the country please contact me at e-mail address csraine@ibm.net or calling me at home (336) 349-6790. This doctor is the most informative, caring, considerate and intuned doctor I have ever known and I have known many in my 24 years of migraine suffering. He will help anyone he can control the pain that so dominates your life.
Chuck Raines <csraine@ibm.net>
Reidsville, NC USA - Date: 09/06/98 (Sun) Time: 02:43:31 PM

Was so happy to find you. A very dear friend I have shared many headache stories and headaches with told me about this. I have had migraines that I remember since age 13. I am now 44. My son had his first at age 7. My maternal grandmother and uncle have them however my uncle has only an aura with no pain. Sometimes I have the aura that lasts for 20-30 minutes. I see flashing lights and gradually lose vision on one side. There is no pain during the aura, but as soon as it is done, there is immense pain. Sometimes there is nausea and vomiting along with the head pain. Other times, the headaches come on with no warning. I often get them sometime before, during, or after my period but other times they just come. I often have them daily in one form or another. I have tried many meds. I finally found true success with the meds used in the "phen-fen" diet. I was almost headache free for the 2 years I was on it. If I got a headache, it was very manageable with fioricet. When pondimon (the fen part of the combination) was recalled, I stayed on the phentermine and finally combined it with paxil. It has been the better of the other evils, but I am no longer headache free. Sometimes, I go a few days without a headache now, but never a full week. I usually have 4-5 a week in varying degrees. I do not like to take meds that cause weight gain. My blood pressure is usually low, so I cannot take beta-blockers. Calcium channel blockers do not work either. Imitrex makes my headaches worse. DHE helps keep things under control if I use it during an aura. If I feel a headache coming on and ignore it, I usually end up in the ER for demoral and something to stop vomiting. I try to always keep a supply of fioricet, DHE, phenergen, and vicodon. That is my only way to avoid the ER. I would be interested to know if anyone has had success with any kind of amphetimine type med and with what combination. Thanks!
Ruth <ruth@ethergate.com>
Tualatin, OR USA - Date: 09/05/98 (Sat) Time: 10:55:15 PM