Case Histories - September #6

My migraines started when I was 20. I'm now 36. What I suffer from are migraine headaches and Chronic Daily Tension Headaches. The tension headaches have been going on for several years. I've seen several doctors including a neurologist who performed many tests which all proved negative. My issue is this and it is a serious one. It is important that anyone suffering from these headaches control the amount of medications they take. I took fiorinal for several years and I mean several. This has led to my having a physical addiction to the fiorinal. I finally admitted this to myself just last week. I had to. The signs are all there. Severe mood swings, depression, fatigue, nausea and a general feeling that all is not right. Please, please anyone taking this medication - monitor it so that it is taken as prescribed and safely. I am seeking medical help to get off the addiction to the fiorinal and have found a support group in my area as well. I could go into a lot of detail about preventative meds that I have taken to no avail, but my reason for writing is the fiorinal. As with any medications, please monitor your intake. I have a long road ahead of me to recovery. Addiction to prescription drugs does happen and is out there so please be careful with what your treatment plan is. That's my reason for writing. If anyone has any comments I welcome them. Thanks for listening.
Julie Kelin <juliek619@aol.com>
San Diego, CA USA - Date: 09/08/98 (Tue) Time: 06:39:14 PM

Hello, I am 27 (will be 28 this month). Last year shortly before Christmas I began to get Cronic Tension Headaches (at least I guess that is what it is). There are two things that I can come up with that triggered this problem; 1 - I had a bad Aura migrain headache (if it was not a stroke - Doc says I am too young to have one) This headache was not painfull but gave me the hallow, flashing vision problem and then numbness down one side of the body and a feeling of almost passing out (I guess as if you were stoned on drugs or something) This lasted only a few minutes. Then second possible reason I came up with was getting new contacts/glasses because the problem occured right when I received the new prescriptions. Anyway, it has been almost a year and a half and I am still having this daily (ALL DAY) pain. It first used to be directly in the center of my forehead, as if you were wearing a very tight head band... this was not throbing but just a steady dull pain. Now the pain is on my left side right above/on the eyebrow and curves down around just under the left eye. It used to be if I was to wear my old pair of contacts the pain would go away or at least be not as sever. But now that does not even help. This is all new to me because I never used to have a problem with headaches---I mean sure I'd get the occasional one but nothing sever. Now it is hard for me to live through the day and is beginning to depress me severely. My doc has put me on an antidepresent called Serzone but that did not seem to help, the only thing it did was make my eyes dry and sick to my stomach...so I stop taking it. Oh that reminds me back when this first started I was taking Zyban (to stop smoking) which worked and I had stopped but when I started getting the headaches I stopped taking it (started smoking again of course) because I thought maybe it was causing them. Does anyone have any ideas on what is the matter with me? This pain is on going even when I close my eyes for sleep. However, in the morning the pain is completely gone but starts up within a few hours. Is it my eye sight thats causing it? Did I have a stroke that has permantly damaged something? Please help, my email is rmartin@pmci.com. Thank you!
Rod Martin <rmartin@pmci.com>
Dayton, OH USA - Date: 09/08/98 (Tue) Time: 03:49:42 PM

Hello fellow sufferers, I have a question to ask those of you who take IMITREX for releif. It seems that when I take this medication within 24 hours I have a cold sore that pops up. Have any of you experienced the same thing? I read the literature, but a coldsore is not one of the "side effects". Please let me know if you have experiences this reaction. Have a pain free day! Take care, Dianna
Dianna <ghost@gte.net>
NPR, FL USA - Date: 09/08/98 (Tue) Time: 02:19:23 PM

I set up a board for TMJ and MIGRAINE sufferers so that they can be able to reply to each other without necessarily having to email each person. Since setting up the message board, Bravenet has added new servers, so the address for the board has changed slightly. The address is now: http://www3.bravenet.com/forum/show.asp?userid=fx34569 On that board is a direct link right back to this journal.
TMJ/MIGRAINE Message board moved a bit
USA - Date: 09/08/98 (Tue) Time: 09:51:31 AM

I was recently informed by a neurologist that increasing the seretonin level can aid in migrane prevention, and reduce depression. Paxil was prescribed to increase the seretonin level. Does anyone have a good source of information regarding the effects of seretonin and possible non-precription herbs, etc, such as St John's Wart? Thanks.
Bob <agent150@yahoo.com>
San Diego, CA USA - Date: 09/08/98 (Tue) Time: 01:05:37 AM

Hello fellow migraine suffers: I haven't written in awhile, actually since I've been invesitgating the idea of taking Lupron to bring on premature menapause. I have found out that this could have put me into a "status migraneous", and my doctor is not crazy about precribing pain medications . At this time, I can only take them for relief, since I can't take vasoconstrictors and I am allergic to many other meds. Anyway, I'm glad I waited it out, and did a lot of investigating. I have since found a new neurologist that feels although I am a challenge, he may be able to help me. He is going to sent all my reports to a Dr. Rappaport in Greenwich CT. He (Dr. David Roby) feels that Dr. Rappaport is the best in the field of migraines. He also said there are many knew treatments on the horizons for migraines ..... so have faith, as I know I must. I am going for an MRI and an MRA to rule out an AVM. This is some type of malformation of the blood vessels in the brain and some get by -passed and as a result, many suffer from ONLY unilateral migraines. (that's me). Also, a common denominator is severe sensitivity to nitrates ( which I also have). I'm not sure if I want to find out anything or not, because this could lead to a whole host of other decisions, problems etc. But we can't ignore what is right in front of us ! I feel truly blessed to have found this man, I just hope that he doesn't get discouraged and frustrated like many other doctors. I also wanted to share with you that I have been going to a massage therapist for about 6 weeks, she has worked miracles. I have a bulging disc in the C6/C7 area of my spine and the muscle spasms cause severe migraines. It is sacriocranial massage. I'm sure many of you have heard of it before, .... give it a shot, it's certainly not going to hurt. Wish me luck, my MRI/MRA is scheduled for 9/17, and I will see Dr. Roby on 10/30. Did anyone see Terrell Davis on TV? He played in the Super Bowl for Dallas last year with a severe migraine. He is traveling around the country trying to raise awareness and support for migraine suffers. It's about time !!!! Well, I have to get off the computer now because my head is really pounding. Please keep me in your prayers, as I will for all of you. Warmest regards, Maureen
Maureen Lyons Tashjian <MLTashjian@juno.com>
Langhorne1, PA USA - Date: 09/07/98 (Mon) Time: 07:52:55 PM