Hello everyone!
I have been suffering from migraine since I was a child. I used to think that I was just getting really bad sinus headaches. I would feel nauseous, have terrible pain on one side of my face behind my eye, get sick, sleep and then feel better. My mother took me to the doctor and he said that I probably had allergies and to keep my away from cats, nuts, chocolate, etc. I still had the headaches but I never thought much about them, I just dealt with them.
When I was 30,I became pregnant with my third child and some really strange things started happening. I started seeing weird spots before my eyes,and I had numbness down one side of my body, I felt really dizzy and faint, and I had strange burning and prickling sensations in varying parts of my body. These symtoms would come and go, but most of the time I felt pretty bad.I told my doctor about it all, but when he checked me out everything seemed normal. I think he thought I was just a whimpy pregnant woman.I thought something was really wrong, but I couldn't figure out what it was. None of these symtoms had occurred during my first two pregnancies. I thought it might be related to my family history of adult onset diabetes, but my blood sugar tests came back normal.
After the baby was born, I continued to have the same symtoms and I started going to specialists. I saw many doctors, neurologists, ear specialists, cardiologists, had MRI's and tests of every sort, etc. No one could find any thing wrong. One doctor suggested that I might try the psychiatric approach.......
My husband was losing patience, and HE even suggested that it might all be in my head.
One neurologist finally told me that he thought I was having migraine. After I did a little research, I was so happy to realize that I wasn't dying from some strange illness (especially one that was so rare that the entire medical profession didn't know what it was.)He gave me a couple of different types of medications, but they seemed to try to treat the symtoms, not the cause of the problem. They also made me kind of a zombie, which is not my thing at all.
My "baby" is now 3, and my migraine symtoms are substantially better.I'm not sure if I respond to the usual triggers, but I try to avoid them all. I also take magnesium, calcium, and B-complex supplements, and they seem to help.
I usually to have the symtoms return during the time when I am ovulating, menstruating, or dieting.
I would like to talk to anyone who has had similar situations. I am also interested in the possible diabetes link to migraine. Does anyone have any info on that?Please e-mail me at elli55555@aol.com
Good luck to you all!
mar <elli55555@aol.com>
Lancaster, CA USA - Date: 09/16/98 (Wed)
Time: 10:36:43 PM
Hello again, it's been awhile since my last entry,I hope you all are well and happy. As for me..I have not had a migraine in over a month !!! It's been wonderful :) I have been on a antidepressant called Elavil, 50mg every night and so far so good.It's kinda hard to believe its working.. I keep waiting for one to come on. Is'nt that sad when they run your life like that. People who get them knows what its like, but people who don't , think your a freak, just wanting drugs....Only if they knew the pain and hardship we go through. Anyway, I just wanted to say hang in there, there is hope!!!
Carol <Flamesone@aol.com>
Choctaw, OK USA - Date: 09/16/98 (Wed)
Time: 05:48:42 PM
Hi, I'm writing in response to Carol, who asked for information about Zomig a few days ago. I've been an Imitrex taker for about 5 years, and this year I have also "experimented" with Zomig to see what the differences are. Imitrex and Zomig are in the same family of drugs: triptans (Amerge is another sister drug). They are all vasoconstrictors, which eliminate pain by dilating inflamed blood vessels back down to normal size. Imitrex generally gets rid of my migraine pain in about 40 minutes or so (as long as I catch it early on). It does leave me with a slight feeling of "tightness" in the chest, and also sometimes leaves me with a tired, "hungover" feeling. But all of that is worth it, as it takes the pain away. Zomig has also been effective for me. It worked for me in about the same amount of time, maybe a little longer (within an hour, though). The really neat thing is I've had virtually no side effects from Zomig. I'm not left feeling exhausted and worn-out, as is the case with Imitrex. However--there is a down side, at least monetarily. Retail, 50 mg Imitrex tablets cost about $15 a pill, and 5 mg Zomig (the equivalent dosage) are about $19 a pill (this is in my area, I don't know if prices vary from place to place). Doesen't sound like a big difference, huh? Well, I do have insurance, a dreaded HMO, and all they will pay for 6 Imitrex's a month--my copayment is $25 for 6 pills (about $4 a pill). But for some reason, they'll only allow pay for 3 Zomig a month (for the same $25 copayment). So, I've been sticking with Imitrex, because God knows I need as much as I can get! It's really disgusting, the money games insurance companies play with our lives!!! They do not know my pain. They do not know how many headaches I can have in a month, and the excruciating pain migraine sufferers go through. All they know is that migraine medications cost a lot of money; money they are too greedy to let go of. Anyway, I just thought I'd give my input on this matter. Oh, I have also learned that Glaxo, the company that produces Imitrex, has a patent on Imitrex until the year 2000, and at that point, generic forms of the drug will be able to be produced. Yay!!!!
Julia <julneil@yahoo.com>
TN USA - Date: 09/16/98 (Wed)
Time: 04:35:39 PM
Hello to all sufferers!. I have had terrible migraines since I was 16,
and I just turned 29. I have been through the gament of doctors and meds.
I am in the Kaiser system,(SAY NO MORE).Why does it seem as if all
doctors can not understand the severity of the pain that we go through?.
We obviously are not faking it. It takes such an incredible effort to
just make it to the doctor to get that shot, and then they ask you a
million questions which you can't answer because your speech doesn't
work, and your entire side of your face droops like you are having a
stroke. I have no respect for them. It is not like we have a foreign
disease. And why do we have to go to the doctor for the shot, why can't
they give us strong enough medications so that we can help ourselves?.
Aren't we the only ones that truely know what will help to relieve the
pain and nausea?. It is unreal. I want to now study medicine, just to
be able to help others with this terrible disease. If anyone out there
has any leads to a good doctor in or out of the Kaiser sytem in my area
please e-mail me. I would like to here from people who are in the same
boat as me. I just got over a 6 day migraine, and it scared me. They
can be very severe. Welll, thanks for listening. Bye for now.
Heather Gose
Heather Gose <gosehbk@pacbell.net>
Fremont, CA USA - Date: 09/16/98 (Wed)
Time: 03:21:32 PM
I stumbled on this web page a couple of months ago. Tired to everyone thinking i'm stupid or just plain crazy when I get a migraine, (Nobody understands the pain, my husband thinks it's all in my head---yea, It's all in my head alright!!)
I started readings other peoples trials with medicine and such. Now I am taking more control with my physican and this medications. Hope it works better, seems like I have tried just about everything. Some time it really get depressing
Lori Piccone <lpiccone@wclt.com>
Crooksville, OH USA - Date: 09/16/98 (Wed)
Time: 10:43:04 AM
I was a migrain suffer for 14 years, I have tryed everthing known to mankind. I have tranquilizers, Imatrix, Depakote (which could rob you of your marrow) which the doctor never told me until I looked it up for myself. My last visit to the Dr. I told him I was very tired and I was falling asleep standing up. He looked at me and told me to double up on the drug. I would have shook my head at the time but it hurt to much. I was furious, I left the office hell bent on helping myself. I am a 53 year old women who has been on estrogen for a lot of years. I got the book "What your doctor may not tell you about menopause" by Dr. Lee. Read the book. Estrogen is a cause of headaches and migrines. I got myself off that and asked to be put on progesterone. Which I was. The next step is something I never in my life would have ever done. I researched and did my homework and I was shocked. I passed a medical center that offered acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I took myself in and asked for a meeting with the doctor. And after one yes I said one treatment my headaches are gone.
I do not get paid to say this, I just want to let people know , I was not a believer, as I was on the table I prayed this would work, because it was my last hope. I went on a Friday evening and for the first time in 14 years I woke up without a headache. I waited for it to come and it never did. After 5 days no headache I went back and had another session along with Oriental herbs. The treatment was not bad just a little pinch. I was really surprised to find out it only cost 28.00 per session and 8.00 for the herbs. If you suffered like me for as long as I have 28.00 and 8.00 is nothing. I live in Surprise Ariz. it is just outside of Phx. I'm sure prices may vary, but if you would like to give her a try please write me and I will give you her address and number. I am a believer, I did not get PAID TO SAY THIS. Try it .
lucie <ragsoli@juno.com>
phx, az USA - Date: 09/15/98 (Tue)
Time: 10:02:59 PM
Ok, I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!!! I tried going cold turkey, that was
not a smart decision. This morning, the 3rd day of no meds, I woke up
with a severe Migraine. Needless to say, the de-toxification did not
work. So Today I am taking the medication I was prescribed. Ah well
once your body becomes dependant on something it rarely will give it
up completely. *SIGH* Hopefully you are all doing well today. I like
the new background, much better than the lines :) Thanks for providing
this resource to Migraine Sufferers, Rhonda, it is truly appreciated
Dianna <ghost@gte.net>
NPR, FL USA - Date: 09/15/98 (Tue)
Time: 09:10:47 PM
