Case Histories - November #14

Martha, I read your message. I have some questions and some comments. I've had migraines for 35 years, since the teanage years. I have had many different symptoms and different kinds of headaches. It seams that it playes games with you because if you think that you have it figured out the next one will be different. I know what you mean about "that" feeling. It seams that I have it so much of the time. The problem is that it dosn't always turn into a full blown migraine. I think of like a hammer hanging hust over my head ready to pound me when it feels like. I end up not getting anything done because I'm afraid to move or turn fast. It has actually gone away at times, but most of the time it either starts up or I take Fiorinal #3. Sometimes it goes away: sometimes it turns into a "biggie". I just hate that waiting feeling. This will sound ridiculas but, sometimes I just wish it would start. Then I would deal with it. I've also had "face migraines". It starts with my eye itching . Then that side of my face starts throbbing. I,ve had ones that last 2 or 3 weeks. They just hang in there. I've had one that comes back every day for two months now. Three of those days were the incapacitating ones, the rest of the time they have not been too bad And I' had 6 or 7 days without "that feeling". I am interested to learn more about the PBS show that you saw. Migrainers process information differently? I am dyslexic. That's the same thing they say about that. Is there a connection? I've had a lifetime battling depression, insomnia, terrible nightmares(not about migraines), and very vivid daydreams. I learned the bio feedback technique. It's mostly a way to relax, but you can actually make your blood flow differently. I find it too hard to try to relax and concentrate when I'm in pain. I'm sure if you took time out every day to do it and relax that it would help. I don't know, though, because I never do it. I'm one of thse people who say I'll do it in a little while or after I do something else and before you know it the next time I think of it, it's a year later. I hope I helped in some way.
Kathleen
USA - Date: 11/14/98 (Sat) Time: 04:49:14 PM

After many years of suffering from headaches I recently got one whith lasted for over a week. This prompted me to see a Dr, who referred me to a local neurologist. I got lucky and this neurologist understoof what headaches were all about and did all the tests, including cat scan, and found nothing unusual. He suggested a book called "Migraine" written by the American Council for Headache Education with Lynne M Costantine & Suzanne Scott. He is on the board of directors of the local hospital and has instructed the emergency ward on these headaches and they now use a more understanding approach. On my last major migraine I took the Drs. advice and went to the emergency ward after 4 days. They gave me a shot of DHE and within 20 minutes the migraine was gone and I have not had a severe one since. This is over 2 months ago. I have had headaches but nothing that cannot be controlled with normal off the shelf remedies. From looking at this page it looks like most of you are old hands with these and have tried most everything, but if you have not tried this, consider talking to your Dr about them. Take care and I hope this is of some help.
barney <biggs@planeteer.com>
surrey, bc Canada - Date: 11/14/98 (Sat) Time: 03:23:55 PM

I'm so sorry, but I put the address wrong for my message. And somehow managed to submit twice, please disregard my unfinished version. Apologies. Victoria
Victtoria <victoriaraabe@yahoo.com>
USA - Date: 11/14/98 (Sat) Time: 03:04:01 PM

I'll have to take a free day to read all the entries. I would like to acknowledge the person who shared their poetry with me, "I've got to go to work". Only a migraine sufferer can relate to the affliction of another sufferer. In my family, my father has Migraine Equivients (pain free stroke-like transient symptoms with speech garbling). He is now 75 years old, very otherwise healthy and has had very good success with bio feedback and the use of Feverfew drops 4x daily. He once was a pilot, but couldn't fly anymore due to the possiblity of having a 'spell'. My aunt who is now 80, his sister, has painful occasional attacks of Migraine which are dealt with by a dark room, cool cloth, etc and her episodes have diminished nearly entirely with menopause. I have had about ten Migraines in my life (female aged 43). When I was little, I had two painfree episodes of visual disturbance associated with speech garbling. As a teen and young woman, I had painful occasional headaches with vomiting, head "sloshing", etc. Usually associated with exposure to glare accompanied by stress. Unfortunately one such occasion was in Jamaca on my honeymoon. The (primative) hotel staff gave me some kind of wierd tea which helped (marijuana?). I was hospitalized for 10 days several years ago for status migrainus which involved vomiting to a 17 pound weight loss. I had every test in the book, MRI, EEG, spinal tap, etc. The medications were literally making me nuts. I was given Elavil, Phenergan, Thorazine, Compazine. All sorts of IV drugs. But no narcotics, thank god. I heard, saw and felt hallucinations. Very terrifying. I can't tell you how bad all this was, there simply are no words. But the hallucinations involved snakes, rats, little conspiring people, people in the walls, fourth dimensions, etc. If I had the strength, I believe I would have ended my life. Finally, the doctor, (pmd) told the neurologist to stop all drugs. In a few days, I became normal and could keep down food. Better still, the effects of the drugs diminished, and then stopped. I today cannot even say the word snake out loud. The terror is deep within, and I guess will always be there. However, it has been three years, and I haven't had another migraine! I still watch for glare, but I wonder if I went over some brink or other and have reset the chemical or electrical balance in my brain, if such a thing can happen. Horribly, my son, now 14 started Migraines at age 12. At first we didn't know what in the world was wrong. He had two episodes of the most TREMENDOUS pain you have ever seen, out of the blue. An observer would think he was being electrocuted. I thought he was having some kind of tantrum or just simply lost his mind. Writhing, screaming,crying mommy, tearing at his face. He looked like the illustration at the opening of this site. He developed a pattern where he had spells, almost as bad as the first two, every 4-6 weeks. No apparent trigger, though we took him off every one of the foods on the list and kept a diary. The only thing that may have been a factor in three or more of the events was MOVIE THEATER POPCORN. I know that sounds nuts. His care has been directed by a neurologist that we trust. Imitrex has only helped once or twice. He can't keep Tylenol #3 down. He gets sort of irrational and refuses suppositories. His spells usually last 4 to 12 hours with frequent vomiting and tremendous sensitivity to light, noise. The day after, he usually has a 'sloshy' head and feels fragile. Sometimes he has recurrences up to twice more in two or three days.To make a long story short, (too late)we have had this child on Ciproheptadine of various doses , despite the fact that he is somewhat heavy and it has a high incidence of weight gain. He stopped the drug in July with no evident change, so we don't think it helped. Now the good part: THERE HAS BEEN NO HEADACHE since August11. What I think is responsible is changing him from plain Feverfew (three daily)that he took for two years to Migracin Plus. This contains Feverfew as well as Ginger Root, willow bark (which we know is aspirin) and Magnesium. Whatever, I would urge everyone to try it, I believe it to be harmless and we are living proof that something is working. The cost is $7.99 for 30 pills (15 day supply) from our health food store. If whatever has broken his pattern is the placebo effect or the effect of the herbs,GREAT!!!!!!! Hope you don't mind my going on and on, but it has been wonderful to vent our story. Keep your fingers crossed for my Ted. He is a brave and wonderful boy, and there shouldn't be a soul alive that has suffered as he has. Victoria
Victoria <vbraabe@yahoo.com>
Purcellville, va USA - Date: 11/14/98 (Sat) Time: 03:01:25 PM

I was wondering if there was anyone out there who often sees flashes of light like I do. It happens at the oddest times, and makes me think that a big migraine is coming on. It really is frustrating, and also scary, because all I can think of is here is another moment in my life that may be aggrevated by pain and nausea and the whole nine yards one gets with migraines. Sometimes the flashes of light remind me of the flashes that happen after a camera flash goes off, or looking at a light bulb, then looking away. Sometimes pain comes, but more often than not, the flashes fade away. This can happen anywhere from once or twice a day to several times a day. I can even see them as I am almost falling asleep at night. They are frustrating, and make me wonder if I suffer from occular migraines as well as regular migraines. Is there any one among us who has dealt with occular migraines? If so, post it on this journal. This would be a great help for me, since I'm not sure what I'm dealing with. The eye doctor told me once about occular migraines, that there was lights flashing but no pain. I just wonder what is going on, if it is just a part of the whole migraine cycle in my body. If anyone has ever dealt with this, please comment and share your own experiences. Thanks.
Barbara B
USA - Date: 11/14/98 (Sat) Time: 02:26:57 PM

Just a quick note regarding Dr. Blume to those who would like to help w/the unfounded accusations brought up on him by the Iowa medical board. The pres. of the "Amer.Society for Action on Pain" Skip Baker, has suggested several ways in which would be of benefit. If you would like to help, know of others who would, &/or would like to be informed more about this action & how it can had adverse effects on you & every chronic intractable pain sufferer, you may contact me, &/or Skip Baker, at www.widomaker.com/~skipb/panic.html
DC from OK <mcanfield@msn.com>
USA - Date: 11/14/98 (Sat) Time: 12:05:54 PM