Hi Freiends,
I hope everyone is well and pain free. As for me....Well the beast came back full force last night. So I'm going to be living in hell for the next four days or more. I went to the doctor today cause the Stadal was'nt doing nothing.(story of our lifes huh) He gave me a shot, but it did nothing. I'm sitting here wondering how I'm going to go to LPN school tomorrow. God, I wish there was a cure for these debilitating things. You all take care and god bless
Carol <Flames one@aol.com>
OK USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon)
Time: 06:43:46 PM
TO MARINA: No, I dont get tingling or buzzing, just flashes of light. It varies. Sometimes I can go for a few days without it happening. Sometime its every few hours. I often see them at night, right before I go to sleep. If they are real bad, they can keep me awake. It is scary, and it makes me think that a major with aura migraine is about to hit.(I hate those the most, because I get zigzag flashing lights, sometimes really bright and intense, and they can last a long time). It is good to know that I'm not alone. I just wish there was'nt so many of us out there who suffer from migraines. It is really too bad that they can't find a cure for these things. I get tired of explaining at work why I'm off sick with a headache. A headache is just a headache, right? Not when the headache is a migraine. People think that you can take an aspirin, and its over. Mine last for days, even weeks at a time. They can truly be awful.
Barbara B
USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon)
Time: 06:37:00 PM
I just finished cutting up my cafergot suppositories in thirds, wrapping them in foil & stashing them in my pill bottle. Does anyone else do this? I have suffered migraine (now daily or more) since I was about 3 - 4 years old & I'm now 63, which makes me quite a veteran! I'd been told that older women recover spontaneously, but menapause just didn't seem to make much difference ... except that I don't get those predictable & quite awful period headaches anymore. (I never had a SINGLE headache throughout either of my 2 pregnancies ... almost enough to make one want to stay pregnant forever ... except that they make you take them home & raise 'em!). My parents had my eyes tested & took me to several doctors as a child, but I was not really diagnosed with migraine (just "sick headaches") until I was about 30. From then on I've been to countless neurologists & other docs, gone to one headache clinic (Montifiore), & tried many different meds. Most recently, the preventives consisted of Depakote, Elavil, & Inderol. I've just finished withdrawing (gradually) from all of those because I didn't think they were doing much good. At one time the Depakote was magically effective, but that seems to have worn off. I've never taken any pain meds on a regular basis because I was afraid of getting addicted & because they didn't seem to work anyway. Imitrex injections have also worked like magic in the past ... not so either the pills or ns ... but now only occassionally work. I was recently given maxalt, which again, is only occassionally effective. The most consistantly helpful remedy for me has been the cafergot suppositories. If I use them early enough, 1/3 of a suppository is sufficient. If I wait too long, the headache can "run away" & become intractable ... requiring many hours of vomiting & as many as 2 or 3 whole suppositories. My work life has not been as interferred with as many of you who have written here ... partly because I was a college professor & had a fairly flexible schedule & partly because my "pattern" has been middle of the night headaches which causes a lot of lost sleep, but I could still work. My marriage was another matter. After 15 years, my husband had enough of all this headache crap & moved to greener pastures. I really don't blame him (any more). Now I'm retired & on a fixed income which is one reason I'm "into" the less expensive drugs. I've tried therapy, biofeedback, hypnosis, meditation, etc, all to no avail. I plan to try acupuncture next. Never give up, right? I'd be interested in hearing from some of you older persons & of course any suggestions from anyone. Thanks for reading this rather lengthy post
cadams@ilnk.com
Catherine <cadams@ilnk.com>
Jacksonville Beach, FL USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon)
Time: 06:02:50 PM
I just discovered this journal. I don't suffer migraines, but have friends that used to. They had good results with a product I don't see mentioned here. It is called 'Defendol' and is manufactured by Rexall. It is a natural homeopathic medicine that is non-toxic, non-habit forming, can be taken with other medications, and comes with a 100% money back guarantee. If it doesn't help you can get your money back. Many have had good results with allergy and migraine problems. It's not expensive, $15.50 for 60 capsules. Why not try it? If anyone is interested, send me an e-mail (rockefe@ibm.net) and I will provide information on how to order and have it shipped direct. Good luck! Ron
Ron Rockefeller <rockefe@ibm.net>
USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon)
Time: 04:19:34 PM
This is a wonderful page!! I am so glad that I found it. I have been suffering from migraines for over 10 years now. I have them from 2-3 times a week. I am currently taking 400mg of Dilatin a day for preventative measures. When I get the headaches I take Zomig. Then if that doesn't work(which it very, very, very rarly does), I take Stadol NS. And, if that fails, I take 100 mg Demerol/Visteral injections. I end up taking the injections around 6 times a month. I've read a little about Maxalt, and was wondering if anyone is taking it and could tell me a little about it. Lately the neurologist has been changing my daily meds about every 6-8 weeks. We just can't find one that works. I am missing so much of my life and my families lives(I have 2 little girls). Luckily I have a very supportive and understanding husband! If anyone has any suggestions, please email me. I need help! I can't take this much longer!! Thanks!
Garnet <garnet1021@aol.com>
Davenport, IA USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon)
Time: 04:17:38 PM
Does anyone have a name of a doc sympathetic to using Oxycontin or other long-acting opiods for intractable migraines. I'm willing to travel to the Maryland, PA, DC, or VA area. I've tried everything mentioned, diet, plus more, all naturals, chiropractic (several), physical therapy (several) and on and on. I am able to use Vicoprofen without rebound for some reason. If I use Tylenol 3 or 4 (codeine) it's rebound central. After being rear ended in a car accident 3 years ago and having a recent MRI showing that my right lateral ventricle is 2x the size of the one on my left (but this has nothing to do with my migraines, even though all are on the right side) - I'm tired. Tired of taking things that will do more harm to my body if I take them infrequently than if I take a small amount of opiate several times weekly. Sorry for sounding off, I'm just at that place. Thanks to everyone who writes, your words encourage me and make me sad at the same time that there are so many of us out there. Please contact me at my e-mail address if you have any good doc's names. Thank you so much.
Joanne P <PERRYJ@csoc.email.dupont.com>
Wilmington, DE USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon)
Time: 03:36:59 PM
Hi evryone, just trying to keep up with the journal entries and tried to do a bit of hunting on the net.
Thank you Hugh for finding the address for me. Web TV works differently than a computor.
I was down real bad with a sick headache Friday and I
am still dealing with the hang-over aspect of it. Those
bright lights, zig-zags and colored sparkels are a real
trip. I really don't mind it because I don't usually
end up with a painful migraine. Nothing you can do but
sit back, rest and enjoy the fireworks. It is annoying
when you wake up to it or you're trying to read, just
let it happen and it will pass soon enough.
Searching the web for info this weekend I found a very
interesting page I think EVERYONE out there should read.
It really bothers me to see all the narcotics being used
and so little results from all the poisons we are injest-
ing I have tried it all, and some of the side affects
are equally as bad as some of the headaches.
Please check out this page; Go to Headaches first, than
check out any or all of the rest of the pages. Thank you
again Hugh, and please CAFFEEINE read this as soon as
possible.
WWW.SIG.NET/~ALLERGY/WELCOME.HTML.
It has taken me 47 years of sick migraines to realize
this is a VERY complicated miserable thing to deal with,
but WE have to do our own research to find out our own
triggers, and there has to be hundreds. Keep a personal
journal of everything you put in your mouth, and even
smells, and soon you will find some of your own TRIGGERS,
so you can help yourselves avoid some of these headaches
without inviting the problem and then ending up on drugs
that don't help all that often. Luck to you all, and
and a pain-free week. Estelle
Estelle
Ma USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon)
Time: 01:39:05 PM
