Case Histories - November #18

I have just recntly been prescribed Midrin for my migranes. My migranes seem to be only ocurring during my cycle. I am not sure why they started but they have been going on for the past five years. I have taken the Midrin for the first time today and I am at work. I didn't realize it had a mild sedative in it. Does anyone know if it is okay to work while taking this? I am an Admin. Asst. so I don't have to do any heavy duty work but I am worried about falling asleep at my desk. Does anyone know if this will happen? Let me know if you have been taking this medication for awhile for cycle related migranes. I would appreciate any information you can give me. Thanks =)
Melissa Majewski <Dknightshade2000@worldnet.att.net>
Toledo, OH USA - Date: 11/17/98 (Tue) Time: 08:10:57 AM

Dear Martha and other migraine sufferers, I read with great interest your journal entry. However I was disturbed by what I felt was a significant amount of self-blame that you seemed to project. When you use the the language, "'allowed' the migraines to control your life, because your loved ones have ceased empathizing", I was confused. Do you suppose that if your loved ones still did empathize, then you would be in control of your migraines, rather than the other way around? I must emphatically disagree with any suggestion that you bring on your migraines through some pattern of behavior. We can attempt to control the triggers to our migraines, but the the migraine syndrome is a physiological fact, and not at all pyschosomatic. As far as other common features of a migraine sufferer, I can add the following. I seem to be more sensitive to light and sound, even when I don't have a migraine, and usually sleep with a blindfold,a nd carry earplugs with me. I think theories already exist that the migraine sufferer has heightened nervous system sensitivity, and in my case I would tend to agree. In this regard, I may also note that I am a creative person, a believer in psychic phenomenon, and consider myself to have a moderate degree of extra- sensory perception. However, I think everybody has this capacity in varying degrees. I am not speaking of telepathy, but rather clairvoyence and an ability to read people's intentions and emotions based on "feeling" alone.
Good Samaritan
USA - Date: 11/17/98 (Tue) Time: 05:13:44 AM

Hello everyone! I wish all of you were well, but, not all of us can be rid of those HORRIBLE things at once. Oh, how they hurt! I get them at least once a week, but, it has been dropped down some. I have been on imitrex pills. I have found out if I take feverfew (from an herb store) that it helps decrease the amount of migraines I have. Sometimes, I get the hormonal ones, which are awful. I hate the nausea and vomiting with them. Maybe one to make you laugh and feel better: I have 3 cats and I used to get migraines so often that whenever I would go into the bathroom, my cats would run out of the room in the opposite direction of the bathroom! No Joke! To help a lot of you - When I get a migraine, I take Percogesic (you can get it over the counter). It usually helps a lot. Try it, it just might work for a lot of you. It is a muscle relaxer and will put you to sleep until the migraine has subsided or gotton better. It is truely a wonderful drug. I get the hormonal ones and my doctor told me that I need to be on the pill to help my migraines that time of the month, but, since I am trying to get pregnant...So I told her that I did not want to get on the pill and that I use Percogesic and it helps, she told me "Keep using Percogesic then". This is a wonderful website.
Tammy <tammywheeler@netscape.net>
Buchanan, Ga USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon) Time: 10:19:07 PM

For Kathleen: What you experienced with Imitrex is really somewhat dangerous. Personally, I developed the side effects you mentioned & after a couple of months, they escalated to the point I thought I was having a heart attack! (I put up w/the chest pain, "bad all-over feelings", the fact that the drug itself added greatly to the naseau I already had, & the other symptoms you listed. It really scared me! The chest pains got so bad & lasted so much longer, the last time I took it. I discovered that the effects, (if they didn't cause you real problems the 1st time, could, after the accumilative effect. The US News & World Report, even featured on their cover "The Top 10 Most Dangerous Drugs in Amer. where they discussed the dangers of Imitrex whether taken only ONCE or over time. I was convinced to stay away from it even if it could help one migraine. I am concerned for anyone who takes it & either experiences those effects occassionly or even less severe as I was told of a gal a couple of weeks ago that is in her 40's who suffered a major stroke! It was her her 1st or 2nd time to try it. The studies on Imitrex showed that a very large percent that were given it for their migraines, either had to take it more than once within a few hours & then usually experienced rebound because of its initial effect on the arteries as that is how it works on blood vessels. Some people have dramatic heart or circulatory problems their first time to take it. Others, thinking it's safe for them, can get life-threatening symptoms after taking it for some time. The effects just seem to escalate over time. I am happy for those migrainuers that Imitrex has helped. Just thought someone who may be reading the journal & hasn't tried it yet but is considering to, should have all the facts. We all know that any med comes w/a certain amt. of risk. It's the ones that constrict our arteries that can prove life-threatening w/just 1. I pray that each of you could find a successful treatment to at least help w/some of the causes of your migraines. There are successful treatments out there that could concievably diminish the frequency & intensity! Just ask Wanda!! God Bless
DC from OK <mcanfield@msn.com>
USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon) Time: 09:52:50 PM

Karen, For many years I used to get a bad migraine the first day of Then it came on the fifth day with the first day not being so bad. Also about half of the time I got one when I ovulated. I hope that this shed some light for you.
Kathleen
USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon) Time: 09:17:36 PM

I am wondering about hormonal migraines. It appears that most women get them before menstration. Does this seem true? I get mine during. I'd like to know if I'm in the minority. Does anyone have any information?
Karen <KLA30@AOL.com>
MA USA - Date: 11/16/98 (Mon) Time: 08:20:03 PM