Case Histories - January 1999 #9

I have had migraines every sense I can remember. When I was 45 year-old I went to a neurologist and she says it it probably getting worse with the change of life. She prescribed depakote for me. It helped tremendously. Two-months ago I was talking to my produce man about the price of bananas. How it was the only fruit I really cared for but I would not buy them if they ever got to fifty cents a pound. Well, guess what, with the weather they reached fifty cents a pound. He was talking to me about a friend of his that felt the same way. However, she quit eating bananas when she found out after many years of trial and error and research, the potassium in them was causing her severe migraines. Well, I was eating bananas at least one a day and some times more. I have cut back tremendously and have not had a migraine in two months. A record for me. Oh, what a relief. They just put me right under couldn't work or anything else when I got one. I have a new lease on life. May not work for anyone else but it is worth a try. P.S. haven't been taking the depakote either. Good luck. Would welcome e-mail from anyone.
Cheryl Hickman <pepper@ascenture.net>
Newark, OH USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 09:03:23 PM

BARB: Your Doc took you off of PAXIL due to skin problems? Could you please respond & let me know just what type of problems you've been having? Ever since I started taking PAXIL in Oct, my skin on my face has broken out much more frequently, it is very dry around my eyes. My hands get these little itchy blisters occasionally & over all, I would say that my skin is getting Really dry. Have you had any of these experineces? Please let me know.
Estelle: Glad to hear that it is warming up in your area too. It was in the low 30's at the beginning of the week here in FLA, but yesterday it creeped up to 80* again. My head is going crazy too. To beat it all, I hadn;t missed a day of work in over a month, but I got one of the KILLER migraines at work on Thurs & went home 1/2 day. Sucks to be sick.

To Everyone, I hope you all have a pain free day & rememeber to let someone else help you out if you are in pain. Love to you all! ~Dianna~
Dianna <ghost@gte.net>
NPR, FL USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 08:58:00 PM

Hi everyone, I have great reading for you for 1999, It should keep you busy for the rest of the winter, and beyond because there are updates. Please copy these down and store them in favorites because I'm really bad at doing these things. http://www.aafp.org/afp/971200ap/noble.html http://www.aafp.org/cg-bin/AT-sitesearch.cgi?search=migraines&sp=sp http://www.afp.org/search?NSearch-pages=results&NS-tostart-pat=forward/text/HTML... (you have to type in Migraine) I wish you all peace and good luck and alot of very interesting reading. Morgan, my friend, take care and all the luck in the world this Wednesday. Meant to tell you sooner, check out fibromyalgia. I think this has alot to do with your pain. Not that any of you asked, but I've had a hum-dinger for three days, the weather has gone from 18, dry and windy, to 23, windy and snow yesturday, today it is 58, pouring rain and no sign of last nights snow. Didn't have to dust off the shovels yet but I've been so sick with this I couldn't lift one anyway. Have a great day everyone, Better start reading. Alot of your questions will be answered, and I would suggest you passing the addresses to your Drs. just incase they MIGHT be interested in what you are going through.....
Estelle <ESTELLELOUISE@webtv.net>
Ma. USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 06:15:34 PM

TO KELLI: I have exactly the same: Auras, numbness on one whole side of my body, general weakness and tiredness. But No Headaches. Write if I can help, I met a number of people here that describe the symptoms we have. Good Luck. Lucas
Lucas Muehlenweg <muehlenweg@mediaone.net>
Los Angeles, CA USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 04:34:41 PM

nancy <snburnfamily@webtv.net>
USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 03:57:32 PM

TO JANA: Just to let you know that I'm thinking of you. Our e-mail is'nt working very well right now, because our computer crashed (I mean totally) yesterday. I about freaked with that, because, among other things, how was I going to keep up with my migraine family? I know how you feel. Sometimes, the people here are the only ones who truly understand. I understand about the job thing, too. Not that I am in danger of losing mine, but I went to docs yesterday, to talk about controlling these migraines better. I lost two days last month alone with them, and worked many more with a bad headache. I know that people at work really can't understand what this is like. No one can, only you guys. Any way, Jana, the doc increased the amount of preventative. He has me on neurontin now, since I can't take paxil anymore. I thought that the paxil did just fine, but had to stop it due to my skin problems. He has me taking a 100 mg pill in the morning, another one in the afternoon, and a 400 mg in the evening. It's going to be a real pain having to remember to tak a pill at work, or whereever I am, because I'm used to taking meds only in the morning and at night. Still, I'll do anything to keep from having headaches that keep me from going to work. I just don't want any problems. Please know that I am thinking of you, and praying for you, and, as soon as our computer is totally functional again, I'll e-mail you. Your fellow migraineur, Barbara B
Barbara B
USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 03:27:37 PM

Hi everyone! I just found this website and am so glad to know that I'm not alone in this migraine thing! I've been a migraine sufferer for just about 25 years now. I never did anything about them until ten years ago when one hit that lasted for 3 weeks! I ended up in the hospital and it's been a round of different treatments from medications (I'm doing the fiorinal and other over-the-counter drugs to deal with the pain now)to chiropractic to acupuncture (this one really helps if your in the middle of one - the nausea is relieved almost immediately and if it's extremely bad the headache will be gone by the end of the next day - only problem is the cost per treatment, its not covered by insurance and can be $40+ per treatment). I definately have my food triggers as well as odors and light. I used to have migraines that mainly came with my ovulation and again on the period but they are almost every 2-3 days now. My doctor is getting upset with the amount of fiorinal I've been going through and I'm running out of ideas to deal with it. Yes I've tried Imitrex (causes chest pain)Midrin (kept me awake and made my head tingle!) Propanolol and Amitriptyline did nothing for me as well. Does anyone have any other ideas? I hope everyone else has a pain-free weekend!
Eileen <econroy@gowebway.com>
Burlington, MA USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 02:31:03 PM

It has been awhile since I have written. I have had migraines since childhood, anywhere from 2-6 times a year. Around age 40, they began on a daily basis. I have been working with that for the last 4 years. I read in the book, Headache Help, by Lawrence Robbins and Susan Lang, that amphetimine type drugs are used as a last resort to prevent migraines. About that time, phen-fen had come out on the market, so I tried it. I used it for almost 2 years until it was pulled off the market. For those 2 years, I was virtually headache free. If I did get a headache, it was very manageable with my pain meds. When it was pulled, my daily migraines returned. I finally found a doctor who would work with me and am now taking Celexa (an SSRI) and Ritalin SR 20mg twice a day. Again, my headaches are under control. I feel fortunate to have a doctor who will work WITH me, not at me. If anyone else has any experience with amphetamine type drugs for migraines, I would be interested in hearing about it. Thank you.
Ruth <ruth@ethergate.com>
Tualatin, OR USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 02:25:15 PM

Hello to all my migraineur buddies. Well, here I am trying to fight off yet another migraine! Ouch! I am so sick of these dadgum things just as I am sure you are also! I am at the end of my migraine right now and I seem to always get this rage of anger within me and I want to just hit everything in sight, of course, NOT people, thank God! My husband is having a difficult time understanding the immense pain that I go thru during an attack. I am on Elavil for prevention, but this week it didn't seem like it was helping me becuz I have already had 3 big whoppers! Ugh! I was planning on going to my sons wrestling tournament, which is the big finals and I had to cancel. I hated having to tell him Mom wouldn't be going becuz of another migraine! So, needless to say, another day is ruined and all my plans have been cancelled! I must admit, it isn't easy writing right now, especially just being on this 'puter, but I find writing in this journal during a migraine is good therapy for me. What about you all? I am also battling flare ups with my fibromyalagia. I guess I can't win for losing, huh? :( Well, the bright light are killing my eyes now and also cleaning chemicals that my husband is using to mop our floors, so I better get back to bed now. Plus, I am in a rotten mood whenever I am migraining. I spent so much time last night typing out my cover letters for my resumes, and now I wonder how in the world I will be able to ever go to work with these migraines? I probably wouldn't even successfully make it through any 90-day probationary period that most jobs require. What am I to do? HELP! I am so depressed right now and I guess that is due to the drop in seratonin levels, right? I have taken all sorts of pain pills, but they aren't phasing me one bit! Well, I need to go now and grab me a ginger ale and an ice pack. I guess I just need to let this one run it's course like I usually do. Oh yeah, btw, our neighbors are moving and they started very early this am and were making so much dadgum racket and hitting the wall where my bedroom is and woke me from a very sound sleep. I went outside and told them to SHUT UP! Of course, they just blew me off not caring about how that was making my migraine worse. We live in an apartment so we here every little noise and whenever I have a migraine I am so sensitive to sound and light. Even the simplest little sound gets to me. I can't even go out to eat during a migraine becuz just the customers in the restraunt talking makes me hurt even more and I am all gripey to the waitress and the flouresent lights..forget it! Can you relate? Please let me know I am not alone. Thanks! I miss hearing from all my migraine buddies and you know who you are. Please anyone write me and let's support eachother being we *truly* understand eachother's pain. I hope everyone is doing better than I am doing and hopefully ya'll are pain free. Take care!
Jana <JTROUTEN@aol.com>
Atlanta, GA USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 01:41:20 PM

I have been a migraine suffer for four years. I really fill sorry for those ofyou that have suffered longer than that, because these past for four years havebeen the worst. When I started getting migraines I was 35 yrs old and the only time I would get these was during, before, or in the middle of my monthly. I went to a OBGYN he said I was going through the change of life, and my harmones were screwed up. So we decided at the age of 40 it was time to have a complete hysterectomy thinking this would cause the problem,not totaly because now my harmones are really out of wack and migraines are still sometimes even worse. I usually are in the ER at least twice a month pretty bad when they know you by name. I have tried all kinds of preventive mdicines even tried alot of the new mdicines out for migraines, just got the new one called Maxalt hope it works. I am running out ideas if anyone out there is isten please let know what is out there. I have been to optomologists, neurologists, and a gynocologists. Please help me. Thanks for listening.
mj <mur@webtv.co>
Edorado, OL USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 01:01:19 PM

Martha Please be careful it will take a while for the Prozac to work its way back out of your system thats why you can't tell anything yet. I would also be careful about taking st. johns wort too, that is if you combinr it with the Prozac they are very similar in effect. Good luck to you, Pat
Pat <patblust@earthlink.net>
Charlotte, NC USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 12:45:16 PM

Martha---be very careful!! Going off Prozac "cold turkey" is very dangerous!!! It can cause all kinds of things, including stroke. Also, you should not take St. John's Wort with Prozac; it can cause major problems. I tried St. John's Wort for clinical depression, but it didn't work for me....it also didn't really help with the migraines, but then again, nothing does. I have a horrible migraine today...I have had it off and on since Xmas eve...I even got a demerol shot and it didn't help. I am so tired of this crap...I think it's great that Newsweek ran that article. Maybe people without migraines will read it and understand its not all in our heads. I was reading about those of you who have been accused of being drug addicts...I always feel like I have to wait until the pain is intolerable before I take my Vicodin...god forbid I should use up those 20 pills in less than 2 - 3 months. My doctor has been good about it because he has been with me through most of my suffering, but the pharmacy always makes a big deal out of it when I call for a refill. Also, it seems like they "can't get approval" and it takes me calling my doctor and him calling them to bitch them out in order to get the refill. I have told them a number of times that I do not have any medicine left, and the same crap happens again! But if I called for a prescription when I have a few left, it would be too early, and they would say I'm a drug addict. Even getting Migranal has been a problem, even though I'm sure it's not addictive. What's the deal with these "health care providers"? I wish I could curse them all with just one migraine so they could experience it and understand us.
Shari Umpstead <sharmyst@netscape.net>
USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 10:36:55 AM

I have been reading these entries for several months now in an attempt to find kindred suffering. Isn't that a horrible though? Why is it that one would be somewhat "relieved" to find that others are suffering with equal degree of vehemence? My migraines have been raging at full tilt now for about 34 years. One of the precipitating factors is a drop in blood sugar. The other is "too much sleep." Of course, there are others as well, but I was wondering if anyone else has had the Glucose Tolerance tests and seen that the migraine "reared its ugly head" in the middle of the test. The hypoglycemia is a major trigger for me. I know when the blood sugar levels are plummeting because I get very sleepy. So many of you have mentioned problems associated with insomnia or other sleep disturbances as well. When I only sleep 4 hours, ...no migraine. If I go for a complete night, I'll wake up with one. I believe that the entire phenomenon of "migraine" is tied into a sequelae related to to "whole" brain chemistry, not just the serotonin. I was put on Prozac several years ago in an attempt to reduce the number of severe attacks. A few days ago, without my doctor's permission, I stopped taking the Prozac. So far, nothing strange has occurred to indicate I will be "flipping" out or anything. After 34 years' worth of migraines 3-5 times a month, I am ready to try anything. Does anyone know if you can take St. John's Wort with Prozac? ...assuming that I start having withdrawal sequelae within a few days. I was thinking about switching to the herbal remedies for a change. To the person wondering about aura without migraine,...don't you think that the "feeling" we often get that "the big one" is on its way is the constriction phase of a classic migraine? Isn't it the constriction phase that causes the reduction in blood supply which in turn causes the visual or perceptual anomalies? Once the first phase is over and the attack actually begins, the aura disappears. I am very disillusioned about the remainder of my life. The idea of another three or four sustained years of pain, nausea, vomiting, disassociated bouts of pure agony, the pills, the shots, the crying, depression, the fear that "this one must be a stroke"...That's a literary sentence fragment, Grammatical Purists. I know the difference. I am becoming more and more cynical, pessimistic and downright irascible as the years and the pain continue unabated. I want to be a different person, with a different life. Do I have the right to feel like this, knowing that so many people are so much "worse off" that I? Any comments? dovebobbyandmartha@alltel.net
Martha
USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 06:07:37 AM

Hi! I'm a long - time sufferer of migraine (almost 12 years now) and am interested in any non-drug therapies that people may have found helpful. Not necessarily alternative stuff, but the kind of thing you can do to supplement your meds -- I often put heat on my neck, and ice on my head. What kind of tricks like that work for you? I'm going to compile them and print them out and hang them in my kitchen -- because, of course, when I have a migraine, I can't begin to think of a single one! Please know that my heart goes out to each and every one of you and you're in my prayer basket. :) Arachne documentia@aol.com
Arachne <documentia@aol.com>
Epping, NH USA - Date: 01/09/99 (Sat) Time: 12:00:13 AM