Forum for fellow migraine sufferers

My Doctor gives me Vicoden to take when I feel like I need to go to the ER.? He wants me to stay out of the ER if possible.? When I went there they would not give me any pain meds at all, just droperidol and something for nausea (which didn’t even work for me and I had a terrible reaction to.)? I also have as a “rescue” prednisone.? That is the only thing that gets me out of a?4 plus day nightmare.? But I don’t take the full dose I take as little as possible because of the horrible feelings it gives me (shaky etc)??Benedryl helps me when?jittery and I was told (for me) by my Doc., that it is fine to take when taking steroids.? Of course check with your Doctor.

Has anyone ever had a shot of this? I get them from my doctor when i just can’t take the pain anymore. Usually they work however last time the relief only lasted about 8 hours!! i was really disappointment as usually the pain is gone before i hit the door and it isn’t a pain med so i am not loopy!! i just wondered if it starts working less the more i get it?

Currently I’m on a few different meds to prevent.. Topamax & Petadolex, then either Relpax or Frova for the migraines. I take an Anaprox with the Relpax or Frova also which helps the effectiveness. Along with the migraines (about 2-3/week) I have a constant headache in my forehead which ranges from mild to moderate. I’m getting treatment from Jefferson Headache Center. Seems like the next thing they are leading up to is either the Botox injections or infusion treatments… was wondering about the success of this for anyone else in a similar situation… with the constant pain cycle?

Any input would be greatly appreciated…
Thanks

Are there any B vitamins besides Riboflavin that are or could be implicated in migraines or in headaches similar to migraines? I ran out of my Balanced B-100 vitamins and just like a year or so ago when I ran out of prenatal vitamins, I’ve had almost 10 days straight of bouncing between full blown migraines and what I call “ghost of migraines past” (this tight low grade, not really quite a migraine feeling but any little thing - too much caffeine, too little caffeine, nitrates, nitrates, sulfites, weather, dehydration, too much or too little sleep, hormonal shifts, etc. - will set off a particularly NASTY migraine during a “ghost of migraines past”).

So today, while out buying groceries, knowing they’re a good way to get easily absorbed B Vitamins I bought one of the energy drinks that contains a good selection of B’s. Sure enough, within 2 hours of drinking the drink my ghost of migraines past was gone. It’ll be back tomorrow or the next day for sure by three days (if I don’t manage to get more B-100’s).

I know it’s not Riboflavin. All Riboflavin did - even at 400mg - was leave me more sensitive to light and really itchy…and it never helped the migraines at all (not even after putting up with the side effects for about 2 months). So are there other B’s that might be involved? If it matters, I know that at least one of my meds (metformin ER) can mess with B-12…

My current total med list is metformin ER (diabetes & PCOS), zonegran (seizures and we’d hoped it’d help with migraines), lexapro (depression and also for migraines - seems to help a little), ibuprofen (unexplained hip pain, docs are trying to blame on the depression - and yes, I know I have to take it consistently and carefully or it can cause problems), and allegra. Plus frova when I have a migraine.

I’ll be mentioning this to my neurologist when I see her on Thursday, but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas before then.

Oh, and about my eyes… My eyes, per the eye doc, are healthy. Very nearsighted (uncorrected vision has topped 20/200) and for some reason my eyes are very dry (he even asked about autoimmune disorders and Sjogren’s Syndrome), but they’re not why I’m having the vision problems. He suspects the vision problems are either med related or undiagnosed ocular migraines. Except for the light sensitive part. Apparently a lot of people who get migraines are light sensitive even when we don’t have an active migraine and I’m just one of them. I’m now supposed to wear glasses with total UV and dark tint (yeah, like I can afford that since I don’t have coverage to buy the glasses). Any ideas how to get affordable glasses to these specs without insurance? Almost forgot, and apparently my eye strain is because DSHS (who made my last glasses) got the prescription slightly weak and the axis off and nobody caught it. That explains a lot (and the older glasses which I brought with me were even worse - they’d been made for someone
with an astigmatism, but the prescription was otherwise right). So he figures getting new - but GOOD - glasses should help at least the headaches (if not the migraines too) as long as I do something for sunglasses in the process.

I am 50 and always suffered from migraines but they were fairly predictable (once every few months, lasting 24 hours). then 18 montsh or so ago they took a sudden turn for the worse, lasting for days. I notice my migraines were often, if not ususally triggered by the start of my mentrual cycle and I am wondering if this latest turn is related to the menopause?

Has anyone else has experienced this? I am also wondering, what the age is of most people on the message group? I am wondering if I can just wait it out! My story: my doctor has a particular interest in migraine and headache so tried me on various medications/sup-plements  (CoQ10 and migrelief; Maxalt) but with no result. The he referred me to a headache specialist who told me to abandon those supplements and try Petadolex and Al[pha lipoic acid, and also Imitrex. After a month of this my migraines are even worse, and I am now taking Imitrex almost daily, although I find it seems to be less and less effective, so i am taking tylenol as well (my stomach doesn’t tolerate the antiinflammatory painkillers). The doc also told me to stop drinking coffee (I have about 1 to 2 cups a day), and i am cutting back tho too wimpish to go cold turkey. Also, has anyone found that giving up caffeine makes any difference? give how horrible the migraines as it’s pretty tough to give up coffee! and no doubt suffer withdrawal headache as well

Is it possible to get disability for migraines, I have wondered this for a long time, people I’ve talked to who dont have migraines says its really hard, since i’ve had them for over 20 yrs, and cant hold down a job, didn’t know if this was possible. Like I said before, I dont know how people work with migraines, I never have been able to. if anybody know how to go aboout this process, please let me know, because I have no clue, Thank you for listening.

I’ve been seeing the same neurologist for 4 years. I saw her the first couple of visits, and then I see her (more specifically, have an appointment with her) once a year. Otherwise, I see her physician’s assistant, whom I really, really like. A couple of times, she has pulled the neurologist in to our appointments for a few minutes to discuss something specific (like when I wanted to go off Topamax and start the chronic pain management protocol). I’m OK with the whole thing; mainly because I love both my neurologist and her PA. Now, the office staff . . . not so fond of. And, not so fond of the fact that they’re “tied” to their E-mail system; so if you call and want to leave a message for the doctor of the PA, they send it via E-mail, then it totally depends on when they get around to checking their messages. Even if it’s something life-threatening (like when I was suicidal). After not getting a callback for over 24 hours, I have to really buckle down and talk to someone and have them actually go in and tell the PA that it’s an emergency, and that I need a call back ASAP, not just when you get around to reading E-mail. In those cases, I’ve always received a callback within an hour. I try not to take advantage of this, though; I don’t want them to get the impression that I’m one of those “problem patients” who is always crying wolf . .

My sister has menstral migraines and her gynocologist says IUD’s really work for those. He is putting one in her tomorrow. I hope it works. She’s praying it does. Has anyone tried this before? They refuse to let her do the patch you all have tried. I think I have told you what they said about that. They feel it throws you into early menopause. That is their theory though. I guess all Dr.’s have their own opinions. My sister can take no birth control. The only thing she has done in the past for birth control was darn i can’t think of the name but they insert those little things in your arms that look like little sticks that last for five years. Sorry. My mind is blank. Any way I wish her luck and hope this helps. Just wondering if anyone has tried the IUD for migraines.

I have had this migraine for almost a week now and migraines specifically for twenty some odd years. I have noticed that lately I have severe neck and shoulder pain along with ear pain. Not ear pain like an earache, but like someone has boxed me in my ears, hurt and bruising type of pain. Also, I have been by far more nauseous and dizzy than I have ever before. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions? I’m really so tired of it all. I’d love to just have one week totally free of it all.

Does anyone get really dizzy during a mirgraine?
I get so dizzy sometimes i just have to lay still and not move for about an hour. i am thinking until my brain adjusts or whatever!! It is the worst feeling in the world. Most people would run to the ER. I actually have and was told i was crazy!! At what point should this become a worry? I have never past out and have had an MRI and CT scan and they were normal!! I hate the dizzy!! Also trying to sleep with a migraine i often wake up shortly after falling asleep very confused often not even knowing where i am!! Is this normal for a migraine.
I hate sleeping with them but what choice do i have!

Hello, all!

Two months ago I got Botox injections for my migraines, and I promised to keep everyone posted.

I think they may be working.

Since last Tuesday, I haven’t woken up with a morning migraine 6 times, the first time in 2 years. Plus, my daytime migraines are a lot less frequent and less intense.

For everyone considering Botox for treatment, I think I recommend it.

okay, I came off birth control in April, had a regular period until Aug.13th, havn’t had once since. They say to give it to 6-12 months. I was on the pill. I came off to see if it helped my migrianes. and it did until last months. I have been down most of this week with one. I have looked into insurance cause I don’t have any. I have a job, but it don’t pay alot cause it is a ministry job. Any Suggets on what to do or advice about insurance. I am 22 and married. He works the same place i
do, so no benifits ofr either of us. I live in NC. I am pretty sure that I am not pregnant. Any advice would be greatful.

thaks

Has anyone ever taken expired imitrex? I just got some samples that are expired from my neuro. She said they won’t hurt me but they won’t be as potent. I usually get 50mg and I cut them in half. She gave me 100mg. I think I am going to try to cut them in half and see how they do. They expired in 10/2005.

that I haven’t had to “doctor shop” around;  in fact, I’ve had the same PCP for 18 years, and the same neurologist for 4
years now. Here’s the strategy that I used. Once I’d spent 3.5 years trying all of the “normal” migraine preventatives and rescue meds, and following the “migraine rules”, and I still had constant pain 7×24, I sat down with my neurologist and said “we both know that being in constant pain, regardless of its source, is not good for a person. It raises blood
pressure and stress hormone levels. It isn’t good for a person psychologically; contributes to depression, etc. We’ve been trying to treat this according to the migraine rules for 3.5 years now; when are we going to actually start treating my pain?”. After that discussion, it took 2 more months of last-ditch trying to get the “migraine protocol” stuff to help,
and once it didn’t, then we went ahead and started treating me like a chronic pain patient instead of a migraine patient. And it has made a world of difference; my pain levels are down averaging about 2-3 now, instead of averaging 6-8.

Do a little research on chronic pain (not specifically migraines), and the effect that having untreated or under-treated chronic pain has on you, and then present that information to your doctor (of course he/she should already know this stuff, but they may not be looking at it that way because “it’s in your head”). From my research, if you inadequately treat your episodic pain and then it turns chronic, then it’s much harder to treat. If any of you are still having episodic migraines, please, please treat them as aggressively as you and your doctor can; to try to prevent having them turn chronic.

Take care!

In reading the recent posts, I am astounded by what I read. How do you folks get docs to Rx these drugs? Why am I having such a tough time getting anything? How many docs did you have to go thru 1st? Around where I live (very rural), if you change docs at all they see you as a drug seeker and doc shopper.

I finally got the nurse practioner in my local clinic to give me a Rx of percocet, 1st pain relief I’ve had in over 2-1/2 yrs…she gave me 60 pills the last week of october and I still have about 10 left, I have been hoarding them big time. As I have pain everyday, all day (wake up with the darn things), I only take them if I need to go somewhere, or it is a special occasion. I don’t think this is right. If we are in pain, aren’t they supposed to help us?

any suggestions would be welcome…

Hello! My husband (who’s a migraine sufferer — I am, too), started on Lipitor a few weeks ago & has had a migraine for 21 days!!! Have any of you had a similar reaction?? He’s been examined by some specialists, who have discounted the Lipitor connection (though they have ascribed no other causes). He’s otherwise totally healthy. Any thoughts appreciated.

Thank you!

Ggrandmother who has had visual migraines for 40 years! I have always had an aura, beginning as a tiny spot in my field of vision and expanding with flashing edges and moving out of my field of vision. A slight headache follows and some tiredness. Entire episode takes roughly and hour and would occur 4-5 times a year and even much less in recent years.
Yesterday I noticed I had a well defined circle of flashing light in the center of my vision, but was only affecting my left eye. At times I couldn’t see it but when outside or looking at a blank wall I could see it. It didn’t stay in my vision all the time but would flash when I would cut my eyes from side to side or if I held my head down when walking and it didn’t seem to change size at all. I went to my eye dr. and he said he believes it it is a ‘floater’ but I am really not sure. It does not float!! It seemed to get duller today and it almost gone tonight. So I am wondering if a visual migraine can last 24+ hours and if they can change their patterns over many years?

Thank you for any help you might offer..

I have migraines and have been trying natural cures but I haven’t found anything that’s work for me yet. I’m 55 years old and in 2004 I stopped having periods and pretty much but not 100% have been having migraines once a week for the last three years.
I don’t want to take drugs. I just know there has got to be something natural that will work.
I’m pretty sure I am getting them because of hormones. I am on a natural homone cream. My hotflashes are gone but am still getting migraines.
I would like some of the natural things you have tried whether they have worked for you or not they might work for me.
I would appreciate any and all help you can give me. I want to get rid of these!

Thank you.

I was right in the middle of a horrible hormonal one today, firing at both temples. 5 hours later my triptan still hadn’t worked, when I suddenly got a vice like, crushing pain - all over the back of my head. It really felt unbearable like my head was going to explode. I took two Co-demol which I think is the same as your Tylenol and it miraculously lifted after about 30 minutes and reverted back to the normal migraine.

I’ve heard of tension headache leading to migraine, but do you think the sheer length of a severe migraine could lead to your body becoming so tense as to cause this pain as well? The impact felt more how I’d imagine a cluster headache to be. Strange the way they change position and mess about.

I will check it out with my doctor, but value hearing people’s experiences here.

And the cause has been identified! I had three herniated discs in my back and they were putting a tremendous amount of pressure on several nerves. My neurosurgeon identified this as the cause of my migraines and since I had my first back surgery to fix that problem, the only migraines have been at the time of my cycle. My surgeon said that this problem with my back has been present for years and been progressively getting worse. It really is amazing the problems that ailments in different parts of of our bodies can cause in other places. I am off all preventative meds and have my Zomig and Amerge to take whe I need it.

I will be having another back surgery in the morning at 11:00. The disc at the L5-S1 level has herniated again and is pressing on the Scaitic nerve causing tingling and occassional numbness and a lot of pain in my lower back, hip, and left leg. They are going to be doing a partial laminectomy. I had the first back surgery in September and they did a partial laminectomy on the discs at levels L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1.I was having pain so bad before the first surgery that my left leg was 100% numb and I was in so much pain that I could barely even walk. I could barely getr out of bed. The surgery made a 100% difference. My doctor said that it is actually quite common for a disc to rupture again after surgery once on it. I know I will feel so much better after my surgery so I will be able to enjoy the holidays. I have complete faith in my surgeon. He’s the chief of neurosurgery here so that helps to reassure me that everything will go fine tommorrow.

I’ve gotten migraines since ‘92. my first time i had no pain at all, but lost vision from my left eye (it’s almost always my left eye) and was nauseated, it scared me to death, i thought i was going blind at 19 for no apparent reason, lol. anyway, i’ve been thru so many tests and meds, diets, charting, the whole thing. i’ve still not found anything to help. what frustrates me most to this day is so many people thinking this is such a small problem, some people even doubting my pain! even thinking i’m just drug-seeking! acting like for every small headache i’m running to the e.r. for a shot. that’s so not the case, as i’m sure all of you already know. i was in an abusive realtionship for 10 years (those concussions probably didn’t help) and now i have my ex using this against me in a custody case. even the man i’m with now, who is usually a good man, doubts my pain. of course he heard it from my ex who put that in his head. the first couple migraines i went to the e.r. for since moving here to KY, my new man went with me, and sat with me the whole time, hours! now, since my ex telling him it’s a drug seeking or addition problem, now my new guy is hesitant to take me to the e.r. and he doesn’t even like me taking tylenol. i’m so frustrated. last night i suffered through the pain, vomiting, vision loss, etc. i almost feel bad trying to seek treatment anymore for fear that i’ll be seen as that drug-seeking hypocondriac. any advice or ideas is apppreciated. i’m sure i’ll be on this site with some regularity, and i’m looking forward to meeting all of you.

Hi There..I’m wondering if anyone has suffered from the occassional nosebleed during a migraine?

I’ve had migraines now for about 20 years but just recently started noticing blood, especially if I blow my nose.

Is this more common then I realize or something I should be concerned about?

Thank you for your help in advance!

Ok, as often seems to happen in my life if anything good happens something else (at least one something) goes haywire. I’ve been put on lexapro in addition to the zonegran and I’m FINALLY seeing some improvement in my migraines - the hormonal ones are shorter, milder and I’ve even skipped one. Mostly I’m now getting the ones with
weather shifts and as far as even my neuro knows there’s not much to do about those but stick on a preventive and keep my triptan handy.

However, suddenly - since the lexapro - I’m getting little or no aura. It’s just suddenly BAM - here’s your migraine pain. I just realized today while reaching for my Frova (stupid weather migraines) that I’m due to schedule an appointment to see my neuro. Is this something I should mention to her? I’ve ALWAYS had auras before, actually I’ve
been known to have auras without migraines - so this migraine without warning bit is really weird for me. This also means that I’m having to once again figure out what’s a migraine and when to take my med. Yuck.

Oh, and my gp is still investigating my chronic digestive whatnot. Leading candidates at this point are liver/gallbladder/pancreas (since there’s pain in that area to go with the diarrhea) and an undiagnosed food intolerance or absorption issue (apparently no one’s ever done more than the questionably accurate blood test for celiac and no one ever did the upper camera test - so those are likely - BLECH - in my future). Meanwhile, I’m supposed to drink tons of water and attempt to also get something with electrolytes like Gatorade or Smart Water till we figure this out.

I just went to my doctor today and he made a bunch of changes that I wanted to run by all of you - as to what to expect, for those who are already on this stuff.

I really like/d this doctor because he believed it was “o.k.” for me to take triptans daily, as that is the therapy that works for some. I’ve been seeing him for about a year now, with no change in my chronic daily headaches and migraines that land me in bed 2-4 times a month.

So - triptans are out and Migranal is in. He prescribed the Migranal as 1 spray in each nostril twice a day. Question - I thought that Migranal was used as an abortive. I just read some warnings online of using it as a preventative. Comments?

In addition to the Migranal he increased my dosage of Keppra (currently at two 500mg at night) and added Arthrotec (one 75 mg pill a day). I also take 600mg of Magnesium.

I’m already thinking, “so what do I do when the pain starts tomorrow!?” - normally I would pop a Zomig or Maxalt and pretty much know I’d feel better within an hour or so. I am armed with some Prednisone, Vicodin and shots of Toradol - but obviously not the same.

Thanks for any feedback you can offer!

I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Rina and I have been getting migraines since I was 12. I used to take Fiornal and had no idea how good my migraines were until about four years ago when they changed for the worse. I am 38 now and last month I had 12 days of migraine and 5 of them were the puking kind. I see a neurologist and take Magnesium, Vitamin B-2, CoQ-10, atenolol, Diclofenac and last Sunday started birth control pills in the hopes that something will help. I also take Frova at the end of my cycle (they seem to be worse just after the period and around ovulation normally, but last month was a free for all). I have triptan, and have even resprted to Vicadin a few times.
Things have gotten so bad that I actually wake up now and think WOW I DON’T have a headache today. I decided to look into other things to try and so now see a chiropracter, got tons of books from the library and then decided to seek out the experts–you guys! I am very excited to belong to a group of people who understand and don’t think I am exaggerating, etc. I am not a sick type of person (I don’t do sick) and so that makes these migraines even more frustrating for me!
Other info about me..I am a sign language interpreter, teach ASL, and love to quilt and read. I look forward to getting to know you all and to learning all I can about migraine.