Migraines

[velvett]

I'm a migraine sufferer [stress induced mostly] and inbetween the migraines I have bad headaches. I can honestly say I have less than one week per month without pain.
I have tried 5 different migraine medications, the best being Maxolt but even that does not always help. I stopped taking over the counter medications because they only give me what my doctor described as rebound headaches.

I was just wondering if there is anyone else here with the same ailment and if you've found some sort of relief and if so - my God, what is it?

 

[tball]

Hello,
First let me say I understand. I have migraines also. I was looking around for problems with PMS and such and came upon a book about premenopause. I don't know your age but, premenopause just means your body is starting to slow down and not make as much progesterone resulting in too much estrogen. In an excerpt from Dr. John R. Lee M.D. and his book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause" he says, "Estrogen causes swelling in the brain the same way it does in the breasts. Enlarged blood vessels in the brain cause most migraine headaches. Estrogen can also deplete magnesium levels, which makes arteries more susceptible to spasm, a common cause of other types of headaches." He reccommends progesterone cream and magnesium. The progesterone cream must not say wild yam extract as that will not work. You need progesterone that says it has natural progesterone USP and has at least 20 mg of natural progesterone per application. I'm using Progesta-Care from Life-Flo. I found it at the Wild Oats store. I feel 100% better. My PMS has calmed down as well as the headaches. I don't feel as fatiged as I was. It won't hurt to try because progesterone is also reduced by stress, prescription drugs, etc. I suggest you read this book though before you start. It answers a lot of questions. Hope this helps.

Tball

 

[velvett]

Oh wow, that makes a lot of sense.
31, by the way and come to think of it I did increase a breast cup size in the past 9 months that I can't blame on excessive weight gain and my GYN did mention something to me about my progesterone levels. HUZAH!

Hmmph.

THANK YOU

... and my compressed brain thanks you.

 

[MS]

Just wondering if you've ver kept a migraine diary? This is pretty much like a normal diary, but also takes note of when you have your migraines or oridinary headaches. By keeping track of stuff like what you've eaten (including amounts of water, food and it's saltiness etc... as well as alcohol), and where you are in your menstral cycle you can begin to get a pattern. Stuff like stress (whether work, personal or social) as well as possible trigger foods, or some types of weather may also help you. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but for most folks it is well worth the effort to try and pinpoint what is causing the headaches.

 

[velvett]

Yessireyybob, I've done the diary route. Unfortunately, the absolute constantly started to change... sigh.

When the barometer drops, lack of sleep (like missing a min. of 4 hours in one night for more than 2 days), I used to see them happen the fourth week (thursdays) of my cycle, if I drink a lot less than 1/2 gallon of water, red wine if I have red meat with it or olives (go figure), family related stress and large quantities of refined sugars.

Maybe, I'll start the diary again.

Hmmm


Thanks guys/gals.

 

[MR. BMJ]

Hehehe...don't forget that constipation will also cause some migraines so make sure you are eating adequate amounts of fiber to keeps "things" flowing. I'm serious too, but this is more than likely not the problem I know. LOL
MR. BMJ

 

[Fennec]

I have had migraines all my life, and have a family history as well. They diagnosed me when I was little, maybe 7 or 8 years old. I've tried Ergostat and Fiorinal, neither did any good. The only thing that works for me is Midrin, and it works great. I can usually kill the migraine with the Midrin, and for the past 3 or 4 years since they started prescribing the Midrin for me, I've only had to go into the emergency room about once a year. Used to be every couple of months.

I've never tried the diary thing - maybe I'll start tracking in my workout journal. Might be interesting.

Fennec

 

[madmitch]

I used to get Migraines, but now only very rarely.

Found out that they can be caused by an allergic reaction to some things we eat. In my case, spring onions, mature cheese, and sometimes chocolate could bring on a migraine.

Also found that when I was really hungry, this could also bring on a migraine. I believe it has something to do with too low a level of glucose in the brain.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dingo12]

I have had exactly the same problem, the week before my period I have a migraine. This happpens periodically i.e. I have none at all for 6 months then one every month for 6 months. I know the triggers and I recognise one coming on. Feeling ravenous no matter what you eat is a sign that one is about to happen, us. latter that day. I find it is a sign I am tired and need to rest. So when one comes on I go straight to bed and sleep for 24 hours. I have tried migraleve but found this encouraged me to 'carry on' which left me even more exhausted over the next few days. I no longer try to fight them and when they happen I just go with it and sleep as much as possible.

 

[MS]

The best bet is (of course) to eliminate the triggers. But if this is not possible, then I find Imitrex to be my lifesaver. I actually have a lot fewer migraines since I've had access to Imitrex since I no longer get stressed at the first signs of a migraine. I think my anticipation of a migraine used to drive me towards the migraine if that makes any sense. Now I know I can get rid of it in 15 minutes if it gets bad. Great stuff.

 

[evissam]

2 words - GET ADJUSTED!!! (by a chiropractor)

 

[Fennec]

I have tried Imitrix (in the nasal inhaler and in an IV in the hospital) but it didn't really work for me. Everyone is different, though. My grandma used to have Fiorinal work. My other grandma, nothing works for her, and her migraines last for weeks at a time! (I would just lay down and die, I think.) I had a friend who swore by an injectable, but I can't remember the name of it.

My old doctor, before I moved to a different state, used to take me straight into a back room and give me a shot in the butt of Demerol and Phenergyn (sp?) if it was so bad I had to go in. (If it was daytime I would go to his office rather than the hospital.) Then once when I went to the hospital, the ER doctor didn't want to give me the Demerol/Phenergyn, and he gave me oxygen through an oxygen mask, along with another drug I can't remember the name of, and that worked really well. For a while I was thinking about renting an oxygen tank to keep in the house for migraine emergencies, but I never looked into it further.

I had an interesting experience the last time I had to go to the hospital. First they gave me Imitrix in an IV drip - an hour later it wasn't doing anything for me, and I was still crying and throwing up, so then they gave me, of all things, benedryl in the IV. It worked, but had a strange effect - though the pain ceased, I could still feel that the migraine was still THERE, and it made me worry that the pain would come back if I moved wrong or turned my head too fast. It made me keep thinking "it's like walking on broken legs". That was wierd.

Also, I agree with MS, once you find something that works for you, just knowing that you have it will help stave off the impending migraine. I know exactly what you meant, MS, when you said the fear would drive you to it.

Fennec

[This message has been edited by Fennec (edited April 11, 2001).]

 

[velvett]

Thank you so much everyone for all your replies. My current migraine started March 30th and today will be the first day I will "call in sick".

Several things posted here I have tried but the Chirporator and the ER are the two I have yet to try. I have nothing to lose and I can't possibly be in more pain than I already am. You know, I think you actually start to get used to it - that's really even disturbing to type.

Considering I am deathly afraid of hospitals, I think I start with the Doctors office.

Side note: This is the first time I have ever heard from several people their own experiences and I have found some sick comfort in that notion. At work I have one boss that like to be the center of attention (victim complex) and when I come in death white and swollen she actually has the nerve to say, "oh well, look who has a headache - I'm telling you it's the weather, I know all about these things, I keep track of you." (I am most surprised I have not killed her yet.)

Sorry, I'm babbling.

Thanks again.

-k

 

[Fennec]

You poor thing! Get thee to the doctor right away! Don't let it linger on for days - how have you been functioning at work?

Make sure you have someone to drive you or at least pick you up, because it's gonna knock you for a loop. You will most likely fall asleep within fifteen minutes to half an hour after they give you whatever they end up giving you, and you should expect to sleep all day.

Take care, sweetie!! Let us know how it turns out.

Fennec

 

[BuffRedheadWoman]

Take Excedrin Migraine. Have you ever considered going to see someone who does accupuncture? I go once a week and I feel great!

------------------

 

[b fold the truth]

I have taken them all. I have had migraines since I was 8 years old, 24 now. I have taken preventative meds every day since. The only one that I have found to work is depakote 250. It is a seizure medication...but for some reason works on me. My younger sister has seizures...maybe a genetic link?

B True

 

[velvett]

Excedrin Migraine is the exact same product as the regular Excedrin. (How's that for marketing.)

Over the counter drugs have no effect on me anymore, other than lightening my wallet and making havoc on my stomach lining.

sigh

Fennec - thanks... : )

I made it to the doctor's office and she ironically enough suffers from migraines. In my social circle she is the only person I can talk to about this. People just don't understand that a headache is not a migraine, headaches are merely a symptom of a migraine.

Anyway, I balled and sobbed right there...I guess pain will do that to you. She gave me Zolmitriptan and Fioricet for the pain. Yet, after I broke down in front of her, she gave me Serzone (nefazodone)which I can only comfortably comment as being happy pills. I'm not thrilled, but I will do anything to feel better and improve the quality of my life.

So there you have it.

***keep your fingers crossed***

 

[MS]

WOW, that's quite a cocktail of drugs. But the main thing for now is to get those migraines under control. Once you have some sort of control of them then you can start to work on preventing them. Good luck and PLEASE keep us posted.

 

[velvett]

Good News!

The Zolmitriptan and Fioricet seem to be working even though I've taken 4 Fioricet (1 zolm.) in the past 24 hours. Right now it feels like a low grade headache and if anything my head is just sore - if that's possible. I also took my first Serzone but those will have a delayed effect.

Teehee - *cocktail*. I like that term.

I will miss margaritas.

OH!

Here's an interesting site I found all about migraines if anyone is interested:

http://www.migraines.org/myth/mythreal.htm

I printed out the pages the link will bring you too and gave it to my bosses today. It was probably one of the better things I've done in a while. (We get along a lot like family so it wasn't odd for me to do such a thing.)

Thanks everyone. Your responses have really helped me stay sane.

 

[buffie]

I have only had one migraine.
MAN that HURTS!!!!
I went to the chiropractor everyday for a week and now I go a couple times a month.
Getting my neck adjusted did the trick for me! My not be your problem but worth a try!

 

[Fennec]

I'm so glad the meds you got are helping! What did your boss say about the printout you gave her? Did she get a clue? You're right, if someone does not suffer from migraines themselves, it's very hard for them to comprehend that a migraine is different from a bad headache.

Take care,
Fennec

 

[velvett]

Originally posted by Fennec:
I'm so glad the meds you got are helping! What did your boss say about the printout you gave her? Did she get a clue? You're right, if someone does not suffer from migraines themselves, it's very hard for them to comprehend that a migraine is different from a bad headache.

Take care,
Fennec

OH me too!!

They were pretty blown away and all conversations of what she/they think I should do, blah, blah have stopped cold turkey. (thank God)

Thanks

Cheers

: ) back at ya!