Migraine Journal

The on-line migraine journal is intended to be an area for migraine sufferers to post their migraine histories and experiences.

The journal is intended to be a place to accumulate experiences and information, which can be used as a reference to those who wish to learn more about what it is like to be a migraine sufferer.

Please note: Posts are no longer being added to this journal. Please use the discussion forum for question/response types of entries.





Hi, i am a medical professional who gets evil migraines- usually one a year, but recently 3 in a month, the last of which gave expressive dysphasia ( i could not find the words i wanted !!! to say), as well as right sided sensory loss. To all you guys who struggle with this, there is a good article in the BMJ this in January all about migraine. If you want do describe its cause to your' friends', you can talk about blood vessels etc, but the latest findings suggest that they are caused by an actual problem with membrane pumps on brain cells, leading to a spread of hypoxia (low oxygen) to bits of your brain...That should help explain to people thta it is not 'just a headache'

Also 1 in 10 people get these things (and that includes drs and nurses)!!!

Paulo

paul
Thursday, February 9, 2006 at 05:54:57



Hi,
Has anybody tried Migra-Lief? It is a combination of magnesium, riboflavin (vitamin B) and feverfew. I just read about it and am curious to hear if anybody has had any luck with it.
Kathleen

Kathleen <kathleen_womac@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, February 8, 2006 at 22:09:46



Today I woke up with a headache. Not a bad one but just the same dull achy feeling in my head that is normally there when I wake up each day.

I took my topamax and my BC pill before leaving for work. When I got to work I took 1 advil gelcap and 2 tylenol. It didn't do much good.

I ate some cereal for breakfast Raisin Nutbran
Coffee
Double Cheeseburger for lunch
French Fries
Coke
Shrimp cocktail and a salad for dinner.

Topamax for night time.

Looking for a better day tomorrow.

ps. I put make up on today! =)

Sharlyn Smith <Sharlyn88@aol.com>
Monday, February 6, 2006 at 17:02:25



I am new to the journal. I have lived with migraines for over 30 years. I too have had many combinations of medications prescribed for me over the years. The one that has worked the best has been Topomax. For the first time ever I was migraine free for several months. However, I could not continue to take topomax because the side effects became more than I could handle. I literally have little recollection of those months other than no migraines. My memory was effected and to this day many memories are erased forever. I am super sensitive to medications and since my body does not metabolize medications well it is easy to end up overdosed. We have found out that I can not take a regular dose but must cut it in half at least. My doctors have been excellent and I appreciate how much they try to do for me even though it does not always work. I am now on imitrex shots as well as the tablets and am trying Verlaren. I am glad to be able to visit with others who really understand migraines.
Sue

Sue
Saturday, February 4, 2006 at 16:54:01



Hello friends. I say friends, because even though I do not know anyone here, I do. If you suffer even half of what I live with,you have my love and affection.

My name is Shelly. I am 32. I am married to my 2nd husband, Joe, since May 5, 2005. We have 6 children together. Ginger is 17, Rebecca is 16, Joey is 12, Daniel is 11, Samantha is 10, and Ty is 9. Daniel and Ty are my contributions. We live in Mississippi. I am a pharmacy technician and my husband is a CT technician at a local hospital. Currently I am on medical leave, it looks as though I may have to leave the job I love for a less stressful job if I want to go back to work. And around here, less stressful means less pay. Yuck.

Anyway, I'm not sure why I'm on the computer today. I'm going on day 7 of a bad streak. My neuro just called and called me in some Decadron. He doesn't do narcs. Well, he gives me one vial of stadol with each set of write ups, but it doesn't help.
And, it will take me an hour to type this because I can't hardly see. I've had migraines severely for over 3 years. Three years ago I had a bout with Pseudotumor Cerebri that I finally got under control with 3 Lumbar punctures, Diamox, and weight loss and it is now in remission. The migraines stayed. I have some type of headache every single day. My current meds are A.M. Zoloft 50mg
Topamaz 150mg
Atenolol 50mg

P.M. Zanaflex 8mg
Topamax 150mg
Clonazepam .5mg
And Frova 2.5mg, Phenergan 25mg, and Stadol Nasal Spray as needed for actual headaches. I've had so many combinations of meds its ridiculous.

Well, it's wonderful to have a place to talk to people who understand. My doctor is Robert Slaughter at Kirkland Headache Clinic in Birmingham Alabama. If anyone would like to chat or compare notes, feel free to email me. my email is shellybobelly73@yahoo.com

Shelly

Shelly Haywood <shellybobelly73@yahoo.com>
Friday, February 3, 2006 at 15:33:54



Hello, fellow sufferers! It's a pleasure to read that I am not so alone in this misery. I am 29, a mother of two boys and have had migraines since 13. I, too, have a supportive husband, which is very important. I couldn't imagine living with someone that saw a migraine attack as something that was my fault. My migraines come with everything: Visual disturbance, numbness, incoherence(I actually can't remember certain words in the English language), vomiting. It's not a pretty picture.
From age 13 to about 21 I suffered on cafergot(sp) and codeine. They did nothing but make me vomit and feel spacey. Finally, the codeine would just knock me out so I could sleep.
For years I was scared to research migraine because, as funny as this may sound, it would almost certainly bring one on. Crazy, huh? I assume it was the stress of reading about my nemesis.
Just this week I went to a new doctor. Sadly, for all these years I have been told that the migraines were pretty much untouchable. The doctors I saw seemed to find my discussions of migraine annoying. Then I met Dr. Casey. She is wonderful. She put me on atenol and we're going to see if the imitrex injections work, since the nasal spray did nothing but leave me with a horrible taste in the back of my throat.
I noticed in reading the posts on this site, that many people commented on the fact that we all struggle for years to find what works for our bodies. That perfect combo of drugs to keep the pain away. So we'll see if the latest will work. Fingers crossed.

Charly <charlene_canova@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 21:10:32



I think our common thread is the feeling of being alone with our pain - and quite frankly we are. We are the only ones who can actually experience the feeling while others look on helplessly.

I just wanted to share something that I am finding gives me a little life again. I have stuggled since I was 17 and I am 48 now. Nothing seemed to help for long.

There is a pain clinic I go to for injections into the nerves which freeze the nerves and for a entire day I am able to be human again. These injections are Naropin injections and there is another brand as well. After years and years, I am finally able to have at least one day totally pain free a week.

Hope this might be of some help. Also Relpax seems to have less side effects than many of the other drugs I have endured.

Lynne
lynneisaacs@yahoo.com

Lynne Isaacs <lynneisaacs@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 19:04:19



This information may be of interest to those who have suffered from Migraine for many years.

I have had migraine since I was 15 years old. I am now 51. As you will imagine I have been debilitated on many occasions. I generally had a migraine one a week occasionally more, as I often had clusteres. My life was transformed by Imigran and or Naramig. This enabled mt to go to work. But these drugs have their after effects!

But fairly recently I had mild hypertension and my doctor prescribed a low dosage Hypotensive. What was absoluty amasing was that within a week of taking this medication my migraines dissappeared almost completely.

The medication is called Lodoz the active ingredients are
Bisoprolol fumaras 2.5 mg + Hydrochlorothiazide 6.25 mg
this is a beta blocker and a diuretic.

It has worked for me so I thought that I would share the information.

Rosemary Tyler
Note the medication was prescribed in Belgium and may have a different name in UK.

Rosemary Tyler <rosemary_tyler@yahoo.co.uk>
Sunday, January 29, 2006 at 08:45:10



Hi everyone this is so great to finally hear of others who suffer as much as I do.
I am the mother of 4 children 2boys and 2girls, I have suffered with migraines sence I was 18 years old I am now 43 I like the others here have had migraines that put me to bed for 3days
not able to even get out of bed, my children have been taking care of me at my worst day. I have tryed most migraine medicines, I cannot take imtrex or any drug like it , becaue it raises my blood found that out when I had a bounce back migraine. the down side to this is that most migraine medicines do raise blood pressure. I have not found one yet to stop the pain I am now taking Inderol 80mg a day and have midrin for pain.I have a doctor that has been great,he has tryed many medicines to see what works. We all know that at our worst if the pain scale tops out we go get a shot at the doctors that puts us out for the day. I do not know which is better.
I am wondering do any of you,not have migraines when you are pregnet? that is the only time I was pain free. But do not want to be that way for ever. I have tryed elminating certain foods, bet feel that most food is off limit. have not found the certian trigger. I do know stress is a trigger, and of course over doing it. but with 4 children that is a every day thing.
gald to find more people with the same problem
Winona
wboskat@yahoo.com

Winona <wboskat@yahoo.com>
Thursday, January 26, 2006 at 17:17:13



Today is the 5th day I've had a migraine and I'm so tired of it! Fortunately (?), they have not been as severe as sometimes and I have at least been able to function enough at work to get by.
I've suffered from migraines for more years than I can remember, at least 20-25. I'm so glad my kids are grown & I don't have to worry about trying to take care of them when I have a headache. I'm very lucky to have an understanding husband-don't know what I would do if he didn't help me through it all.
Like many of you, I've had the "official" diagnosis and have tried many medications. Imitrex does work for me, but lots of times I wait too long to take it. I also wonder how much is safe to take, although at this point, all I care about is getting rid of the headache, not the possible effects that may show up in 20 years. There are times I take 4 in one week, which is the maximum recommended in a 30 day period!! While I'm glad that Imitrex helps, I really want to prevent - not treat - them. I did try Inderal in the past and it worked for about a year. That year was amazing!!! I had actually forgotten what it was like to live without headaches all the time. I know there are new things out there and am going to be seeing a new neuro and hopefully find some help. I can live with an occasional headache, but not with ones everyday for days on end.
I think every adult should experience one migraine in their life so they can relate to what many of us experience on a frequent basis. I work in a physician's office and know that he has no idea of what it's like.
Maybe someday the 'right' person will have migraines and will discover something that will be helpful to all of us.
Here's wishing you all a headache free day tomorrow!

Judy <hayjude54@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 22:34:51



I was really glad to find this page and thought I would post my story. I am 36 and 3 years ago I started to suffer severe migraine headaches. I started to have night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, and acne. I had suffered migraine when I went through puberty so I though this was probably a hormone issue. I went to see my Doctor and he was very understanding and we started to tackle the problem. I tried beta blockers, topomax, birth control pills, Imitrex (and the like). Well the beta blockers actually made it worse, the topomax seemed to work for a while but then quit and the side effects were a nightmare. The birth control pills made me very sick and the Imitrex, Maxalt, etc. made me feel like I was being strangled so my Doc said I was allergic and not to take them anymore. We then started to just try and deal with the attacks. I took toradol, tylenol 3 and percocet. This worked at times, but there were times I was still in agony and had to go to the ER for a shot. Of course when you have a 5 day migraine and visit the ER 5 times for shots you encounter some judgemental hospital staff which is not fun. My butt is covered in lumps and bruises from shots as well as some numb spots that never seem to heal. I have encountered some very sweet nurses and Doctors though that know I can not possibly be there for drugs as I am crying and vomitting which would be very hard to "fake" and I have had nurses wait an hour to give me a shot after the Doc has ordered it just to be nasty. I am having a total hysterectomy on Thursday and having my overies removed also to try and stop the hormone fluxes. I also am triggered by weather changes. I know I can't change the weather, but if I can eliminate even 50% of these migraines I will be happy. I found a migraine site called "magnum" and found it to be very informative and wanted to pass that on also. I hope you all find the medical attention and sympathy that you deserve. Please remember that you are not "nuts" and if you are not being properly taken care of find another Doc.

Jenifer <iknowjen@hotmail.com>
Wednesday, January 25, 2006 at 02:00:56



Hi, I am new to the web site but definately not new to migraines. I have suffered now for 20 years. I have been diagnosed with Daily Chronic Headaches. I have been hospitalized 3 times and have been to 3 different migraine clinics. I am currently back with my original migraine clinic and neurologist. I have tried sooo many medications and procedures. I have tried botox, nerve blocks, acupuncture, psychotherapy and the newest is called cranial sacral (like acupuncture). My career was in pharmaceutical sales. I used to sell to neurologists and psychiatrists. I had to resign from position due to frequency of sick days and Topomax. Now I say this because although not everyone has the same reactions to medications my experience with topomax was not positive. I experience cognitve dulling. This is not a good side effect when you are expected to talk to highly knowledgable medical professionals. I had a difficulty retaining information and I had a delay in my speach. My manager continued to criticize my overall sales ability. I finally decided the stress and blow to me ego was not worth it. I began to focus on my health and gaining control of my life. I am very knowledgeable of medications and diagnosis' from both my personal and professional experience. I am writing now because I have never felt so alone as I do currently. I was in the ER this evening and like many others I was treated like a drug seeker. I actually was experiencing a level 5 migraine (scale = 0-5) and it was literally unbearable. I HATE ER's and I know that is a strong word but I am fed up with the treatment and interrogations. Don't get me wrong not every experience is a bad one but, typically speaking I run into more problems than I do help. I could go on writing for hours but for now if anyone is out there that can tell me what you do for the absolute worst migraines I would love to hear anything. I realize this a lifestyle and the pain will never go away completely. I would just love to speak to anyone or everyone about my very lonely pain!!

Tracy O <tlosos@comcast.net>
Friday, January 20, 2006 at 01:46:55



Hi, i was just diagnosed with migraines, they gave me topamax, it seems to be working pretty good, they say that it will make you loose weight. i sure hope so . i just want the headaches to be gone. respond to me if anyone else takes topomax and how it has affected you please i would appreciate it thanks

melissa floyd <melissa.lynn.floyd@gulfstream.com>
Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 12:06:58



I used to post here fairly often. During that time I was in the middle of Migraine Hell. I'd seen the headache specialist at our state hospital, THE migraine specialist for John Hipkins, and finally been to Cleveland Clinic. I was having chronic daily headaches, compounded/caused by rebounding. The state doctor was in no way afraid to prescribe medicine be it narcotics or whatever else. He would give me 100mg of Demerol and not think twice. To be perfectly honest I'm not sure how I survived. I was absolutely over medicated.
I'd like to have a success story but in reality, migraines are still rampant. At least now they are distinguishable, not one on top of the other. I haven't seen a neurologist in years. My GP has been the primary diagnostician. I'm writing this post completely because of him. He's always been good about writing scrpits, not questioning me. I'm 23 and live far away from his office but I go and get refills and what not twice a year. This past time I went he confided that he had been having migraine headaches. He'd had two in the past month and was baffled as to how someone who has them twice a week could function. He then proceeded to write out all the scripts figuring out how many pills I would need to tide me over until the next time. All during this he kept repeating, "there's nothing worse than the damn headache." For all of you who have to suffer from jerk off doctors, I'm so sorry. This is really the first time I have ever experienced empathy from a doctor and Lord does it make a lot of difference. I know I'm a lucky one and am very sorry that the doctor has migraines but in a way I'm happy because it validates the fact that I am not crazy.
My meds are 150mg Topomax (50AM/75PM); Rescue meds are Imitrex nasal spray/Phenegran/Lortab. They are managable but not cured. For all of you in the throws of Migrane Hell, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Here's hoping for migraine free days...

Jane <jhalterman@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 01:45:12



In response to Mia...

I have written eariler about my history but about the job factor....

I started taking sandomigrain at the start of Nov 05. For the first couple of weeks. I still got the lefthand side numbness and the auras, not nessaceryly the headache itself. I am carrying out a Tyramine free diet. I am in a very high stress job at the moment where I dont get the support I need and the boss doesnt understand. He basically gave me a verbal warning for poor performance in the month of October..Which was due to my mirgrains. My father is now in the process of taking this to court. So before Xmas, I had 2 weeks holiday where I went camping with friends, surprislying enough I did not suffer at all while I was away. Bright sunlight which can be a factor to me, did not bring one on either (it is summer here in NZ) But come the Monday I was to return to work. I woke up with a hum dinger and is the 1st headache I have had that has lasted 3 days. I am now looking at resigning from this job.

Casey <casey@tejas.co.nz>
Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 18:54:50


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