Hello again Friends,
Since my last entry (early November 2003), I have been in some real pain. But I've received e-mails from a few other migraine sufferers that have really encouraged me. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I will be seeing yet another specialist in January. Since my last post, I have been doing yoga, deep breathing, meditating, painting...learning to saying NO! Just doing things to relax more, to take the edge off the pain. After years of using pain relievers, I've developed gastritis, so the NSAIDS are out for me. I usually sleep it off with a heating pad, ice pack, herbal tea, and sleeping pills these days. I'm sure your neurologists would love that remedy - "WHAT no $100/per pill Rx?" Unfortunately, it takes about 6 hours to work, you have to remember to turn the blasted heating pad off before you fall asleep, and you'll wake up with your head soaking wet unless you remember to kick the ice pack off the bed. But if you are lucky enough to actually sleep with someone else, they could do all that for you...
Take care and best wishes!

ty <tysuper@hotmail.com>
Monday, December 22, 2003 at 11:37:33

Hi, i've had migraines since i can remember and i'm 41 now. i get them almost daily. i take Zomig when they get really bad and i'm really thankful for that. There was a few years when i didn't get that many. At the time a smoked alot of marijuana. i don't smoke it anymore but i'm thinking about eating it, maybe it'll help again?. Anyways, we all suffer. It's hard to keep a good attitude about living. We must try, it's still worth the struggle. There are those in this world who suffer more on a daily basis. Sometimes i think, maybe i should be thankful i live where i do and my life and health are still pretty good. It could be worse. It's still hard though, to go to work, to wake up, to do anything. Living seems to be a trigger. Sometimes i just don't want to take anymore pills. So i don't and just accept the pain and lie in bed. i think of all of you in pain too, all of us. What a relief when i goes away for a few hours or a day!

Good luck to all

Ken
Friday, December 19, 2003 at 08:27:01

i have had migraines for 10 years. i mostly got symptoms such as light, smell, noise sensitivity, irritability, etc. for about 3 weeks out of 4 and less frequently was i totally incapacitated. i just started taking calcium vitamins a few months ago because i figured i needed them, and i am pretty sure they have significantly reduced any symptoms and headaches, to where i can now eat cheese, drink a glass of red wine, wake up early, all things that would have put me over the edge before. they are calcium/magnesium tablets with enzymes. can it be that after all those medications a vitamin solved the problem? Anyone had this experience?

jessica <jmorton@ucla.edu>
Friday, December 19, 2003 at 01:27:55

Hi Everyone,

My sympathy to all who come here! I have suffered from migraines since I was about 15. They were relatively mild then compared to what they are now. It used to be that I could take a nap and it would go away - how I miss those days! In my early twenties they steadily became worse, but thankfully about that time Imitrex came on the market, which I still take in large amounts on a regular basis.

When I hit my early thirties they became REALLY bad, with the most awful pain and nausea I could have imagined. All this time too, the frequency has gone from once a month when I was 15 to once a week when I was 20 to twice a week, and now if I get a couple of days off I feel very blessed! Luckily the majority of the time I can take medication and keep going, but when it puts me down, it puts me down HARD. I am so fortunate to have an understanding husband. I know if it weren't for the Imitrex I would not have been able to hold down a job. I'm almost 35.

I have tried diet changes, herbal supplements, meditation, calcium channel blockers, you name it. My headaches will do better for few weeks and they seem to adapt to whatever I am doing differently. It's almost as if they have a will of their own. I know you all know what I'm talking about.. There have been so many times when I just wish I could plan a shopping trip, or go out to dinner, without the fear of a headache to ruin it all. How may times have we all felt that we messed up a holiday or special event or vacation or something that had been planned way ahead of time because we got a headache? How many of us are worried that we will be laid up in bed this Christmas and miss all the fun?

During the last year or so I have seen a bit of relief, compared to what I'm used to. I am hoping that what people tell me is true, that as you age it can get better. I am actually looking forward to getting older so I can live a normal life again - maybe. I remember what it was like before the headaches and I want that again!

I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. His mother and sisters suffer from migraines, nothing like I do, but between their headaches and mine, we have decided not to have children. I am happy to be alive, but I can't risk passing this on to my child. I'm not saying if you have headaches and you do have children that you are wrong - this is just the choice I have made. If we want children later we can always adopt.

Anyway, to all of you, I wish you a peaceful holiday and hope that next year will be less painful, and somebody out there finds the cure for all of us!

Tracy
Monday, December 15, 2003 at 15:36:35

This is my second entry. These comments are for my benefit. Just venting a little. Frustrated, more than anything. 45 years old, migraine sufferer since I was around 16 or so, that I can remember. I wrote earlier about migraine triggers. They always say keep a diary. I did this for about one day. Man, I eat a lot. I got writers cramp. And, triggers, how do you determine which one caused your headache. I mean, caffeine, that's a trigger. I can drink coffee and cokes and candy bars all week long, and not get a headache. Can I scratch those off the list? Or is there a time frame. Do they build up in your system. If so, what is the time frame. You won't find that written in any medical journals. Then, how do I know the pickle I ate 4 days ago didn't cause it. It would be impossible. Just too many variables. Too much sleep, or not enough. Come on, who wrote that, a mattress salesman. Bright lights, or lights too dim in your office. Well, make your mind up. Preservatives. Yea, I think I'll just go out back and pick myself an organic salad, and kill a couple of free range chickens for supper. Heck, screwdrivers have preservatives in them nowadays. Who has time to analyze everything you eat. I have a good excuse, I'm just lazy. I sound bitter, don't I. I'm not, I'm just tired of having headaches. Sometimes, just bitching about something makes us feel good. Well, it's my turn. Cheese, wine, chocol.........it's just so hard for me to admit this one, chocolate(my life's blood). And, then you hear the doctors say, you might be getting rebound headaches. How do you get those? From taking the medicine they give you to stop the headache. You can't tell me they didn't find that one in a fortune cookie. I know the doctors are just as aggravated as we are about figuring out a way to stop them, but the fact is they just won't stop. We just have to get through them the best way we can. Medicine, yoga, prayer, acupuncture, whatever works is what you should be doing. Hope I didn't make anyone mad, just getting some of my thoughts out. Got to go now, I think I'm getting a headache. When I was 9 years old, I swallowed a marble. Boy, I hope that's not causing these headaches. Good luck all, Dave

Dave Bradshaw <davbrad58@yahoo.com>
Saturday, December 6, 2003 at 20:57:31

Hello Everyone. I just turned 40 and have been experiencing migraine since my early 20's. I look back with fondness at those "baby" migraines, I could kill one with a couple of Advil and a nap! Those were the days! I've tried several doctors and courses of treatment, with varying degress of success. My savior is Zomig! My life changed dramatically when I started using this gift from God. I use the disolvable tablets for fast relieve - what joy!

I really do enjoy life more now that the pain is under control. The drug isn't the answer. I have more information now and can exercise a fair amount of control over this disease. I don't like taking meds so I'm researching natural products successful in migraine treatment (like B vitamins).

I've noticed (as I'm sure most people have or will) that if I avoid trigger foods (in particular for me anything fermented, pickled, processed, alcoholic beverages, chocolate - I hate admitting chocolate is "bad" but it is true, even sugar although I am a sugar lover) I get fewer headaches. I need to be especially careful 2 weeks out of the month. It's worth the effort. I hate it when I get a headache I could have avoided.

Even with the Zomig, I still occasionally get a whopper (I experience extreme nauseau and vomiting with my headaches) but those are not even close to what I would experience without Zomig. I can't believe I had to suffer like that before I learned about Zomig!

I feel deeply for all people who haven't found relief. I know what you are going through. If you haven't found "the answer", don't give up. It's worthwhile to go through the exercise of journalizing your diet to identify trigger foods. I eat very healthfully. I used to get headaches several times a week and couldn't understand why - I eat so well. Then I learned that citrus fruits are trigger foods - I was eating oranges with my lunch almost every day! Even "good" foods trigger migraines - I couldn't believe it. Doctors seem to only "educate" us on the "bad" foods - alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, msg. There are many, many foods that trigger attacks! Food isn't the only issue but it's a big one and we have total control over what we eat. Does that mean I'm perfect all the time - helk no! But I keep trying - that's all we can do. You'll find the answer. Good luck.

Lynzee
Thursday, December 4, 2003 at 06:25:24

Please beware of huckster who pray upon we who suffer
there are no miracle cures as [edited] says in his post

buyer beware

John

John C
Wednesday, December 3, 2003 at 18:44:03

Hi all. It's been nigh on one year since I last posted a message in this forum. I was sent a very nasty e-mail to my personal address by someone and I must say I lost faith in the system for a while.
Whatever. Over it now.
My doctor has prescribed me drug called Solian (Amisulpride) 100mg a day. Solian is actually a drug for anti schizo-effective disorder, which I don not have, but apparently my Dr has had a fair amount of success with low doses of this drug on migraineurs (I don't like the term migraine 'sufferer', but that's just me).
I'm in Australia and I know that we colonials are about 10 years at least behind the USA in drug research, but I just thought I'd mention Solian in case any of you haven't heard about it.
My migraines are back to what is considered 'menstrual migraine' so I am lucky that I only get a hum-dinger once a month. I really feel for those of you that get migraines really frequently, because I have been there and I know what it's like. There, I've said what I logged on to say and I hope I didn't manage to offend anyone this time. ;->

Emma <emmaleahnorris@yahoo.com.au>
Saturday, November 29, 2003 at 03:15:07

Hi, my son since the age of 6 had experienced migraine headaches. He experienced them 1-3 times a week for 3 years, Doctors told geve me no hope and preatty much told me he would have to live like this for the rest of his natural life. I was detremined to move the world for my son. After months of research I discovered something increadible. I learned how cells assimilate nutrients and some possible connections to migraine headaches. Then I conducted a thorough analysis on the human physiology of migraines. To my surprise, we really don't know much.
My son is now migraine free! and I thank God every day for it. It's very painful and heart wrenching to see your child suffer. I'm now a father on a mission I intend to reach 30 million americans who shouldn't be suffering and I'm doing it one person at a time in the hope that they will tell other sufferers.
The stuff that my son uses is a cherry and vanilla flavored all natural liquid food in a ionic state. We've experimented with triggers. We took them out and reintroduced them, we've increased the doses, then decresed the doses of the ionic foods.
All he needs is a spoonful of the cherry flavored stuff in the morning and a spoonful of the vanilla flavored stuff, and it doesn't seem to matter what triggers he eats as long as he's consistant with his ionic foods.
As a side benefit, my wife and I also struggled with his ezcema rashes and ichy skin. Within three days is disapeared completely.
I had alergies for 3 years wich were getting worse evrey year, so I experimented with diffrent combinations of the products and now they are gone. My doctor told me that allegies or sensitivities were a symtom of age.
I've developed hundreds of pages of information mostly for my son's healing. If there is anyone who wants to know more, I love to share. NO ONE SHOULD EVER BE SUFFERING IN A DARK ROOM DRUGGED UP FOR DAYS, ESPECIALLY A CHILD!!!

Jeff Ordonez <jeffrey.ordonez@ppar.com>
Tuesday, November 25, 2003 at 18:49:37

I am not a migraine sufferer, but my wife and children are. a friend of mine who is a homeopath recommended a treatment which seems to be working, thank G-d. it involves a natural product called FEVER FEW, that you should be able to purchase at a health food store. when the symptoms are triggered, pour 28-52 drops into a glass with a little bit of water and mix, take it every hour until you fall asleep, and on the next day take it in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night. do not mix with motrin or tylenol etc. watch what you eat, avoid sugars, wheat, dairy products. and I really hope this treatment will work for you.

Isaac Benaim <nadia97@sbcglobal.net>
Monday, November 24, 2003 at 22:13:41

I stopped eating white sugar, and anything with sugar in it. Get pleaty of sleep and not too much caffeine. After three months I noticed the migrains were less painful and got shorter. Then, they pretty much stopped. This was all it took to stop the years of suffering. For the occasional sparks in my eyes, I take 4 ibuprofen tablets immediately, and the sparks go away and I don't get the headache. I don't leave home without these. For the rare migraines that I get now, I use Imitrex.
I was considered suicide for years. I have a life now.

Sewfee <dskinner@missvalley.com>
Monday, November 24, 2003 at 21:20:22

Here are some non-invasive tips that have worked for me. I started getting migranes as a child that lasted for days on end. The breaking point was in 98 when I was hospitalized for 12 days at the Cleveland Clinic and went on DHE protocol. It finally broke the cycle for that round. After that experience I investigated some less invasive treatments and have found some success. The first and most important is learning how to relax all the muscles in your body through visualization, meditation, biofeedback what ever works for you. The other thing that helps me is a combo of rosemary essential oil and lemongrass. My last suggestion is finding a reliable acupuncture practitoner. It is amazing the differnce in my life. I still use zomig, but my usage has dropped dramatically, and I can manage my pain and live a normal life.
Good luck and have hope.

Elizabeth
Saturday, November 22, 2003 at 02:09:55

hi my name is annette and im getting terribvle headaches that r becoming more frequent,,,, iwake up in a morning and feel sick,,, once im sick, i go bac bed but ave really bad pains in my head and see things that arent realy there,,, this morning, i saw spiders on the ceiling which shud ave been the lights from my daughters revolving light. i hear voices to too of ppl eho arent really there but i nowthem,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, is this normal,,,,,,,,,,, the pain in my head has a popping noise think my head is going explode..... beem my drs and had blood tests, he put me on codine, and prizotfien,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, feel ill all the time and very tired,,,,, is this a migraine?

annette <a.parton1@ntlworld.com>
Sunday, November 16, 2003 at 17:59:52

Migraines. What a joy. Such luck I have. Used to take Imitrex injections. Hated giving myself the shots, but when you have a migraine, you'd stick a dinner fork in your leg to stop the pain. Have taken Maxalt for the last 7 years or so. Works great, right. Wrong. Now I'm having heart problems. Palpatations. I'm 45, and the doctor is going to see if they get better when I stop taking Maxalt. Now, when I get a headache, it's just me and the pillow. Nothing to take. I can take advil, but I might as well eat a piece of lunchmeat for all the good it does. My headaches are severe, but they only hurt bad when I blink my eyes, breath, or think about something. Haha. Hey, you got to laugh to keep from crying. I'm fixing to try to get off caffeine again. Also, I'll concentrate on my diet again. But Lord, it's hard to give up coffee and Coke. I should have been a crack head. At least your always medicated. Let's be honest. If you read a list of triggers, the only thing not listed is a hybrid peanut grown in Thailand. Everything causes headaches. It's impossible to try a diary, recording it all, and then cross referencing to see what matches up. If you have no life, this would be great fun, but some of us work for a living. The only sure pattern I really see is that I never get one when we go visit the mother-in-law. Now I could handle one at that time. My only tip. Oreos give great headaches, but damn what a cookie! Good luck all.

Dave <davbrad58@yahoo.com>
Friday, November 14, 2003 at 15:53:38

NEUROFEEDBACK!

If you have not heard of neurofeedback please go to www.eeginfo.com My name is Lindsay and I work at the EEG Institute in Woodland Hills CA. It is here that Susan Othmer treats many people who suffer from the debilitating pain of migraine headaches. I am the office manager of this non-profit organization and I have to tell you how rewarding it is! Everyday I get to witness people's lives improve.

The great response we have had from the migraine community is exciting for us! I see young girls, women, and even men come in with horrific stories of migraines that last for days and even weeks at a time. They use medications and sometimes even take trips to the Emergency room for shots.

Well neurofeedback has been being practiced around the country for 30 years and it has proved to abort or at least diminish an ongoing migraine within a single 30-minute training session. With more Neurofeedback training... the occurrance of headaches and migraines can be dimished or even eliminated some cases.

I know neurofeedback works. I see it everyday. If you are interested I recommend visiting the website and finding a provider in your area. If you are in the Los Angeles area feel free to call me to set up a free consultation with Susan Othmer... she is one of the pioneers of neurofeedback.
(818)373-1334

Here's to a migraine free life!

Thanks for your time...

Oh yeah.. there is a great book we recommend called
Migraine - What Works! A complete guide to overcoming and preventing pain.
By Joseph Kandel M.D.and David B. Sudderth M.D.

Lindsay <lindsay@eeginstitute.org>
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 at 14:48:04