Today was so hard. I started a new teaching job but my head was in pain the whole time. I have been denied disability benefits because "they" didn't think I was qualified. I can hardly move my neck and it hurts to keep my head up all the time. I am a single parent who had to fight for any existing child support from my ex-husband that he didn't pay for 7 yrs. I have had migraines and pains for 8 yrs, every day and every night. It never goes away completely. I am always tired because the pain disrupts my sleep. I also have to care for my twins and that is never easy for me. No one seems to care or understand what I am going through. Sometimes it feels like my head is going to explode and pray it won't. I have been laid off two different jobs in the last year and didn't get paid very much. I am behind in debts. I am forced to live with my mother now. I have no choice. My body is also weak from so many migraines. I also have epilepsy.

I have tried everything to alleviate this problem:spine specialist; neurologists (several of them); complete bloodwork; several trips to the emergency room; countless medications that don't help get rid of the pain completely; and countless doctor visits ending in nothing getting done. I feel like this is one giant merry-go-around and I am sick and tired of not being taken seriously. These migraines have completely frustrated me. I wonder how long any of us who go through this can survive.

Anyways, I really believe that migraines can cause you to be disabled or hinder you from doing all the things one needs to do.

Please I need others to correspond with. And in the meantime, I will be praying for all of us.

Lisa <lisa@jetaime.as>
Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 21:41:57

My wife and I both suffer from migraines. Her's are much more severe than mine. The most frustrating part is the way that doctors treat the person with a chronic migraine. If your migraine doesn't respond the way the doctor thinks it should the migraine becomes "an excuse for drugs", "your imagination just trying to get sympathy" or "It's a rebound headache". One of the hardest things is finding a doctor that takes the migraine seriously. I was told by one doctor that I was experiencing a rebound headache. I told him I hadn't taken any pain medication for over a month. He told me I wasn't being truthful. When my wife has a flare up of her migraine we don't go to emergency anymore we wait until she can get into the clinic where her regular doctor is. He then admits her. The emergency department doesn't really seem to know how to deal with the migraine and generally won't admit her to the hospital. They just give her a shot of demerol (doesn't have any effect) sends her home and tells her to see her regular doctor.

Fred <fredh@phonecoinc.com>
Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 18:59:21

Hello,
I have suffered migrane headaches for many years. Not until 4 yrs ago, did my new primary care physician diagnose me with migranes. In all this time I had never had such an episode as the one I had yesterday. I woke up with a slight pain in my neck, and a light headache. I did as usual and got ready for work. At around eight in the morning, of course I know myself and did not pay any mind. Thinking to myself if I ignore it it will go away. I could not see out of my left eye. So I got myself ready to leave the house and said nothing only to my niece. As we walked to work, I told her I had a headache, but we just went to work. As I got to my desk, I told a co worker I was not feeling well. She said to me, you have a headache, I said yes. They already know that I suffer migrane headaches. So I did as everyday, I started to retrieve voice mail messages, and I could not continue after the first one. I took the bathroom key and ran out of the office. I felt like I would vomit right in the office. One thing led to another, and the next thing I know is the amublance is there to take me to the nearest er. If the migranes are not bad enough, I had to vomit at least five to six times. At the hospital they shot me up with different things, but I do know one was for the nausea. I had a cat scan, which said nothing major, and the er dr said to get an mri. I also have herniated disks in my neck and that does not help the cause.
I never made it to work, and my daughter never made it to school. I felt this morning like I had a hangover, which I don't drink, I'm Christian. All the medication they shot me with made me feel like my brains had turned to mush. My head started to hurt again this afternoon, so I took an Excedrin for migranes. All it does is make my tummy uneasy, and makes me drowsy. I surely cannot take them if I'm at work. I'm so glad I came upon this website, where I can share with others who understand the way migranes debilitates us. Just stick me in a dark room, no noise, and let me be until I can ride this rough wave of migrane. God bless us all, and that someone may find the true remedy for migrane. Carmen.

Carmen Cordero <Eddieslove9@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, January 14, 2003 at 18:05:32

PLEASE help me! I am 33 years old am have beem suffering from migraine cluster headaches for about 7 years. I have lost several jobs and have been forced to go back to work for my father to make a living. Talk about stress in your life. My husband and friends can't understand that I have headaches that can last up to 8 or 9 days. Right now I cannot see out of my right eye and even though I can tyoe 75 words a minute, this has already taken me 10 minutes. I take Fioricet as a general rule, but currently am thinking about just crushing my head in a vise. I don't know what to do. Any help would br greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Lisa Newman <Lisa_NO@excite,com>
Sunday, January 12, 2003 at 20:31:05

HELLO
I HAVE HAD MIGRAINE'S FOR 7 YEARS NOW. I AM 44. I TRIED IMIGRAN WHICH WORKS BUT MAKES ME SICK. I NOW TAKE MAXALT RPD 10. EXCELLENT FOR ME. NO VOMITING. I AM IN SOUTH AFRICA SO DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS ;GOOD;. SPECIALIST HERE TOLD ME TO 'LIVE' WITH THE PAIN AND HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN 'MIGRAINES'.

Mandy Joubert <baldie@lantic.net>
Saturday, January 11, 2003 at 08:00:35

I am reading posts on this website for the first time. My migraines started in my late 30s. I am now 51. I will add that I don't recall ever having a headache of any kind until college. I have no idea what triggers mine but I wake up with them and each one lasts three days. I do not have an aura but I do have blurred vision and ringing in my ears and that feeling of being "here" only in body - too preoccupied with headache to really care about anything else or function fully. Mine are always on the left side and center behind my left eye, although I believe the pain starts in my neck at the base of my skull. I almost cannot stand to keep my left eye open and find myself "winking" or trying to cover that eye as I try to continue functioning at work. Light and noise are horrible! I find myself shushing my husband who speaks very loudly and I can't stand to talk on the phone. Since my headaches are always on the left side, a neurologist feared a brain tumor. Apparently they are usually one-sided but not usually on the same side - or so she told me. All the scans and tests did not reveal anything but confirmed to the neurologist that these are actual migraines. Over the years I have lived in various places and had various doctors prescribe quite a few different drugs. Nothing REALLY works - but Zomig has helped me get through some days. Now, however, Zomig makes me so sick that I can only take it when I can go right to bed for a few hours. (When is that? you are probably asking - and rightly so!) Most of us have to work, I am no exception, and migraines are so debilitating that I miss a lot of work and I know my bosses are running short of patience. Today I am here - but mostly just in body. I "bummed" Duradin from a friend because I had no Zomig with me. I have taken two but it has not helped. Ibuprofen, aspirin, acetominophen, etc. in any amount have no effect whatsoever. I have quit drinking or eating anything with Aspartame in hopes it would help and although it hasn't I firmly believe it is best given up. This one started two days ago. Yesterday I tried having a massage and although it felt great and took my mind off the headache it did not actually help in a measurable way. I find that an ice pack sometimes helps. I have never been to an ER for fear they would think I was drug addicted or something. This week I have seriously considered going - that or cut my head off and I'd probably chicken out of that too. I'm wondering if anyone uses Imitrex in the "epi-pen" form??? A work friend told me that had been very effective for her in the PAST when she had migraines. Oh, to have a PAST with migraines!!!! Hope this info has helped someone in some way, though I don't know how it would. Anyone have any ideas? Sympathy??

Gloria <gzs@joneswaldo.com>
Wednesday, January 8, 2003 at 15:21:30

Hello Everyone,

I have had Migraine Headache's since I was about 2 yrs old. My mother took me to the doctor when i was about 2 she explained to the doctor that i would complain of a headache vomit and want to be in a quite dark room with a cold rag on my head. I have been thru the MRI CAT Scan thing around the age of 10. I had a very hard time in school with my grades. So all thru my school years i would get anywhere from 5-10 migraine's a month. Durning summer breaks my headache would drop to like 1 or 2 a month. My migraine Headache's would get so bad my mother & father would end up taking me to the ER. I would start vomiting and at times could not quit. So i thought once i get thru school i should be ok. I did finish high school, but never went to college. Once i finished school i still got migraine's. I noticed that my headache were triggered by my monthly cycle. At the age of 18 my boyfriend asked me to marry him. At that age i was not ready to be a mother so i asked my doctor about birth control pills. The doctor sat me down and told me that being on the pill more than likely trigger my migraine's. So i tried taking the pill. The first month i was on the pill i was in the ER 3 times. Needless to say that did not work out. Then once we got married i moved to FT.Knox, KY. I started taking the DEPO shot(birth control) which you get every three months. That also caused me to have MORE migraine's but they only really got bad around the end of my three months. With the depo you get a shot every three months. I stayed on depo for almost 16 months. My husband at the time did NOT know how to react to some one who would get that sick. He would get mad if the house was not cleaned, or i had not cooked. Everyone here knows when you get a real bad one all you want to do take what medication you have get in a cool quite, dark room and sleep. My Ex-husband left me alone in the house one afternoon that i had a migraine and went off with his buddies. I had to call my mother in ga, to call the lady that lived next to us to take me to the ER!!! Two months later I left him and moved back home!! Well in 1998 i was in a relationship with a young guy and ended up getting pregnant. I have a wonderful 4 yr old little girl. I live at home with my parents still so once or twice a month when i get a headache they always help me with alyssa, because they know how i feel when i get sick. My boss at my job is very understanding i am not the only one who gets migraine headache's at work. My little girl stays in the bathroom with me when i am sick, rubs my back and tell me "mommy its ok i am here" She help me thru a bad one last week. I am glad I found this web site. One last thing i also found that having someone play with my hair while i have a bad migraine headache help a little. That is what my brother is for but in 8 weeks he leaves for the Air Force what am i going to do!!! Amy

Amy <amg31903@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, January 7, 2003 at 19:41:15

Had a horrible migraine last night. Finially got to sleep around 5:30 a.m. this morning. I am still at a level 5 migraine. I hope everyone else is feeling good today!!!! Desiree

Desiree <desireefernandez4710@hotmail.com>
Saturday, January 4, 2003 at 13:26:47

I have been a migraine sufferer for the past 5 years. The headache swithces on and off like a lightswitch. It always lasts for exactly 3 full days during which I eat mere morsels of food, and can't sleep at all. I cant drive, can't do a thing in the house, let alone be a mother to my two young children.

Currently using Maxalt + Tylenol 3, no effect. Have tried just about every prescript drug available, and I am not sure if I will ever have a drug that would actually control the pain so that I can function like a person.

I am 36, and my migraines always coincide with mentruation and ovulation.

Does anyone have any info on whether a historectomy would be an option? Please e-mail me, please..........

Looking forward to a response.

Anna <organizing@telus.net>
Thursday, January 2, 2003 at 20:51:29

hope everyone had a happy new year. my head stopped hurting yesterday, but it wasn't a 'horrible' one. three days long, but i could function. i was a little nauseous, but phenergan helps that. anyway, just hope everyone is ok.

tracey
Thursday, January 2, 2003 at 11:20:16

Hi, I am an identical twin. I suffer with migraines, but my twin sister doesn't. She is my support system. Our maternial grandmother had migraines. I have had migraines since I was 13 years old. It will be good to share with others who suffer with this horrible pain.....Thanks, Desiree

Desiree <desireefernandez4710@msn.com>
Thursday, January 2, 2003 at 01:02:18

I am absolutely flabbergasted to read all of these entries -- so many people suffering from this hideous affliction.

I am 52 and headaches are my first memories as a child. My mom said I started complaining of a hurt head from the time I was 2 -- one of the first words I learned to speak was "fo'headache."

Like most, I have tried everything I have run across to try to stop my headaches, and I now believe that a combination of MANY things causes them, so there is no one cure. I used to just suffer through them, but about 5 years ago they became more frequent and much more intense, and I decided to seek treatment. Many things I tried did not work, including 3 years of treatment at the Ann Arbor headache clinic -- I was on so many drugs that it was beginning to affect my thinking and speech, and it was beginning to scare me. My headaches did not get any better under their care, in fact they became worse, so I quit going, quit all of the maintenance medicines, and have made a concerted effort on my own to learn all I can and treat myself -- I made it my number one goal in life.

Until about 9 months ago, my headaches were lasting an average of 5 days, and I was going to the ER every 6 or 7 weeks. My husband would scoop me up off of the bathroom floor and take me in after I got to the point of vomiting. The first hospital ER I tried treated me like many of you have been treated -- like I'm making this up, or am trying to get drugs, etc. The second one I tried was an osteopathic hospital, and they got to be great after they got to know me. It got to the point where when I would show up, they would take me to a dark room and give me my nubain with phenergan injections -- not making me put on a hospital gown, or get hooked up to an I.V., or go through a lot of questioning. It was great, as far as ER visits go. It would then take me 2 days to recover from the narcotics, and it was a tremendous strain on me.

Now, it has been 9 months since my last ER visit -- to me this is incredible! (I still have 2 to 4 headaches a week, but I can stop them with imitrex and indocin.) I attribute this success to EVERYTHING I have tried -- not just one or 2 things. Since I began my search to treat myself, I have started to SLOWLY feel like I'm coming up for air -- like layers are peeling away from the onion. Each time I try something that works, it takes away a layer -- not the whole problem, but a part of it slips away. I believe that that's the reason migraine is so hard to treat -- there are many things contributing to it.

Here is what I believe has worked for me:
1. I still have a neurologist so I can get imitrex and indocin suppositories, which work for me in combination. I'd stop there if I only needed to use them occasionally, but I still have to use them 3 to 5 times a week, so I still need to rely on them. They do keep me from the ER, but I am using them too much and I am constantly worried that I will not have enough to last through the month. I also take an antidepressant.
2. I wear a soft cervical collar to sleep. This helped me right from the first night I wore it -- Actually I wore it night and day for the first week or so. It took a tremendous amount of strain off of my neck. I have a ruptured disk in my neck, and those of you with neck tension and C1, C2, or C3 neck problems know how much this can contribute to your headaches. I think it reduced my neck muscle tension a lot.
3. I had my bite readjusted at the Cleveland Clinic -- a 2 1/2 hour drive each way, and it took a span of 6 months. They gave me a night guard to keep me from clenching my teeth.
4. I had PT treatments at 2 different times for a few months each time on my head and neck, and I continue with the exercises.
5. I am having all of my silver amalgam fillings removed and replaced with the new white fillings. I found a cardiologist who believes in mercury toxicity (this is highly debated) and he's treating me to purge the mercury from my system with IV therapy, supplements, and avoidance of fish. The theory is that silver fillings add mercury to your system over time, as does eating fish, so you have to stop eating fish, have your fillings replaced, and have the mercury already in your system removed. I tested in the 97th percentile for mercury poisoning with blood tests, and off the chart with urine tests. Insurance doesn't cover this, so I've been having my fillings removed one at a time -- 3 so far. The dentist I'd been going to for 20 years didn't believe in this so I had to also change dentists. What got me going on this were 2 symptoms I had that no doctor ever had an answer for -- the fact that my temperature goes DOWN about 2 degrees when I have a headache (I feel like I have a fever, but I check my temp and find it at 96 or so), and a metal taste in my mouth when I have a headache. These are both symptoms of mercury poisoning. There's lots of information about this on the internet -- just search for mercury poisoning. Even if this doesn't help my headaches, it's definitely not good to have this much mercury in your system.
6. Two sinus surgeries -- they didn't get rid of my headaches, but I do think they helped to reduce the intensity of my sinus headaches. As I believe that sinus problems trigger migraine for me, the surgeries peeled away that layer. I went from everyday headaches to several isolated headaches per week.
7. I am seeing an environmental allergist and am having regular injections to desensitize me to my food and inhalant triggers. I really believe that food allergies are a big part of my problem, and I saw an immediate improvement when I stopped drinking milk and eating dairy products. I didn't know I was allergic to anything, as I didn't have sniffles or teary eyes or sneezing. But many foods and substances in the air make me conjested, I can feel my sinuses fill up, and that triggers a migraine for me. Avoiding certain foods (and alcohol is another big one for me -- I had to give it up entirely) and getting desensitized to the things I can't avoid has made a big difference for me.
8. Sticking to a strict regular schedule is also important for me. Too much or too little sleep are certain to bring on a headache for me.

These things didn't work:
1. Accupuncture
2. Maintenance drugs like Depakote, neurontin, beta blockers, etc.
3. Any over the counter drugs
4. Hysterectomy -- I needed to have it done anyway, but I was hoping it would reduce the hormone part of my triggers. It didn't help me headache-wise.

While it is a constant battle and darn hard work, these things have made a big difference in my life and I no longer feel like the "poor sick one." I feel like I have control again, and I have my life back.

I hope this is helpful to someone, even tho it's so long. This site has been very helpful to me. Thank you, Rhonda, you are doing a great service here.
Marcia
moop@ili.net

Marcia <moop@ili.net>
Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at 13:19:48

Hello, I have been plagued by headaches since high school, now, at 48, they control my life. In school they were very sporatic, now they don't stop. I have been diagnosed with status migraine complicated with a basiler migraine. I have gone through many programs over the years. The latest has been the biggest set back for me. I spent most of 2002 in the hospital with a clinic in the Chiago area. Don't get me wrong as they do help many people, they informed me in october that there was nothing more they could do for me, as I did not respond to their program and my body was not responding to their drugs. Believe me, there have been many many drugs.I have gone through several pain clinics, alternative medecines, and treatments. Currently I am off most meds and not faring very well. I have resorted to the internet and searching everything for something new and different. It does scare me with all the quackery that is out there, as they do come off as experts. I am blessed with a very supportive wife, without whom I would be lost. Thankyou for listening. Brad

Brad Middleton <sawdust_54@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, January 1, 2003 at 06:58:27

Hello! I have been suffering from migraines since I was a small boy. I am now 36 years old and they are a huge part of my life. I get 1-2 every week, despite the fact that I am on preventative medications and I carefully track and avoid triggers. I am concerned that most people have migraine peaks between the ages of 35 and 45 - I'm not sure I can survive 9 more years of this. Toradol is really the only rescue drug that has ever worked for me, but my Doctor is concerned that it will cause liver damage. At the ER now, they give me a combination of Toradol, Benedryl, and something for nausea. It works great, but costs $250 a visit and completly knocks me out. I've tried Imitrex, Zomig, and others with no success. I used to take Midrin, but it doesn't work anymore. In reading the entries on this site, I'm wondering how effective Coenzyme Q10 and Stadol are? I have never even heard of either, and am interested in success stories. I was totally off of cafeine for a while, but have creeped back on. I need to stop again. From the sounds of other stories, I'm not that bad off, but it does take a lot out of your life.

Quinn Roosendaal <qroosendaal@n1.net>
Monday, December 30, 2002 at 18:08:31

HELLO- I AM A SPOUSE OF A MIGRAINE SUFFER.MY HUSBAND 31 SUFFERS FROM NUMEROUS MIGRANIES A WEEK USUALLY BETWWEN 10-20 A WEEK. HE
IS ON DEMEROL BY INJECTIONS AT HOME DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF THEM.HE HAS THE VISUAL CHANGES AS WELL AS THE VOMITTING,LIGHT SENSITIVITY. HIS DOCTOR DOESNT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HIM AND
HIS NEUROLOGIST IS DUMB FOUNDED BY THE NUMBER HE GETS. WE HAVE TO GO TO THE E.R ABOUT 40 TIMES A MONTH BECAUSE THE HOME DEMEROL SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK AND THEY END UP HOSPITALIZING HIM
FOR DAYS TO GET RID OF IT. WE HAVE NO LIFE. DUE TO THE NUMBER HE GETS. DOES ANY ONE ELSE SUFFER FROM THEM LIKE MY HUSBAND. IF SO HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY COPE?

DEB <R2GRLZS@WMCONNECT.COM >
Saturday, December 28, 2002 at 12:49:43