I last posted 10-17-02 re: glycotechnology results (Mannatech).
Since that date I've had two migrains. Down from 3-5 per week.
Zomig cost 500$ for 27 pills. Mannatech 134$ per month and it's
helping my 65yo skin w/o side effects. Only one person from this list has e-mailed me for info. Has anybody tried this stuff?

Grace,

lew

lew <ljohn_97123@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, November 27, 2002 at 06:26:57

Has anyone ever been to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago,
Ill? I am thinking of taking my wife there. I am just curious
if anyone had been there for nigraines and what your experiences
were like.

Also, my wife suffers from 2 herniated disks in her neck, but the
doctors don't think that is a cause for migraine, as there is no
associated pain and numbness radiating down her neck and arms.
Anyone have a similar experience?

Martin Youngs <myoungs22@comcast.net>
Monday, November 25, 2002 at 14:45:58

Hello Everyone,

I hope this information will help some of you. There was a post where someone asked about the drug Neurontin. I have been on Neurontin for over a year and like it very much. I am 58 and have had migraines since my teens.

Topamax was given me before Neurontin and it also was very successful for a while. Both meds are used for epileptics but also benefit those of us who suffer with migraines. I reached a point where Topamax would no longer help me and was switched to Neurontin.

Why won't the ers give demerol????? What can I expect if I have to go there? The last time I went they did not give it or anything like it. I left pain free but 4 hours later had an even worse headache than I did when I went in! I don't want to go in asking for drugs! What are we to do???

Thanks. Nell

Nell <fergus4@att.net>
Sunday, November 24, 2002 at 19:13:26

i am so frustrated,i had to go to the er and did not see the regular dr had to see a physicans asst.after of course 4 hrs of waiting.she bascially acted like i was a drug seeker and did give me a narcatic but i left there stii crying in pain.im 40 and she was all about 25 yrs old so condesending.i am still upset today.what gives,thanks for letting me vent

Tracy Ward <traveler94514@yahoo.com>
Friday, November 22, 2002 at 20:17:16

Migraine Monday, a Day With Pain

It�s Monday, 0500. I�m waking after a nearly sleepless night when I first notice that something is different. What is that, I wonder. What is it I�m feeling that is different today? Oh, it�s you I think. It�s been several weeks since your last visit, and I�d forgotten how you just come on in, unannounced. But I can feel you now, just beginning to assert yourself in my brain, a dull ache at the back of my consciousness.
Well old friend, how long do you intend to stay? Have you brought me any gifts today? He never answers my inquiries, but sometimes, I can get some idea of his intentions by the gifts he brings. So I begin to observe myself and my surroundings for the clues. The signs are ominous. First, I notice the striking beauty of the colors in the room, the bed spread is bright with red and white, the grass out the window is a vibrant startling green. Next, I feel the strange detached calm mixed with a mild euphoric appreciation for the wonders and beauty surrounding me and a shivering chill in my body. Now, I look at the pain, he has moved into the forward two thirds of my brain, he is only making me uncomfortable right now, but the gifts point to a punishing day ahead.
I look outward again through the thin film of pain and begin my day. Hoping that his stay will be brief, I choose to ignore him for now and turn on the computer to take care of some work. At 1000, my ride comes by to take me to the doctor�s office for the out patient procedure I have scheduled for today. The film of pain is thicker now and I�m having trouble focusing my eyes. It�s a sunny, crisp and breezy fall morning and I am dumbstruck by the enchanting beauty of the blowing and swirling colors of the trees and leaves as we drive down the city streets. The intensity is more than my eyes can take so I don my darkest sunglasses to keep from being overwhelmed. My guest seems to revel in my appreciation of the gifts he has given and grows in proportion.
By 1100, I�m in the large building next to the hospital where the doctors will do their work. The dim lights in the check in and waiting room are too bright for me so I keep my sunglasses on. I check in with Erin at the front desk and complete the necessary paper work, I�m having trouble focusing my mind now and Erin�s words sound distant and confusing. Back in the waiting room, I sit down, relax, close my eyes and notice the first flashes of light in my peripheral vision. Green, red yellow and white, their brightness is uncomfortable.
My name is called and the nurse takes me to a small room where I dutifully disrobe and put on the hospital gown. I momentarily remove my sunglasses and quickly put them back on as the punishing daggers of light stab deep into my brain. I lay down on the gurney to wait my turn in the operating room. My unwanted guest has taken over the upper floors of my brain and has forced me to retreat into the basement of my mind, but his noise is oppressive even down there so I decide to leave. I pick a far corner of the hospital room and visualize myself looking down at my body lying on the gurney. As I construct my alternate reality, I can feel the distance begin to grow between me and the pain. The more detail I add, the more distant I become. I am able to carve out a safe area within by focusing outward.
Somebody is speaking. I look out through the thick window of pain and see the nurse is asking me a question. I use the opportunity to focus outward on her and engage her in conversation the best I can. My voice is quiet and unemotionally calm as I answer her questions and ask her for her name. She does not give her name, but she kindly brings me a blanket and turns off the light.
A small while later very pretty doctor stops by and begins asking questions. My mind is now in a desperate dance, moving from place to place, trying to avoid the pain. I am unable to reach the memories I need to answer her and have to resort to saying that I don�t know and can�t remember. I ask her when we will begin and how long the procedure will take. I ask not because I need to know but to focus outward and create some distance between me and him. She tells me it will be soon and I begin to look forward to the Demerol they will administer in hope that it will provide some relief.

A nurse comes to wheel me into the operating room. She wonders at my sunglasses and asks if I have a headache. I tell her that I do but, when she asks me how often I have them, I become confused and can not put together a complete thought or sentence to answer. The pain is overwhelming me, stripping away my facilities and taking over all available brain space. My consciousness has retreated into a tiny corner; my barriers have all been breached. I am assaulted from all directions by my senses and the growing storm of pain that is him. The uncomfortable flashes of colored light are now arrows of pain stabbing deep into my brain. The quiet conversation in the operating room and the beep of the monitor resounds painfully in my hearing. The people seem to move in stuttering motion like a digital movie that stops and starts, tugging at the vibrating periphery of my vision.
The pretty doctor is leaning over me wearing a mask and kerchief over her blond hair. I see the glorious vibrant greens, browns and reds of her head wear and notice that it is covered in pictures of fishing lures. I ask if she likes to fish as she prepares to administer the anesthetic.
I wake in the recovery room without memory of the procedure or a sense of the passing of time. In the dimness of my emerging consciousness, I feel for my surroundings and find the warm blankets and become aware of someone asking me to breathe again and again. Soon, it seems that I am alert enough to notice myself and find that my guest is still with me. I look out through my eyes and am punished by the harsh light in the small room. I wonder where my sunglasses are and somehow, they appear and cover my exposed eyes. I begin to dress myself with the help of unseen hands and distant voices. Becoming dizzy, I am unable to solve the puzzle of my shoes. The kind nurse helps me to a chair where I can resolve the puzzle and put them on. I pick up my cell phone and with some effort am able to figure out how to use it to call my ride.
While I wait for John to come and take me home, my guest reasserts himself into my brain with full authority. I am becoming nauseated from his constant attack. The lingering effect of the Demerol has left me defenseless, I capitulate and he rules the day with intense unrelenting pain. Only his gift of detached calm permits me to remain quiet, without moaning in anguish. Somehow, I survive the drive home without embarrassing my self by vomiting or dry heaving. John looks and sounds concerned at my condition but I am unable to relate. Finally, I make it to my bed, lie down and gratefully let my weariness take me into unconscious painless sleep.
Ten hours later, I wake and find that he is still with me but quieter and smaller now. I look up at the ceiling fan in my nearly dark bedroom and notice that I can almost see clearly through the now thin film of pain. No longer nauseated, I am able to sip some water and begin to quench my thirst. Another eight hours later, I am awakened by the telephone ringing. It�s the doctor�s office calling to see if I am alright. I tell them I am ok and thank them for the call. I get out of bed feeling spent. The pain is almost gone but the after effects are still gong strong. Things move in my vision with a jittery motion, grey spots have replaced the colorful flashes and, my appreciation for colors, scenery and music is heightened. My body feels weak and shaky like a newborn kitten.

It seems that my visitor has left, leaving me to clean up his party mess with a small hangover and some lingering gifts. I can only hope that he stays away for a long long time. In closing, I can honestly say that after thirty five years of frequent visits, I enjoy his gifts but his price is much too high.



Post Script, I wrote this after a bad one caused me to lay low for a few days. If you find this interesting or suffer from similar symptoms, I would like to hear from you just to know that I am not alone.

Benjamin <av8orben@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at 21:15:21

Hi everyone,ive only posted a few times in the laST year.my hubby died from an accident and its all i can do to keep the kids going.he was such a support for me always having to take me to drs and all.i miss his laughter so much.its been a year and of course my migs are worse.would anyone know why the local er will not give ANYONE demrol but will give morphine.arent they both addicting.go figure hope everyone takes care

Tracy Ward <traveler94514@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 19:30:27

Hello!

I've just found this web page and I'm grateful. I'm crying as I'm writing this note for two reasons - 1) I get some relief from my headache when I cry and 2) Thank God there's someone out there who understands. I feel like everyone around me thinks I'm a hypocondriact (spelling ?). My head hurts everyday and there's nothing I've tried has helped.

I'm 53 and I've suffered with headaches almost my entire life, but I just never realized that they were migraines. I thought that migraines came in clusters and you had to have the crazy lights and the vomitting and all that. They've gotten much worse in the past few years and I've taken Topomax in the last 2 month, but I'm afraid to say that it only worked to make my headaches better for about 3 to 4 weeks and then I was back to where I started. Nothing works now - not Imitrex or the other migraine medications or any of the anti iflamatory drugs. I also suffer from TMJ and wear a bite plate, but that doesn't seem to help either. I talk of suicide, but of course I would never go there. I have too much to live for, but sometimes it just gets to be too much.
Thanks for listening.

Maria

maria tangorra <endlesoptions1@aol.com>
Monday, November 18, 2002 at 19:04:09

Hi,

After suffering for many years and trying all types of drugs and delivery methods (nasal sprays, injections etc), I've found that the drug AMERGE works 99 percent of the time for me with very little side effects. Hope that helps someone.

Heather <hfrostycat@yahoo.ca>
Sunday, November 17, 2002 at 23:15:45

I am 49 years old and have suffered with migraines for about 20 years. Lately, they have been getting more frequent, and I wonder if it's due to approaching menopause and the fluctuating hormones. I take Zomig, which most times (but not always) will take the headache away, but they have been coming back for 3 or 4 days in a row for months now. Zomig has nasty side effects for me, like a cold nose, sore throat, tingly arms, feeling of sleepiness and weakness, and it makes me urinate like crazy. I dropped 1 and 1/2 pounds between yesterday and today from urinating after taking that pill. I hope it's not affecting my kidneys long-term. Nothing else seems to work for me, though. I am trying to cut way down on sweets and junk food, and I am a diehard chocoholic, although I know that chocolate gives me migraines if I eat too much of it (which I did on Monday and came down with a killer that night). I was okay on Tuesday, but yesterday and today, the headaches are back. I'm tired of spending so many evenings on the couch, and so many days at work rubbing my neck, shielding my eyes from the light over my desk, and praying for the end of the day to come, wondering if I can last that long. I'm hoping that menopause will help me out, but I know it might not. Migraine runs in my family. My mother and grandmother had bad headaches as younger women, but they didn't call them migraines back then (they were "sick" headaches). But as they got older, the headaches got fewer and fewer. I pray that happens with me, too. I'm so sick of this. So far, my 25 year old daughter shows no signs of inheriting this curse. I hope she can escape it.

Cathy
Thursday, November 14, 2002 at 10:24:51

Hi everyone! My husband found this website today and I am so thankful. My name is Diane and I am 47 years old. I have suffered from migraines for about 15 years. They are not cycle related because I have had a toltal hysterectomy at 31. I am on HRT but only estrogen. Lately my migraines have been almost daily. I have been taking imitrex elmost every day which does help. I was wondering if anyone knows if that could hurt me to be taking it that often. The doctors that I have been to around here are about worthless. I am becoming so depressed and do not know why I am getting them every day. Could someone out there PLEASE HELP ME???? Could it be hormone levels since I have had a hysterectomy? They tell me that there is really no test to check my hormone level. I just do not know where to start. Thank-you. Diane

Diane <henning3@chibardun.net>
Wednesday, November 13, 2002 at 15:45:14

I'm a 37 year old male dealing with migraines for about 8 months. They are unbearable. Reading these postings sounds all to familar. I thought of suicide many times. All the doctors I've seen have done nothing. I've had CT scans and MRI's and they found nothing. I've missed alot of work and I have a family to support. My head pounds so bad I throw up for hours on end. I always have a ice pack on my head and neck. I've have had trigger point injections in my neck (steriod and xylacaine) and get about a weeks relief but they only give me those about once a month. I'm at my wits end. All the doctors do say the problem is somewhere in my neck but have not even scratch the surface with fixig the problem. Sometimes I feel like jumping off the sunshine skyway bridge. I dont know which is worse, living with these migraines (5 to 6 days a week) or just dying. If anyone out there has any suggestions please email me. Thank you for reading this.

Tony <Topkick514@aol.com>
Wednesday, November 13, 2002 at 10:14:41

Hi everyone,

I just discovered this web page a few days ago and have been reading your stories ever since. It has been amazing to find that there are so many people out there just like myself. I am 34 years old and have suffered with migraines since I was 11. I have been to every doctor imaginable and have been on every medication known to man. I was in the hospital a few weeks ago with a migraine (of course) and the neurologist on-call there prescribed me a new pill call topomax (its a pill for epilepsy) along with indomethicin (anti-inflamitory). Well after they finally released me from the hospital and I got the prescription filled I have been pretty much pain free for the past few weeks. I am the kind who gets "normal" headaches on a daily basis so this has been a godsend for me. To actually wake up and not have my head be the first thing I feel. This last time in the hospital I acutally asked the nurse to kill me. Naturally, she disobeyed my orders - I must send her a thank you card. I hope that if anyone out there has not tried this medication - please try it. It's working for me - so far. Of course - I've said this before about other meds so I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

Be well everyone.

Susan <susanamcgovern@hotmail.com>
Tuesday, November 12, 2002 at 09:15:20

Hello,
I'm writing from europe, to get some help from someone of you.i'm suffering of menstruel migraine, since the birth of my first children.i'm 35 years old and i take oral contraceptives.Who is suffering like me(nauseas , vomiting,...)and can give me some informations about her experience.Thank you very very much, hope to hear from you soon.Katrin

Katrin <sternenfee@caramail.com>
Sunday, November 10, 2002 at 14:04:59

Hi everybody,
I still haven't received that hoped-for apology from Calla15 yet, but I hope things are OK for him/her.

We migraineurs (I don't like the term 'migraine sufferer')have a very similar nerve 'make-up' in our brains to epileptics, according to my GP. Apparently we have such sensitive nerve endings in our head, that the smallest thing can trigger an migraine attack - just like an epileptic having a fit. I'm looking into this further, as I am simply fed up with my migraines, the drugs, the 'track marks' on my arms from IVs. A friend of mine was epileptic, unfortunately he had a fit whilst under the shower, fell down, hit his head and drowned. So I have a personal, albeit tragic, interest in these drugs used to treat epilepsy. My Aunt used to be epileptic, but she 'grew out of it'. My GP has suggested drugs called Neurontin and Epilim. Do any of you have any experience in taking these, or any other, anti-epilepsy medication in the effort to treat migraines?
I'd really appreciate your feedback on this one.
Keep smiling,
Emma.

Emma <emmaleahnorris@yahoo.com.au>
Friday, November 8, 2002 at 06:36:14

My Wife suffers tremendously from migraines.
They seem to attack 90% of the time because of a low-pressure weather front passing over.

I'm looking for anything that we might be able to do to prevent the migraine under these weather conditions.

Please e-mail your responce.

Thank You,
Curtis

Charmayne <curtis517@copper.net>
Wednesday, November 6, 2002 at 21:16:54