Hello, I'm twelve years old and I have been suffering from migraines and headaches for two year since the fifth grade.It has been horrible since.I mean I could never enjoy P.E again.My Migraines control me so much, I was about to get a free ticket to a game and my teacher didn't choose me because she was afraid I would need my migraine medication.Right now,2002 My headaches has done okbut they have became more frequent and I had an x-ray on my head AGAIN!All I need is a prayer and hope the results come out OK.

Evangela23 <Not Mentioning>
Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 18:18:54

i am so glad that i ran across this page. i am 28 and i have been suffering from migraines for about 9 yrs.
i have tried midrin, imitrex, zomig, maxalt, etc. but the ONLY thing that actually helps is the imitrex.
and i take excedrin migraine every morning.
i have been having them, lately, about 2-3 times a wk.
migraines make me so weak and irritable. and i often get scared that something else could be wrong. but i am glad to see that the symptoms that i feel and the pain that i go through are experienced by others as well.
must i add, that i am a vegetarian and i have been since 1994. and my doctor informed me about two yrs ago that i was anemic as well.
do u all think that anemic (iron definciency) could play a key role in my migraines?
also, any info that you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
also, when i get migraines i have to lay down intotal darkness and just take it easy.
please let me know any if there's any other medication that i can try
thanks a bunch

renee <missaka02@yahoo.com>
Sunday, August 4, 2002 at 18:16:05

I can't believe that I have found a website like this!!! I have been suffering from migraines for 6 1/2 years after being hit by a drunk driver. I have been to many doctors and all of them treat me like it is "all in my head." I have tried several of the current meds and nothing works. I am currently looking for alternative ways to treat my headaches. Nothing feels worse than the pain that these cause!! Some days I feel so sick that I can't even get out of bed. The only thing that feels better is sleeping 20 hours a day. Thats hard to do when you have to go to work and live your life. I am looking for anyone to talk to about the pain and suffering that we all go through. If anyone has suggestions that would help me, please, PLEASE send them to me. I am getting ready to start a family and taking pain killers is not going to be an option. But I know that I will never be able to handle the pain while pregnant. Thanks everyone and I hope to hear from someone soon!!

Karlee <karlee.mesler@wamu.net>
Friday, August 2, 2002 at 11:32:07

My name is Katie and I've suffered migraines my whole life on and off. Jan. 10,2001 I gave birth to my second daughter and my migraines became unbearable right after. Every month they got worse. By Sep. I was seriously concidering suicide. I went to Dr.s but we all know how that goes. In Jan. of this yr I said enough is enough and completely changed everything in my life. I changed my diet to fruits, veggies, fish, chicken ect. nothing fried no fast food anymore. I started exercising 4-5 times a week either on a treadmill or a bike and I started drinking TONS of water at the very least 64 oz a day but usually twice that. Low and behold, my migraines all but disapeared. The last 2 months I've become real lax on the water and exercise and noticed my headaches started to come back. I completely believe it's the water that keeps them at bay. I drink no soft drinks anymore except maybe one soda a day. I dont know exactly what helped, if it was the water or the exercise or both. I still eat really healthy so I dont think that had that much to do with it since I've gotten a couple headaches lately but since I increased my water again I havent gotten one. I know for anyone who suffers ANY possible thing that could help is appreciated so if I can help just one person I will be happy. No one should have to suffer from migraines. Oh, and the plus side to trying this was that I lost 50 lbs on top of it! Good luck. Hope everyone feels better soon.
Kate.

Katie <racingacademy@aol.com>
Friday, August 2, 2002 at 11:00:36

I'm talking to my coworker and all of sudden half of his face disappears. The countdown has begun. I know I have approximately 20-30 minutes before I am in excruciating pain and trying to cry myself to sleep.

I immediately leave work becuase I stupidly left my meds at home and lets be honest.. the imitrex only makes my migraines last 4 hours instead of 2 days so I would have to go home anyway. I walk as quickly to my car as I can, looking at the pulsing wave of light out of the corner of my eye. My cheek has started to go numb as I reach my car.

The radio blasts on as the car starts and i wince as i fumble for the volume. I drive with my head looking diagonally because there is a blurry void if i look head on and i don't want to get into an accident. my arm has turned numb so i am driving one handed. i never knew ones teeth could actually go numb. i feel the numbness move down my leg and across my face.

i am squinting from the sunlight

i drive a little faster, a little more frantically, must get home

my fingers are so numb that i fumble with my housekeys

i race upstairs, my vision is back, a small dot of pain is beginning in the back of my head, growing stronger

imitrex, iboprofren, ice pack, ... some more iboprofren for good measure

write a note to my family to not wake me up.. its hard to write and my note ends up looking like a kindergartners as i write off the page

i start to cry, not because of the pain but because of the time my migraines rob me of. I push my head into the wall to put pressure on it and i cry harder...what happens when i have a baby someday.. you can't just say.. sorry infant.. mommy has a migraine.. take care of yourself..

i want to be a teacher.. i almost am.. can't just leave the kids alone or take an unlimited amount of sick days.

somewhere along the line of my wandering thoughts i blackout and wake up hours later feeling like i have a hangover.

its the time it takes from us that pisses me off the most.

Marielle <blufishe@yahoo.com>
Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 19:43:07

Hi everybody,
I know I haven't written for a while, but I was on holidays from University. Keep everything crossed for me, but I think I have stumbled upon a treatment that helps me. It's simple old Coenzyme Q10..... I read about a study that was done with migraineurs and the subjects were given 150mg (usually 3 caps) per day, and 61% noticed a reduction in both severity and length of their migraines. I thought "why the hell not, I'll give it a try!" and it seems to be working. I have only the very ocasional background headache, and my migraines seem to be pushed back to only my 'menstrual migraine' once a month!!!! It seems to be working for me. I can only assume that seeing that Coenzyme Q10, is very good for the heart, it must be affecting my blood vessels, and not letting the ones in my head constrict or expand (maybe??).
A male frind of mine also suffers from migraines, and he swears by potentiated bee pollen capsules. He takes two daily for general health, and when he feels a migraine coming on, he takes around 5 at once. He said he is fine within a few hours. I cannot take the bee pollen, as it makes me itch, but it might help some of you, but please, please, PLEASE don't take it if you're allergic to bee stings as it may cause major problems with your breathing. I don't know if it is available in the US, as he gets it sent form New Zealand. It's worth a try. Best of luck if any of you decide to try these, but you might want to try them one at a time, to see which one works!!!
Stay happy,
Emma.

Emma <emmaleahnorris@yahoo.com>
Monday, July 29, 2002 at 06:36:59

Well here is my long story.I have had migraines since I was 10.They run in my family.My great grandmother died from them.If I miss spell something,sorry,my new med,makes me very confused.I'm on Topamax,and its working well to keep to my migraines at bay,I say about down 2 to 3 week now.I DHE45 injections at home with Phergan for nausea.The side effects on the Topamax are pretty bad,but sometimes you got to take the good with the bad.I like to here from someone here they took topamax,or dhe45.I use be on Inderal,and Fiornol,but it didn't do me any good any more.I think my migraines are my life now.I can't work.I can't go anywhere.My husband says says we can't plan to go any where because he worried I might get a headache.I always feel like I'm the promblem.

Connie <choffman@ih2000.net>
Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 14:53:52

I'm 33 years old and I am just recovering from my first migrain. The pain was unbearable, after going to the doctor three times and recieving two shots of Vioxin and then he put something up my nose past my sinuses (nothing was workiing), I finally wound up in the emergency room and recieved narcotic shots in the rear. I slept for two days but I am now feeling better but terrified to have this happen again. It was really scary.

Jessica <jess1969@optonline.net>
Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 10:22:48

I have been visiting this site for about 2 yrs. Unfortunately, it seems we haven't made much progress with our migraines. The medical community remains generally uninformed and still have an outdated attitude twards migraine patients, there haven't been any big breakthroughs in treatment. The laws HAVE changed regarding pain treatment yet doctors still maintain a poor attitude with migraine patients and are reluctant or outright refuse to use proper pain control measures.
There are, however, a few good docs out there who take us seriously. I recommend to all sufferers, see an osteopath.
I am currently seeing one at a neurological clinic. She is great. She is not afraid to give me the meds I need. I even give myself demerol/visteral injections at home. (Saving me from the horrors of an ER visit)
I also want to let you all know, things have changed with Social Security Disability. They now acknowledge migraines as a legitimate disability. Just be sure when you see the doc, that you ask what they will be putting in your chart each time you are there. Most are willing to discuss this with you and their documentation is vital in obtaining SSD.
Suffering chronic migraines is a horrible affliction, both physically and emotionally.
Feel free to write me, I understand your pain, I suffer as well, and I would be happy to help in any way I can. I have much information about how to find a doc in your area, some info on treatments and can give direction to many sites with other very helpful information.
My prayers are with you all.
Wishing for pain free days,
Corrine

Corrine <corlynn2002@hotmail.com>
Saturday, July 27, 2002 at 00:35:52

I had some blurred vision and my doctor said it was an "onnocular migraine". Is that the right spelling? Can anyone correct the spelling? I am trying to find out what kind of migraine that is. thanks.

Amanda <MandyB@bellsouth.net>
Wednesday, July 24, 2002 at 21:05:23

I am 19 years old and have been suffering from migraines since i was a child. I was first diagnosed when i was four. They are very bothersome to my life. My symptoms have gotten much worse as i got older. Some of the problems i have are that my vision goes, i can not hold cups without dropping them etc. I have always had the classic symptoms, but now i have been getting some very bizarre ones. Anyways i would like any suggestion that you would have. I have tried just about everything i can. Thanks.

Danielle <dmilanak@nb.net>
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 14:15:12

I have never wrote any thing before on the web site but I have been reading it for several years now. I have read where people are trying to find the botox web site I have came across it the address to it www.docguide.com/dg/148b62.htm I have also had the botox injections. If any one would like to know any thing about it feel free to email at time.


Debbie - debtitan@aol.com

Debbie <debtitan@aol.com>
Sunday, July 21, 2002 at 21:06:47

Isn't it funny(not really!) that when you have a migraine, you feel like noone else in the world could possibly understand , or feel as awful as you do?
I figure that I have been having migraines since I was around 7 or 8 years old. Of course, people used to say, children dont get headaches, but I remember wanting to die, the pain was so bad.
Here I am, 35 years later, and I still get them, so does my 14 year old daughter who was diagnosed with them at the age 9.My youngest daughter , who is 9, has also showed the symptoms for the past couple of years too.
I am at the tail end of a vicious episode. We haven't had rain, in over a month, the grass looks like hay.I started to have a bit of a headache last evening. By midnight, I knew it was a migraine, so I popped some Tylenol 2, which my doctor feels should be enough to handle the pain.Wrong!!
By 2 oclock, i was ready to jump off of a bridge, except the movement it would take to accomplish this feat, would have hurt too much. I took another Tylenol 2, and Excedrin Migraine, and finally,the pain , slowed down a bit.I also wear a migraine icepack, throughout the episode.
I was awoken at around 5:30am, with it, full fource , again.I tried to ignore it , cause I thought it was because I was over tired. By 6, I couldnt handle it, any more,and took 2 more Excedrin Migraine.
I went to bed, and woke up, nauseous, about 2 hours later, and could feel it returning, again.

Do most of you have this problem with the weather? My husband thinks I'm insane, when i talk about the weather.
It has started to rain, thunder and all, so I'm hoping some relief is on the way........
TAke care all, and I hope headache free!

Debbie <debdf3@yahoo.com>
Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 12:49:32

Hey everyone, I feel your pain too! I'm 21, but i've had migraines since I would guess about third or fourth grade. It's like, I'm in college and I don't have time to deal with migraines! The semester before last, mondays were the most stressful day of the week for me, and I'd get a migraine every monday. It became "Migraine Monday" Not fun.

I don't get the aura, not really sure what that is like, but I am extremely sensitive to light and sound. And as for pain, it's bad, but aren't all migraines? Usually i'll get them behind my right eye, but my migraines aren't picky and they'll sometimes be on the left, or the top of my head, the back of my head, or just all over. It'll even sink into my neck, back, and shoulders and make my arm tingle. Sometimes the pain is just so bad that i take something like a heavy book and hit myself with it, or I'll bang my head against the wall. I know...that sounds really extreme, or maybe not actually to yall, but you know that feeling, right? I just wish something would knock me out so that i wouldn't feel any pain, or like, just give me a little distraction, b/c hitting myself is a pain i would rather deal with than the one going on inside my brain. And sometimes, they are even worse than that...


I remember I had one on my birthday and it lasted for 2 days, went away one day, then came back and hit me for 3 more days. I was in bed the whole time, off from school, my sister was gone (i lived w/ her at the time) and mom lives hours away so i had to take care of myself. (and even if mom lived closer, i was too weak to pick up the phone) That is the most awful thing in the world when you have to suffer with a migraine and no one is there to take care of you. I couldn't eat anything for 3 days. I was throwing up all the time and i couldn't move from the bed b/c i was so weak. I seriously thought I was going to die. I took imitrex, excedrin, ibuprofin...nothing worked. Even watching my favorite soaps didn't help, and that usually puts me in a good mood lol. But that was a few months ago, thank god i have not had one like that in a while.


Imitrex usually works for me, (but that one time it just didn't) I had one 2 weeks ago, took the imitrex, and it was like a miracle, within two hours, it was gone. Well, sorta gone...but I wouldn't have wanted to go run around or anything. You know that feeling, don't you? When you finally get rid of the pain but you fear if you move around it'll pop back in your head?

Also, i have found another thing that seems to help my migraines...i take excedrin migraine every morning, b/c i usually feel headachy in the morning anyway, and if i keep food in my stomach i usually won't get one. Anyway, excedrin is the only thing over the counter that i found that really works.

Oh, and ice packs...don't forget the ice packs! When I was a teenager living at home, my mom would always give me warm washcloths to put on my forehead. But something cold is much better I have found.

Well sorry to keep going on and on, but it's comforting to know that I'm not alone. People who don't get migraines just don't know how bad it is. I'm truly sorry for those people who have migraines worse than me, I have a friend who has to have shots or something for them and that just seems like a nightmare.

I hope everyone has a headache free day EVERYDAY!!


Melody:-)

Melody <melodyghfan@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, July 16, 2002 at 22:53:41

Has anyone else ever experienced an "occular migraine"? I have had several of these rather frightening experiences and would like to communicate what I have learned. The experience begins suddenly, usually without any pain, and manifests itself as a progressive narrowing of the visual field (like tunnel vision).
The first time I had this experience I noticed a strange pattern of "dancing light" off in the upper left corner of one eye. It started as a small patch and gradually grew larger and larger. The distortion continued to grow and slowly began to cause a kind of "blindness" or tunnel vision in that eye. During this initial experience I thought that I was having a stroke. Gradually the tunnel vision dissipated and my vision returned to normal. There was No pain during the episode. After having several other episodes I began to do some internet research and discovered that this is what is referred to as an "occular" migraine. They are completely harmless, according to what I have read. They recur without warning and the cause is unknown.
I just thought that I would add this to the discussion, in the event that others have experienced this type of event.
Email me with your accounts if you have had similar episodes. My "regular" migraines are not related to this condition as far as I know. I have suffered from severe migraines for several years and am still searching for effective "natural" remedies. I totally resist the notion of treatment with drugs, and would rather suffer the pain than take the prescriptions offered by so called "doctors".
Thank you
Brian K.
entiques@aol.com

Brian <entiques@aol.com>
Tuesday, July 16, 2002 at 22:12:43