Hi This is my 1st time at this site & have never seen anything like it
I have had headaches & migraines since I was 15 I am now 48. If I do not
have fiorocet to take daily (which I think is a miracle drug) then I end up in
the emergency room for a shot. If that is not an option then I end up taking about
20 to 25 tylenols. Some doctors that I have gone to say I am addicted, so I have not taken
them for a couple of weeks and end up in bed. I have had severe vitigo as well.
My daughter is 16 and is also getting them real bad, but the doctor that I have now
just says she will take care of that later and do not give her a firocet (which the previous
doctor said that was ok). I do not feel like I am addicted and am tired of feeling
like an addict. I now have tendinitis and a tear in my shoulder that feels like
razor sharp pain, but again they treat me like an addict and I am
living with this pain daily. Does anyone else get treated like this?
Roseann

Roseann <roseann.giardina@verizon.net>
Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 15:57:39

Dear Nichole: I've been to many neuros and chiropracters as well. I've also taken at least 20 different medicines. Accordingly to the chiros, I too have alot wrong. I have a very "straight" neck bone (with no curve) and have misaligned hip bones. Accordingly to the neuros, I have nothing wrong, Just deviant migraine headaches that they prescribed medication for. Truthfully, I don't think the treatments any of them gave me helped much. What did help me (and may be it's worth a try) is a change of diet. Many people believe caffeine and MSG are a big cause of migraine headaches. Most teenager's diets consist of soda and chocolate. May be you even drink coffee or tea -- all of which have caffeine. Chips, soups, Kentucky Fried, chinese food are loaded with MSG and bad for you if your headache prone. Try choosing something else instead and see if this helps you. Also, take hot baths/showers to help musceles relax and make sure you exercise. Good luck. Jane

jane
Sunday, March 17, 2002 at 10:28:11

Hi how is everyone doing,I am a 14 year old girl,I have been suffering from headaches for a little over a year now and in the begining they said that i just had a sinus infection and my headache would go away and then three weeks later i still had it everyday all day. Then after that i went to a nero doctor and he said that he was going to put me on elavil and that was it and
then that did not work so i went to a ear nose and throught doctor and he said that i have a sinus that had air in it and i needed surgery and then that made it worse meaning my headache and
after that i ended up at a place called MHNI. and that was in september and they put me in a hostipal and i still have headaches but someone told me to go to a chiropractor so i did and come to find out i have alot wrong with my spine and neck and i did not even know it so if anyone wants to try to go my doctors theory is that chriopractic works so if u feel like theres nothing else try that well peace im out i have had every test and 30 different medicines

Nicole <berry_4_29@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, March 13, 2002 at 19:38:18

Hi all,
My name is Christine and I've suffered from Migraine since I was 15. I am now 45 and they seem to get worse every year. Within the last several years I've developed severe vertigo and light headedness that can precede a headache by several days. I've seen all the doctors and taken so many drugs that I often feel like a chemistry experiment gone horribly awry. I also suffer from chronic depression and moderate to severe anxiety. There are days when I feel like my body has declared war on me and I wonder how much longer I can go on without relief. I only recently discovered that there was online support and information and I praise God for it. This is a hellish burden to try and carry alone.

Christine Bailey <BaileyC@inreach.com>
Wednesday, March 13, 2002 at 16:51:04

Hi, I've been having migraines since I was about 10 or 11 years old. I'm now 19 and still getting them. I usually only get them about ten times a year, which isn't that bad compared to the entries I have read here, but when I do get them they are very severe. The pain is horrible and unbearable of course, but what really scares me the most is the symptoms that comes along with the pain: Usually I have the aura first. I can't see out of one of my eyes. Then half of my body goes numb and tingly. I especially hate it when my lips, tongue, and eyelids get tingly. I can't move my hands too well; I fumble and have a hard time holding and moving things. It kind of feels like something is wrapped around my body, its really weird and hard to explain. I can't talk too well; my words get jumbled, garbled, and slurred. My muscles seem to twitch and move by themselves. Sometimes I get this horrible taste in my mouth. Finally, it feels like I can't breathe, then I end up going to the hospital for a shot of Demerol. The migraine headache usually lasts about 4 days and the symptoms last about an hour or two. When I first start to see the spots from the aura I take Midrin. It kind of helps but not fast enough, in my opinion. Also, when I'm not having a full blown migraine my body doesn't feel quite right, my throat feels tight, and I see spots, which I think are the beginnings of a migraine, but luckily go away. I also have normal headaches every day. Luckily my mom and family are very supportive and understanding of what I'm going through, so I am very grateful for that. But I like reading stories from other people that get migraines also because it comforts me to know I am not alone. Well, if you got this far in my ramblings, thank you and I hope we will all find relief soon.
Please email me if you have any of the same symptoms as me or if you just want to talk.

Chrissy <IIAngelGoddessII@aol.com>
Wednesday, March 13, 2002 at 12:56:53

Hello every1,
My name is Melissa and I am 13. I have very sever migrains. I have had them since I was about 2 years of age. I felt that no one else had migrains but me so I went out looking for people who understand me and how I feel. As I read all of your entries I think that all this time that i could have been talking and writing to all of you. But no i was trying to exlain to my friends what they are and all of the details.Trying to make them understand me. I have had all test/scanes and evrything done. The docs said they didnt know what they were so my mother asked them if it was migrains. They looked and it seemed the only thing posible. I probably have tried over 25 diffrent kinds of medications.When I was younger the docs couldnt put me on anything, so therefore I had to suffer and go to the hospital.The only thingthat would be able to nock me out was demeral. But one problem they wont give us any to take home.Those who the imitrex and zomig medicationd that work your luck. It didnt work for me.Right now the Nerologist says that what he just gave me was the last thing that he can perscribe for me. If this doesnt work i have to go to some dude in west palmbeach.Thats alittle far where I live. Well G2G.
Melissa

melissa
Sunday, March 10, 2002 at 15:33:53

Hello all;

Just wanted to address what Eileen mentioned -- that doctors can't "fix" migraines, just help us through them. Three years ago I went back to my neuro for the first time since he'd diagnosed me in 1994, because of a huge increase in the frequency and severity of my migraines. He made suggestions and gave me a list of possible triggers to avoid, et cetera, and put me on 30 mg. Nortriptyline as a preventative. This was all more or less what I'd expected, but my friends were puzzled that he hadn't "cured" me. I had no idea how to explain that one. As migraineurs go, I know I'm lucky, but it's also a lot of work to keep the headaches from winning. It's a full-time, no-days-off occupation.

Pain free days to all,

Adrienne <ADRIENNE.RUSSO@maine.edu>
Saturday, March 9, 2002 at 15:36:29

Hello everyone, This is the first time I visit this site and must say it has been very helpfull reading it all. I am 23 and have been suffering of migraines as long as I remember. Visit doctors since the age of 3 on and off. Had daily medicine and pain killers, but nothing seems to work. I have kind of learned to live with it but in overall it has formed my live very much. When I was little it was just kids parties that my mum had to cancel. Later it became a planned girls night out or something. Friends thought I did not want to hang out with them, cause I had to cancel so much plans or show up on the last minute. The doctors always told me I might grow out of it when I am teenager, but this did not happen. The last 4 years I have had them on and off. There even has been a period when I did not suffer from migraines for about 6 months, which was hopefull. But the last year they have been coming back slowly, but more servere as ever and I have normall headackes between them. Because off this I take Ibuprofin on almost a daily basis. Now, I work parttime and study parttime (had to drop college cause I could not follow it anymore). Have some good friends who understand what migraine is. It is not that I pitty myself and I know there are a lot of worse things that could happen to anyone but I just feel that I am missing out on things and hate that people do not take you serious !!

Kim <kim_fisch@yahoo.com>
Friday, March 8, 2002 at 09:32:03

Today My pain was only a 4 at the end of the day but earlier in the day it was more like a 6 and I think that was because they are painting at work so I will probably have a headache until they finish with that

Terri Hartline <hartline4@ajinternet.net>
Monday, March 4, 2002 at 22:26:19

HELLO TO ALL FELLOW MIGRANEURS & THEIR LOVED ONES!
My story.
Twenty years ago I had a beautiful baby girl. Three weeks after her birth I had my first migraine. My mother then informed me all the women in my family, including younger cousins,all got them. Since they thought I had been spared, they never told me as to not "pre-dispose" me.
I divorced when my daughter was one, and began working full time while raising my baby alone. I worked in broadcasting,crazy hours and molto stress,tried to have a social life (dating), and basically ignore the occassional migraine that would end up in the ER. After five years of this I had "frequent flyer miles" at the ER, and I had to find a neuro. I lucked out. He is a good one, we work well toghether. Anyone who thinks any doctor can "fix" this is deluded. Without a lot of observation, diet control and other self-help methods, the doctor can only medicate. Medication alone is not the solution. How can medication control barometric pressure changes which make my head explode?
Nine years ago, I finally was forced to retire and go on disability. Since then life has been battling one migraine after the other with whatever arsenal we can use without wrecking my body. Hopefully menopause will bring relief, but I am just entering pre-menopause, so I have a long way to go. I just pray my daughter does not inherit these monsters, and if she does, that by then better medications are available. I have tried them all. Nothing works absolutely all the time, except perhaps the fentanyl patches, but being on those for awhile can really take a toll on your body.
Thank you all for letting me vent, and I wish you all many clearheaded days. HUGS, Eileen

Eileen Collins <comayeileen@hotmail.com>
Sunday, March 3, 2002 at 23:57:39

Hi everyone...I've been suffering from migraines for as long as I can remember. I've been to all kinds of dr's - so far nothing has helped. I got progressively worse after my son was born November of 1996. I went through many different medications, changed my career, just kept going through life medicated. Then, my neurologist had me hospitalized in 2000, to "get me off" all the medications I was taking. I had some relief, then "life went on" and the migraines crept back. Now, I suffer on a daily basis, visiting the ER almost every other week, taking three different medications at night to "prevent" the attacks(changing med's all the time) and pain killers during the day, usually zomig or the imitrex shot. I was calling in sick to work, or suffering through the day heavily medicated for some time. Now she wants to try to get medical disability for me for 1 year, which I was told is the hardest to get. I've been home with my 5 year old son since Feb 7th, still suffering. I won't find out about the disability for another four months. I'm still taking zomig and/or imitrex every day...I'm only 32, but feel like 90. I need support and a solution....Thanks...

Leslie <leslora@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, February 27, 2002 at 13:07:26

HI EVERYONE!

MY NAME IS DEBBI, IM 21 YEARS OLD, I LIVE IN SCOTLAND AND I SUFFER VERY BADLY FROM MIGRAINE ATTACKS. MY MIGRAINES STARTED WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 AND THEY HAVE BEEN NOT TOO BAD UNTIL THE PAST SIX MONTHS! I AM IN MY LAST YEAR OF UNIVERSITY, SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IT HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL AND THESE ATTACKS ARE NOT HELPING ME PASS MY COURSE TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS THEY HAVE CONTROLED MY LIFE WITH ME BEING PUT ON EVERY SINGLE TYPE OF MEDICATION YOU CAN THINK OF! I ALWAYS HAVE PARALYSIS IN MY LEGS WITH MY SPEECH BEING LOST TOO! THE HEADACHES I EXPERIENCE ARE OUT OF CONTROL AND I AM BEGINING TO LOSE FAITH IN THEM EVER BEING MANAGED OR PREVENTED.

I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE COULD GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION AS IT WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THIS IS A GREAT SITE!

DEBS X

Debbi McCulloch <debbimcculloch@hotmail.com>
Wednesday, February 27, 2002 at 10:44:39

Hello my migraine friends, I have been working with my chakrahs and it has seemed to help not all of the pain goes away but it makes it easier to deal with. I can go to sleep easier than I could before. I think it relaxes me some and that is a help in its self. I still have to get shots but I got rid of a bad one without one a week ago. If this helps anyone please let me know, Tay Hodges

Tay Hodges <tayhodges59@hotmail.com>
Wednesday, February 27, 2002 at 00:12:58

Hi everyone, I have been reading this site for a while but just never posted. I was diagnosed with Migraines when I was 16, I'm now 40 something. They have always been linked to my cycle but both are very unpredicable now. My Mom had very bad ones, until she had me,and then they stopped and she never had another one. At least she could say I was good for something LOL! My grandmother had them also, but they didn't have a name then, she called them "sick headaches", because they always made her so sick to her stomach and she had to go lie down no matter where she was. Right now I'm on the 3rd day of a bad one. I guess that's why I had to post something tonight, I just really needed to vent. It's wonderful to know your not alone when you're hurting like this.

Andrea <DreaHof@aol.com>
Monday, February 25, 2002 at 01:22:58

I am a 48 year old migrainer who has had headaches since puberty. As with most of the individuals who have entered, I have tried almost all the preventative options; beta blockers, zoloft, birth-control pills. I have used caffergot (a joke), stadol, fioranol, ect. When Imitrex injections came out, my life changed dramatically. That is until my health insurance limited me to six injections within a 34 day period. I now get 12 tablets of Maxalt in addition to the Imitrex allowance. However, this is still not enough to cover all the headaches I get. Out of a 30 day month, I probably have only 8-10 headache free days. I believe menopause has stepped up my number of attacks. IF anyone has info on preventative steps for headaches that are hormonally triggered, please share. (I just read about yoga on this site and am going to try that!) Please feel free to email me.
Thanks
Debi S.

Debi S. <Slaugh2@aol.com>
Sunday, February 24, 2002 at 07:39:44