I found this page when looking up information about Pondimon. I have often wondered if my taking Imitrex caused my heart attack. I have had migraines since 17 and am now 57. Imitrex has relieved my migraines. I have also studied my cause of migraines. I noticed several years ago that they were triggered by MSG and Citric Acid in certain food and drinks, such as soda. I get a migraine as soon as I drink a diet cola. However, I can drink dr. pepper all day long and never get one. When I use prepared mixes such as Spanish Rice where you just ad water, I get a terrible migraine. I also get them when I eat out because of food preservatives used in restaurants. I also get them from strong sunshine in the morning or afternoon. ONe brand of chocolate candy gives them to me while the other brand does not. I hate to name company names. I can also take other brands of Imitrex type medications with success. I was determined that the 3 day headaches would not ruin my life and keep me from doing what I wanted. However, I never thought I would have a heart attack, either. I have been asked to take part in studies on Imitrex by a local private clinic but as soon as I had my heart attack last year they excluded me from testing. That was interesting. There seems to be a lot of us out there. But I know it didn't all come from food preservatives. My Grandmother was plagued with migraines for decades during the 20's, 30's and 40's. She lived on a farm and had no money for fancy foods or restaurants. My aunt also had this problem who died at the age of 84. My grandmother died at 60 years of age and had been coughing up blood before she died. I have often wondered if her stomach was eaten up by the daily aspirin she took to ease her constant pain from headaches.

J. Williams <emerald2@ipa.net>
Tuesday, January 8, 2002 at 13:20:53

I have had migraines since I was very young. But the older I get the more severe they become. They are so bad they make me nearly blind, nauseated, and in intense pain. I seem to be having trouble having a doctor not only recognize this but treat it. The neuroligists are rude and mean and my primary care doctor is indifferent. If anyone reads this and has a good referral to provide in Arizona that would be greatly appreciated. I just want to be free of all the pain my migraines cause.

Fawn Mitchell <fmm5196@yahoo.com>
Tuesday, January 8, 2002 at 12:51:09

i just have a very quick question: has anyone who has or is currently taking stadol (or it's generic) ever had a bootle break after being dropped? let me know either in e-mail or on this page.
thanks

shannan <shanan1023@att.net>
Monday, January 7, 2002 at 12:27:27

It has been a while since I have posted anything. I am right now one of those periods of headaches when they are not as bad and not as often. As a matter of fact it has been about two months since I have missed any days of work; usually I miss three days to a week a month. My doctor added another med to my list of daily meds-I now take Zanaflex. Once again, I feel like I have found my miricle. Oh, I know it will not last it never does but I am enjoying life like a normal person does during the time being. For anyone thinking about Zanaflex I would say give it a try.
Thanks for listening,
Jenifer Parks
Lincoln Park, Michigan
USA

Jenifer Parks <Doubleface@peoplepc.com>
Sunday, January 6, 2002 at 00:35:04

I am age 60 andI have suffered from migraines all my life. My grandmother had them. My mom was a nurse which helped as she was pretty sympathetic and would always comfort me when I got sick to my stomach which did relieve the pain. Mom also would try black coffee (has to be black) and sometimes that actually put me to sleep. (I think coffee only works when one normally does not drink it every day which I do as an adult.)

About 10 years ago a doctor started me on Imitrex shots, the first one in his office and I think he was happier than me that he helped me as it worked within 30 minutes and I remember driving home thinking how wonderful I felt, so clear headed and all. Shots and pills are what I use.

I relate to dreading the next migraine and I think depression can occur because of the migraine problem and I also relate to worrying about keeping a job. I was a legal secretary most of my career which is a demanding, perfecting job.

I can't remember where I saw this on the web, but a new drug, Naratripan (Amerge), is given high reviews as the "gentle triptan" so I hope to try it some day. Am also waiting for the patent to expire on imitrex so prices come down. We don't have insurance right now.

I also am trying 5HTP (a form of tryptophan), B6 and B3 (niacin). My headaches are triggered by the weather, sinus problems, nitrates, certain foods, and I'm sure hormone changes. I once read in a National Headache Foundation Newsletter that they should disappear by the 60th decade of one's life. So far, not true!

Thanks for being there, each and every one of you.

Peggy <Diesburg@aol.com>
Friday, January 4, 2002 at 23:16:55

Hello all,

I am 37 years old. My wife also 37 suffers from extreme migraines for the last 4 years. They occur for 2 weeks out of the month. The week before her period and the 2nd week afterwards which only started in the last year. During her period she has always suffered severe cramping and a very heavy flow.

Her symptoms with the migraine start with a throbbing/extreme sharp pain behind and around her right eye socket. (all her pain is on her right side of her face). She becomes extremely sensitive to light and sound and sleeps very little or not at all for the entire cycle of the migraine which lasts about 4 days of each week.

We have seen many doctors, done many tests and taken just about every drug that can be perscribed or I have heard about she has tried with little or no lasting results.

My question concerns mood swings. I have read that often there are mood swings associated with severe migraines. Though I love her dearly she becomes a Dr.Jekyl and Mr.Hyde for these two weeks. I also factor in her period contributing to the overall mood swing.

She is extremely easily irritated and the slightest of noises are very annoying and she can be nasty as well and reclusive keeping away from people. This is very much not like her since she is very outgoing and sociable.

So how severe can mood swings be? Is this normal? Mood swings I have read are always associated with the classic migraine but can anyone comment on how severe they can be?

Has anyone experienced a "night and day" difference in family members that have severe migraines on a regular basis that seems to melt away when the migraine goes away?

Thanks,

Peter <ppescatore@axsone.com>
Friday, January 4, 2002 at 15:14:44

I am looking for a headache clinic to go to. I have had these things for years and the neuro is at the end of her line. I live in Kentucky but can travel to get where I need to go to. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

nikki <sonflr@aol.com>
Friday, January 4, 2002 at 12:45:17

Hi,
I began having migranes when I was 8 years old. I missed school for months at the time due to the severity of my migranes. When i was 13 the migranes just STOPPED. I lived my adolescent life without migranes. In December of 2000 ( i was 24 at this time) I was involved in a car accident and ever since that my migranes have returned. I currently use Maxalt for acute attacks.

Teisha <teestall@aol.com>
Thursday, January 3, 2002 at 14:03:52

Hi, I don't personally have a migraine experience to tell of, but a close friend of mine has quite an interesting encounter. Starting in Jan. or Feb. of 2001 he started getting the migraines, he was 15 at that point. They would occur at times, but not as frequently as they did starting in June. They got much more frequent and until September, he would have these strange visions during them. It was also strange because it seemed like the whole migraine lasted at a minute the most, but being a witness to one of them, I remember it lasted at the least 30 minutes. I wanted to know if that is normal and if hallucinations or visions have been experiences of anyone? So, please email me back about it because I'm really trying to research this all for him. Thanks

Davianne <babydee815@aol.com>
Wednesday, January 2, 2002 at 00:39:13

I have been getting migraines since I was 18 (23 years ago) and would go through periods where I had them daily for months at a time. I have gone the "trip to the ER for dope" route, and then I found Imitrex and had magical results with it. I use the injections when I have a really bad one. For the "everyday" migraines, I use Maxalt. It works well and has very little in the way of side effects. But the best thing I have ever found was a change in diet.

Two years ago I went to the No. California Headache Clinic. They gave me a list of known migraine trigger foods. I went off EVERYTHING on the list. You have to be very strict about not eating anything on the list or it doesn't do any good. At the time, I was having migraines every day. I had no life outside the pain. I would use up my months allowance of drugs before the month was up and then panic when I ran out. When I did the elimination diet, my headaches went away. After two pain free weeks, I added things back in one at a time. When I added in onions (yes, onions) the headaches came back. I tested this a few more times and every time I ate onions, I got a headache that would sometimes last for up to a week. When I stayed away from them I was fine.

Cutting out onions has been hard. It's not that I particularly like onions, it's just that they are in everything. Read the ingredients on packages and you'll see dried onions, onion powder, onion flavor... It's hard, but it beats a migraine by a long shot. I still have a few migraines a year, but they are under control and no longer control my life.

I recommend finding a list of trigger foods and trying this experiment. It has literally saved my life. If you want the list, let me know and I will email it to you.

Good luck, and Happy New Year.

Carrie Zeidman <czeidman@elanstudios.net>
Monday, December 31, 2001 at 18:36:11

Hi. I've been off and on this page for a few years now. My migraines were diagnosed at age 8, I'm 26 now. I was told that I had "severe chronic migraine." Anyway, I've tried every medication known to man, all the daily stuff and all the when-it-happens crap. I have had seizures and now experience short term memory loss. I'd like to speak to anyone with migraines 3+ times per week who may even have short term memory loss. Or anyone who has had migraine from an early age until now. Just trying to figure this all out...

- Danielle bamboo_17@hotmail.com

Danielle <bamboo_17@hotmail.com>
Sunday, December 30, 2001 at 21:50:38

Hi everybody, I'm Trevor and it is great to find this on line journal. I have suffered from headaches for the last 3 and a half years since having who severe reactions to anti psychotropic medications. It has been a lonely journey as I have searched for answers, I have been lucky that I have a marvellous wife whose name is Alison. I have been diagnosed with transformed migraine which is a varient of chronic daily headache.
After several years of taking analgesics I finally reached the point where they became ineffective and I was put on oxycontin which is an opiod. However it to its becoming ineffective as the headaches are there everyday, the only thing that changes use the intensity. I now find that my doctor who use really a wonderful man has come to the end of his knowledge.
Fortunately he referred we to a Professor James Lance in Sydney Australia who is a specialist neurologist and he has given me some hope. He has started me on Sibelium and I have just started with five and am feeling a little discouraged as I have not yet felt any improvement as yet.
I went on line tonight to read again the sheets on the use of Sibelium and am encouraged that every where I read they talk about it not showing any signs of relief short of the six to eight week mark. I certainly agree with many articles that talk about doctors of using pain killers enough and expecting us to push through.
I missed my son's 21st birthday the other day because I spent the day with my head under the pillow.
I also suffer from heat distress very badly, it takes only a couple of minutes exertion to leave me in a lather of sweat at last for half an hour or so. My head feels so hot I sometimes feel I could cook and egg on it.
Professor Lance tells me that the hypothalmus has been damaged due to bad reactions to psychotropic medications. It is full on summer here and I have to spend my days in my air-conditioned room, only sneaking out for a couple of hours here and there.
Feeling a bit low.
I am thankful for this journal and your combined thoughts.

Regards
Trevor Forrester. pastoral@forrestministries.com

Trevor Forrester < pastoral@forrestministries.com>
Sunday, December 30, 2001 at 08:24:35

hi everyone i posted here earlier because i cant post under discussion....
well i finally got the diagnosis!!!!!!!!!!! migraines..complicated migraines..is there a difference...
well anyhow he is going to have me take nortriptyline as a preventative... is a anti depressive that he says in low doses helps with migraines..and to try for now zomig and imitrex...i took the zomig 5mg subligually tonight and almost immediately my nausea went away...still had a headache but not nearrrrrly as bad!!!!!! thank god...
we are going to do an eeg to see if i have a form of seizure too..or at least to rule out...
but i was wondering..has anyone ever passed out from migraines? and has anyone ever used the medicines i mentioned above???
since my puter is dumb andi cant post under discussion..if you want to email me ..i would really appreciate it...

i wish you all peace and painless days ahead...xoxoo jennifer :)

jennifer <dreemtime7@aol.com>
Saturday, December 29, 2001 at 05:08:40

having trouble sleeping tonight, just took a vicodin, and waiting for it to kick in, i've read many of the entries and somehow, there is comfort in knowing others are expereincing thae same things i am, makes me feel less crazy. so much is so close to home. about two years ago when the pain started getting to be a daily burden, i had ffound this sight, and hace not visited very often. i work in the web industry and try not to do much on the computer after hours, but this seems to be a good thing, i'll be back...

anthony, i too have tried the alternative. yup it helps alot. i try to get beyond what i know is the law and what i know helps me live my life. sometimes when i have stuff to do at home like cleaning or gardening. that is my choice of relief. i can take my time and actually enjoy doing a task pain free and just enjoy the doing of the task. i really relate to your anger. keep getting it out, it helps me when i do...

a question to whomever...has anyone ever taken diamox? i was prescribed it to relieve pressure behind my eyes, my spinal tap indicaated uneven pressure from left to right...something to try...also has anyone ever done a sleep test for sleep apnia? my neurologist is thinking maybe this is a route to explore, as i wake up every morning with the pain...any thoughts..sorry for the ramble, alot is running around in my mind...

florence <haridan@earthlink.net>
Friday, December 28, 2001 at 02:45:12

Hi everyone,

I haven't been having problems for a while. I started having some symptoms of headache over the past few days. Does anyone start getting a headache with burning pain behind the ear? It now feels like a tension headache in the back of my head. I took a fioricet about 30 minutes ago hoping the pain would stop. You all know how that goes. You have to catch it at the right moment or it just keeps coming. Please let me know if anyone has experienced this thanks. I have not had this symptom before.
Hope everyone has a pain free new year.


Sincerely,

Dawn

Dawn <deboltpat@yahoo.com>
Thursday, December 27, 2001 at 20:49:19