Dear Amy(missbrat68). I have headaches without medical insurance for the medication they speak of on this website. Here are a few things to do immediately: eliminate caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, Excedrin) alchohol, chocolate, and MSG (in many foods, potato chips, soups, etc.). Try to exercise a few times a week, drink plenty of water. You may find that your headaches become less and/or more manageable. Good luck.

Susan Peltz
Thursday, December 27, 2001 at 19:12:52

hi everyone!!! i have been trying to post a message under discussion ,, but i am a dork or my computer is haunted and wont let me...so hopefully its okay if i write here
first of all thank you ronda and everyone who writes on here for such an amazing website!!!

i would really like your opinions or insights as what to do or think... i am going to see a neurologist on friday.... but i am in so much pain and discomfort that i dont even know if i am thnking clearly.
i am 26 and i have been having what i think might be migraines for years...only now..they seem to be almost everyday!!! but if i do have migraines they arent typical and i wonder if i am nuts.... i do have hormonal imbalances and i have read that can bring on migraines but i just dont know anymore....
these are my symptoms and i promise you i am not on drugs...it just sounds like it

pain( but not always excruciating and not just on one side either)
numbness in my face or legs or arms
disequilibrium
feels like my brain is vibrating or spasming ughss.. to the point of shoot me
i actually see things move around or shimmy
the floor feels like quicksand at times
head is on fire
somtimes things look hazy or yellowish
eyes twitch
an internal earthquake throughout my whole body
nausea,, only vomiting occasionally
weaknesss and exhaustion
slurring
and totaly motor dysfunction at times

i could go on for daysssss...i have had mris and cts..so no ms or brain tumors and i have had so much blood work ups that i know there is no lupus or lyme..i have insulin resistance and my hormones are completely wacky!!!
but the thing is....this could go on for days straight seriously..with only variances in pain... right at this moment..i hvae had this for5 days in a row now!!!!!
i have so many people tell me its migraines..and then others say oh no its just stress bc you would ALWAYS have pain and it would be on one side!!!
i am a pretty decently educated person...but i am at a total loss and this reduces me to a crying weeping baby in utter despair and at times when my brain is wht i call " spasming" .. into utter terror too....

well i am going ot the neuro on friday..but i was wondering....have any of you ever ever felt this way..does it sound similar???
i am at my wits end... i can barely work and i realllly dont know what to do.....sorry for venting so much...its just...well you feel all alone in this at times.....

thank you for listening and i look forward to any responses.... jennifer :)

jennifer <dreemtime7@aol.com>
Tuesday, December 25, 2001 at 13:06:18

I have had a migraine since Sunday the 16th.With waves of pain, nausea, gastritous, sensitivity to sounds, light, smells, food.Talking has been difficult durring the peaks of each wave of pain.Food and gravity are big enamies.Cool, dark, quiet is all I can do.Today is the 22nd and I'm still dealing with it on my own because I am too poor for medical insurance.Nothing gets done and you can't work. Can't even get up to go to the bathroom with out feeling like you're going to throw up and or pass out.

Amy <missbrat68@hotmail.com>
Saturday, December 22, 2001 at 05:06:46

Has anyone had any side effects with Topamax in regard to heartburn or esophageal burning, nausea, and feeling of a lump in your throat? I would appreciate any feedback if anyone has experienced these side effects. Thanks.

T-lee <kajunleeza@hotmail.com>
Thursday, December 20, 2001 at 21:06:53

Hi everybody. Merry Christmas. Maybe if we are lucky Santa will put a migraine-free Christmas in our stockings!!!! I have had a week of no migraines. 7 whole glorious days. Its very wonderful and kind of scary. I don't want to think about the next one, but its always there in the back of my mind. I don't know if this will work for anyone else, but the medication I take is Anaprox 500 mg. Its prescription strength Aleve basically, but it is truly about the only medication that works for me. And it doesn't make me sleepy unless I have to take more than 2 - 3 pills. Other people have commented how mild it is, but it really works for me. The dosage is one at the onset and then 1 every hour until the headaches passes (or I pass out due to the amount of pills I took!!!). In addition to the standard cold, dark room where I lie down and pray this one passes quickly. Every once in a while I need something stronger, but that usually takes care of me. And its not hideously expensive. Anyway, just a thought. We are all different so it may not work for anyone else.

I have a question for the single people. Do you guys have problems with new boyfriends / girlfriends being completely non-understanding about your headaches? I had one guy all but accuse me of using it as an excuse to not be seen in public with him. Of course, I have since decided he's nuts and I am really happy single, but I am curious about whether this is specific to me or do other people have insensitive dates, too. Sorry. That just really ticked me off and I wanted to vent. As if anyone would make up a violent headache and nausea.

Betty Kashouty <bkashouty@gulfbend.org>
Wednesday, December 19, 2001 at 17:26:12

Hello everyone,

I have been suffering from migraines since my birth I would think. I have memories of being sick as far back as when I was 2 years of age. Now I'm 34. I usually get a migraine once every 2 or 3 weeks. That does not include the mild headaches I get in between. I usually know I'll have a migraine when I get up in the morning. They start slowly, with a headache on one side (ophtalmic ones) and mild nausea. Then it gets worst during the day and the peak is around 5:00pm where I hit the bed and won't get up for a few hours. That is if I don't have to puke. :o( Vomiting usually does the job of relieving the pain.

But I have found a way that stops my migraines cold (literaly...). It's not effective all the time but it's sure worth a try! I take a cold shower. And I mean cold. I start with warm water and gradually add colder water. I stay under the cold water until I shiver non stop and can't stand it anymore. Most of the time, it not only dulls the pain, it takes it away and it doesn't come back. I much prefer being cold than suffering from that horrible pain.

Isabelle Michaud <isamic7@hotmail.com>
Tuesday, December 18, 2001 at 15:58:36

Joyce,

Sorry it took so long to get back to my computer. Your straight neck may be a factor in your migraines, but it is more likely that the malalignment of your pelvis is the source of your problem. A problem with just realigning the bones is that the imbalanced muscles will soon pull everything back out of alignment again. The pelvis must be retrained.

If your pelvis is out in the pattern I suspect it is, the compensations it has caused will be predictible, and commonly lead to jaw, balance and headache problems.

If you want, I can email you more details in a brochure we have developed. It tells you how you can check your own pelvic alignment.

Noel Frayne RMT <nfrayne@shaw.ca>
Monday, December 17, 2001 at 22:38:00

I don't know where to start!? I am 37 years old and have had migraines since the age of nine. I have noticed that since I have gotten older that I have more sever and more frequent migraines. I had an aunt who assured me that by the time I go through menopause that I will hardly ever have one again. All I can say is that I can't wait! I have been yelled at at work for missing too many days work and I work as a custodian in a church. Even though my job could be done at any time of the day, they insist that I be there from 8:00 a.m to 3:30 p.m.. A few morinings I have called in to say that I would be acouple of hours late because I wanted to get rid of a migraine. Then I always stay late to make sure everything is done but that is not ok with them. This is not the first job I have ever had, but it has certainly been the most uncaring and heartless job I have ever had. (Sorry. I know, poor old me) I gues I am still a little angry over the cituation. now I have the threat of being fired held over my head constantly. I usually have at least one migraine a week. I take a lot of otc and perscribed medicine so I am wondering if maybe I am causing some of my headaches. Sorry this is so long. I will quit now.

Christie <myvoice1@hotmail.com>
Sunday, December 16, 2001 at 15:11:53

For Anthony:
Yes, I certainly do have withdrawal--If I take it for more than 5 or 6 days (7-8 of the 50mg tabs daily) I have to wean off of it for the last couple of days. Otherwise I'll have terrible insomnia and I am really edgy. I have had that "electrical shock" type of feeling too.
Tell your doctor that your symptoms are very real; When Ultram was introduced in 1996, it came with information which said that although it worked in the same way narcotics do, it didn't produce the same withdrawal problems. However, since so many people began complaining about the side effects of stopping it, Ultram now comes with new warnings.
For me, it's a double edged sword--after getting sick from narcotics for years, I finally have relief on Ultram. It doesn't make me feel "high" like many narcotics did. The problems for me come when I stop it cold. A few days of lessening the dose (I break the tablets in half along the seam) should help you as it helps me. I hope!!

Kate
Saturday, December 15, 2001 at 17:02:21

To Noel Frayne: I have gone to chiropractors seeking help with migraines. They have always commented on two things. First, I have a very straight neck (bone), without the curve of a normal neck. Also, my hips are uneven. Treating any area around my neck seems to trigger migraines -- therefore I stopped going. Are you saying that by trying to align the hip area and spine (correcting posture) helps migraines? Could you be more specific. Thank you.

Joyce
Thursday, December 13, 2001 at 19:38:34

HEY KATE
WHEN YOU STOP TAKEING THE ULTRAM DO YOU HAVE ANY WITHDRAWL SYMTOMS ...MY DOCTOR SAYS IM NUT'S SINCE IT IS A NON NARCOTIC BUT I DO GET THE PHYSICALE WITHDRAWL SYMTOMS...I GET CHILLS AND HAVE REALLY STRANG FEELINGS IN MY HEAD LIKE TINY ELECTRICAL SHOCKS LIKE SOMETHING IS MISFIREING...JUST CURIOUS...

ANTHONY BUDISELICH <AWBUDISELICH@BEMIS.COM>
Thursday, December 13, 2001 at 17:06:27

Hello Everyone! I am glad to see a wonderful resource like this, and I am excited to have the opportunity to share my experiences with some who may benefit from what I've learned. Ever since I was young, I have had a problem with serious headaches, although, like many, I never said anything about it. I guess I just knew my parents really wouldn't do anything for me except shove another bottle of children's Tylenol in my hand. I suffered with them until I was twenty seven, a year ago. Then, one day, I began a special diet, the Atkins diet, Eggs everyday, and artificial sweeteners. Suddenly I was taking motrin like it was candy and experiencing pain like there was no tommorrow. I stopped the diet and the headaches slowed down. One day, I hadn't eaten anything all day and then I ate about three eggs around lunch, on an empty stomach. In less than an hour, I was writhing in pain. Bingo! I had found my trigger! that, along with arificial sweeteners, chicken, feathers (down or anything else), and turkey was making my life a living hell. Now that I know, my migraines are only about five days a month at the most, and I am taking midrin to scare them off at the first sign of pain. I am slowly discovering my other triggers (I supect coffee, chocolate, soy, and nuts). My husband, who has never had a migraine, asks me how I can cut out all these foods and not miss them (eggs are in everything), I just say, if you had ever had a migraine you wouldn't wonder. I can stop them just by avoiding certain foods, so many people can't. I am so blessed. My advice to anyone is look to your diet - what is lacking as well as what is there. I havn't figured it out completely yet, but as soon as I do, I'll let you all know the rest of my story so that you may learn from my experiences. As and aside, I need to got take another does of midrin, as I'm fighting a migraine right now. Best of luck to all and God bless you with a pain free life.
Michelle

Michelle Blake <enmblake@yahoo.com>
Thursday, December 13, 2001 at 11:04:12

Worst Advice Story:

When my father was about 29 (around 1953), he was told that his migraines would be cured if he had all his teeth pulled. He had them all pulled (he had been a very handsome man!). The migraines did not go away, however he had two decades of problems with his dentures.

Karen Skullerud <kskulle@helixcharter.net>
Wednesday, December 12, 2001 at 19:16:29

Please enter a message. :-)jUST WANTED TO SHARE MY FEELINGS ABOUT MY MIGRAINES.
kIM lOPEZ

KIM LOPEZ <VANESSANSISQO@HOTMAIL.COM>
Tuesday, December 11, 2001 at 14:50:24

Just found this site. Not sure if this is the right way to go, but here goes!

I am a registered massage therapist in Victoria, B.C., and I have been developing and working with what I believe to be a new, drug-free approach to migraines and chronic pain for over 14 years.

My approach is founded on the premise that the body has a system of positional and postural control ensuring that the head is held upright and pointing forward.

I have identified a common structural origin, a specific pelvic asymmetry. It has been consistently present in more than 1300 consecutive patients seen since 1993, 200 in 2001 so far.

Where present, it initiates a predictible, identifiable and treatable chain of adaptive postural changes with the potential to initiate, exacerbate and perpetuate migraine, headache, and other chronic and acute pain conditions.

My treatment approach addresses correcting the asymmetry, taking away the source of the adaptive compensatory changes. A "participaction" process, patients actively involved, learn to correct and maintain correction.

The objective...Treat The Source... Pump air into a leaking tire, or fix the leak!

Your comments or queries welcome

Noel Frayne RMT <nfrayne@shaw.ca>
Tuesday, December 11, 2001 at 00:53:25