I'm thankful for the day I found this website. I'm sorry there's so many of us that suffer. I am 47 and for the past twenty years I've had migraines always once a month and sometimes twice. I'm sure to have a migraine over Thanksgiving because that's when my next one should come around again. That's what I hate about these things - missing out on all the fun. I also need to find a job soon! We have four children and our oldest is in college. It scares me to go out and interview and have to throw in the fact that I get migraines - it makes me feel unreliable and I hate that. My hope is of course to find an understanding boss and fellow workers. I've tried various medications over the years and nothing has worked without side effects. My migraines last usually 3 days when all is said and done. After having one I'm energized and happy and always hope it's my last one. Having this journal to express my feelings and read those of others is a wonderful comfort.

Julie
Thursday, November 15, 2001 at 19:19:46

I've been checking out migraine sites to better understand what they're about. My boyfriend suffers from them and finds that during a bad one only vomiting helps the pain subside. A cold dark room with no sound and a quick taking of a pain reliever also help. Thank you to all the people who have added to this list. You've helped me to better understand what my boyfriend is going through and to know what to do for him. Thanks again.

Grateful,
Alison

Alison <superallu@hotmail.com>
Wednesday, November 14, 2001 at 15:26:08

Hi my migraine friends, I have not posted in a long time. I only get to use the internet once in a while but always come back to here to see my friends. My sister and I are on a road trip and the motel has internet access. I have had 2 ER visits on the road. I had to go to the ER in Folsom CA and tonight in Fresno CA. I am pain free now and it feels so nice. I have a question for anyone who is using Stadol injectable 2 mg per ml. I live in Chico CA and so far no pharmacy can get the injectable in for me. They have no trouble with the nasal spray and my DR gives me that but it only works about 50% of thr time and I have to take a lot more of it to be effective. I would like to know if anyone else has this problem or is it just my area? Please e-mail me if any one has a answer at tayhodges59@hotmail.com. I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow and as pain free as posible. Tay Hodges

Tay Hodges <tayhodges59@hotmail.com>
Wednesday, November 14, 2001 at 03:05:30

OK, absolutely dying at my desk. Sudden migraine, want to vomit. I can also sense a personality change. Suddenly everything is irritating me. I almost feel angry. I think mine is weather related. Does anyone else have that problem?

Thanks,
Susan

susan <susan@mkb363.com>
Tuesday, November 13, 2001 at 17:55:20

I just read Susan's post . . . interestingly, my triggers are almost
identical. Red wine, the aspartame in "diet" stuff (egads), I
can't take aspirin either or I 'll go into shock. I envy the coffee part though. I wish I could drink it to avoid a migraine :D, if I have even one weeny cup the aura & nausea starts almost immediately. Dunno how it starts so quick, but there it is.
A weird thing for me for the last 3 years has been November. I live in Maine and my migraines get more frequent & severe around this time, for about a month. I guess it's the weather change, but it really sucks. I know I should be thankful that the rest of the year is bearable if I avoid certain things (usually only one or two migraines a month), but I wish there was something we could do about the barometric pressure. Anyone else have this difficulty?

Pain free days all,
Adrienne

Adrienne <ADRIENNE.RUSSO@maine.edu>
Monday, November 12, 2001 at 11:26:21

I come to ths website every so often, just to remind myself that I there are people who truly understand how debilitating a migraine really is. I guess I'm "lucky" as I only get them once a month, but the headache is vicious and three days long.

Does anyone on this site get nausea first? Mine start with a pain along the side of my jawline. I then notice that I burp alot (sorry to be so blunt) and my stomach becomes jittery. The pain then increases from the jaw into half of my face, eyes head where it will stay for a day - then what happens, the pain lessens on the right side and shifts around to the left side, only the intensity is greater and I throw up. This lasts at least a day or two before it subsides.

The neuro has suggested that when the event first begins (pain in the jaw and burping), I should immediately take an anti nausea drug - then the triptan (In my case, "Amerge"). He said that in some of his patients, if they can get the stomach under control, the headache sometimes does not come, or is lessened.
I have not tried this yet, but somehow in my heart I know it's not going to work.

I do find that food and stress has a lot to do with the headaches. Alcohol is out, caffiene is out, chocolate (I try) to take out, aged cheese, MSG, too much salt -- all out. I have also found that Calcium supplements seems to trigger a headache. A friend has suggested to go on a "hypoglycemia" diet as it seems to have all but stopped her headaches. With that suggestion, I have tried to cut down the intake of sugar, trying to balance protein and carbs.

A friend asked me recently if I find myself going through life "dreading" the next headache. Believe it or not, I am so relieved when the headache is gone that I almost block the event out of my mind. I glad to have some normalcy back and deal with the next one when it happens.

Good health to all of you.

Jocelyn
Sunday, November 11, 2001 at 14:13:54

This is very interesting. I have seen posts from kids (makes me sad), moms who have kids to take care of, and some other folks. I am a 32 year old mom with 3 daughters ages 8, 4, and 18 mo. This is quite difficult when the insanity starts. My migraines are not as often as some but more often than others. Since my third daughter was born 18 months ago, they have been much less frequent.

I have found out a few things. My triggers have always been red wine, artificial sweeteners (diet drinks, sugarfree gum, etc...), american cheese(not the real stuff,pasturized processed cheese food, what the heck IS cheese food anyway?), not getting my coffee in the morning, chocolate, aspirin(yes, the stuff that is supposed to help), and overheating or
over exertion. I took motrin after one of my kids was born, and I discovered that if I start taking motrin I have to keep taking it. Sort of like a whole withdrawl thing happens. It is like that with most of the things I ingest. I try very hard to have a routine of things that I eat, drink, and when and how I exercize.


One little remedy that I have been using as long as I can remember is I keep ice packs or frozen peas in the freezer. Lay down with a squishy pillow that can form to your neck with the ice pack on it until the ice pack isn't cold anymore. It constricts the blood vessels going to your head like most meds do. You can always do it more than once.

To the kids who haven't seen a doctor...SEE A DOCTOR! Talk to your friend's mom or something. Migraines are NOT rare. Chances are you'll come across someone who will empathize with you. REALLY!

People who do not get migraines, or even just regular headaches(hard to imagine) really don't get it.

Susan <lizardsoup@hawaii.rr.com>
Saturday, November 10, 2001 at 04:14:21

Hello, my name is DeDe. I am 36 yrs old and live in NC. I have had migraines for 14 years. I have long term migraines, the one I have now has been going on for a little over a month non-stop. In the past 14 yrs. I have been through at least 20 nuerologist/headache specialist. All of which have given up on me. I have been on just about every kind of drug you can think of. To control my migraines those doctors put me on everything from prozac to LSD. The LSD was in a medicine known as DHE that they give you intraveniously. It got to the point where they would put the iv in and send me home, my husband would put the medicine through the iv. This stopped working after the 4th time.Then they shot cortizone through both my temples, this by the way did not work. After that they put me to sleep as if I was going to operated on.That lasted for nine hours. The next time I got a migraine they told me that they couldn't help me, and would not see me anymore.I have gastrointestinal problems now cause of all their drugs.I see a chiropractor now,but it not helping much.I have lost 3 jobs and my work history is ruined thanks to migraines. I'm glad I found your site, I don't feel so alone now.

DeDe <DeDeHN@aol.com>
Friday, November 9, 2001 at 13:58:43

November 7, 2001

First the vision goes, peripheral that is. And I start to feel a little disconnected. I take the Excedrin as quickly as I can� sometimes it�s just too late. The headache may stop, but the effects linger all day. It�s like the electricity is there, but it can�t connect. And the other end is waiting for connection, but it�s not happening. 2 + 2 = ??? I�m not sure� I want to pick 4, but my head won�t go in that direction.

Today�s headache started at 7:30 � medicine in at 7:33�I keep it handy at all times.

It�s been almost 12 hours since the onset and I�m not sure if these symptoms are from the medication or the migraine. Tingling on the face and even stronger on the left leg. Numbness on the fingers though I�m able to direct them okay. My eyes feel like all the eyelashes are growing inward. Can�t wait for the day to be over so I can feel better tomorrow.

I can't believe this website is here and I've emailed back a couple of people who seem to have similar symptoms. I'm sorry for all of us.

The only suggestion I have for everyone is to have your medication (whatever it is) handy and take it quick. I'm 41 and that is the only thing that has helped since I started having headaches at 13.

Rebecca <bradleybizz@yahoo.com>
Wednesday, November 7, 2001 at 22:38:42

Hi everyone,
I have not logged on to this page in some time although my migraines are still routine. I thought I was just having a bad migraine a week and a half ago and realized I was additionaly experiencing a major sinus infection. It really was tough to tell the difference because my migraines cause a good deal of sinus pain. Throughout the misery that followed I had to keep working, keep smiling and act like nothing is wrong. I have been getting extremely frustrated lately and I cried to my husband the other night because I feel that I can't workout, can't cook, can't shop, can't enjoy anthing!! I am not the type to complain and feel sorry for myself but the pain is getting old.. way old. I come home from work extremely tired and frustrated and don't want to anything but lie down. I was at a meeting a couple of months ago and had to leave in order to go to my hotel room and lie down. I thought I was going to die. The imitrex isn't working as well as it had and I have tried everything else (Zomig, Maxalt, etc..). Each month there are usually 2 good weeks and 2 bad weeks. We want to start a family but I don't know how I could be a good parent with this kind of quality of life. I remember too well the agony I saw my mother go through with her headaches month after month.

Thanks for being a sounding board.

Jennifer <jnfrwl@cs.com>
Wednesday, November 7, 2001 at 01:09:49

Hi,
My name is Kim and I have had a migraine since April? Everyday when I wake up in the morning it is there. And from all of the letters I have read, you are right nobody believes you. I have never had these before. But my Mom, Aunt and Grandma all get them, but not like this? Lucky me huh : )... The doctors have given me every medication mentionable. And I have had all of the test CT, MRI, the dye to the brain. And nobody can figure it out. Today I am going to have them give me medication through and IV? Have no idea if this will work or not, has anyone ever done this before? I am only 35 and have a 6 year old in Kindegarten. I have always been very active with Ryan and now, I have problems just getting up to take a shower. I want my normal life back and my son to know that today I don't have a headache. God bless...

Kimberly Jasinski

Kim Jasinski <Rymansmom3@aol.com>
Tuesday, November 6, 2001 at 07:37:50

Does anyone out there have any experience with methadone for migraines? I believe doctor's don't give us the good drugs for pain and, I don't have to tell you guys that migraine pain is the worst. I recently (last May) went to a pain clinic in my town and had been taking vicodin for about 1 1/2 years. This doctor put me on norco and of course it helps the pain but doesn't last long. (4 to 6 tabs per headache). So now he has me on methadone and I love it. 1 to 1 1/2 per headache and what a difference in the pain level, especially if taken with Maxalt or some other migrine med. Give it up. Is your doctor reluctant to give you narcotics? I am curious. (And a little angry that all the years I have suffered from migraine (almost 40 years) I am just now getting some real relief).

Melinda Anderson <mellanderson@netscape.net>
Monday, November 5, 2001 at 22:12:49

Does anyone out there have any experience with methadone for migraines? I believe doctor's don't give us the good drugs for pain and, I don't have to tell you guys that migraine pain is the worst. I recently (last May) went to a pain clinic in my town and had been taking vicodin for about 1 1/2 years. This doctor put me on norco and of course it helps the pain but doesn't last long. (4 to 6 tabs per headache). So now he has me on methadone and I love it. 1 to 1 1/2 per headache and what a difference in the pain level, especially if taken with Maxalt or some other migrine med. Give it up. Is your doctor reluctant to give you narcotics? I am curious. (And a little angry that all the years I have suffered from migraine (almost 40 years) I am just now getting some real relief).

Melinda Anderson <mellanderson@netscape.net>
Monday, November 5, 2001 at 22:10:28

Wow, I don't feel so alone anymore....so many others out there with these devestating headaches...Thanks to Rhonda for putting up this web page. I've had migraines since my 20's and they've been getting worse over the past 6 years. I got a tick-borne illness in 1994 which was treated but I have developed fibromyalgia as a result. As the fibro gets worse, so do the headaches...I look at fibro mostly as a sleep disorder and as my sleep has been getting worse, so has the occurance of migraines. I get them almost daily and this summer they would last for 10-12 days, nothing would touch it. The neurologist has me trying an entire suite of epileptic drugs as a preventitive and numerous abortive drugs. Topamax has calmed them down a bit so I don't get them as long, but they are still extremely painful, so the intensity has not changed. One thing I have been trying which I think is helping is that I got tested for food allergies and found out I'm allergic to many foods but mostly wheat, corn, soy, garlic and tomatoes. Let me tell you how hard it is to find something to eat especially when I tend to be vegetarian in my diet. Anything with soy oil in it gives instant migraine...and that is many things if you read the label. I'm doing allergy shots for food but I think avoidance is the best method....maybe this information will help some of you out. Thanks for listening.

Stephanie <schmidts128@hotmail.com>
Monday, November 5, 2001 at 18:37:38

Hi everyone,
I have suffered from chronic daily headaches for about three years and I am 23 years old. I have tried everything from medications, acupuncture, chirpractic and change of diet. The only thing that has helped me is a drug called Depakote, but the effects wore off and it started not to help anymore. I have never met anyone who suffers with what I have. I don't even know if they are migraines or tension headaches. I don't experience nausea or auras. I just have a dull, achy feeling on the top to back part of my head almost eveyday. If someone elase experiences this as well, I would really appreciate knowing your experiences.

Thanks.

Jessica <potruch@aol.com>
Monday, November 5, 2001 at 14:40:17