Hi.

I have been suffering from migraines since I was 10 years old and I had tried everything to help my migraines. Nothing worked. Finally I tried imiterex, which works wonderfully if I can take it right when a migraine starts. Unfortunately I am like so many people in America that do not have health insurance and the prescription is very expensive without insurance. I have finally found something that has helped me. Migra-Lieve. My friend had started taking it and said it helped her so i decided to try it. it is a natural supplement that combines feverfew, magnesium and riboflavin. I have only had one Migraine in the last 4 months that I have been taking it. a vast improvement from my normal 2 or 3 a month. I think that it is worth a try for anyone who suffers from migraine. it is inexpensive and well worth it if it takes your migraines away. another good thing is that it has very few side effects. if anyone wants to order it, i ordered it from http://www.naturalhealthmed.com. I think there are information packets available from there too.

Sincerely,

Karis Kimmel

karis kimmel <karis@primaryhub.com>
Friday, March 2, 2001 at 16:09:03

Hi everyone,
My name is Patty. I am so thankful to have found this site a couple of days ago. I am 37 years old and have suffered migraines for the past 17 years. I had my first migraine while I was pregnant with my daughter. I have seen 3 neurologists to no avail. I also have mitro valve prolapse so they are limited as to the preventative medications that they can give me. I have suffered the bad ER visits that everyone here seems to have been thru. Thankfully I have an understanding husband. I know that I have missed out on a lot with my daughter and life in general. Most people do not look forward to their child turning 16 so that they can drive. I can not say that. I was thankful when she did, so that she would be able to participate in more at school and have a more normal life. Thank goodness that she is a very responsible young lady in whom I can trust to do what she is supposed to do. I am currently taking Inderal 160 mg. per day, and 150 mg. of trazadone at bedtime, I am currently not on any pain meds due to a bad experience at my local caring & helpful!ha ha..emergency clinic who think that the only reason I come there is to seek out drugs. I guess they don't know that if that was the only reason, that I could probably get them on the street for less, especially since my PPO does not pay for visits there. Well, I just wanted to say thanks for this website. It is wonderful to see that there is a place to vent, and to share your experiences, and to get advice. Thanks again.

Patty Chaney <totweet1064@yahoo.com>
Thursday, March 1, 2001 at 14:31:05

GOD BLESS YOU
I have seen your web site www.migrainepage.com. i am interested to help the people
who suffered by the so called migraine thrugh out the world.
migraine affected persons are generaly using alopathy medicines. Alopathy
medicines given to the migraine patients are generally pain killers, but
they cannot give permanent relief .In India traditonely we used few rare
herbal medicines for curing migraine. After the introduction of alopathy
medicines in India the traditionaly used medicines were vanished. After a
long serach of that particular herb we found out and using as a powerful
medicine for migraine. presently we are curing migraine with the help of few
rare natural herbals, which are found only in south India. the herbs we are
using was traditionaly used by sages, monks and swamigies, and been accepted
as a powerful medicine for migraine. If you are interested you are always
welcome to our Ashram and get permanent relief from migraine. reply with
confidence.
have a migraine free world

jeninjose <jenin_jose@hotmail.com>
Saturday, February 24, 2001 at 08:05:59

Hi all, I am an intermittent migraine sufferer - luckily I only have one every few years, but when I get one, watch out.

Well, I had one this week. Not head pain as much as awful, unrelenting horrible nausea and vomiting...well, also lots of head pain, don't get me wrong ;)

I'm also a sufferer of severe allergies to tree pollen, dust, cats, etc. and I have terrible recurring PMS with lots of lightheadedness, nausea and other migraine-type symptoms.

The reason I bring this up is I think it's all related. I have yet to find a doctor who does more than scratch his/her head when confronted with any of this, but one thing I notice helps with the PMS (besides 1200 mg calcium a day) is about 150 mg of St Johns Wort when I start getting that headachey feeling. 150 mg is a VERY small dose of this stuff - for some reason it packs quite a wallop and clears up my lightheadedness and jittery feelings quickly.

Was just reading online that depression is highly linked to migraines - St Johns and other SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are often prescribed for those issues as well as for PMS.

I notice a HUGE difference in my own lightheadedness and other PMS symptoms with SSRIs. I took about 300 mg two hours or so ago and I feel normal again, as opposed to the past two days spent with chills, fever, headache, nausea.

If doctors can't help us, we have to help ourselves. Hope this works for somebody.

p.s. the article I read said that intermittent dosage of the SSRI is best for PMS related neurological symptoms. In other words, take it only when you get symptoms or you may develop an immunity. (Prozac is also an SSRI, in addition to St Johns - DO NOT take these together)...

article is here.

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/ssripmt.htm




Good luck!

Eleanor Arroway <volks1wag@yahoo.com>
Friday, February 23, 2001 at 22:28:22

Here is the URL for that Basilar Artery Migraine page:

http://s-2000.com/forum/bam.html
Mel

Melonie
Friday, February 23, 2001 at 16:05:56

RE: Mike Green's entryHi Mike! Haven't seen you post in the discussion board. There you will find lots of people who have similar symptoms as you, including me. The numbness and tingling are quite common. Unfotunately not all doctors are knowledgable of migraines. Some live in the stone-age of believing a migraine is JUST a headache. I have more information regarding what you are experiencing. Feel free to email me or post on the discussion board. There are alot of people here who, by their experiences, can share a wealth of information. Someone here referred me to a great site that goes into detail about migraine variants and symptoms. The only thing I find there is it isn't as active with discussion so you will definatly get more support here. Here is that sites name: Karen S. Hunttings Basilar Artery Migraine Page. Hope to see you around.Melonie p.s. You might want to get a new doctor. :)

Melonie <Luv_bn_a_mom@webtv.net>
Thursday, February 22, 2001 at 12:57:11

I have only been experiencing migraines for about 5 years, after the birth of my first child. I am frustrated and confused
I am on my fourth Nuerologist. My current DR is at Shands Hosp in Gainesville FL and he seems better than the rest. I have been on Depakote, Tegretol, Imitrex, Midrin, Prozac, Fiorinal, Fioricet,Loracet, Hydrocodon, and the list goes on. I am currently on Dilantin. My problem now is the pain gets so intense I pass out. I have been told everyhting from I will have to learn to live with it to it is all in my head. I ask them for alternative treatments such as diets or whatever, they all seems to have no answers except drugs. I am the mother of two young children and hate to be doped up all the time there has to be another way, I am home now and cannot work because I have up to three a week and they last anywhere from 4 hours to two days. I feel desperate I am not even sure why I am writing this I guess I am venting. I am trying to be optomistic and tell myself that the end is in sight but I am only fooling myself, I have yet to find a drug that sooths the migraine, the drugs only give me other side effects on top of the pain, light sensitivity and nausea. There must be a cure or at least a better understanding of the reason behind this awful thing.....

Janal <Spurtle@Bellsouth.net>
Wednesday, February 21, 2001 at 15:13:13

Hey there all

I'm 24 years old and have suffered migraines since I was a kid. Like most long term sufferers these have got steadily worse as I got older. They start with flashing in my eyes, and I am unable to read anything or focuss on anyones face for about 3 hours. Once the vision problems go I then develop a severe headache and experience confusion or scatterbrainedness. I'm writing because in the last year I have developed a strange symptom. After my vision disapears I get a strange numb tingling through my lips and in the tips of my fingers. This numbness spreads up my body and all over my face for about half an hour. The doctors have never heard of it, so I was wondering if any of you has had this uncomortable experience?

Mike

Mike greene
Wednesday, February 21, 2001 at 05:07:54

Re: Atkin's Diet: This is my first time reading the journal and I think that it's great that so many people can commiserate about their different headaches. I have had migraines (classic) for 10 years ever since I was 18. Since I am also a registered dietician, I have a special interest in foods that cause migraine. In regards to the lady who is using the Atkin's diet, I would strongly recommend everyone to stay away from this as a way of finding foods that migraineurs can tolerate. Bingeing on any food is unhealthy, and in my opinion this diet simply does not provide enough of a variety to be healthful (I am not alone in this thought--many nutritionists have this opinion, too). I believe that if a person is suffering from diet-related headaches (or headaches made worse by certain foods), the best thing to do is to meet with your physician first to make sure that you do not have any type of nutritional deficiency. From then on you AND you physician or physician-approved nutritionist can work on concentrating on those foods that may be causing problems. The Atkin's diet is probably one of the worst diets out there, for any person. And of course, no diet or exercise program should be started before talking to your doctor. Anyway, here's hoping that everyone finds a safe way to be pain free!

Michelle Kesey
Monday, February 19, 2001 at 23:59:04

Hi migraine sufferers. This is the first time I have written
in the journal, but have been reading entries for about a month.
I am a 35 year old female (mother of 2) who started getting
headaches at 13 also (this sounds typical of many of you).
They got worse in my 20's and much worse in my 30's after having
children. I have recently seen a neurologist who has put me
on "Depakote". I started out at 500mg and now am on 1000mg.
Have any of you been on this medication and what were the results? I would be glad to get some feedback. Also, I am on
Zomig which seems to work most of the time. When it doesn't work at all, my pharmacist says that it is probobly a different type of headache than a migraine. My problem is - I can't tell the difference. Do any of you have trouble with this? Sensitivity to light and sound and nausea happen with all headaches for me.

Katie <Kteliason@aol.com>
Monday, February 19, 2001 at 12:24:58

Hi everyone! I don't know if any of you remember me, but I am JANA! I have been offline now for quite awhile and just got back online and just had to come to this page and say hello to all of you. I would love to hear from you all. Hope everyone is pain free.
~Jana

~Jana <SanAntonioGal36@hotmail.com>
Sunday, February 18, 2001 at 13:07:03

Hi, I haven't posted here for about a year because my migraine and headache problem that robbed so many years of my life has become a thing of the past. I used the Dr. Atkins low carb, no sugar diet and discovered that it no only cured my migraines (including the menstrual ones) but it also cured my chronic fatigue, and I lost weight to boot. I'm not saying this will work for everyone but I considered my migraines to be intractable since i was sixteen (am now 41) and I feel like I've finally got my life back by basically eliminating a few foods while being able to pig out on foods I really love. I hope someone else will try this approach as I think if it worked for me it has to work for others with the same problem. Dr Atkins claims successs with all types of headaches. For more info just do a search on 'Dr Robert Atkins' and there's tons of info out there, Good luck to anyone who takes the plunge. wendy

wendy <bluetulip9@aol.com>
Friday, February 16, 2001 at 18:02:09

I recently started seeing a neurologist for my combination headaches (cluster/migraine) I've had these since the age of 13 and I am now 33 (female/wife/mother of 2)
The neurologist put me on a medication called "Neurontin" which is used as a seizure medication. Has anyone had any success with this treatment?
I pray for everyone a pain-free existance from migraines! (Wouldn't it be nice to live in such a world?)

Debbie <mauimarried@hotmail.com>
Friday, February 16, 2001 at 14:46:12

Hi there everyone!!! What a relief that I know that people are the same as me! I am a 21 year old student in Houston, Texas. I was diagnosed with Cluster Migraines 2 years ago. I usually get auras and then the pain jumps all over my head. I mean literally jump from one spot to another!!! I have had MRI's and Cat Scans and that is the conclusion that my Neurologist came to. They had put me on a calcium blocker pill, which didn't seem to help much. So, now I live on Advil and any type of mild pain killer. She has prescribed me a heavy dose of Imitrex and it made me extremely sick. I notice if that I lay down and nap the pain goes away( temporarly). Then I started to notice pain in my face, arms, legs, and etc. I guess I have to take it easy and relax myself.If anyone has any input, I'd love to hear from you. Thank you and I hope they can cure this thing!!!
Christina

Christina <Bina0915@aol.com>
Tuesday, February 13, 2001 at 15:08:00

I have been diagnosed with Cluster Migraines. I am not too sure how it all happened, but I know that particular pain and it drives me crazy. I am 21 years old and have been suffering for about 2 years. It first came with seeing black and shiny spots. Eventually, I would get a sharp pain that would jump all over my head. I was very confused and felt dizzy. I had MRI's and Cat Scans and my doctor says that is what is. I was just curious if anyone gets the pain that jumps and it comes for me 2 a week. I am learning to cope with all of this, but it does take it's toll on me and my college life. If there is anyone who has the same symptoms, I would love to hear from you. Thank you and I hope they can figure something out soon.

Christina <Bina0915@aol.com>
Tuesday, February 13, 2001 at 14:57:28