I am on the tail end of a migraine as I type this, I read some of the other journal entries and cringed because I could honestly feel your pain. My husband had to come home from work as I could not care for my son.
I am 31, never suffered from migraines before I had my son. My son is 19 months old and I have an average of 3-4 migraines a month. I have been to a neurologist who confirmed what many people (including my OB) that my migraines are due to my hormones and that they are a common developement in women who have given birth. I also have a tension headache during my period.

I am currently on Imitrex 5omg ( I can only take it if I wake up in the middle of the night with a migraine as it makes my too dizzy ) Amerge, and I take Naproxen during my period for the tension headaches.

I cannot believe that I have so many prescriptions for my migraines. I am trying to be proactive in my fight against them. I have cut out all trigger food even though I know that mine are hormonal.

I going to try the supplement migra-lieve, it is a combonation of a few different herbs: feverfew, magnesium and riboflavin. I actually ordered it and then read about someone else's positive experience with it on this journal board.

I would love to correspond with another woman who also suffers from migraines due to the rise and fall of hormone levels.

feel free to email me.
twosillydogs@aol.com
Carrie

Carrie Alpert <twosillydogs@aol.com>
Friday, January 26, 2001 at 13:37:23

I just wanted to share a new product that I have been using with you. =
It has helped me so much, that I want to share the info with you so that =
you can tell others.=20

Its a fairly new product called migra-lieve. what it is is a =
supplement. Its not a medication and it won't stop a migrain once it =
starts like imitrex or something, but I have been using it for four =
months and it has really helped me. I only get half as many headaches =
as i used to.

it is made of a combination of magnesium, riboflavin and an herb called =
feverfew. I am really pleased with my sucess so far and I hope that =
this information can help someone else as much as it's helped me.

go to the website that sells it and check it out. =
http://www.naturalhealthmed.com

thanks,

Karis Kimmel

karis kimmel <karis@primaryhub.com>
Wednesday, January 24, 2001 at 14:44:08

Hello fellow migraine sisters and brothers!
Wow what a total Godsend this forum has been...I discovered it just a few days ago....I cannot begin to express how much it means to me to read about all of you - so candidly expressing your woes with this beast we all are forced to live with! I knew other people suffered from migraines and chronic pain, but I do not personally KNOW anyone who does. Except me - and it's so nice to hear my story through you all.....funny how we all seem to face the same prejudices, the same walls go up in front of us, and so many of us seem to be fighting the same fight. We have the pain in common, and the needless struggle that so often accompanies this pain--just trying to get treated with even an ounce of dignity and have our issues addressed without being treated like heroin junkies. It is really sad.
I am 30 years old, and have suffered from migraines since I was a child. At first, I had no pain, just really odd visual disturbances that at the time I was afraid to tell anyone about. When I was an older child I experienced abdominal migraines....first the aura and then the abdominal pain and nausea. My mother just thought I didn't want to go to school....sound familiar? As a teen, my aura got stronger, and was immediately followed by horrible pain in my head, which finally was diagnosed as migraines. The doc never explained them though, he just sent me home with Inderal and told me to lie down. I thought I had to suffer without any pain relief. Back then there was aspirin and Tylenol - neither did a thing. And the inderal did nothing but cause me breathing problems - which was asthma....I didn't even get that diagnosed until a year ago when my current doc tried Inderal again and the Asthma kicked in immediately so strong that she was like "why didn't you tell me you had asthma?" I had never before even made the connection, because the docs had never said anything about it! You tell them a what is happening to you, but they never explain anything.......by the time I was 19-20 my migraines were so bad I'd get dehydrated from all the vomiting, my head pounded so bad I wanted to die. And I was up to getting this unwelcome visitor weekly. I went from getting straight A's in college to dropping out. My job was always in jeopardy, but my bosses liked what I did when I could work, so I was always lucky enough to keep working when I was able. Then as suddenly as they started, the migraines were gone. I had 5 years without pain. In 1995, I was hospitalized for 49 days with unexplained abdominal pain, and symptons like weakness, bleeding.....The docs did three BIG surgeries and found little. They labeled me as having something called "Munchhausen"--which means they thought I was somehow DOING this TO myself for ATTENTION and DRUGS!~!!!!! As if. So I was watched like a criminal. everything was labeled, I wasn't even allowed to go to the bathroom alone, and I wasn't allowed to SHAVE in the shower (even though they were there watching me) because they didn't want me to "mutilate myself". After my symptoms continued despite the 24 hour surveillance, they were even MORE mean....I guess when docs cannot find disease, they do not believe the patient............anyway to make an already too long story a little shorter, I finally was released from the hospital withthe label of drug seeker and was banned from the ER. I went home and suffered like i cannot even express here. Months later, it subsided. I gained back the nearly 40 pounds I lost, and got stronger. I was painfree again.......until just about 18 months ago. Migraines back, now with a vengeance, every ten days on average......occasionally i go as much as three weeks.....sometimes they are back-to-back. I know you all relate. But I cannot GO to the ER if they get bad because I am labeled a "narc seeker" (remember that hospital stay? One doc took it upon himself to send a letter to every ER in our city telling them NOT to treat me) **aren't we allowed to ask for narcotics if we are in severe pain???Cant they see the difference between that and a "high" seeker???** So, although I have a pretty good FP (we became best friends before the migraines came back....so she doesn't treat me the way other docs do) She is, though, limited in her knowledge of migraines and treats me as well as she knows how. I am learning all I can so that I can bring her info. But she's so conservative that I get NO pain relief except when I break down and go in to her office (by then dehydrated) So I get no more than one shot of Demerol per major event. The rest of the time I suffer and wish death upon myself. I do not want to push her....at least she believes me. If she only knew WHY I wont go into the ER....I don't have the guts to tell her - Im afraid if she reads the letter from that doc, she'll become like the rest of them. I know you guys suffer the same discrimination. It makes me SO SO mad.
So, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE and posting your stories. Thanks for reading mine (LONG-sorry) God bless all of you - I will pray that one day we can all be treated with the dignity we deserve no matter HOW we feel. Thanks again for listening-I've never shared before.

Bekki <bekkid@mac.com>
Wednesday, January 24, 2001 at 10:27:56

Dear Fellow Migraine Sufferers,

I am a 30 year old male who has suffered from migraines since
I was 8 years old. Back then, I remember playing on the
playground and experiencing the aura from the bright sunlight.
I had no idea what was going on. Imagine being 8 and not being
able to see clearly out of one eye. I was scared. The aura
would last twenty minutes and then the headached would start.
It was not a throbbing headache, just constant and nauseating.
Then, the numbness would set in. First, it would start in
the back of my mouth, then proceed to my tongue, then down
my left shoulder, through my left arm, and out my fingers.
The headache would last until the next day.

Over the years, I was told the migraines were due to stress,
lack of sleep, or certain foods. My nerves were always bad,
which probably triggered the migraines. I had a severe panic
attack when I was 20 and went on Nardil for depression. But,
I had to quit drinking while on the Nardil, and there was no
way I was going to quit drinking while a Junior at college.

So, for the next five years I was a nervous wreck, and I dealt
with the migraines with cigarettes, alcohol, and cafergot.
Nothing seemed to work, until I found imipramine. I did not
have one migraine for four years. My nerves were calm while
on the imipramine, but I was depressed.

So, I am now on Paxil, and within the last 6 weeks, I have
had at least 6 migraines. What is the cause? Could it be
old contacts, contacts in my eyes. My nerves are calm, I am a little depressed,but I continually get migraines.

Any advice?

Stephen G. Fitzpatrick <michfitzp@aol.com>
Friday, January 19, 2001 at 21:42:45

Hi lisaK

It sounds like you need to se a dr or neurologist. Taking pain meds often can cause rebound migraines which starts you in a terrible cycle.

If the pain meds are not getting rid of the migraine, you may need a prescription med to help you.

Please see your dr. or find a dr. who specializes in migraines.

Catherine

Catherine <clauze@biovail.com>
Friday, January 19, 2001 at 10:36:16

I am an 19 year old female who has just started to get migraines. About two years ago I began getting the auras, but hadn't gotten a headache until this past year. Recently the pain has become much more intense and my doctor has told me that they will probably get progressively worse. Just the other day i had to leave class at the University I am attending due to the pain. I need help. I can't keep missing class because of the pain. I should note that I also had to stop taking notes because the aura restricted my vision so much.
Is there anything I can do? I am able to cope with the pain if I take Excedrin Migraine pills, and seclude myself in a dark room. What I am is most frusterated with at this point, is the auras. Is there anything I can do to stop them or lessen the severity?
Your help would be greatly appriciated.

Meghan <tmeg@hotmail>
Thursday, January 18, 2001 at 19:18:04

Hello everyone! I am 23yr old Female and I am just
starting to suffer from migranes I got sinus headaches
in the past but latley I have been getting really bad
migranes. I hope someone can suggest something to help me.
I have a migrane and I have had it for the past 2 days and it
won't go away I have taken pain killer, excedrine migrane
nothing is working can someone please email me suggestions.
When I get them they get so bad I throw up all most all of
the time! Someone please suggest something!!! Thanks!!

LisaK <strech3120@aol.com>
Thursday, January 18, 2001 at 10:20:27

wow- my mind is blown from reading all these posts. i can't believe i am just now learning about this great (and by that i mean huge) community of people who are all trying their best to cope with frequent and severe pain.

i fit right in. i'm 29 and have had migraines since i was in second grade. my mom remembers me 'blacking out' and describing pain in my head when i'd come home from school. when i was 16 the headaches began to cycle with my menstrual schedule. and when i was 19 i got the first one that led to an ER visit. for the last ten years i've gotten at least two major migraines a month, and about two years ago, i began to get them once weekly. in the past year headaches have become a daily part of my existence with severe migraines occuring for about 10 days in a row each month in the days before, during and after menstruation.

i'm doing all that i can to not take a 'backseat' to this pain. i see a neurologist regularly, as well as an acupuncturist, and a therapist to help me cope with the very real and tough emotional issues surrounding chronic pain. i take 2 percocet and 1 zomig daily, with my headache responding fairly well. then on the horrid ten days a month, i take a combination of morphine and demoral injections (that my dr. finally prescribed to me so that i wouldn't have to make monthly trips to the hospital).

i relate to what most everyone has posted here- feelings of depression from having to repeatedly cancel family and other social occasions, missing work, constantly wondering if i'm somehow responsible for the pain, feeling unhealthy about having to take so much medication, embarassed to have to call in and pick up narcotic medication so frequently, angry that life seems so unfair in that i'm having to experience pain everyday... and on and on.

there are no easy answers, it is truly very hard to face chronic pain --and the severity of migraines is unreal (worse than giving birth, from my perspective).

i have come to feel that it is important to refuse to submit to the pain, to keep trying new alternative treatments (aromatherapy, self- hypnosis, etc.) and to have hope rather than giving up. to remember that i am not to blame for this pain, nor do i have any reason to be ashamed of it-- or what i need to do to manage it- and also to connect with others- as we all are here- who are in the same boat...so that we do not feel alone in this.

i wish you all well and am grateful to have found you.

holly <hbhb@mindspring.com>
Wednesday, January 17, 2001 at 19:44:01

I have suffered with migraines for the past 15 years. I am now trying Cafergot. I am surprised at how "spacey" it makes me feel- more so than narcotic pain relivers. It works great, but leaves me very "out of it". Have any of you had the same experience/symptom?

Connie
Wednesday, January 17, 2001 at 19:28:37

Hi people

I am an 18 year old girl who has been suffering from migraine attacks since my early teens.
I have experienced both common and classic migraine, but most of the time i get classic migraine.
It normally starts with a blind spot in one or both of my eyes, whereby, for example,
I may not be able to see someones face. I then get severe numbness
and tingling down the left hand side of my body from the top
of my head to my toes. In extremely severe migraines I have suffered,
this has been followed by severe confusion-everyone sounding distant,
but extremely load at the same time (?!), blurred vision, inability
to speak and extreme weakness of the limbs. I have been told that this
could have been migrainal stroke-is that just a myth? I then often vomit
and go extremely green/grey. It is only after all of that when the throbbing
headache sets in, usually on the right hand side.
I take migraleve tablets which seem to work-but only if taken before the
migraine. But they leave you feeling extremely drowsy and without energy
to do anything.
From my personal experience I have found that non migraine sufferers
just think of migraine as a headache, they don't understand quite how
severe they are. Even with family, they don't take it seriously and
tend to still make a lot of noise. I get really upset if that
happens, and have found myself to become emotional and cry, which they then think I
am being over-sensitive. Does anyone else find that?

Best regards, and hope you are all well,

Becky :)

Becky
Wednesday, January 17, 2001 at 17:30:42

Hi people

I am an 18 year old girl who has been suffering from migraine attacks since my early teens.
I have experienced both common and classic migraine, but most of the time i get classic migraine.
It normally starts with a blind spot in one or both of my eyes, whereby, for example,
I may not be able to see someones face. I then get severe numbness
and tingling down the left hand side of my body from the top
of my head to my toes. In extremely severe migraines I have suffered,
this has been followed by severe confusion-everyone sounding distant,
but extremely load at the same time (?!), blurred vision, inability
to speak and extreme weakness of the limbs. I have been told that this
could have been migrainal stroke-is that just a myth? I then often vomit
and go extremely green/grey. It is only after all of that when the throbbing
headache sets in, usually on the right hand side.
I take migraleve tablets which seem to work-but only if taken before the
migraine. But they leave you feeling extremely drowsy and without energy
to do anything.
From my personal experience I have found that non migraine sufferers
just think of migraine as a headache, they don't understand quite how
severe they are. Even with family, they don't take it seriously and
tend to still make a lot of noise. I get really upset if that
happens, and have found myself to become emotional and cry, which they then think I
am being over-sensitive. Does anyone else find that?

Best regards, and hope you are all well,

Becky :)

Becky
Wednesday, January 17, 2001 at 17:29:37

Hi there all. I am 25 and have been sufering from classic migraines since 95. The prescription stuff really doesn't work for me. I take excederin migraine with caffinated tea and it usually helps, but I usually have to follow up with another dose eventually. Can't really seem to find anything that stops them completely. -Sarah

Sarah Marchuk <sbmusic@tm.net>
Wednesday, January 17, 2001 at 15:01:31

Shelley,
Well, it seems you have found the "old trick" for combating
a migraine! While this is ok to do once a month, it can cause
rebound headache if done too often. While most migrainers
have heard of getting a rebound headache from pain killers, few have heard of getting a rebound from straight caffiene, but it can happen.

Dana

Dana <InsomniacInTexas@aol.com>
Monday, January 15, 2001 at 20:47:28

Hello fellow migraine suffers;

First of all I would like to wish everyone a Happy & Painfree New Year.
My migraines are what you call classic migraines, I get a warning siginal which is floaters in front of my eyes and I get tunnell vision, then about 20 min. later I have a migraine. Well I just moved to a new city and I am having a hard time finding a doctor to treat me, I take Percocet and they are a narcotic. Most doctors are very weary to give this medication to anyone espcially chronic migraine suffers. Just after Christmas I had my purse stolen and all my medication was taken with my purse, when I phoned the doctor and asked him to renew my medication his receptionist got on the phone and basically accused me of lying, I have not gone back to him yet but I will mention the way his receptionist treated me that day. You feel bad enough without having to be basically called a lier by someone that doesen't even know you or your problem, anyway I did not get my perscription renewed so I have been suffering with this headach since then. I guess the question I am putting out there is who's the one that should be making the decisions the receptionist or the doctor? Since then I have been to the pain clinic having nerve blocks every 3rd day.They are needles in your head and they hurt almost as much as the migraine does.
I feel like I'm at the end of my rope and having someone accuse my of lying makes me more fustrated then you will ever know. I am going back to see him this week and I will see what happens.
I am also requesting that she apoligzes to me for making me feel like a complete idiot. I will post a message letting you all know what happens. Until then.

Hope, Faith & Prayers to my fellow migraine suffers

Wanda

Wanda <vinky@sprint.ca>
Sunday, January 14, 2001 at 21:25:30

I've suffered migraines since early childhood (my earliest recollection is about age 4, I'm now nearing 50 years). My mom always told me when I was a little girl that my pain was "in my head", little did she know that was true (but not in the way she meant it.) What she did teach me though was to learn to cope with pain and consequently, I have a fairly high pain tolerance level. Gee, thanks mom.

My husband (GOD BLESS HIM) stumbled across some VERY HELPFUL info for me that I will pass along to all of you. At the ONSET (this is important) I take 2 aspirin, 2 acetaminophen and 1 cup of strong coffee (caffeine). I don't drink coffee and I have tried caffeine sodas, but they don't seem to do the trick like the coffee does. If you're like me, I just put in a lot of cream and sugar and choke it down. I've varied the dosage of 1+1(which didn't seem strong enough) and 3+3(which seemed too much medicine for my system), 2+2+ coffee just seemed to be sufficient. It does require the COMBINATION of the 3: aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine; and it does require that you ingest these AS SOON AS YOU FEEL AN ATTACK coming on. I've tried this formula after I've already had considerable pain, and it has not remedied the pain, only dulled it. I've also used the expensive brands of aspirin and Tylenol products, but the generic/inexpensive stuff has worked just as well. I know this sounds too simple or too easy...I thought so too, but I did my own tracking, and without fail, I have had success as long as I "catch-it" as soon as I feel a migraine attack coming on. This formula has worked for the other folks I have told with great results too! Hopefully, it might work for you as well. Good luck and God Bless. It's great to feel great!

Shelley
Saturday, January 13, 2001 at 16:23:42