Help with migraines...please!

[onelilspark]

Oh...I'm stressing myself out, which, ironically might give me a migraine

So here's my deal: I've been getting migraines for as long as I can remember, diagnosed when I was in the second grade Basically, they're a way of life for me...about a year and half ago I was getting them once every other day (ouch ) So my doctor put me on Topamax. I'm now down to about once per week. I'm still way over the threshold of what's considered "chronic" but by my standards, it's heaven.

Here's my problem...the Topamax is costing me $100 every three months. I went on the generic (hello $15! ) and it made me dopey So back on the brand name I went. I just logged onto my mail-order site to reorder my regular migraine medicine, Zomig, and discovered that it's now also $100 for a 3 month supply...used to be somewhere around $35. I guess they decided to go with another migraine medicine

Ok, so let's add in a curve ball...I've tried Amerge and Imitrex and they've done absolutely nothing for me. Zip, zero, zilch. So far, Zomig is the only one that has worked. I've also tried other preventatives...a low dose anti-depressant (I was really happy, but that's about it) and a low dose low blood pressure med (where the doctor had a hard time finding my pulse, but still I got plenty of migraines...)

I have a hard time paying $800/year for migraine medicine. Can the good people of the DIS help me out?? Any suggestions? I have a hard time with the idea of shooting something up my nose (nasal sprays) or using a syringe...so those meds are kind of out, unless they're miracle drugs. Just about any other ideas I'm open to at this point!

 

[pezheadmeg]

I'm lucky enough that I know my triggers and how to avoid them. But to be honest what works the best for me is old fashioned No Doze. I pop one, then lay down for about an hour and usually I'm okay to go.

I have a friend who eventually went on Botox for her Migraines. Injections every 4 months worked wonders. Even a year after her last injection she rarely needs her imitrex. And her insurance covered the injections.

 

[onelilspark]

I've heard about Botox and migraines. My boyfriend keeps joking about it...but he doesn't realize I'm half-serious.

And with No Doze...I wish that would work for me. With my work schedule, there are some days that I just cannot reschedule. Like today for example. I had a meeting 2.5hrs away, woke up with a migraine, took my Zomig, hopped in the car and prayed it would be gone before I got to my meeting! I think having more of a set work schedule would help wonders, but that would require a new job...

I forgot about listing my triggers...here we go
Extra sharp cheddar cheese (sharp is fine, it just can't go higher than that!)
Lack of sleep
Too much sleep
Lack of caffiene
Too much caffiene
Regular, good 'ol lime margaritas
Too much alcohol (more than 2 drinks)
Red Wine
Too much sun, not enough water...basically I get dehydrated quickly
Really bright lights that I accidentally look into
Weather
Hormones
Stress (luckily I'm usually a pretty non-stressed person)
Skipping a meal

...I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Basically, if it's a common trigger, it's probably one of mine

 

[gulf breeze]

Maxalt is what I use but now the Dr. is telling me I can't take more than 3 in a month The Topomax made me waaaaayyyyy to moody.

 

[kacaju]

Maxalt!! I do take more then three a month.

 

[suzimar57]

my DH has had migraines all his life (he's 46 now) - these days, it's Maxalt meltables - and he's been taking 3-4 a week - that's right: 3-4 a WEEK....

nothing else helps - he's been on all you've described above, especially Imitrex - we're at the point where i now drive him to the ER when the migraine is especially bad (and they give him morphine for relief)

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I get migraines. My trigger is chiropractic-related. Some movement of my neck does it, but I can't figure it out completely. It's either turning my neck to look in the direction of my right arm, or looking downward towards my right shoulder, or pressure on my right-side neck - something like that triggers the headache. I get the classic zigzags in my vision (lasting 30-40 minutes), then a headache above my right eye for a day or so. Sadly I been getting them again more frequently in the last couple years. Sigh.

I have no perscriptions since my minimal insurance would never cover such a thing, and nothing seems to work anyways. Just got to live with them, and be careful about my posture. I haven't had a migraine in 4 weeks so I bet I'm due soon.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I just started acupuncture. Didn't hurt a bit. We'll see if it helps.

 

[TaraPA]

A lot of people may be skeptical over this but try a scalp, head & neck massage. I swear they're the only thing that works, even after popping a Treximet sometimes. I've taught my 9-year old how to do them (seriously!) I had a migraine for over a week once & was at my breaking point. My MIL, as much as I can't stand her, rubbed peppermint oil on my forehead & gave me a 10-minute scalp & neck massage. The migraine was GONE within 15 minutes. If you don't want to pay for one look up how to do one online - there are certain pressure points on your scalp & forehead to rub. It can't hurt to try it!

 

[onelilspark]

Thanks to everyone! I'll make an appointment with my doctor and see what she'll recommend. It's always good to have an idea of what else is out there though, so I know what I'm talking about when I go in to see her

 

[tinkerfan1]

Topamax and Zomig are about all that have ever worked for me, too. However, I think that if I would take my vitamins, I wouldn't need to take the Zomig as frequently as I do. Maxalt did NOTHING for me. I am a huge fan of Dr. Andrew Weil. You might want to check out his website, www.drweil.com, and see what natural treatments he recommends. He is a very smart man. I trust his recommendations and have truly benefited from following many of them. If I lived anywhere remotely close to Arizona, I would definitely try to become one of his patients! Best of luck to you as I know this is no fun!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have a friend who gets them so bad that she has to go and get a shot at her doc's office. No idea what they are giving her, but it is the only thing that works for her. (and no idea how that turns out with insurance.)

I've only had 2 in my life--the first was unmedicated and 3-4 days of torture (and my mom who has migraines regularly didn't think well enough to take me to a doc to get meds that would work--I was 17 and clueless).

The other was 1.5 years ago and the doc gave me meds that knocked the headache, but not the tension that gets left behind and it worked for the headache.

I had them as backup, but I couldn't fill the full prescripton b/c the price was horrible. So I bought 3 pills for $150. (hadn't met deductible so it was cash for all of them).

I can empathasize on cost--but no idea what you can do as a chronic sufferer other than have the meds that work on hand.

By body is usually responsive to massage/triggerpoint/pressure point therapies, but not with a migraine. That 4 days of migraine torture..we had gone up to my step-dads family and his sister was in massage school and used every technique that she had. One day I woke up and the migraine was gone. But that was after spending the whole weekend as her resident practice dummy. I wished my head didn't hurt so much as otherwise it would have been enjoyable.

 

[C.Ann]

I have a friend who gets them so bad that she has to go and get a shot at her doc's office. No idea what they are giving her, but it is the only thing that works for her. (and no idea how that turns out with insurance.).

The shot may have been Toradol.. We had patients that came into the doctors office where I worked to get them when they were having a severe migraine.. For some it worked - others it didn't..

I've been DISing all day today because my DD woke up at 5:30 this morning with a severe migraine - heaving and all - and I/we have been trying to keep the house as quiet as possible.. Because of other meds she takes, the only migraine med she can take is fioricet (prescription med - not too terribly expensive as it comes in generic form).. Sometimes it works - sometimes it doesn't.. Today it didn't..

I used to get regular migraines too - several times a week - until I went through menopause (relatively early).. Now I only get them once in a blue moon and they're always caused by my "triggers"..

OP: Have you been able to make a list of your triggers? That right there could help lessen the number of migraines you get.. They're a horrible thing to deal with - and people who have never had them have NO idea how bad they can be.. People have been known to be in such excruciating pain they have actually considered suicide.. I hope you can find something affordable that will help you..

 

[onelilspark]

Thanks to you three. Again, it helps to at least know the names so I can google the medicines before hand

I try to avoid all the triggers that I can, I don't drink coffee in the morning, really only the occassional soda to avoid a caffiene trigger. I rarely drink (I was the DD a lot in college!) And when I do, it's usually just a glass, maybe two if it's over a longer period of time and I know it's a safe drink... I avoid extra sharp cheddar, much to the dismay (or delight...hmmm...) of my boyfriend. He's from Vermont, so it's a staple food to him! I always wear sunglasses outside, the minute I start squinting, they go on. And I drink a lot of water during the summer (or my winter trips to WDW! )

I do my best, but my problem is that my most severe ones are triggered by hormones and weather Can't control those... I wish though! That'd be nice