I hate migraines, anyone else hate migraines?

[LuvOrlando]

I take Fioricet and have been on it for the past 20 years. It works about 90% of the time and usually if I get into a pain free state the headache will go away. Sometimes another 1/2 tablet is needed, other times 1/4 a Vicodin along with the Fioricet works. I try to take as little as possible because functionality is the goal.

My Dr's have moved me to other stuff in the past but they never got rid of the very worst of the headaches (Topomax) and the Imitrex would wear off after 4 hrs just like the Fioricet so it was just as effective but infinitely more dangerous and I can't take it throughout the migraine so its no good to me. I don't see why getting rid of the little piddly poo headaches can be seen as a success since I can stand those anyway so through the years I have rejected med after med. I have always had a Neurologist. I think they treat migraine sufferers like guinea pigs but have one anyway so I don't end up brain damaged due to someone chalking up a real stroke to another migraine... that's my greatest fear in this life. So much so that EVERYONE around me has been instructed that if they ever have to get me to the ER for Neurological trouble they ARE NOT to reveal I have migraines. Most Dr's & Nurses ether assume EVERYTHING is a migraine without ever bothering to look or treat anyone with a history of migraine like a drug fiend and completely ignore them. I know 2 people who permanently lost vision in an ER being ignored, another who was kept sedated at a hospital for 3 days with an Aneurysm before they discovered it and did brain surgery and a fourth who has been left for hours in an ER unable to speak and neglected. Even when I've gone to the ER I've had Dr's offer me Percocet or Morphine so I'd go away, I had to tell them "NO, I don't want your drugs, I want you to tell me I'm not having a stroke."

While I do generally hold Dr's in high esteem I don't think any of the so called experts have even the slightest idea what they are doing with migraine. It took me 20 years of Neurologists, Migraine Institutes, MRI's and other tests to have one give me a straight answer that if Neurological symptoms persist more than 15 minutes it's probably not a migraine and I need to seek help. I just wish sometimes they would listen more and try to be superstars less.
Uggh, it's almost 11am... time is ticking. I wonder how much time I have left

 

[MainStMandy]

Ohh I hate them too!! I used to take beta blockers to prevent (hate topamax!!) and then Maxalt when I got one. Luckily they are really decreasing and I haven't had to take a Maxalt in months!! Good luck...it's tricky to figure out what works for you!

 

[DisneyMim]

I too HATE HATE HATE migraines. I feel for you as I know how it is. If it helps anyone, my migraines got much better after I went through menopause. I was getting them every month for 5-7 days in a row, so I know how you feel. Nothing ever really worked. Sometimes an ice pack on the back of my neck helped, someone told me about peppermint, but it never really worked for me. Now I get what I call "Mary Poppins" migraines(you know when the wind changes). I get them with the weather, when it changes especially in the spring and fall here in New England. My husband now gets them too. It seems his started after going through cancer, and when he has chocolate, but other times for no reason at all. It seems cruel that after all he's been through he now has to have migraines. He says a neck wrap sometimes helps him, you know those thermawrap things that are warm. A heating pad would be the same thing. Good Luck and I hope yours goes away ASAP.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Migraines - UGH. Every month without fail and sometimes in between I would get additional migraines. Blinding pain, throwing up for days on end - did I mention the blinding pain . Then I got cancer and chemo put me into chemopause. I have only had two migraines in the past four months and those were mild and very little nausea. I guess that's the "up" side of cancer if it continues that way. I'll take it.

So for all you ladies out there who haven't hit "that special age" yet - maybe there's something to look forward to - maybe your migraines will diminish or even disappear after menopause. Until then to all that have to go through the pain and agony of them.

 

[HARASW]

I get migraines a number of times each month. Most of the prescription meds either don't work for me or make me dizzy. Right now, I am hooked on Excedrin Migraine or I take some Tylenol with a caffeinated drink.

Edvard Munch's Scream is probably what many of us look like when we even think of migraines!

Wishing all of you many migraine-free days ahead.....

 

[luvwinnie]

have you tried any supplements such as Coq10 or feverfew? I'm finding by accident a multi B seems to help.

 

[HARASW]

I take 100mg CoQ10 and a B multi vitamin every day.
I tried taking extra magnesium but it made me feel sick.

I'm glad you have found something that is helping you.

 

[CathrynRose]

Yes, I do. I ususally throw up the migraine medicine, so I don't know how much is in my system, or if I need to take more.

Yessss! UGH!

"Can I take another one? I think I threw it up. What if I didn't throw it up? My head hurts! I think I can take another one. Maybe I shouldn't take one - how long do I have to wait?? 4 hours??? OMG! I should just take one, what's it going to do?"

YES! I understand this.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

"Can I take another one? I think I threw it up. What if I didn't throw it up? My head hurts! I think I can take another one. Maybe I shouldn't take one - how long do I have to wait?? 4 hours??? OMG! I should just take one, what's it going to do?"

This is exactly how I feel!!!!!!!

 

[CathrynRose]

This is exactly how I feel!!!!!!!

It stinks!

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't throw up but my migraines make me dopey so I forget what I took and when. I always have those moments when I'm not sure what did and/or when which means I do nothing until the pain is unbearable then realize I must have skipped a dose. I am convinced Migraines drop my IQ by at least 50 points and mess with my fine motor skills.

Yesterday I had a reprieve but today it's back. I was out shopping and wham! At the moment I'm woozy from the pain.

Anyone else get a head rush of pain from bending over or using the stairs?

For the throwing up my MIL, a retired RN, used to take Compazine suppositories to stop vomiting so she could take oral medicine for the pain.

 

[starrzone]

I get light triggered migraines....I wear sunglass on cloudy, overcast days and have a cube at work with no light near it. it is referred to as the bat cave.

Me too, re. wearing sunglasses pretty well whenever I'm outside. I even move the visor around to block the sun whenever I'm the driver or in the passenger seat of a car on a sunny day, because I can't stand to have the sun shining in my eyes. I've gotten comments about it, but I'll do ANYTHING to stop a migraine before it starts!

 

[DisGirlAllie]

I feel the same way. My pediatric neurologist has had to put me on six different meds to try to help them. Nothing has worked yet

 

[LuvOrlando]

OK, I'm just popping in to say I am really not all that happy with my head right now. I have had migraines every single day all week. I know I should be grateful, there are much worse things I could have to suffer from but still ENOUGH ALREADY!

Just wanted to get that out of my system

 

[onelilspark]

I'm with you...I think chronic is labeled as once/month. I get at least 2 or 3 per week. I was on Topamax, which helped, but didn't eliminate them...it cost entirely too much for something that didn't "work." So I dropped that and went to try an anti-depressant. Terrible idea. I was on it for 3 months (I just stopped taking it actually) and I actually became depressed. I thankfully don't suffer from depression, so it was just awful for me. I'm definitely an emotional eater, so I gained weight...ugh. Just ugh. So glad I'm off of it. Plus it didn't work...grrr....

So now I'm trying to take Zyrtec (really any daily allergy med) because my doctor mentioned the possibility it could be related to allergies. I've only had one in the past 4 days, plus this week is usually my worst week (hormone related) so I'm holding out hope. There's another part of me that wants to scream if it is allergies...I mean seriously, how hard is that to diagnose?!

But anyway, I'm there with you. Definitely not the only one out there!

 

[MaryJ]

Count me in as hating migraines too! Mine seem to be mostly weather related. I can tell when a big thunderstorm (or snowstorm) is on the way, because I'll have a migraine a day or so in advance. Unfortunately, I can't avoid the weather.The worst thing is that when I have a migraine, I really crave chocolate, but when I eat chocolate while having a migraine, it makes the headache worse! I can eat chocolate when I don't have a headache though; it won't give me one.

Love the picture of "The Scream." Never thought of it in that way before, but it is so true!

I've tried various migraine meds, but they only seem to work if I take them and then go to sleep. Currently I'm taking Relpax. Others (Zomig, Imitrix) would leave me with this terrible ache between my shoulder blades.

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

I get them at least 2 times a month as well...they are usually triggered by light so I have to lay down in a dark room ( I have hotel quality black out curtains in my bedroom specifically for this reason) I have taken Treximet, but I cant tell if it actually took my migraine away, or just knocked me out long enough to sleep it off....

 

[onelilspark]

I get them at least 2 times a month as well...they are usually triggered by light so I have to lay down in a dark room ( I have hotel quality black out curtains in my bedroom specifically for this reason) I have taken Treximet, but I cant tell if it actually took my migraine away, or just knocked me out long enough to sleep it off....

Where'd you find the curtains?

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

Where'd you find the curtains?

They carry them at Walmart,Target, Kmart...you just have to look for them, they are usually labeled as darkening,thermal, or energy efficient (they help block out the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer)...here is a link to the ones I bought...I also have wood blinds behind the curtains and a valance around the top to really help block out all light... my room is as dark as night whenever I pull my curtains closed.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays...y-Efficient-Curtain-Panel-Rich-Black/12167683