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saraba
Member
Reged: 01/27/03
Posts: 183
Loc: west coast
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Hi everyone-
I've posted many times about my migraines. I have gone to so many doctors. I finally decided a few months ago to "take action" and tell my doctor how disabling they were. Really, I was very honest and I actually started crying in his office. What did he tell me? "Take the Imitrex sooner and maybe some Ativan." (The Ativan is for anxiety which may be a trigger for the migraines)I gave this a try, but it's not cutting it.
Then I forget because I don't have them for a couple of months. Last Saturday I had one that made me want to die. The pain was just too much. There is no way I could get to a hospital, as I wasn't even able to stand up. I am going to another neurologist and I'm hoping I can get another answer.
Has anyone tried Topomax or Neurontin as a preventive, Imitrex or another triptan for abortive, and OxyIR (or some other super narcotic pain killer as a last resort? I plan to ask my doctor about this. I've never taken anything stronger than Norco's for my migraines. Those don't even help. I puke them up. Also, I'm not afraid to ask my doctor for a super strong narcotic, as it would only be like 3-4 pills a month, which is hardly enough to get addicted to.
How can I get it across to my doctor that the pain is so bad I want to die? That the depression I have after a headache makes me want to cry all day? That knowing that these headaches can occur at any time has prevented me from thinking about getting married, having kids, or even going on vacation?
I'm so so so tired of not getting help. I don't know what to do anymore. I used to think that I didn't want to get on a daily med (like a preventative) because I didn't want to have to remember it everyday and pay those drug company jerks my hard earned money. But I don't care anymore. I will do anything not to go through what I went through on Saturday. I'm losing the fight here. Normally, I'm a pretty stoic individual, bones can break, tension headaches can happen, but when these migraines happen, I just can't deal. What do I do?
In the meantime, I have been taking Imitrex 50mg up to 2 a day and take a Soma every couple of hours so I can at least try and sleep while the Imitrex is working. But it's not good enough. I'll take the Norco here and there, but I know it's not strong enough and taking MORE doesn't help. Plus, I feel so strongly about this, but once I get in the doctor's office, most doctor's treat me like "it's just a headache..." I'm worried that one day I will accidentally overdose when trying to get rid of it. On one occasion, I took 2 Imitrex, 2 Benadryl (because that's what they give you in the hospital, right?) 3 somas, 1 dramamine (I didn't have any Compazine) and 2 excedrin. Then I partially repeated that recipe because I puked up everything. I can't do this anymore.
Sorry this post is so long, but I am beyond frustrated and moving into the depression stage. I'm 28. I don't want to stop doing the things I love because I fear these headaches. I don't want to give up a future because of this. I can't deal. 
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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Hi saraba,
Quote:
Has anyone tried Topomax or Neurontin as a preventive, Imitrex or another triptan for abortive, and OxyIR (or some other super narcotic pain killer as a last resort?
Yes, yes, and yes.
I've been on Neurontin as a preventive med, though it didn't cut the mustard for me. There are some threads about it here- not a very well-liked med on this board, do a search on it, there's a ton of negative feedback. Also taken SSRI's and Elavil for the same purpose with no positive effects- some people swear by it though, it's very difficult to predict which preventive med will work.
Imitrex- I used to get prescribed the Imitrex Nasal Spray, but I didn't like the chest tightness. I got prescribed Amerge, and now I'm on Frova. They have longer half-lives than Imitrex, might want to consider getting some samples to see if they work better for you.
I've taken a wide variety of opioid pain meds- the strongest thing I ever got prescribed for a migraine (outside of a hospital, inside a hospital I've gotten IM Demerol, IV Dilaudid, and IV Morphine on 3 separate occassions) was Percocet. To tell you the truth, it didn't cut it- opiates in oral form don't do it for my migraines. Percocet and hydro can make them much more tolerable, but an IV med can make the pain go away.
I know the feeling of helplessness from a migraine- when you head feels like it's exploding from the inside. A neurologist with an ounce of humanity shouldn't have a problem giving you a small script of a rescue med. I got lucky, I'm using the first neurologist I saw as a teen when I first got them. Other people have to try several before they get someone compassionate.
I find there is a very narrow timeframe in which to take a triptan, otherwise it's useless.
Nausea meds- I prefer Tigan, though Compazine is good too. People seem to like Zofran too, though it's very expensive and usually insurance companies only pay for it for cancer patients.
PM me if you want to talk in more detail, I know what it's like. My neuro has always taken me seriously, but I've been with plenty of other doctors for other conditions who haven't, so I know what that's like as well.
-yawkaw
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kittie74
Board Addict
Reged: 02/16/04
Posts: 310
Loc: Hollywood
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saraba
Reading your post made me want to cry. I was in the same boat. I was getting headaches every few days. They were so bad I just wanted to die. No one can really relate unless they've had them. Fortunately for me, there was a solution. Mine were due to a herniated disk in my neck from a car accident. So the solution was disk replacement surgery. But it was a risk and no guarantee to get rid of headaches. But I was so tired of being in pain, I decided to take the risk. It's been two months since surgery and I'm happy to say only 2 headaches since then.
Have you had an MRI? Is it possible that you've got something similar that could be causing them? Or do you just get traditional migraines? I found that Imitrex helped. But I also was afraid of taking so much of it - don't know what it could do long-term. I recently tried Maxalt and it worked great. It's in the same family as Imitrex. The other drugs you mentioned are anti-seizure medications. A friend of mine went on them for headaches, but they're pretty hardcore. You can PM if you want more detailed info on these drugs and what her experience was like.
Sounds like you need a new doctor. Migraine/headache pain is REAL. If you're seeing a doctor who doesn't think this, then you need to get rid of him/her fast! I always found that Imitrex combined with pain medication like Vicodin ES really helps. If you can't tolerate the hydrocodone, maybe there is something similar that could help.
I am so sorry you're in so much pain. The pain I have now - neck/shoulder/lower back - hurts, but it's nothing compared to migraine pain. Guess I don't have too much to offer in the way of drugs to try, but wanted to let you know that I sympathize and hope you find something to that helps.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Hi Saraba-
I'm with Yawkaw on the anti-emetics. They are a MUST for migraine sufferers and will help you retain fluids and medications.
As gross as it may sound, oral tablets or capsules CAN be used rectally if nausea and vomiting are preventing absorption of oral pain medication. It's certainly not a pleasant thought, but it DOES work.
In fact, I ALWAYS request Compazine for migraine use in rectal suppositories as it does me no good to attempt to swallow a tablet when I mid-migraine.
My last migraine occurred at work and came on like a Mack truck. I had a ten minute drive home and seriously questioned whether I could make it home once I tried to drive. I made it, but that kind of pain is hellish and utterly debilitating. I understand and empathize with your plight, however, I think migraine pain is so over-used by drug seekers that many doctors are leery of prescribing narcotics. Especially when conventional treatment pharmaceuticals are not working for you.
Best of luck finding a doctor willing to help you.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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hibbs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/22/03
Posts: 253
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http://www1.excite.com/home/health/health_article/0,11720,517582|02-25-2004::06:00,00.html
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The blues is the soundtrack to reality...
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hibbs
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/22/03
Posts: 253
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Sorry, you have to copy and past that entire link>
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The blues is the soundtrack to reality...
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Disciple
Member
Reged: 12/11/03
Posts: 113
Loc: Deep South-GA
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Saraba,
Your post sounds like my life story...except I'm older. I was out yesterday due to a migraine. I've tried Neutrotin and Topomax and half a dozen more preventive meds for migraines but as of yet, nothing has helped. I've already reached the depression stage. Pain is nothing to laugh about. I haven't had anything stronger than axocet and fiornal for the bad pain though. Did it help? Not really, it just sort of dulled the pain. Hopefully the doctor you find will find a combination which will work for you. After four years with my present neuro, he's decided to refer me to someone else if the new preventive medicine doesn't cut it. I haven't had it filled yet, I'm waiting on results of liver funtions as this new med...my mind is still fuzzy from pain...can affect the liver. It's supposed to some sort of muscle relaxant though. I can't remember the name of it. Don't give up. I'm trying bio-feedback, which seems to work it the pain doesn't interfere
with my concentration...which ain't often....I'll be praying for you.....  ....BLESSINGS 2 U....Disciple
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The kindest words ever spoken are harsh words left "unsaid". A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH: BUT GRIEVIOUS WORDS STIR UP ANGER. PROVERBS 15:1
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 765
Loc: Texas!
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I've been through the ringer too with migraines and I won't repeat what others have said. topomax and zonegram were disasters. THAT neuro gave up on me. I went to a PM and now get the fioricet w/codeine that has always helped and Stadol NS which helps too. the hospital knows me, the urgent care center knows me. A doc at the urgent care center even gave me Demerol tabs. I usually use compazine suppositories (not as bad as it sounds, trust me), but my doc recently gave me zofran, but insurance only pays for 12. Says they're too expensive. the only thing to ever ever help me was Effexor SR. I had to build up to 225 mg a day slowly, but it helped the intensity, not the frequency. I can sympathize with you, as I have had to be driven to the hospital many times. Often 2-3 times a month. I have high BP and it gets too high and the vomitting (even with the compazine) gets out of hand and I dehydrate really fast. Keep on top of it! If they recommend a headache clinic, go for it! I was scared to many years ago, I wish I had gone now. I've come to terms with the fact that it takes fioricet or fioricet with codeine, stadol, and demerol (prefer morphine) to get rid of mine. I even had a reaction in the hospital to thorazine, something they said was a miracle for migraines. it was awful. I now list it as an allergy.
Be sure to get checked out, I get an MRI about once every 2 yrs. When I was admitted in December, they also did a spinal tap and a CAT scan. I must say that was the easiest 5 day migraine I've ever had. (I have one for 5 days monthly and they kept me on morphine the whole time).
Good luck and keep us updated. Take some comfort in knowing you're not alone. I used to feel like a real freak because things didn't work on me. But, not all things work on all people and some doctors don't believe it and it makes you feel like Best if kept off the board.
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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dsmmcm
Board Addict
Reged: 11/08/03
Posts: 364
Loc: southwest US
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sabara,
I have posted this several times, but here is a link with much useful info on headaches, including migraine, cluster, tension, and several others:
http://www.upstate.edu/neurology/haas/index.html
As you will see, there are several varieties of migraines, with a variety of treatments. If imitrex doesn't work, there are now a whole family of triptans which you can try. None of them do a thing for me. There are also drugs like DHE-45 which work for some. As you go for more sophisticated medical help, you will end up with a headache specialist. These people will not want to treat you with narcotics. There are two reasons for this. First, they want to treat the underlying biochemical imbalance causing your headaches. Second, believe me, no narcotic will touch a sever headache. I have been there.
D
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saraba
Member
Reged: 01/27/03
Posts: 183
Loc: west coast
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I have to get bed pronto, so in short, I will be seeing a new neurologist. In the meantime, I got an RX for atonolol. I think that's what it is. I can't wait till I have more time to read everyone's posts. I'm so grateful. Back when I get more time- and if anyone has used this, do you also need to take Imitrex and a painkiller?
Again, thank you, and I'll have more time tomorrow to read everything thoroughly. You are all the best. Nightie night!
Edited by saraba (02/25/04 11:32 PM)
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