Hi Rainbowzz,

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with chronic migraine. I hope by now they have eased up some. I have trouble with migraines also, and used to have them on a daily basis. We tried various treatments for them. I tried beta-blockers, various anti-depressants, and Neurontin. The medication which was a miracle drug for me was Topamax, as another respondent mentioned. I've been on it for years. Since I started taking it and we got the correct dose, I very rarely have a migraine....maybe one every three months, and I usually know what causes it. It often happens when I get far too little sleep, and in combination with my menstrual cycle.

It's hard with pain medication. Being on pain medication itself, unfortunately, can make headaches more likely (as you may know). It's really hard going off of them, I know, and my heart goes out to you. Medications like tylenol, which are often a component of medications that you describe, can make migraines more frequent. It's really tough going off of these medications, but you will probably be better off in the long run in terms of the headaches.

In the meantime, there may be some other things you can do. If you drink coffee or tea, consider cutting back or eliminating it. It can also trigger migraines. Try to get good sleep on a regular basis - a real challenge with a young child, probably, but sleep deprivation can also be a trigger for migraines. You can also check on the web for a list of foods that can trigger migraines in some people. There are some foods which really cause migraines for some folks, and you can see if eliminating those foods might help you. I have friends who know that they will get a migraine right away if they eat chocolate or have a glass of wine. Some folks are very sensitive to tomatoes or other foods. These are things you can try that may be part of the puzzle in helping you feel better.

Are you seeing a neurologist about your migraines? There are neurologists who specialize in treating migraines. If possible, try to search out a neurologist with special training in this area. If there isn't one in your community, try a city near you with a teaching hospital. It was the real turning point in my treatment. I wish you much better days ahead.

Take care,
ErinBear