I am one of the unique migraine suffers that only narcotic pain medication helps. I had never had even a headache before they started experimenting with the anti-depressant drugs & it seemed that many of the side effects with me were migraines....until the point where the migrain never went away....it's like it stuck in my head.

Went to a neurologist & we tried every possible migraine med with absolutely no help on the migraine....but messed with my heart. Then he tried Stadol......it gave relief between doses....but the migraine came right back as soon as the next dose was needed. I spend a week in the hospital & the neurologist did the DHA (or something like that) IV treatment.....also gave me morphine for the headache while in the hospital........ended up itching from the morphine from head to toe & the IV treatment didn't phase the migraine.

MRI showed that I needed a neck fusion from some previous injury. Only injury I would think of was when I had been thrown over the head of a horse back in college because I had never been in a car accident.....anyway, went through that & the pain specialist that saw me while I was in the hospital prescribed the duragesic patch.....while getting through the surgery. The surgery never phased the migraine.....it just kept continuing.

I went to a different pain specialist who did injections in my back since the neck fusion didn't work & nothing they tried on me worked & the migraine was continuous....the pain patch didn't help at the dose it was....my only relief was when I went into the ER & ended up getting a demoral shot.....200mg (they said enough to kill a horse)....especially since I had been very under weight.....but had started gaining when I couldn't function or get out of bed or get into light or do anything because of the pain in my head....I was sick continuously.

The pain specialist ended up finding the actiq which was a different form of the fentynal that was in the duragesic patch which started to work along with the patch I was on.....but again, it worked only between doses........then they changed the formulation of the actiq & it quit working.....I was back to continual migraines.....I asked the pain specialist why he couldn't just raise the dose of the patch since nothing else was working.

I actually went to a migraine specialist at UCLA's med center & she said I just needed to exercise.....I was about ready to let her have it at that point. My husband went into the appointment with my pain specialist where he actually said to go ahead & try raising the dose of the patch & let him know.....my husband witnessed this...........

I had extra pathes from all the hospitalizations I had.....so I ended up doubling the dose & it was amazing.....it controlled the migraine just the same as it had been controlled with the actiq except that with the patch....it was good for 72 hours.....it was like I had my life back. The narcotic had no effect on me as far as making me groggy or dopy....it just made me finally feel like a human again. Could start riding my horse again.....it was amazing......then I went back to my pain specialist & he denied ever telling me that even in front of my husband....said he wouldn't prescribe that dose & that I would have to find another Dr to treat me.......I about fell apart even worse than before.......had no idea where to look for a new pain specialist.....all they wanted to do was the injections that had already been tried. Found one lady pain specialist who claimed that the migraines were caused by the medication & I needed to come off of it but she wanted me to go into the medical hospital....in the hospital where my pdoc & psychologist had priviledges......so she sent me to a different pain specialist who practiced in that hospital. I went to him......he was actually part of the pain specialist program through UCLA......he had me get an MRI. He looked at the MRI.....said that the white spots proved extensive migraine activity in my brain & that he would gladly prescribe the medication that worked for me & he felt that there was enough proof that it was necessary & that coming off the medication wouldn't work. I have been on that same dose since 2003.....almost 10 years. When I moved away from California....I had fear that I wouldn't find another pain specialist that would be able to prescribe......so for the first 6 months, I kept going back to my California Dr until KY pharmacy would no longer fill my California prescriptions.....so I had to find a KY pain specialist. Many wouldn't commit to whether they would prescribe what had been working for me for 4 years at that point. They all wanted to set up an appointment & have a talk session. Found this one that was willing to take me & prescribe with the contingency that I go to a pain psychologist. He was leary at prescribing that high dose....but because he had given me back my quality of life, he was open to the fact that my migraine was one of the unique ones that is only helped my narcotics. He says that most aren't touched by narcotics....but there's about 10% that are. The first year was tough....building up a trust both ways......but I had to say, he's the best, most caring pain specialist & I cooperate with anything he needs to do to keep taking care of me.

It's been a rough go because the medication is so expensive that patient assistance is the only way I can pay for it. I have struggled with the timing of the patient assistance going through......I have dealt with the medication having processing problems where the FDA actually stopped it's processing for almost 6 months just last year when they found the fentynal crystalized on some of the patches.....but I had a wonderful pharmacist who was able to find all the patches that I needed & helped me coordinate it with my Dr & the patient assistance groups. It's been a nightmare at times especially knowing that on that kind of med, when the dose goes down there is always some level of withdrawal that hits......completely not associated to addiction.

It's a strange sensation because there are times when I have some of the symptoms like oversensitivity to smells & I get the aura.....but there is no pain in my head (thanks to the med). I have been struggling with sleep since going through the trauma that happened with the home care person when my mother was dying of cancer.....I know that it effects the migraine.....but I am so thankful for the lack of pain & the ability to function, to be able to take care of myself since leaving my husband 5 years ago & moving 2100 miles away.

I understand the migraine pain more than I would have ever imagined I ever possibly could have.

I know there are solutions.....but I also know that it's not a solution that happens overnight....it's a long process of elimination until you finally find what works & hopefully find a Dr who is willing to treat you with what works & you can afford it with the high expense of meds.

I had tried all the Imetrix, Zomig, etc & like I said, almost everything else. The only thing I didn't try was the botox injections the last California pain specialist says can possibly help....but I could get coverage for the medication.....couldn't find any financial help for the botox & I couldn't afford to pay for it......so that was what eliminated even trying it.....or I might have because the results were supposed to last for 3 months (I think that was how long it's supposed to work for)

Sorry for the long post.......experiences with migraines can be horrible.....just hope you can find the right Dr who will work with you for finding the right answer.

I don't drink anything caffine except for very seldom.....it's usually just ice water....& I stay hydrated....always keep a huge mug of ice water with me....everyone laughs at it....but it's important for keeping hydrated......migraines can be an allergic reaction.....any pain is caused by an inflammation to something.

Work at it.....& I'm sure you will find the help you need....but don't get discouraged it that help isn't immediate.