[insideout]

OMG I have a problem with migraines and I wanna find a quick cure cuz advil don't work.

I dunno if anything does once it gets started. When I had a wisdom tooth removed a few weeks back the dentist told me that 3 ibuprofen + 1 tylenol works as well as most prescription pain meds. He said the tylenol acts as a... damn whats the word... catalyst(?) for the ibuprofen. But a full blown migraine... I don't know. Got my sympathy.

[shezbut]

This week has been a really rough one for me and my migraines. I take Maxalt, a decent prescription med that usually helps kick the migraine, no luck this week though. Over the counter meds have never come close to relieving my migraines, so i don't even bother attempting that route.

I'd recommend working with a neurologist to get the right meds that help contain your pain. There are also, of course, simple tips given to avoid migraines from worsening. Like: Avoid loud noises, bright lights, under-eating, get exercise ~ but don't push yourself too hard, work through stress, avoid alcohol, coffee and soft-drinks.

Best wishes sent your way...

[buttrfli42481]

I agree with Shez. Find a neurologist and get to the bottom of your migraines. I was having them almost everyday and just had injections done in my face to block them. That was done on May 10th and I have had 3 migraines since then which imitrex has zapped. Because I have a high sensitivity to certain drugs, my neuro sent me to pain management and that is who did my injections and is giving me my meds. Good luck with them, you have my deepest sympathies.

[notz]

I've taken many meds over the years for my migraines and worked with different docs. I have Zomig but I don't use it that much because of the expense.

My migraines are usually triggered by an allergic reaction. I take over the counter (otc) most of the time and it works for me. Get your pharmacist to help you interpret this if need be.

4o mg Chlorpheniramine maleate
30mg Pseudoephedrine
500mg Tylenol
2 Excedrin Migraine or 2 Excedrin Tension

In addition, if it's really bad, I take 100 mg Benadryl and go to bed.

All of this is blessed by my physician and works very well for me

[splitz]

The only thing that has ever helped with my migraines is Imigran (Sumatriptan) which is a prescription medicine.
Hope you feel better soon.
Splitz

[eskielover]

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.

I have suffered with migraines for a number of years it runs in my family, I see a neurologist, I have been on countless medications and nothing at all worked, I would have about 4 attacks a week, My specialist suggested that I try Topamax they work really well for my migraines now (fingers crossed),I have about 1 or 2 a month which is great compared to what I had before.

[notz]

Some triggers can be hunger, overheating, excessively bright light & changes in barometric pressure. I'm sure there are others, different things for different people.

[insideout]

Quite a few people said to go to a Neurologist...

But what does a neurologist do exactly??

I went to the neurology department one time in my life to get a brain wave scan while sleep deprived but nothing ever came of it except my primary medicine doc putting me on Lamictal... they thought there was a slim chance I might be having brain seizures...

Ive heard that people get more specialized care after seeing a neurologist, so I am excited to hear more!!!

How would I go about getting a referral to see them?



Thanks so much for all the tips!! Migraines are debilitating!!!!!

[shezbut]

Originally Posted by insideout

But what does a neurologist do exactly??

I went to the neurology department one time in my life to get a brain wave scan while sleep deprived but nothing ever came of it except my primary medicine doc putting me on Lamictal... they thought there was a slim chance I might be having brain seizures...

insideout,

Neurologists specialize in the central nervous system ~ brain and spinal cord. They typically handle migraines, strokes, identifying and treating those with typical tonic-clonic seizures (aka: grand mal sz's).

I have been to a couple of neurologists ~ one was a jerk & the other was wonderful! The wonderful one tried everything he could to control my sz's, and had no luck. He referred me to a hospital that is well-known and respected for their treatment of all varieties of seizures. I think that they're called Epilepsy Treatment Centers. I just happened to be moving to Minnesota, about 30 miles away from Mayo Clinic. I called them, while still in California, to see if I could get in somehow to see an "epileptologist". No problem! Their E treatment center doesn't require a physician's referral, unlike the hospitals that I called in California.

That's my experience. So, my epileptologist also treats my migraines. Funny (peculiar), because I've had horrible migraines for years & never really thought about seeing a doctor or getting a prescription. I'd just "suck it up" and deal with the misery. Even though my epi has prescribed Maxalt for me, which usually works well ~ I'm still not in the habit of taking the medication. It takes a little while to remember to take the med as soon as you start feeling a migraine begin. The less intense the migraine, the easier it is for the med to treat.

Best wishes to you!

[insideout]

I'm so happy, I got some imitrex.
I hope it works next time i get a migraine.

[misscath007]

Originally Posted by insideout

I'm so happy, I got some imitrex.
I hope it works next time i get a migraine.

Glad you got some meds. Imitrex is a triptan which is used to treat the symptoms of a migraine. It is best to take it at the very first sign of an impending attack. I take mine with 2 advils and it usually does the trick. If the pain is very severe I will also take fioricet.

I agree about seeing a neurologist. They are experts in treating migraine. You could go to your GP also but if you are having chronic headaches like I was, then you want to see a specialist.