Migraine sufferer

Hi Jane, I am 62 and have suffered my entire life,I was also very athletic and held a few very stressful jobs working Security in Casinos on the Las Vegas strip. I worked as a Sgt. then Lt. in which everything fell on my shoulders including training officers,handcuffing scum bags, dealing with the Police, even suicides and writing reports, reproving and having to fire personel. I Also had to wear a lot of heavy equipment to which I began to get herniated discs and other spinal issues. I have had back surgery and a fusion in my neck, on top of being a chronic migrainer. I finally had to apply for FMLA so I could get out of work when I needed. I do take Imitrex to kill the pain keeping me at work. I understand so much what you're going through and it's not like you can say to your boss "hey I have a really bad headache and need to go" They don't understand. I have been on every darn medication out there only to find I was losing the battle. My MRIs caused me a misdiagnosis of MS in which I treated that with daily injections for 3 yrs then found a new Neuro. who ordered spinal tap which ruled out MS.. Still I suffer migraine. Now I am re establishing new Drs in another state as I have left Vegas and am also now on disability but the Drs here seem to be more one on one and have been a great help . Yeh I did have a couple that tried the medication coctails, and frankly I'm just sick of poisoning my organs with this stuff. I research everything I'm given and side affects are not any better then the pain itself..in fact they all say may cause headache! Well thanks!! Any way I had an allergy shot just by chance and I found I was able to at least control the pain some with just tylenol and occasionally a half of Imitrex and will be trying out Botox injections in which I'm hearing are excellent results. No more pills, no real side affects though there could be possible affects, I don't know, but I am looking forward to tryin this out and am hopeful. I feel blessed that I have found a Neuro that specializes in migraine and the treatment of botox. Good luck. I sure do understand and if there's any way you can get FMLA - it sure is worth it.

God Bless and prayers for you, It's time for healing for all of us.

Jane, I was just about to post here asking if anyone else feels depressed or has bad anxiety after or during a migraine. 

I used to have what I called a "meltdown" after a bad migraine, where I would feel weak, vulnerable, tearful and depressed and also very "nervy" and anxious, but it would always go away in a day or so.

Since I started taking Propranolol in January this year, this depression has become more and more common and now I feel like rubbish every day.  Don't want to see or talk to anybody and can't cope with even the smallest of stresses.

I'm now off the Propranolol and too frightened to try any more drugs.

I'm crying right now for no real reason.  

Anyone else feel the same?   I don't think I'll ever feel normal again.

Hi, Jane. Migraines are really tough to deal with that is for sure. I have found that the solution is not just popping a pill. Migraines are caused by multiple factors including diet, sleep, stress, negative and erroneous thinking patterns, and hormones to name a few. Every area must be addressed. Migraine steals the joy and quality of life. You deserve better. I encourage you to try exercising, seeing a counselor to talk out issues, change your diet, etc. Migraine can bring on depression and that might be what is going on with you from what you said. Please get some help for yourself. As I said before, you deserve better! Keep us posted and feel better soon!