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Migraines everyday, all day, for 9 months. Help!!

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Becky-Louise
Becky-Louise

Remember your worst migraine. How much pain you were in and how you just couldn't do anything. That's how I am everyday.

Right so I'm a 20 year old female, I'm and student and work as a waitress part time.

So, I started with a headache on the 18th January this year, pain killers didn't touch it. Woke up the next day and still had a terrible headache.

I have a terrible headache all day, everyday, without fail. It's got to the point now that I'm stressed; fed up, hardly sleeping, can't concentrate at uni or any time really.

Please understand that the pain never goes, the headache never ends. I have literally had a migraine 24/7 for 9 months now.

I wear glasses (short sighted) but I know it's not my eyes causing the migraines.

I've cut out everything that's apparently supposed to aggravate headaches. Stop drinking caffeine, stop eating chocolate and cheese. No change in the headaches.

This continued for a week or two before I went to see my GP who referred me to a neurologist.

The first neurologist thought I had tension headaches caused by stress.

At this point, I wasn't stressed at all, not with uni or work, nothing. So I didn't quite understand this diagnosis.

Anyway he put me onto tablets called amitriptyline, which is an antidepressant, and told me to gradually increase my dosage up to 50mg a day. This didn't help at all, had horrible side affects.

I then saw another neurologist who diagnosed me with migraines, put me into Topamax, which are an anti epileptic drug meant to also treat migraines. I got my dose up to 100mg within 3 months and the side affects were horrible and didn't help at all.

I've had a CT scan, which was normal. Had an MRI scan, which was normal. I've also tried Imigran and some migraine medication that melts into your tongue, with no affect what so ever.

After trying all this, an idea was put forward that I could have raised intracranial hypertension, so yesterday I had a Lumbar Puncture. The pressure was at 19 and a half (apparently if its over 20 it's high), so it's not thought its that. The migraines were worse for a week after the lumbar puncture, I couldn't even sit up without being in agony and being sick. Spent a week in bed unable to move.

I've got another type of MRI scan booked for the end of this month that's apparently going to look at the veins/blood vessels in my head to see if there is a problem there.

I feel like I'm not being taken seriously now by doctors, because "there isn't anything to be worried about, like a tumour" as I'm always told! As much as I'm so very glad I don't have anything serious to be worried about, I hate spending everyday in so much pain that I can't function.

Please don't think I'm over reacting/attention seeking/whatever, but I am literally fed up and can't cope. I can't get a minute of relief, I'm constantly in pain (different variations of pain, but pain all the same). As I'm writing this I'm crying my eyes out because I haven't managed to sleep more than 3 hours a night in that past 4 days. I'm exhausted and depressed now. I've even told my GP that I am so depressed now, I have thought on more than one occasion of overdosing just to end this pain. And he literally turned me away saying he couldn't do anything. I feel so defeated.

If anyone has had this type of problem before or knows someone that has, please let me know.

24 likes, 741 replies

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  • Becky-Louise
    Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

    Sorry if I haven't replied to your comments yet, been having a real rough time since I had my second course of Botox!

    Don't know if it's that causing it, or general illness.

    Migraines have been terrible, like twice as bad as usual. Adding onto that, a cold and stomach problems. Not been feeling too well.

    Been trying to go to sleep for the past 2 hours, but got such pain behind my eyes and right side of my head. 

    Anyway,will try reply back to those who have written to me, not ignoring, just dying aha.

    Hope your all well x

    • Tobamory
      Tobamory Becky-Louise

      Posted

      Well im with you on this, i too started with a Migraine Thursday, and its taken me 4 days to get over it, In bed for 3 of them, tried to go out Friday for a beer had 2 came home threw up, had runs for 2 days too..... Roll on Friday when i see my Nerologist, Im down for Botox although im unsure if i getting it Friday. Dont think it takes Long to adminsiter ? This Migraine was soo bad i actually thought about going in, i thought my time was UP, but as always its in Aftershock mode today, slight numbness and throb, but ok to work.... There are time where i think once im old and my times up, wherever we go to will be so much fun not having to worry about Migraines LOL, lets hope its like that eh smile  Chin up all Keep taking the Imigran ....
    • susan43558
      susan43558 Tobamory

      Posted

      If you get headaches after drinking alcohol, u may be in the same boat I was... alcohol zaps the fat soluable vitamins out of your liver where they are stored. Vitamin A, D, E and K. Vitamin K we get from probiotics... they'll give u gas for a few weeks, then it goes away. Vitamin A and D are found in cod liver oil, do the pills because it is NASTY, and E, use every few times a week because Vitamin E thins the blood and can cause your blood to be too thin, I woke up one day with a red eye from taking vitamin E every day... cut back if this happens. Vitamin b12 in the liquid form called METHYLCOBALAMIN, not cyanocobalamin! two dropperfulls a day or at onset of headache. Fat soluable vitamins can be overdosed on, so let your doctor know if you are going to try it. 
    • Tobamory
      Tobamory susan43558

      Posted

      Might give it a go, I do take multi vitamins but I presume your taking higher dosage ? Or will an all combined pill do the same?. I started taking 5htp a while ago and it seemed to work for sleeping and waking with a fresher head, however I stopped them and move to the amino acid based l tripopan, which in the last few days seems to be working , I'm waking with less heavy head and no immigran needed to get me through the day. Let's see what happens. Probiotic may be a good way, I've always though my tune was a trigger, what pills or drink do you have? As I heard some are pretty poor and like placebos 
    • susan43558
      susan43558 Tobamory

      Posted

      A multivitamin is not the same. Try the things on my list along with the multivitamin.
    • Tobamory
      Tobamory susan43558

      Posted

      Sue I've started the vitamins, so far i take 1 cod liver a day they are one a day tablets, followed by a probiotic 4 billion bacteria per tablet there is a 10mill version, but I started low, also the E I,ll do the E for 4 days then stop. I'll keep you posted if it works...
  • susan43558
    susan43558 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi Becky-Louise, have you tried probiotics? I suggest it, can't hurt. It gives a person gas for a few weeks while the bacteria fight it out, but I had debilitating pain behind my eyes for years and constipation, the inflamation is triggered by the over development of bad bacteria in the gut. Did you ever take antibiotics for a long time? Also, cod liver oil pills. It's the vitamin A
  • s55246
    s55246 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Becky-Louise,  I hope that you are doing better.  I started by writing my history, but that is actually difficult... The good news for both of us is that we don't have a critical-care condition like a "tumor".  I am a 40 something male, which I find is unusual, as I really don't know anyone my age or sex that has as many problems with migraines as I do.  The bad news is that I started having migraines following a sinus surgery 14 years ago.  It really has been difficult.  I have roughly 5 days a week with a migraine of 4-10 pain level.  

    I have tried nearly everything... However, I didn't try botox yet; most of the people I know who have, didn't have a good experience with any relief;  I haven't tried the spenocath yet either (very interested, but the cost is high, and I don't have insurance that would cover anything); look into the sphenocath; the idea is sound... 

    I have done the epileptic drugs, some success, but so limited, and I need to be able to think, and remember things... topamax and depakote are both terrible drugs, seem to slow down your brain, and reduces the "brainstorm" which is how a migraine feels to me...  But the sideaffects are so horrible, that a migraine without those side effects begin to appear a better result...

    The hydrocodone was the best relief for me, and allowed me to work without problems, however, tolerance for the drug will build up.  Also, the dependency quotient seems to increase over time. Be careful.

    What has worked for me the best is to keep a good perspective on life, faith, and the idea that it will get better over time.  this helps overcome the difficulties with the drugs, the difficult days where pain is a 9 or 10 (which comes often), and the pain it causes your family to see you in pain, and the relationship issues that come with that.  I know that I'm not the nicest guy when I am in severe pain and when I can't think properly.  I propel myself with positive thoughts; with love; with faith in something bigger than this life.  I can also say that I have felt defeated, and despondent...

    Looking back over the years though, I do feel bad that I didn't take more opportunities for things like massage (which doesnt fix, but makes you feel better for short term).  anything that offers relief, even if short term.

    Look for those things, activities, people that make you feel better, no matter the severity of the headaches and other difficulties that come as a result of these debilitating headache monsters... 

    I also had to change doctors in order to get the kind of care that worked for me. They don't always operate from the same playbook.  Find one that fits for you.  

    If you need someone to talk to, I'm available. 

     

    • susan43558
      susan43558 s55246

      Posted

      55246, did you happen to take a lot of antibiotics at a point in your life? What about a lot of alcohol? I started taking probiotics which caused gas for a few weeks, but subsided and I took vitamin A and D. I also take b12 liquid form called methylcobalamin, one dropperfull in morning and night now. I used to think I had sinus issues, but I wonder if it was just inflamation in my gut causing inflamation elsewhere. I stopped drinking alcohol (some on occasion) and replenished my bodies supply of vitamin A and D, which gets zapped out of the liver storage centers by alcohol. I also have to wear the yellow sunglasses outside. The kind that blocks blue light, the same light that comes from the computer, so if I work on the computer for long, I wear the glasses. Hope it helps. You can ask me anything you want, as you know, the list is soooo long on all the things I tried! Money spent! Probiotic (a good one), vitamin A, vitamin D and b12 liquid form methylcobalamin (not the cyanobalamin, I can't remember what that was but it has "cyano" in it). I used to get headaches so bad I would hit my head on concrete for relief, scarring the heck out of my loved ones, every day practically. Also, have your iron levels checked... and one more thing, sorry, folate... not folic acid, actual folate. God is with us
  • paul56024
    paul56024 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Becky, sorry about your migraines.check out the atlas vertabrae, worth a shot. I think they have a procedure in the uk where its a one visit adjustment.  Have had headaches and thinking about trying it myself but have to find a specialized chiro here in the states that deals with the atlas. for some reason its more popular over there.  found it on the net so just a shot in the dark here. good luck.
    • susan43558
      susan43558 paul56024

      Posted

      I'd try the probiotics and vitamins first, before you go messing around with your vertebrae. My neck hurts, but my headaches went away with the vitamins and wearing yellow sunglasses. I spent thousands on chiropractic work, massages and MRI's of my neck. Does one of your shoulders hurt? I had bone spurs taken off my shoulder bones and a rip in the labrum stitched up that did not show up on the MRI, only in surgery. My shoulder is about 85% better and that's all the dr. could promise, but it is a lot better. I found a shoulder surgeon at a sports medicine clinic that was willing to go in with a scope and look at the shoulder... I woke up from surgery and appologized for not believing me that there was something not right about it. It took 10 weeks to recover and 6 months to be strong again, but it was worth it. Had to move back in with mom and dad to do it, but I'd do it again!
  • Becky-Louise
    Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi guys,

    So my migraines had got pretty bad because of the hot weather and I think I may have hay fever.

    So I got into work on Saturday and felt awful (busy weekend at work so couldn't just phone in sick). But my boss (who suffers with migraines herself so understands the pain and how awful you can feel) gave me a Maxalt Melt wafer (you know, the ones that melt on your tongue and taste awful)

    Anyway, I have tried them before when I went into hospital when my migraines started. But it didn't work.

    However she have me one on Saturday because I could feel my migraine getting worse, and it WORKED!

    My head didn't stop hurting, but the pain was considerably less. Same again on Sunday, when she gave me another one.

    Feel like it's the first bit of progress I've made in 17months!

    Unfortunately I went to my doctor to get my own, and they gave me the tablet form instead of the wafer, and I haven't felt any affect. Not sure if it's because it takes longer to get into your system and by that point my migraine has already gotten worse, and it doesn't work.

    Oh well, going to get the wafer ones instead.

    Also, anyone else think it's stupid when you've got chronic migraines, and they only give you 6 tablets?!

    Hassle to get more! 

    • Tobamory
      Tobamory Becky-Louise

      Posted

      Becky 3 other things you can try also

      Imigran RADIS ( fast acting Imigran )

      Imigran Nasal Spray ( although they taste rank)

      Imigran Injections instant fix well 10 mins max

       

    • susan43558
      susan43558 Becky-Louise

      Posted

      Becky!!!!! I cannot express to you enough, vitamin A,D,E and K... cod liver oil pills is where u get vitamin A and D, probiotic is where you get vitamin K and only take vitamin E a few times a week, it thins the blood... I took Maxalt for 6 years... not a single one since the vitamins, also, folate... not folic acid, folate! vitamin b12 in the form of methylcobalamin liquid drops from vitamin shop and iron in the form of ferrous gluconate. Please try these, your body is screaming at you. And if you drink alcohol, you must stop. Love, Sue
    • ziggeryzag
      ziggeryzag Tobamory

      Posted

      When did Imigran RADIS arrive on the scene? My dr never told me about these. How do they work faster?

       

    • Tobamory
      Tobamory ziggeryzag

      Posted

      Years, normal take just over 45 mins to kick in, these take about 20 to 30 they just help the stomach to absorb.

      Saying this though my GP took me off them because of cost, and put me on normal suamtriptan tight wad

    • susan43558
      susan43558 Becky-Louise

      Posted

      I'm in the US.

      Any vitamin store should be able to help.

      Call around, for sure.

    • Tobamory
      Tobamory Becky-Louise

      Posted

      Becky im UK, all the Vitamins i got were from

      probiotic

      _____

      Cod Liver

      _____

      Vitamin E

      _____

      the other 2 i take are from Biovea

      _____

      _____

      As Susan says, Check with your GP if in doubt, but somethings changed, as you all know our heads are like the weather, i may be going through a nice patch, but very nice feeling again, not much headpain either

      I wonder if thoses 7 years of Nightclubs hammering beer took its toll on my Liver Kidneys, and thus my body crys for help....

      MMMMM  Good Luck

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