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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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  • denacanada54
    denacanada54 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi Becky-Louise, sorry to hear about your never-ending migraines and lousy responses from doctors.

    I have found that you sometimes have to be your own doctor. Do research at reliable sites even contact them ie. a famous clinic and ask your questions.

    I found that a pill called Zolmitriptan helps me a great deal but the only thing is that if I have 30 a month, I can only take 10 a month. It takes, for me 20 minutes to eleviate pain.

    Also, because I have to lay off these, I have started using a "Thumper" message machine and I put a towel over my head and face and have one ball massager go over the right side of my head, right forehead, right eye (closed, gently) and right side of head and neck.

    I know mine come when I get a slight pain on the right side of my nose/cheek and then I have realized my whole right side of neck gets stiff and when I move my neck left to right I can hear inside something like marbles clicking inside neck Weird huh? Also look on You Tube for neck exercises and eye exercises for headaches, migraines. Just being on the computer can cause eye stress and sitting down on a computer can tense muscles up.

    I used to run very cold water over my head. Lean over kitchen sink and let the cold water run for a while. I got tired of always being cold and wet hence my new "treatments" above.

    Then I read that heat is better for 'inflammations" so if veins in head are puffed out which they feel they are to me, I started using heating pad on top of head, right side of head, my right eye and right shoulder. I sleep with it behind my whole neck and part of back all night on medium heat.

    Also not to take Zolmitriptan, I asked pharmascist how many Tylenol Migraine I can take. I take 3 just when I know it will start and this helps.

    I hope these suggestions help. But remember, perservere and no bad thoughts about stopping anything but the migraines. Keep working, going to school and researching and trying out different things until you beat those suckers!!!!!!

    • Becky-Louise
      Becky-Louise denacanada54

      Posted

      Hi,

      Thanks for all te suggestions, I'll definitely speak to my doctor about trying some of the meds you mentioned.

      I have had some improvement with my migraines, I take Candersartan now which is a blood pressure tablet, and it's helped quite a lot but might need to see if I can increase my dosage because they've been gradually getting worse lately. When j get a bad migraine I get the sensation that my veins are popping out of my neck and feel the pressure building in my head. I had that from the start though before taking the blood pressure tablets though.

      It's been 3 years now of this pain, but I'm glad it's improved so I can continue working. Unfortunately I have to be looking at a computer all day in my job, and the opticians I go to have only just told me about like coating you can have put on your glasses that reduced the amount of blue light that is let through your glasses and is recommended from headache and migraines sufferers, so when I can I'm getting that on my glasses to help.

      I hope your migraines improve soon, definitely don't let them get you down 😊

    • denacanada54
      denacanada54 Becky-Louise

      Posted

      Thank you for your update.  I wanted to remind you to go on You Tube and check out eye and neck exercises. Take 2 minutes and get your eyes of computer screen and give them a break.  Do an eye exercise like drawing the figure 8 with both eyes start from right to left down to right back to left and so on do this 5-10 times doesn't take long. Also cover your eyes with both hands criss crossed over eyes and face and close your eyes and hold for a couple of minutes.  Get up and move your shoulders and neck. I hope others will try these exercises as well.  Remember the Massage Thumper Sport set a lowest level helps and I do face with towel under thumper neck and back.  Your migraines may lessen go away in a half hour or so.  Good Luck
  • Jensim
    Jensim Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi, I have had migraines everyday for almost a year. What happened to you. Did they ever stop? Did you ever find out what caused them?
    • Becky-Louise
      Becky-Louise Jensim

      Posted

      Hi,

      I've never outright found out what caused the migraines, but I have had some improvement.

      I've had headaches/migraines for 3 years now, but for the last year I've been taking Candersartan (a blood pressure tablet) and they've improved a lot. I usually have a head he every day, but the amount of migraines I actually have no have decreased. I can usually get 3-5 full blown migraines a month now where it used to be nearly every day or every other day. When I get a migraine I take Rizatriptans in an injection form when they are really really bad, or I take a tablet called Maxalt Melts when their not too bad. I try and avoid normal over the counter painkillers like paracetamol as these can cause rebound headache. But anti inflammatory scan help.

      Have they found any reason to why yours are happening? Are you in any meds?

  • lisa18798
    lisa18798 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi,

    I just now saw this forum . I have been suffering from what they think is migraines for way over a year.

    I finally got botox injections and that helped some after 8 days post injections. I know the frustrations of not sleeping bc of pain and all that goes with the light sensitivity, stabbing behind my eye, nausea and vomiting etc. Replax is the only triptan that gave me some relief.

    Do u happen to have lower back pain or degenerative joint disease or herniations on your lower back?

    The reason why I ask as that I have all of the above and lower back issues can cause pain in upper back and neck as it were being caused by the head or neck only. The other diagnosis is Occipital Neuralgia that can mimic migraines , but won't respond to migraine treatment. It comes from the injury to Occipital nerves that take root in upper part of neck and fan out in the back of your head. You might ask Neurologist about this if he is familular. I was suprised to find a Chronic pain doc nor another Physician knew anything about this, but definitely worth looking into.

    Hope this helps if you have not found any answers.

  • britts
    britts Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hey becky-Louise I feel your pain. I'm in the same boat as you, I've tried everything. The chiropractor, naturopath, optometrist, headache clinic, and acupuncture. None have worked. The neurologist said they're "chronic headaches" and they don't take me seriously either. I was just wonder since you've posted over a year ago, if you found out what it actually was? This is unbearable.
    • jamesmills
      jamesmills britts

      Posted

      I have to thank you all especially the lady who suggested all the vitamins.

      My wife had migraines for 5 months. We went through horrible times at doctors, ER, urgent care, etc. So finally I saw that lady talking about Vitamims D, E, C, B complex, magnesium etc. I immediatley went to S2 and got her a strong multivitamin, had her drink Vitamin D whole milk, and take all the Vitamims. She has a cocktail of 5 she takes with the whole milk and low and behold she was better almost overnight! It took about a week or 2 to fully recover by its been a month now and no migraines just the occasional low grade headache and barely ever! I urge you to try the Vitamims and maybe the vitamin D milk too. It's been a godsend for her, she's even almost stopped taking the medicine she is on Topiramate she doesn't really need it. So guys I think for most of you its just vitamin deficiency. Your body can't talk and when it sends painful signals it's trying to tell you something it needs isn't there. I did some research and an alarming amount of migraines are linked to vitamin deficiency.

      So you can try all meds but my wife is fully recovered and I can't tell you how happy I am not to see her suffer now. Most doctors won't tell you just to use vitamins because they aren't FDA regulated so I urge you to try this method before doing anything further.

      I wish you all luck with your struggle! I understand your pain.

      -James Mills

    • jamesmills
      jamesmills

      Posted

      I remember her name now it was Susan! Thank you so much I can't tell you how much better my wife is. I have the woman I love back to normal and we are both much happier.
  • Ollypop
    Ollypop Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi I hope you still look at this!! I'm hoping you're well and have found an answer!

    My son has a very very similar problem to you. So I do understand the permanent headache! I won't bore you with the full tale as it's very similar to yours but in brief....

    My son is 20 this year and has been suffering since he was 13 he has a constant headache which ranges on a scale of 1-10 between a 3 and a migraine! He gets around 8 migraine days a month with a few other really bad headache days! He has had 2 MRI and been through all the usual amytriptaline, gabapentin,etc so many others I can't remember! He has also had 2 lots of Botox - 36 injections around his head and shoulders the first lot in September which gave him maybe a few less migraine days. They say a second lot is sometimes needed but that was in January and hasn't helped at all this time in fact he had to complete a mitigating circumstances form at uni as his exams were right after it and things were quite bad!

    I would love to know where you are now with your headaches and what have you found to help? We too find its a shrug from the doctors and go away and try this and I feel they hope we won't be back!! I could almost feel the relief of the consultant when he realised my son was 16 and could be passed on to the adult headache clinic!!

  • alexballer18
    alexballer18 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    I'm having the same issue and i get migraines for no reason. They cause me to be sensitive to light and sometimes i will be nauseous. Yesterday I got dizzy while I was sitting down and it was painful. 
  • robert79321
    robert79321 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi, I get frequent migraine type headaches - Naratriptan doesn't always work and by accident I found that Sodium Diclofenac ('Arhtrotec 50') taken with 1 or 2 Anadin Extra tablets forms a powerful pain killer which always gets rid of headaches. My GP said that I can do this occasionally but not too often.

    Anadin extra is a combination of Aspirin and Paracetamol.

    • laurenjane
      laurenjane robert79321

      Posted

      Hi Robert. Where can you buy Sodium Diclofenac from? I'm in the UK, I have a constant headache, tried lots of things but not this. Thanks 

       

    • robert79321
      robert79321 laurenjane

      Posted

      Hi Laurenjane, I'm also in the UK and I am prescribed with 'Arthrotec 50' for sponulitis in my neck. I understand however that Voltarol is also now available in tablet form over the counter and that it is the same compound i.e. Sodium Diclofenac. As I mentioned, I've found that taken together with Anadin Extra the combination is a powerful painkiller, at least for me, and cures my migraines. The Arthrotec has an additional ingredient to protect the stomach so you might get a bit of an acid stomach with the Voltarol / Anadin Extra combination.

      If you try it I hope it's successful for you!

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