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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

741 Replies

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  • crystal_92428
    crystal_92428 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    I ate a piece of red velvet cake the headache went away for 3 days, it came back more intense. The pain is real, unbearable. I try not to cry it makes it worse.
  • julie48898
    julie48898 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    I had a migraine for 27 days & like you no medicine would work, CAT scan & MRI were clear, felt like I tried everything. Finally a doctor in the ER told me to go to a hormone specialist. He gave me progesterone & after a few days it started to fade until it finally went away. I hope this will help & I will pray for you. I feel your anguish and I am so sorry you are having this struggle!

  • stephanie_13761
    stephanie_13761 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi Becky-Louise. I'm sorry you're dealing with so much pain! I, too, have been having daily headaches for at least 6 months and probably longer. I could go for YEARS without a headache before these started happening. I'm just in the beginning stages of trying to pinpoint what's wrong. I saw my GP on June 19th and he prescribed propranolol. It hasn't helped at all. The last three days the headaches have gotten worse. Today I considered going to the ER because I've been in so much pain. Tomorrow I will go and see my doctor again. I feel just like you. The daily pain is very, very depressing! Thankfully, I'm off work until August 21 when school starts back up. I hope you can get answers soon!

    • nicola67221
      nicola67221 stephanie_13761

      Posted

      Hi Stephanie13761, have you considered going to a chiropractor as well as the meds route? I take propranolol as I have vascular migraines and it does help in my case. However I went to see a chiropractor because I have a curved spine and am in constant pain as well as migraines and the traction he does plus exercises really helps. He said to me that a lot of his clients have migraines which are made worse by compressed vertebrae - mine is also to do with a car accident. Hope this helps and you find a way to ease things.
    • stephanie_13761
      stephanie_13761 nicola67221

      Posted

      Hi Nicola. I just returned from seeing my doctor again because the headaches have been intensifying. He prescribed Imitrex, and ordered an MRI. I have one at 2:00 today. I've never been to a chiropractor, but will consider it if there's no improvement. Thanks for your reply. 

    • julie48898
      julie48898 stephanie_13761

      Posted

      Consider having your hormones checked too. Progesterone helped my migraines! Hope you feel better!!
  • Lifeisgood999
    Lifeisgood999 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Becky, thanks for sharing. Your case is very interested. So many replies! Once I catch up I'll add my comments and may have more questions to those following this discussion. 

  • lulu51707
    lulu51707 Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Did your migraines get better?

    I have had a migraine everyday for 16 months straight.

    Only conclusion I have about mine is....

    1. Pinched nerves all throughout my spine but a really bad one in my C1 and C5 in my neck

    2. Severe deficiencies of Iron, B12 and D. ( I'll have more levels checked soon)

    3. Migraines are worse with PMS and birth control caused them to get more severe.

    4. I clench my jaw, alot!

    Just wondering what steps I should take to finding resolution.....i feel as if my doctor is just "brushing it under the rug" so to speak. I am seriously over dealing with this struggle everyday because my life is currently on hold until I can find a treatment that works and doctor that will take me seriously.

    • jason61983
      jason61983 lulu51707

      Posted

      Sorry to hear your still suffering Lulu. What I can tell you you probably already know and have read or heard before sorry. Neck issues are known to cause migraines and headache. Vitamin deficiency can cause headaches too. Women's issues can make things worse. Clenching your jaw won't help and can be the cause of headaches too. Sorry if I sound blunt. It's been a bad day for me too.

      2 of your issues can be solved quite quickly as in weeks or a few months. Stop clenching your jaw. I notice I do it too but I make a conscious effort to stop myself doing it. If you think you may be grinding your teeth in the day or at night in your sleep go see your dentist asap and ask for their advice. They may point you in the right direction. As for vitamins if you have been tested and your levels are low self supplement. They are not too expensive to buy online. I know a few good places where I buy from. PM me if you would like some info. I take a good multivitamin, coenzyme q10, feverfew, omega 3 fish oil, magnesium and most importantly vitamin D. I am very up and down with the vertigo and migraines amongst other symptoms but I do feel for the best part that these supplements have helped.

      Another option is to ask your gp for a full thyroid check if you have not had this already.

      Best wishes. Jason.

       

    • jason61983
      jason61983

      Posted

      JUST TO ADD I ALSO TAKE 400MG IBUPROFEN AND 1G OF PARACETEMOL MOSTLY ONCE A DAY BUT SOMETIMES UP TO 3 TIMES A DAY. NEVER ON AN EMPTY STOMACH THOUGH AS THEY ARE NOT GOOD FOR YOUR STOMACH IBUPROFEN. I FIND THEY TAKE THE EDGE OFF AT LEAST. OTHER PAIN KILLERS SUCH AS ASPIRIN AT 600MG ALONG WITH 1G OF PARACETEMOL WHEN I AM LUCKY HELP MY MIGRAINE ON A BAD DAY BUT I NEVER TAKE ASPIRIN ON THE SAME DAY AS TAKING IBUPROFEN AS THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO BE TAKEN ON THE SAME DAY. ON A RARE OCCASION I TAKE 2X CO-CODAMOL 500/8 BUT THEY MAKE ME MORE FATIGUED THE NEXT DAY. NEVER TAKE PARACETEMOL ALONG WITH CO-CODAMOL AS CO-CODAMOL ALREADY HAS PARACETEMOL IN THEM.
    • jim03290
      jim03290 lulu51707

      Posted

      Hi,Lulu . Be careful with B12 supplements. It can trigger vicious headaches. B12 is on my list of headache triggers, a list compiled over the last 17 months of note taking. Also watch out for gluten, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, sulfites found in dried fruit, nitrites,bottled spices with multiple ingredients, some brands of toothpaste, artificial sweeteners, vit B complex, dairy, preservatives, asparagus.Going more than 3 hrs without food also bad.

       Environmental triggers are out there too : Smoke, perfume, bright lights, computer screens, TV, eyestrain, driving,air pressure changes,dehydration.

      Remediesto reduce pain : HARD exercise, run warm water over head in shower, physio for your neck, especially traction ........Jim.

  • linzi_loo
    linzi_loo Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi I've had the same constant headaches that won't go away been to hospital on loads of occasions and never taken seriously . I've just recently been put on prochlopromazine which is helping to take the edge of the headaches and the dizziness however makes you feel drowsy 😴

  • KirstyElise
    KirstyElise Becky-Louise

    Posted

    Hi

    ?I'm an engineer and 25 years old and I've been getting chronic headaches/migraines for 2 months, the pain has not disappeared at all but it varies in degree. I've tried endep, imigran, a bunch of pain killers, just started Topamax, and have had MRI's coming back clear. Some radiologists who have looked at my scans think I may have MS, although my neurologist doesn't, so I have to get a lumbar puncture which I'm a bit scared about. I'm not sure if what I have is a cluster headache, as it stays on the right side of my head and centred around my eye, but i'm not sure how that can be diagnosed? And if it can be treated? Hope you all have been finding solutions. Kirsty, xx.

    • Naiad
      Naiad KirstyElise

      Posted

      I’m exactly the same. 25years old, pain on left side of head, focused around eye. Neurologist says it’s a cluster migraine and there’s not my they can do but get the balance of tablets right.

      I’m in constant pain, vomiting, loss of balance, terrible vision been like it for months. It’s a living hell!

      The worst part is I’m so ill I can’t work, so I’m constantly phoning for a doctors certificate. When I speak to people they believe I’m making it up or pulling a sicky but I spend everyday in bed with and icepack a vomit bucket and knock out drugs. One stage I was so bad and I slept for days. Matted hair, drenched in sweat, I hardly see the light of day and all the doctors provide is a certificate for 5 days that says ‘headache’. Explaining to work that this is more than just a headache when the doctor only puts that single word on a five day cirtificate is humiliating and depressing.

      This has gone on for months. I don’t know what to do. I can’t  really do anything. I hardly see my family, I cant bare the light. I have no income. I wish people understood how much migraine can impact someones life. It’s a disability, I am disabled and by the looks of this thread, I’m not alone. 

    • jim03290
      jim03290 Naiad

      Posted

      You are not alone. Never give up. Start a daily diary. Record all food, meds,sleep, water intake,put all perfume or smelly soap away. Try eating non gluten, vegetarian, whatever it takes. Do some drug trials, several good suggestions in this forum.

      You have to drive the process, the doctors can only help a little bit. This old saying is true : Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever. Admittedly, “temporary “ for some of us is measured in months and years, but we WILL get some improvement.......Jim.

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