I am 38 and have had chronic headaches since I was 18. Dr's can't find anything wrong and just say they are from stress. I've tried tons of meds (anti-d's, seizure meds, midrin, vicodin, maxalt, etc). Nothing really works except the Vicodin and they are stingy with that at best. The fiorinol takes the edge off but I have a bleeding disorder which I've had for 20+ years and just found out from my daughter's hematologist that I should not be taking it.

I'm going to my dr tomorrow to discuss this and see what else they can do for me. I'm considering asking about Ultram but don't know anything about it. I hate the attitude they get, like I'm in there looking for pills. I always tell them I'd much rather NOT have a headache and NOT have to take pills. I'm a stay at home mom that homeschools and I can't just lay around in a dark room everyday. I need to be functioning and doing things everyday.

Does anyone have any suggestions???

You always have the option of seeking a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc opinions. If you don't care for your doctor, then take your money and/or insurance elsewhere!

Are you currently seeing a Nurologist who specializes in headache/migraine treatment?

No, I'm not seeing a Neurologist. When I went for a consultation years ago they wanted to put me in pain management where there were NO meds at all. I can do that myself but I'm miserable, they never go away. I understand about rebound headaches but even after I've been off meds for awhile the headaches are still the same.

My insurance is horrible. They want to charge me up the you know what for practically nothing. It's very stressful.

I've been off meds for awhile the headaches are still the same.
If you are suffering from rebound headaches, the headaches are going to be the same after being weaned off your medications. The weaning process can take weeks. It depends on how long you were on the meds giving you the rebound headaches.

My weaning process took 6 - 6 1/2 weeks & it was not pretty let me tell you. But it was worth it.
I have been headache free now for 3 years, going on 4 years.
My rebound headaches were caused by Mr. Excedrins - my ex-lover. Lawdy, I use to love that man. :D

You should also do a forum seach on headache/migraine food triggers & headache/migraine diary.

Also the weather can trigger migraines.

Consider seeing a Neurologist that specializes in headaches/migraines treatment. They are usually found at Headache Clinics.

Good Luck! :angel:

I sympathize with you!!! Mz. Migraine always has valuable info: I have suffered from DAILY headaches since 1998...the year I started taking our(Mz&me's))best friend, EXEDRIN. Your situaton may be different, but I do believe I suffer from rebounds...taking anywhere from 2-8 Exedrin EVERYDAY!!! I am scared to death of the withdrawl process as I know I will be one miserable puppy!!! My Dr. is also tight with the Vicodin. I used ULTRAM but it is not very effective for headaches..plus you get dry mouth & constipation & STILL have the headache!!! A vicious circle indeed!!!! I only have myself to blame 4 my situation, but I knew NOTHING about rebounds & when I would mention my Exedrin intake to my Dr. he didn't seem overly concerned. Most likely I have bleeding Ulcers. Wonder if they have DETOX CLINICS for those of us caught up in OTC HELL!! haha. I would tale FIORICET but since my body is evidently addicted to the caffeine, my situation wouldn't change! WORD OF ADVICE: if you DO go to a NEURO, think twice about TOPOMAX which they will push at you like gangbusters!!! (Lot's of Posts good & bad on the boards re this!!!) Good Luck to you!!!
:)

Well, dr also agrees that I need to get off the Fiorinol because of bleeding disorder and probably rebound headaches. He put me on Inderal which he said sometimes works but can lower blood pressure and mine is normally pretty low. Today it was 108/61. He said it takes a lot to make a difference.

He did say that coming off the Fiorinol will be hell as I've been taking it for 5+ years. Wish me luck!!

:wave:

Good luck joojoobee1967 :angel:

I also am stopping fioricet after 20 years.I am so tired of having a doctor thinking all I am doing is trying to get pain meds. I have had migraines since I have been 8 years old and my family doc saw what I was going through and gave me fiorcet in the 80's. that works so well and he didn't have a problem giving me 120 pills a month with 5 refills. We moved to another state about a year ago and what a difference these doctors are afraid to give you any help.I take neuronton and also long acting inderal for different reasons then miagrains but they do help somewhat with migrains.I am now taking one fiorset a day and I take an extra neuronton and an extra inderal a day I also drink a pot more of coffee and about 8 tylenol a day.My doctor said I should not take so much tylonal but what are my options? I cannot take the other newer migrain drugs because I have a rapid heart rate and the other drugs are not to be used if you have any heart problems. My doc here had to be reminded by me about that when he wanted to give me imitrex(sp). I really like you do not know what to do next. My husband was with me when I told the doc that I wanted to stop fiorcet and when we left the office he said why did you do that? I told him and he said he cannot stand to see me in so much pain but to me it is better then having these doctors think you are an addict. I am sorry I am venting.

I also drink a pot more of coffee :eek:

Lorriem, have you considered trying to wean yourself off of coffee, trying decaf instead?

Do you have any other food triggers?

Lorriem, I totally know how you feel. The Dr's always think you are pill seeking. It really irritates me. I have actually had a Dr tell me it was ok to take 8-10 extra strenth tylenol a day, even I know that is NOT ok.

In the past I used to take 4-6 Fiorinol a day and got a "talking to" back then so I decreased it to 1-2 which still totally doesn't get rid of the headache. I will still take Vicodin when they are really bad but getting them to prescribe that is like asking for Morphine or Heroine!! They would much rather have me in pain than give me something to help.

:eek:

Lorriem, have you considered trying to wean yourself off of coffee, trying decaf instead?

Do you have any other food triggers?

Please don't say that I love my coffee. I wake up thinking about coffee. Can't stand Decaf. My MIL when she was alive use to slip me decaf every once in a while and I could always tell.

I went to my doctor today and asked for several more fioricet I told him i was afraid of seizures and he said tht he has treated many people who wanted to get off of fioricet and if they had been only taken 4 to 5 a day their was no problem. This made me feel better. He also gave me a script for 60 fioricet.I will take 1 a day for 5 more days and then rely on an extra neurontin which I do take for pain from RSD and he also told me to take an extra innopran xl (long acting indearal that I also have been taking for years for a rapid heart rate 30 years ago they clocked me at 150 beats a min resting) this will be used for my migrains. He does know that I have been stressed for the last several months. My husband was diag with lung cancer(non smoker for 28 years) but he is doing much better after surgery and Chemo for good measure. That is how I found this web site reading all I could about LC.
Food triggers not to many but light like floresant (sp) and smells ( woman who use to much perfume) the smell of wine or bear even on someone's breath strong flower smells pinesol,oust any cover ups.Try and avoid smells.
Thankyou for answering my post

joojoobee1967

Vicodin and codine are two drugs that I cannot take. I feel jittery and sick if I do. Makes pain control a bit harder.I think neurontin or a Inderal type product might work for you also. It is worth asking your doctor. I do know how you feel about the tylenol my doc didn't even blink when I in the past told him my tylenol intake. My old doctor put me on fioricet in 85 when by chance I told him what I was doing to help with my headachs when he asked about them. I didn't even bring it up but he said I was taking to much tylenol and for me to try fiorcet. Oh well good luck and thank you so much also for answering my post.