Will these Migraines/headaches ever end ??

lllblessedlll · 10-28-2004, 09:45 PM

Hello,I am posting here because I am at the end of my rope. I have had migraines/daily headaches for 15 years now. They started when I got pregnant with my last child and have just gotten worse over the years. In all those years I have been on Welbutrin, Depakote, Imitrex, and am currently on Maxalt for the migraines. The migraines have been getting worse and more frequent in the past 5-6 months and the Maxalt hardly ever works anymore. I have to go to the ER like 2-3 times a month now for pain meds. And as everyone reading this probably knows,the ER's think your some kind of "druggy" everytime you come in there. I recently had an MRI which showed osteo arthritis and narrowing,degenerative disk in my neck. I have a doc appt on Nov 5th to see an ortho doc. I don't really know what he will do at this point. I have been in physical therapy for 3 months now and it has not helped so surely he won't go that route again but i have no clue. I don't know if maybe my neck might be giving me more headaches and migraines or not. I only know I can't take much more pain. I have no life anymore. All I want to do anymore is just cry. I don;t know why my doc hasn't or wont put me on something to take all the time to keep me from getting so many headaches. Because when I get my migraines, I usually wake up with them full blown and by then the abbortives don't work. Does anyone have any answers? If so, I really would like to hear from you. This whole thing is really taking a toll on my entire life.

AngelMist · 10-29-2004, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lllblessedlll

Hello,I am posting here because I am at the end of my rope. I have had migraines/daily headaches for 15 years now. They started when I got pregnant with my last child and have just gotten worse over the years. In all those years I have been on Welbutrin, Depakote, Imitrex, and am currently on Maxalt for the migraines. The migraines have been getting worse and more frequent in the past 5-6 months and the Maxalt hardly ever works anymore. I have to go to the ER like 2-3 times a month now for pain meds. And as everyone reading this probably knows,the ER's think your some kind of "druggy" everytime you come in there. I recently had an MRI which showed osteo arthritis and narrowing,degenerative disk in my neck. I have a doc appt on Nov 5th to see an ortho doc. I don't really know what he will do at this point. I have been in physical therapy for 3 months now and it has not helped so surely he won't go that route again but i have no clue. I don't know if maybe my neck might be giving me more headaches and migraines or not. I only know I can't take much more pain. I have no life anymore. All I want to do anymore is just cry. I don;t know why my doc hasn't or wont put me on something to take all the time to keep me from getting so many headaches. Because when I get my migraines, I usually wake up with them full blown and by then the abbortives don't work. Does anyone have any answers? If so, I really would like to hear from you. This whole thing is really taking a toll on my entire life.

AngelMist · 10-29-2004, 10:12 AM

I'm sorry to hear how miserable these darn headaches have made you. I know how you feel, believe me I do. I have battled headaches my entire life, since I was about 13 years old, and I know how frustrating it can all be.
Have you been to see a neurologist? I finally got my primary care doctor to refer me to a neurologist this year, and he put me on Topamax daily to help cut down on the frequency of my headaches. It has truly worked for me. I believe that Topamax is actually an epilepsy medication, but it has been found to help a lot of people with migraines. It has been a blessing to me! We have had to increase my dosage once since I started taking them, and I have now gone from weekly headaches to having one every approx. 3 weeks I would say. It doesn't stop them entirely, or at least it hasn't for me, but it has made my life liveable again, and given me so much relief. My headaches also don't seem to last as LONG as they did before. (They were lasting about 2-3 days on average, every week). OF course, not all medications work for everyone, but I would suggest giving it a shot, hopefully it could help you too. I too had tried all of the abortives-Midrin, Imitrex, Zomig...you name it. I am now taking Axert, and I think it works better than any others I have tried.
I wish you luck-but try getting in to a neurologist and talking with them about Topamax as a possibility. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
Blessings-Angel Mist

ImagineLennon · 11-02-2004, 09:01 PM

There is also a drug called Sibelium (flunarizine) that is used for prevention. It's one that you have to take before bed because it can cause drowsiness. I don't know myself how well it works, but my boyfriend was prescribed it by a neurologist a few years ago. He doesn't take it anymore--doesn't get migraines often enough and hates to take medication. We have no idea if it worked for him or not because his headaches were too sporadic.

baby_doll82 · 11-03-2004, 01:38 AM

or there is lamictal or zonegran, or there is even botox which is supposed to be helpful for migraines as well, so my neurologist says.......but that is hella expensive! but you could see if your insurance covers it