6 years of no definate answers- now taking Topamax

Tanya9 · 05-31-2002, 12:33 PM

I'm 33 & started having migraines at 27. With each year, they've become worse. 99% occur on left side of head, forms almost a pie shape- starting behind the eye & spreads out towards the ear to middle of head.

Was on 50mg Toprol as preventative, stopped working. Not to mention gained a lot of weight! Was taking Imitrex (only shot form is affective) & Maxalt (no longer affective)- Have now been placed on 25mg of Topamax for 1st week and increasing to 100mg within 4 weeks & Zomig.

MRI's show possible Chari Malformation type I, Cervical Spondylosis with disc herniation C4 & C5. Both Neurologists and Neurosurgeon don't think that either are contributing factors. MRA showed nothing vascular. Headache diaries don't seem to show any rhyme or reason.

I have a very supportive husband & family, but I've been down lately & I'm extremely frustrated.

Anyone taking Topamax - is it working?

Anyone have advice or suggestions?

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by Tanya9 (edited 06-20-2002).]

mlgable · 06-01-2002, 02:24 AM

If this treatment doesn't work for you then I think they need to get on with trying more of the preventative medications. When one stops working it is time to try something new. Have you considered try a chiropracter? A lot of people have good success with this. Also if you are taking oral birth control pills be sure that this is investigated as a possible cause for some of your migraines.

Tanya9 · 06-01-2002, 01:50 PM

I truly appreciate the advise. I didn't know that birth control could be a contributing factor. I will most definately bring it up with my Neurologist. You're also the second person who has suggested a Chiropractor, I'll give it a try. Thank you.

mlgable · 06-02-2002, 02:05 AM

One of the number one side effects of birth control is migraine headaches. You must have not read your literature that comes with your prescription very close. If you are on birth control pills that is usually one of the first things they suspect as a cause or partial cause of migraines. I find it hard to believe that your doctor never even suggested this as a cause or did you perhaps forget to mention to them that you are on birth control pills. My doc wouldn't even consider doing anything regarding my migraines since he full well felt they were caused by my birth control pills. It would have been foolish for him to treat my migraines when I could pretty much get rid of them simply by getting off the birth control pills.

Tanya9 · 06-02-2002, 04:06 PM

Without a doubt - I've told both Neurologists that I'm on oral birth control. I suppose it is possible that the first Neuro (6 yrs ago) could have mentioned something & I may not remember. In the 6 yrs that I'd been seeing him, I wonder why he never recommended that I stop taking it - just to see what would happen.

However, the second Neuro that I visited last week, never mentioned anything about it. I have a follow up visit in 3 weeks - I'll bring it up.

Please believe me when I say that I appreciate your advice & I'm not trying to challange what you are telling me. I have read the insert for Ortho-Novum 1/35, it does not list headaches/migraines among its side effects.