Migraine Relief ANYONE?????
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Janeen on -
I haven't found a way to actually get rid of my migraines. But I don't seem to get daily ones anymore.
After a 4 week episode in 2007, my doctor put me on daily preventive meds. It took a while to get the dosage right, but my migraines did lessen in frequency. Have you tried preventive meds? They don't work for everyone but it really has helped me. I also had to try and narrow down my triggers and do the best I can to eliminate them as much as possible (although some are completely out of my control).
Check out a great blog post from our migraine community about preventive meds.
And here is a wonderfully informative page on reducing triggers.
There is also a wealth of information on our Chronic migraine page.
I'm not sure if there is a way to completely stop your migraines from ever happening, but there are ways to try and lesson attacks.
I hope you find some relief!. Also visit our Migraine group page. There is a list of wonderful blogs from migraine bloggers. Many of these have "been there, done that" information that you may find helpful.
Wishing you the best,
Janeen
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Permalink Reply by Laura on -
Thanks! I am on daily preventative meds and have been for years- a plethora of different ones.. up and down on different ones and the same ones again with different amounts... currently "playing" with the amount of Topamax.... up to 150 a day... FRANKLY it all makes me SICK! (and TIRED) I am trying a "homeopathic woman on Monday- will report on that!!! I have gone that ro9ute before.... so.... as you can see I am trying things AGAIN as I am at my WITS end!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Janeen on
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Laura,
I'm so sorry that nothing seems to be working for you. My next suggestion was homeopathy. I really hope it works for you this time.
Please keep us updated on how things are going!!
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Permalink Reply by Laura on
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Thanks! Do you know anyone who has been "put into" menopause and if that helped? I know that "that" is just one of my BIG triggers... my hunch is that Docs are afraid to do that with migraines for fear of later law suits with the long term side effects- BUT is make me laugh because they have NO fear giving MEGA shots of BOTOX!!!! Honestly, I think we are going to see BAD things in the future with all the people who put that NASTY stuff in their bodies over an extended period of time! Be well....
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Permalink Reply by Janeen on
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I don't know of anyone "put into"menopause. I do know that I was put on birth control pills to regulate my hormones and that actually helped me. Some people find b.c. to worsen their migraines and it actually helps me.
I recently discovered that I am going through perimenause (age 39) and everything is out of whack and my migraines have taken a different path (and not for the better).
Have you looked into a birth control option that actually stops your period? That type of pill may alter your homones enough to bring some relief. There are trade offs with with whatever you decide. Birth control can have unwanted side effects and may not be enough for you. But surgery to bring on menopause could bring on so many other side effects and not do too much to help the migraines.
Do you see a neurologist for migraines or just your family physician/Ob/Gyn?
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Permalink Reply by Laura on
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I was tried on BC and my migraines got much worse... I have been to so MANY neurologists.. I think I am on # 8! I have done accupuncture, shots to the back of my head, chiropracture, vitamins, MANY preventative meds....,total diet changes....
I have been on so many groups of meds with either CRAZY side effects,no effects, or the effects stopped after several months... IT has been a really TOUGH RIDE not just for me, but my heart BREAKS for my family who tries SOOOOO hard to be patient and understand something that they cannot ever possibly understand (nor do I ever want them to know what it is like!!!!) Thanks!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Ellen S on -
Hi Laura,
I replied to this post when it first went up, but the reply isn't here! I'm so sorry!!
Yes, I was "put into menopause" twice by two different methods. One was Zoladex implants that were place abdominally every few weeks for almost a year. The result was horrific Migraines for me, but others have terrific results. If you are interested in this route, please let me know and I'll give you a few pointers I picked up along the way.
I also had a hysterectomy- no more uterus or ovaries or cervix. It was just as bad Migraine-wise as the Zoladex, but I had other side-effects with the drug I don't deal with now.
Please, know that each person is different in what aggravates or triggers their Migraines. If you are having seriously uncontrolled hormonal/menstrual Migraines, Zoladex or other drug in that category is the way to try it out before committing to something more permanent. Your results with the drug will be similar to a hysterectomy, but wear off with time. Neither one is for the faint of heart, but can yield results which may be worth the trouble.
I'll write more Laura, but wanted you to get this reply right away...
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Permalink Reply by Laura on
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GOLLY, thanks for the info. It's good to know there's a way to "try it out 1st". I have HIGH hopes that once the change happens my headaches will dissipate as my Mom's did and so did her Mom's.... I also am being hopeful that the Magnesium that I am currently trying will work. At least the Magnesium won't effect me in a negative way. I hope you are having a pain free day!!! Be well!!!
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Permalink Reply by Ellen S on
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Hi Laura, how did the homeopath visit go?
You should know that a lot of "old" docs will tell patients that a hysterectomy will cure their Migraines, but there is no cure yet for Migraine disease. Much happens after menopause in addition to stopping estrogen, and we know that age itself has a bearing on our attacks. In rare cases, hysterectomy might remove some (not all) reproductive hormones as a potential trigger, but this really is treating a symptom and is a very serious step to consider and get lots of sage advice about.
The majority of Migraineurs I talk to have never had a true trial of preventive therapy, or combination of therapies. They tried something for a couple weeks, didn't like the side effects and quit. They move on to another thinking they did the trial correctly, when in fact a few alterations, time and patience could have made an enormous amount of difference for them. Sometimes adding an additional treatment to your existing one is enough to either make life bearable, or cut down on the side-effects enough that you can up the one of preventives. You might try someone who specializes in Integrative Medicine (a combo between traditional MD or DO, and complementary) that can help you with some of this.
My hysterectomy wasn't related to Migraine, but I too had hopes maybe I would be one of the few to see good results. Just as my doctor suspected, within hours of the surgery, a killer Migraine set in that only an HRT patch would ease. Because I am not supposed to have estrogen, I am kept at a very low level which keeps me with constant pain, but at a level I can deal with. Admittedly, since it has been a couple years since my surgery, we are considering upping the estrogen a little to see if my quality of life improves without triggering my other repro issues. It's a risky move tho, and I am nervous. My Migraine issues never seemed tied to my reproductive hormones until I tried the Zoladex.
There are some very interesting new treatments on the Migraine horizon. I've written about some of them on my blog. I know pain makes you do things you wouldn't normally consider, but I hate to think someone would go to this extreme and the next day be offered a treatment that could have left them whole.
I hope some of what I've written has helped you. Can I give you any more info??
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on -
Laura, are you a member of the Migraine group here at WEGO Health? I know many of those participants are on daily preventive medications that they could recommend to you.
I have been through many many preventives in the past eight years and eventually my migraines have faded into weekly (instead of daily) companions. I've been on Elavil (Amitriptyline), Verapamil (Isoptin), Inderal (Propranolol), Toprol (Metoprolol), Depakote (Divalproex sodium), Topamax and many others. They did help me for a while, but my body adjusts to medications really quickly and so I had to switch many times to find the longest-lasting preventive. I've also been on birth control pills to help with the hormone regulation as well. Those have been some of the best preventives for me!
Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Laura on
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Well.... Magnesium seems to be the NEW answer... the verdict is out as I HAVE tried this before and NO LUCK!!! BUT.. (1) wrong type of Magnesium and (2) perhaps I didn't have the right amount that I needed.... SO... I will try and see if in fact a Magnesium deficiency is the ROOT of ALLL EVIL!!!! WIll Keep you all Posted!!!! (Still on the dreaded Topamax, but have cut it back because of the tingles, blurred vision, word retrieval problems,hmmm what else....) AND.. depending on what Doc you talk to... ADvil PM is either OK or NOT ok.... so... depending on how SCREAMING my head is and how much I REALLY want to sleep, I may or NOT continure to be a slave to that! .....and..... the beat goes on.. perhaps..OBAMA can create CHANGE here!!! ahhahahahaha!
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