Migraine Headaches

[farmnurse]

I know the feeling when people think you have a headache just to get out of things. My dh is always considerate and does what he can. I can remember getting headaches back when I was 7yrs old. It just that the have gotten worse in later years. I have heard people say of other migraine suffers that were not at work, was they must be faking it because no one has a headache for 3 days. I just tell them it can happen and they dont have a clue. My worst headaches come when a storm front moves in.
Donna

[gardngal]

Hi Everyone,
I agree with Lifestar, definetely see a neurologist for an MRI to get a diagnosis before tring medication to get rid of the headaches. My doctor only gives me Imitrex and won't give me a narcotic.

So a lot of times I have to tough it out. Take this weekend for example. I've had a headache since Friday night. It just sits there and throbbs. Sometimes it will lessen and then boom it's back in full force. I took an Imitrex pill this morn. and I'll see how I do. If it's not better in an hour I'll need to give myself a shot. (I hate doing that) It's hard for me to sit in front of the computer right now so I need to go.
Take Care ya all..........
Marcia

[migrainemama]

Hi everyone,

I could write a book about my lifetime of migraines. I now have two out of three kids who suffer from them too. I had to be hospitalized for triptan withdrawal for 6 days after taking Zomig daily for over a year. I'm very fortunate now to be under control with a combination of Corgard and Topamax. I only get 1 or 2 migraines a month now.

But the reason I wanted to post to all you fellow migraine sufferers is that there is a wonderful migraine website/resourse at About.com just click onto headaches/migraines. It is full of articles and information and links to everything including Drs. and headache specialists in your area etc. But one of the best things is their chat forum, you can ask any migraine question and there are so many wonderful, caring people who will answer your questions. Any drug you want to know about, someone has been on or knows about. It's just very useful and I highly recommend it.

Also you can't beat a good neurologist. If yours isn't savvy on treating headaches then try to find a different one, cuz a good neuro can make all the difference in the world in finding the right medication(s) to treat and/or prevent the migraines.

Good luck to everyone out there. I'm not migrainemama for nothing!!

[gardngal]

Hi Migrainemama,

Thanks for the good advice. I'm going to go to that website tonight. I'm real glad to hear that your migraines have lessened. I need to do something new because I'm tired of headaches...


And oh yea- you and I have the same birthday. Same year as well. We are exactly the same age. Pretty cool huh?
Have a great day,
Marcia

[migrainemama]

Hi Marcia,

I'm really new to this, I didn't even think to check the profile thing. The birthday thing is pretty neat, we're just on the other side of the country!

I was wondering about tension type headaches that can lead to migraines, cuz I've dealt with that too. Sounds like you could be having some of that going on. Oh yeah, and my migraines are hardly ever one sided like some doctors insist they have to be. Your doc doesn't sound real compassionate with only giving you imitrex. I couldn't have made it without drugs like, Midrin, Fiorinal, & Axert which is a different triptan. Sometimes a certain triptan will quit working, Imitrex and Zomig don't work for me anymore. I never found any of the drugs with codeine addicting at all, but they can cause rebound headaches if you take them for more than about 3 days in a row. Also Excedrin migraine can work well, it's just aspirin, tylenol with some caffeine.

I went through all the head tests, MRI, cat scans and such and they can't all they're for is to rule out anything "organic" such as tumors or weird blood vessel anomalies. But they can put you at ease if your headaches have been different from what your used to, or to finally convince yourself that you don't have a brain tumor!

Probably more info than you felt like reading! Good luck, I sure hope things improve. I had about 5 years of headache hell after my third child was born and I'm so glad to be better. Hang in there.

[geenna74]

Originally posted by migrainemama
.
to finally convince yourself that you don't have a brain tumor!

I thought I was the only one with that fear.

gina.

[Lifestar]

The fear of a brain tumor is why I had my 10 year-old daughter get an MRI when her migraines started. Her aunt had been having migraines for over 10 years, and only found out recently that she had a cancerous brain tumor, that was slowly growing for what her surgeon assumed was more than 15 years of her life.

My daughter did not have a tumor (thank G-d) but we did discover she had a rare condition called Arnold-Chiari Malformation Type-1, where the skull is not quite big enough for the back of the brain, and the medulla squeezes down through the opening at the base of the skull into the spinal canal. The hernation is small and doesn't cause any neurological problems at this point in her life, but it does contirbute to her headaches.

I had my MRI done too, and I have the same condition. It helps explain the migraines I have had since I was 8 years old, as well as other problems I have in my neck and arms.

I think many of us "migraineurs" always fear we're dying of a brain tumor or anyurism or something just as awful when these headaches happen. No one but a migraine sufferer knows how real these fears can be, because no one but us knows how awful the pain and suffering is.

[geenna74]

Originally posted by Lifestar
The hernation is small and doesn't cause any neurological problems at this point in her life, but it does contirbute to her headaches.

sorry
Is there something they can do? does it 'only' cause headaches or can it lead to major problems later?

gina.

[Lifestar]

Well, It can cause problems or not...I've had it for 45 years, and it's only beginning to be a problem now..it all depends on how large a section of the brain herniates downward, in her case it is very small...(3cm.).

If the herniation restricts the flow of cerebro-spinal fluid, then there will be problems, or if it comprsses the brain stem or spinal chord. Neither of us have that problem.

Then the only treatment is surgery to remove some bone from the skull to make room.

There is a good result from the surgery, but only if the surgery is needed, and it's not.

You could look it up on ask jeeves.com if you are interested. It will lead you to informative pages on Chiari Malformation

[farmnurse]

I have had two CT done in the past with no cause for the headaches but I knew that would be the case. I was never worried about a tumor. mainly cause I have suffered most of my life. Thanks for the web page I am gonna go check it out.
Donna