Sadly, I do get the splitting head pain. Vomit inducing pain. Thoughts of suicide inducing pain (as in “Even being dead would be better than this.”)
I haven’t had much success with controling them either - I’ve tried a variety of things and typically all I can do is load up on T3s until I’m too stoned to care about the pain - it’s still there - I just don’t give a rat’s ass. Not a good strategy, but so far it’s all I’ve got.
I get light and sound sensitive as well as blind spots in my vision; however, it never progresses to the point that I can’t see anything.
Groan. I hate it. I really need to get it under control.
I rarely get them, but when I do, I’ve found that liquid vitamin B complex really helps.
When I had one a few months ago, my grandmother brought over a bottle for me. To put it lightly, I was skeptical, but thought I’d take it just to make her feel like she was helping. I was astonished when it actually made me feel better. It didn’t take it away completely, but it turned it into a bad headache, rather than a real head-splitter.
My grandfather, who gets them frequently, says that if you take it when you feel a migraine coming on, it decreases the pain and duration, and sometimes stops them all together.
You need to take an “overdose” of it for it to work. I usually take about four or five eye-droppers full. The only side effect that I’ve exprerienced has been a temporary flushing of the skin.
I highly recommend that migraine sufferers try it. The one I use is called “Sublingual B” but GNC sells a similar product, which is just as effective but doesn’t taste as good. (Actually, GNC’s version is pretty awful tasting, but when it comes to chosing between the horrid flavor or feeling the pain, I’ll take the flavor.)
It also helps knock out normal headaches. Give it a try.
I’ve been on Topamax for about a year, and it’s a freaking Godsend. My migraines have gone from 1 or 2 a week to about 1 every 2 months. I didn’t know it could end the migraines permanently. That’s great news!
I still use the Imitrex for when I do get one, and it’s also a Godsend. I went through a huge struggle with my insurance co. to get them to pay for it.
They won’t even cover the Topamax; I have to pay for it as an “out-of-network” drug. Most Rx’s are $15, but the Topamax costs me $35, part of the reason is that I’m not using it for its intended use, since it’s an epilepsy drug. :rolleyes:
Sorry for the multi-posting…
That’s exactly why my neurologist had me try it. He had read a study about it being used for migraines, and saw how effective it was, and since nothing else worked for me (beta blockers, calcium channel blockers) he wanted me to try it.
Obviously, I’m one of those people whose migraines are caused by the brain spasms that are similar to an epileptic seizure. Scary, when you think about it. :eek:
Yes, I have, moreso in my feet than in my hands. It’s like that falling asleep/pins and needles feeling.
It really bothered me at first (okay, scared me), because my sister was diagnosed with MS a few years ago, and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t that.
It does seem to strike at odd times, and I have to get up and sort of “walk it off” but I’ll take that over a 2-3 day raging Killer Migraine.
My migraines were the full-blown, in-bed, crying, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, shaking, shivering, sweating, blind spot, excrutiating pain, wishing-to-die, you-name-it symptom type of migraine that lasted at least 24 hours, sometimes as long as 48 hours. I’ll take a little numbness in my feet over that type of agony.
I’ll give a big AMEN to that! I’ve experienced many migraines of that intensity (only up to about 12 hours or so), and I still get 1 or 2 a week but the intensity is way down since I started the preventative meds. I am losing a bit more weight lately, which is a nice change after the Elavil.
I sympathize and empathize with all you migriane sufferers. I’ve had them for years - my entire life, really.
I started Topamax in January - it’s helping some, but I think the dosing is not quite right yet. I had not idea tingling feet and hands were a side effect - I’ve been having that lately, but didn’t make the connection. I definitely have the appetite suppression as a side effect, which beats Depakote - I gained 40 lbs from that. The Neurontin I was on most recently just stopped working. I’ve been on them all, I think. Elavil, Verapamil, you name it.
Topamax is the only med I’ve been on that’s realllllly sensitive to correct dosing for me. See me recent thread I Need to Have My Head Examined (Serious - Need Some Good Vibes) for how mis-dosing and jet-lag cause some serious and scary side effects. So be really careful with taking this med on-time and not missing a dose.
Imitrex is pretty good as an abortive for me, but not great. Zomig ZMT is better, but my insurance won’t cover it, and I gave up fighting with them after 3 months of appealing.
I’m going to have a serious discussion on pain management with my new neuro at my next visit (my old neuro was good but not convenient now that I’m working at a new job). Vicodin does almost nothing for me - it’s like taking an OTC pain reliever. Dilaudid and Demerol and other things they give me in the ER barely get rid of my bad migraines. Do you find that you don’t respond to pain killers like “normal” people, i.e. non-migraine sufferers?
porcupine, how much are you taking, if you don’t mind my asking?
I take 300 mgs a day. I take one 100 mg. tablet in the morning, and two 100 mg. tabs in the evening. I started out at a lower dose, I think 100 mgs a day, and worked up to 300 mgs. It’s pretty much eliminated the migraines for me.
I’m also a life-long sufferer. I can remember having headaches as a child. My mom would always tell me that children didn’t get headaches.
I remember going to the nurse’s office in elementary school with a really bad “headache” and feeling like I was going to puke, just wanting to lie down and sleep, and the nurse looking at me like I was faking. She would give me two baby aspirins (the orange chewables) and tell me to go back to class.
BiblioCat, I’m at a much lower dose - just 150mg total - 75mg in the morning and 75 mg in the evening.
My mom used to think my migraines were the 24-hour-flu. I always felt better after I puked from a migraine when I was a kid and young adult. Now I know if I get to that point, it’s time to go to the ER, because it’s not going to get any better on its own.
My migraines started about 2 years ago: auras, blind spots, “tunnel vision,” excruciating nausea, sometimes headaches, and generally feeling “out of it.”
Scared the hell out of me when it started, until I found out what it was.
My Doc and I have tried various treatments, but none have really provided relief. I’m going to talk to her about Topomax, based on what I’ve read in this thread (and I’ll check out some other sources).
I’m not directing this at you, P.T. Smegma, because obviously you’ve tried a number of treatements, but just a note that since Topamax can have some really funky cognitive side effects, it might not be the first thing that someone will prescribe as a preventative. It’s the latest and greatest treatment that’s having a lot of success for long-time sufferers, but I suspect it’s not the preferred first course of action most neuros will try.
I think I’m getting a damn migraine now. I haven’t had an Imitrix in a few days (though I’ve had migraines almost every day this week) so at least I can take one. Shit. I’m supposed to have lunch with a friend in a half hour. Shit.
Wow, I started Topamax at 25mg and gave it up at 75! It’s all academic because the stuff is too damned expensive for me to take any more than that. My insurance doesn’t cover prescriptions at all. I did try Amitriptyline again recently, which is cheap, but for me ineffective (and I got so hungry that even my dog was looking nervous).
So yes, migraines suck and they are a big financial drain as well!
I’ve experienced many migraines of that intensity (only up to about 12 hours or so), and I still get 1 or 2 a week but the intensity is way down since I started the preventative meds. I am losing a bit more weight lately, which is a nice change after the Elavil.