Ayiyiyiyi Migraine!!!

[dropkickpa]

Okay, so I've been getting migraines for going on 20 years. I've dealt with them, they suck, but I've dealt. I've now had the same migraine for a month. This is getting really old. Saw PCP, started on a new course to try to stop them (tryptans do not work for me and propanolol side effects were a no go) we went with amytriptyline, fioricet, and metcloprimide. Amytrip wasn't working, and last Tuesday it got worse, I missed work Wednesday, went in but was nearly useless Thursday, saw colleague of PCP Friday (and was late to work, puking ya know) and we've switched amytrip to verapamil.

I refuse to take heavy duty pain meds because, well, I have to work and take care of Dropkid (defeating my whole aim for stopping the pain, being able to function somewhat), so I am only getting very minimal relief from the fioricet.

I had a head CT 1.5 years ago when I had a really really bad 2 week long bout, no abnormalities seen.

I've been referred to a neurologist finally, but his earliest opening is October 26th. :banghead: Now, I am half tempted to go to the damn emergency room just on the off chance I'd get to see someone sooner. I have another appt with my PCP on the 26th of this month (who is awesome as hell and may be able to call in a favor and get me seen much earlier). But I am sick and tired of pretty much missing the whole fucking summer and there's only so much time I can spend hiding in a dark room. If there were such a thing as the migraine fairy, I would punch her repeatedly in the face until my hands bled (I read too much Terry Pratchett).

And I know, the computer makes it worse, but, really, it's not going to get much worse and I don't care at this point. Besides, I'm on my computer at work all day (with frequent breaks), so there's no avoiding it.

I'm mostly just bitching and whining because I'm so frustrated.

[mopinko]

1. pain meds these days do not cause loss of funtion

i have taken a lot of pain meds, and i have never been zoned out or anything of the sort. and how much more zoned out can you get than what you are now?
call your doc. tell him you can't take it. if that doesn't work, go to the er. in fact, skip the doc. go to the er. it is the only way to get things done in less than a month. you qualify in my book.

[JerseygirlCT]

2. My neuro (new) has started me on topamax

as a preventative drug for migraine.

So far, I'm not sure. But it's supposed to take some time, and I don't know that I will be able to tolerate a high enough dose to really work. I'm not liking the side-effects, but they're supposed to subside.

Apparently, it works quite well for some. You'd take it daily to stave off the headaches, not as they happen. Worth asking about, anyway.

[ThomCat]

5. The side effects on Topomax are harsh.

I had to stop taking cold-turkey because the side effects were so strong and so disabling.

I'm on it again now, but now I'm on so many other heavy meds make me dopey, the mask the side effects of the Topomax and make it more bearable. By now I've also adjusted to it.

It definitely seems to be working though. Once I was on it for a month I noticed a definite reduction in the frequency and intensity of migraines.

[dropkickpa]

6. I haven't really noticed too many side-effects yet

aside from dry mouth, and I get that anyway from my allergy meds, so it's really just drier mouth. I occasionally get the hand tinglies, but since one of my migraine symptoms is serious hand tingling and numbness, I don't mind it so much, since it's less than the migraine's problematic symptoms. I'm a tad spacey now, too. Once I get intot he higher dosages, I'm sre there may be more, but the benefits are so far WAY outweighing the negatives.

[hedgehog]

3. FWIW, my migraines mostly went away when I was put on

Lisinopril for high blood pressure. It works on blood pressure by stopping spasm of the blood vessels. This isn't meant as advice, just another possibility for you and your doctor to explore.

[Warpy]

7. I had a dramatic drop in frequency when I went on an SSRI

which was the only good thing those pills did for me.

I stopped taking the SSRI when my hormones finally dried up and now I only get the damned things three or four times a year.

[dropkickpa]

4. Update

Finally got in to see a neurologist and got the diagnosis of chronic daily headache and chronic migraine with aura. I'm now on topomax and cymbalta as preventatives, migranol as acute treatment. We are still ramping up my doses, but I've seen some reduction in frequency of the migraines (now maybe 2-3/week). Hopefully it'll get better as we keep increasing.