Sunday, May 27, 2012

I'm too old for this!!

Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
By Kaytie Wylie-Ellis Saturday, March 08, 2008

My first day on the boards; I've skimmed thru the site and come across some harrowing stories of folks who are suffering so much more than I ever have.  I've always known I was fortunate.  The things I've read and heard about migraines that I don't have, scare the heck out of me!

 

I've personally known people with much worse pain than I...they were going to the ER on a regular basis for shots. I couldn't afford to do that at the time and I was having weather-related migraines. We live in a tornado-prone area of the country and the severity of my pain was indicative of how bad the coming storm was going to be.  We've had some monsters hit our area over the last thirty-plus years! 

 

During that time, I found out that I'm allergic to codeine and all variations of it...does nasty stuff to my body!! One doctor told me years ago that there was nothing else...it was codeine or suffer.  So I walked the floors and cried and hid beneath my pillow...you know the drill.  Until 1996, when Imitrex came along.... it IS my miracle drug.  I used the tablets for several years until they stopped being effective.  The spray won't work if I wait too long to take it.  As most of you know...migraine meds are not cheap!!  I still remember the day I took my first Imitrex tablet....the instant relief was so amazing...I was stunned!  I don't remember my first driving lesson or my first kiss or my first love...well...maybe I do remember that...but, you get the idea.  That little pill was my best friend.

  

Now, I'm dealing with another type of migraine and I'm not a happy girl.  These are our GOLDEN YEARS for Pete's sake!  Arthritis and high blood pressure and Social Security going bust is enough to worry about already!  So I'm here to find out about Ocular Migraines and why mine don't seem to match the typical traits I've found so far.  Any information will be treasured and shared!

 

Just when I thought I was getting it all together, I am reminded once again, that you can't take ANY pain-free day for granted!!  But I'm glad to be here!! 

Comments (8) |  Add comment
GWP
GWP
3/ 8/08 2:06pm

Hi, Kaytie! Welcome to the family.

 

There's lots of information and support here. Come over to the Forums. There's more traffic and lots of knowledge and wisdom. Click on "Manage" in the orange box on the home page, then scroll down to "Migraine Forums." You'll have to register again, but you can use the same information you used to register for this part of the site.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing you around!

 

Gretchen in Mississippi 

Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
3/ 8/08 9:26pm
THANKS GRETCHEN!!
nutcracker1
nutcracker1
3/ 8/08 4:25pm

Welcome, Kaytie.  My mother suffered from migraines primarily during old age.  I can imagine it would be very hard to go through that.

 

The term "ocular migraine" is not a diagnosis used by the International Headache Society, so it's hard to know what information to share with you.  Try looking at this article:

 

Ocular, Optical, and Ophthalmic Migraines

 

I know what you mean about realizing that others have suffered more with their migraines than you have.  I feel that way almost every time I come to the forums.  It makes me realize how fortunate I really am.  But we won't throw you out for not being "sick enough," and I really do hope you will join us over on the forums.

 

Take care.

Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
3/ 8/08 9:30pm

 

 

  HI ntcrcker...

 

and thanks.  I read that article when I was on this afternoon and found it VERY helpful.  I'm getting some eye opening info that makes me think I need to get myself to a doc pretty fast.  Just to be sure. 

 

I'll do the forums asap.  

 

THANKS for the welcome 

Nancy Harris Bonk
Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide
3/10/08 2:06pm

Hello, and welcome to MyMigraineConnection.com!

We're glad you've found our information useful. Migraine is a genetic neurologic disease, with many different sub-types of Migraines. One of the best things we can do for ourselves is to see a Migraine specialist. This doctor is an expert in Migraine disease and headache disorders. We have a patient recommneded list you can see by clicking HERE.

  

Thank you for creating a SharePost. SharePosts are a form of blogging, and there are many things you can do with them. You can share an experience, suggest something that's helped you, use SharePosts as a Migraine and headache journal, and many other things.

We also have a discussion forum that you may want to check out. Especially if you have questions or are looking for information, you may find the interaction on the forum to be quite helpful. To get to the forum, just look for the orange box marked "Manage" and click on the Migraine Forums link. Because our forums are maintained by a third party, you'll need to register for the forum. You can use the same information you used to create your community log-in if you like. If you want to go directly to the forum, you can click HERE.

Along with your personal "My Home" page and the discussion forum, you'll find links to a great deal of helpful information on the main page of our site, http://www.MyMigraineConnection.com. You can also sign up for our free newsletter about Migraine disease and headache disorders on the home page in the upper left hand corner.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them to the forum or send me a message through my profile.

Welcome again,

Nancy Bonk
MyMigraineConnection.com Expert

PS: If you receive this message from more than one of us, please excuse the overlap. Thanks!

Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
3/10/08 7:40pm

I'm finding my way around this wonderful site...wish I'd found it a long time ago. 

 

From what I've read here so far, it appears that I do not have ocular/optic migraines.  I don't meet all of the criteria.  I suppose different patients can present with a whole slew of symptoms that don't fit anywhere...but...for now, I need to re-think my options.

 

What got me focused on ocular type migraines is a site that I found on the internet in January.  It had illustrations dipicting the "auras" that come with optic or ocular migraines....and they are exactly what I see.  But I'm leaning toward the idea that ALL auras are that way....wavy buzz-saw shaped circles that get larger and larger til they disappear.  I need to do more research or ... bite the bullet and make an appoint. with a neuro; not looking forward to that.  Perhpas I'm confused on definitions.  I'm pretty sure tho that this is the place to get it straight.  Primary care physicians aren't up on all the terms and symptom, etc (when Imitrex first came out, my doctor heard about it for the first time from me) ....but I know mine would work with me.  

 

So far, my body has behaved quite well; compared to some folks, I'm okay.  But I do not like NOT having answers. And I'm not afraid to ask questions.  Here, the monitors and other members are very quick to jump in and help.  That's really really nice...for a change!!!!  THANKS to all!!

Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
3/11/08 4:23pm

 

Trying to find causes and triggers for our headaches can take up a ton of time and a lifetime of energy.  I've often wondered if the wisdom tooth my dentist pulled in 1980 was the beginning of the first migraines I had to deal with.  In 1981, I had a hysterectomy and was put on Premarin.  Several years later, I read an article about how Premarin can be a cause of migraines.  But when I discovered that Premarin came from the urine of pregnant mares (and the horror stories of how that urine is collected)...that was all I needed....into the garbage can they went.  I was put on another type of estrogen...a synthetic product that seems to work quite well.  Still have mirgraines but I also have my Imitrex.

 

Through the years, I've stumbled upon several migraine triggers in my life; pork, perfumes and room deodorizers, magnesium stearate, wine and of course good old Mother Nature. Changes in barometric pressure can be a killer for lots of people. That's when my pain levels would go through the roof. 

 

And don't forget stress.  Find a cure for stress and you'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams!  This time around, out of the blue clear sky....I think the stress has beaten me down.  Visits to my chiropractor are the one thing I can count on to bring relief but even that is short-lived.  A massage a day would work wonders but, eventually, the root of the problem has to be found.  Why does one source of stress, that isn't really that bad, make things worse than some others?  Why does a pinched nerve cause auras that last for days at a time?  Why does my neck ache worse when I try to sleep, even when I don't have a migraine?

 

At this point, I'm planning on covering all the bases; my eye doctor is first on the list.  I'm overdue for a check up as it is, so I'll be doing myself a favor.  What I really hate to do though...is...start looking for a new pillow.  I LOVE my pillow.  I don't leave home without it.  Took it on my last flight back "home"....in a space bag.  When my husband says I need to start shopping for a new one, I cringe.

 

I love the man but I hate it when he's right....

 

 

  

Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
Kaytie Wylie-Ellis
3/11/08 4:29pm
PM

 

Trying to find causes and triggers for our headaches can take up a ton of time and a lifetime of energy. I've often wondered if the wisdom tooth my dentist pulled in 1980 was the beginning of the first migraines I had to deal with. In 1981, I had a hysterectomy and was put on Premarin. Several years later, I read an article about how Premarin can be a cause of migraines. But when I discovered that Premarin came from the urine of pregnant mares (and the horror stories of how that urine is collected)...that was all I needed....into the garbage can they went. I was put on another type of estrogen...a synthetic product that seems to work quite well. Still have mirgraines but I also have my Imitrex.

 

Through the years, I've stumbled upon several migraine triggers in my life; pork, perfumes and room deodorizers, magnesium stearate, wine and of course good old Mother Nature. Changes in barometric pressure can be a killer for lots of people. That's when my pain levels would go through the roof.

 

And don't forget stress. Find a cure for stress and you'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams! This time around, out of the blue clear sky....I think the stress has beaten me down. Visits to my chiropractor are the one thing I can count on to bring relief but even that is short-lived. A massage a day would work wonders but, eventually, the root of the problem has to be found. Why does one source of stress, that isn't really that bad, make things worse than some others? Why does a pinched nerve cause auras that last for days at a time? Why does my neck ache worse when I try to sleep, even when I don't have a migraine?

 

At this point, I'm planning on covering all the bases; my eye doctor is first on the list. I'm overdue for a check up as it is, so I'll be doing myself a favor. What I really hate to do though...is...start looking for a new pillow. I LOVE my pillow. I don't leave home without it. Took it on my last flight back "home"....in a space bag. When my husband says I need to start shopping for a new one, I cringe.

 

I love the man but I hate it when he's right....

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By Kaytie Wylie-Ellis— Last Modified: 09/03/10, First Published: 03/08/08