I am back in NY visiting with my boyfriend. The holidays were quite nice and my migraines were not bad at all. Most of the time was spent relaxing in front of the TV or lounging on my parents' couch. When we left to come back to NY I checked repeatedly to make sure I packed all my medications. We had lots to pack in the trunk from Xmas. Last week I started with a migraine and could only find my Axert. My migraine went away, but now I knew I had to start looking in what I packed to find my abortive medications.
After days of searching I cannot find my Treximet. I would swear to you that I packed it. Naturally, it isn't in a single bag or suitcase that was brought to NY. Now today I am going on 6 days of a migraine. Axert is just not cutting it. I honestly don't think Treximet would either because its just another triptan, but I can't say for sure since I don't have it to try.
I haven't had this much pain in a few years. The last time was when I was on birth control pills and I had to go to the ER. I almost went to the ER last night because I couldn't sleep and when I did pass out I was awake 30-40 minutes later in excruciating pain. Two things kept me out of the ER: 1. Fear they would treat me horribly and 2. It was the middle of the night and I didn't want to wake my boyfriend. I took hot showers over and over, took 3 Benadryl to help me sleep, ice packs were all over my head, and nothing would help me sleep and stay asleep. The pain just kept waking me up. I was ready to cry, but I didn't because I know that would make it worse. At 7am I suddenly remembered I might have an old stash of Dilaudid. I did and thank god I did. I took immediately (it was only a year past its date) and that brought my migraine from a 15 to a 6. I was able to relax a little on the couch, though I still couldn't fall asleep, and at least feel some relief. I wanted to cry again because I was so happy to have had that left over.
When I see my neurologist next (the one who doesn't believe migraines are a disability) I am going to mention this. I want a prescription of dilaudid for emergencies like this. My last migraine doctor was very hesitant and not real happy with the idea. She gave me 4 pills and a real low dose. It was that stash that I had and had to take double the pills for it to work. I am afraid my current doctor will not agree with me either. Doctors seem so afraid to give out pain killers, which I understand to a degree. I mean, the ER doesn't want to do it either. However, your doctor should be willing to do it because they have a relationship with you and know you better than an ER doctor/nurse will. I have never abused medication before and there would be no benefit for me to abuse it now.
My migraine has gone up from a 6 to an 8 now, but it isn't off the scale like it has been. For some reason, every time I eat the pain subsides. Whenever I have a really bad migraine, food some how can relieve some of the pain. Once I stop eating, the pain is back again. It baffles me and it is annoying because I can't just eat all day and night trying to "feed my migraine". It is like the migraine becomes an entity to me. It needs to eat and sleep.
Find a dr. you can really talk to about your migs. Feeling as if someone is condescending or doesn't understand only adds to your misery.
During the daytime, if you're in a desperate situation with no meds for whatever reason, go to an urgent care center. They usually open about 7 or 8, they are all over, they're in the yellow pages or on the net, and they're faster and cheaper than the ER. I met my PCP there and we began a great relationship. My DH really likes him too. He referred me to my neuro when my migs got really bad and I had a weird MRI (I have brain lesions).
Never give up and don't let anyone tell you your migs are really no big deal. They are real, they are bad, and a dr. should be helpful.
Thank you. It is very difficult to find understanding doctors and the one I had is gone now. My insurance company is continously dropping me and adding me back on and dropping me again, and it makes it difficult to find a doctor who will accept my insurance. Heck, it is just impossible to find a doctor who knows that migraines are more than just a headache. My worst fear is that I will be without a doctor period and my migraines will be out of control until I find one. That happened to me before and it was the worst situation I had ever been in. The ER wouldn't help me and I suffered with migraines every day until I could see a neurologist for 6 months. I am in the process of searching for a new one but I am not having any luck and in the mean time I am stuck with a guy who says he understands, but at the same time doesn't find migraines a disability. Maybe because I am in the situation I don't see the other options. I don't know. I am just completely confused and in a lot of pain. Thank you for your response. I will look into an urgent care center for my next migraine crisis.