I am new to this website but I am so glad I found it. It is good to know that there is someplace I can go to share my feelings about this debilitating illness. I've suffered with these since I was a child... but of course no one knew of the term migraines then. My parents always thought I used the headache as an excuse to keep from doing things. In '95 I started getting the aura really bad before my migraine. I was a Proofreader for a yearbook company at the time, and worked with a light table where you put your galleys over a layout to make sure the copy would fit. I couldn't see or focus on my work. Then I started getting 4 or 5 migraine headaches a week and found myself in the emergency room getting injections for pain. Then I went to a headache specialist who put me on different preventive meds... some worked some didn't. I learned to give myself Imitrex injections into my thigh. Then I started taking the Imitrex tablets. My body got so use to the Imitrex it got where it didn't work anymore. I was forced to take early retirement because of missing so much time from work... which I was devastated because I was only 53. My headaches have improved since '95.... Now I only get from 5 or 6 per month.... but 1 a month is to many. I still can't plan things in advance because so many times I have had to cancel them because of a migraine attack. I am currently on SS disability and a Medicare plus plan for my prescriptions. The sad thing is.... I'm currently on Axert... and my insurance will only let me get 6 per month. Sometimes it takes 2 whole pills to get rid of the headache.... so I have to cut them apart and only take 1/2 at a time. It's just not fair. If I could at least get 12 a month... I wouldn't have to do this. But unfortunately, I can't afford the full price of these pills. I also take Verapamil, and Immipramine as preventive meds. I can take Ibuprofen along with the Axert which takes away the nausea... but not always the pain. I have currently joined Kaiser Permanente and I am looking into finding a good headache specialist.... that is if they have one. The last Neurologist I had said there wasn't anything else he could do... but suggested botox injections.... which my insurance doesn't cover. I just don't know what to do. I feel so trapped in this illness.
Dear Friend,
I know how it is to feel alone with this illness. I learned by this website, that I am not. But.......there are days, when I still feel this way. I myself have been on the imitrex injections, and so many other meds. Currently, I'm on Midrin,(abortive,pain) Nortriptyline (anti-depressant) Xanax, (anxiety & pain) Darvocet (narcotic). I also take Aleive and Advil gel, which helps sometimes with my pain. I have what they call MOH, medication overuse headache. Because, I take something for awhile, then it doesn't work as well, after a week or two. The Midrin, is good and helps almost every time, however, the Migraine usually returns within 1-2 hours. So then I take another, or I try a Darvocet. If none of these work, then I'm in really bad pain. I don't want to go get a shot, because I had to retire early, and awaiting on Medicaid, and Disability approval. I've been denied 2 times now. I have a college education, and a good work record, and of course, because of my age, is the reason for my denial. Pretty sad heh? I can't even function most days. If I can go to the store, and take a walk to the mailbox, I'm having a decent day.
So......I do know your pain. Sometimes, the people around us, family, and friends, just don't get it. But, I keep praying, and hopefully, I will at least get my disabilty, so I don't have that stress about money. I am lucky to have a boyfriend paying my bills for me right now. Yaa! It's really tight for us, but I don't know what I'd do without him. Well, I have had the "aura" also before migraines, but only a few times. I can walk across the room, and a migraine will hit me like a ton of bricks! It's no fun, and it's so depressing at times. My faith in God, and my postive attitude(most the time) keeps me going. And,..I have a wonderful mother who is my best friend.
God bless and good luck to you!
Thanks so much. I went part time, and tried to work, but just couldn't keep my attendance because of migraines. I was actually ridiculed by my last supervisor. She was not very compassionate. But......I did go over her head, to let the Administrator know. He was very nice, and understanding.
I have an attorney working for me now, so I'm not too worried. I was under the FMLA form since 2001. I still got the weird looks, co-workers were not always nice to me.
I understand that the government has to ask you all these personal questions. But, when I was denied, it was like, they didn't believe me, and that bothered me. Because, I may be intelligent, but that doesn't mean I can work this way. I just hope that more people become aware that "migraines" are not headaches. I have read that migraines effect 3.5 million americans. I've also read that 80% of the population get headaches. But that doesn't mean they get migraines. Also, I get them almost everyday. I've lived this way for the last 10 years. It's been so hard. But I kept pushing, and working. So I feel I deserve my social security. I could go on & on about the US government. But....we won't go there. LOL. You take care. It's been nice chatting with you. Email me anytime.
Denise