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Fri, October 24, 2008

I just found this site and am looking for support and answers. I am 56 and my migraines started when I was a teenager. I had about one a month. When I was in my fourties the migraine pain worsened and I was then diagnosed and started using Imitrex which worked well. I had a hysterectomy at 46 and the migraines started every day. I tried different amounts of hormones and it made no difference. At that time I started Indural and Fioricet along with Imitrex and it worked but taking this most days left me drugged and still in pain, (I just retired from the educational field and being in a fog and working with kids every day was sometimes a nightmare). Over the years the attacks decreased to a couple a week and sometimes I could go several weeks without pain. Two years ago I was diganosed with RA and now I am on a roller coaster between the two problems. I noticed when I was on predisone I had fewer migrains but I am now off that and I really don't want to return to it unless I have to. My doctor gave me a perscription for Turadal to take for 3-5 days to see if that would stop the daily attacks but I haven't tried it yet. I also have four bulging disc and neck disc degernative problems. My doctor thinks my neck maybe the biggest trigger for my migraines because the pain seems to start there. My RA is now under control with Humira but the migrains are back to every other day.

Is there anyone out there that has experienced anything like me and if so I would love some advise.

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Nancy Harris Bonk

10/25/08 11:40am

Hello, and welcome to MyMigraineConnection.com!

We're glad you found us. I think you find this community very caring, compassionate and supportive. Let's see what can do to help.

Since Migraine is thought to be a genetic neurologic disease, it is best treated by an expert, a Migraine specialist. You may see a rheumatologist, the expert, for your RA. You wouldn't have your GP treat your RA. So here's the thing - a neurologist treats so many conditions (and say he specializes in headaches) - like MS, stroke, and epilepsy, it is hard for them to be experts in any one area. A Migraine specialist is an expert who devotes his entire practice to treating people with Migraines and headaches disorders. This is the doctor you want to see and can should work with you and rheumatologist for the best treatment options. Continue reading: Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? Then when you want to find a specialist, you can look in our patient recommended directory HERE.

It is not uncommon for Migraineurs to be prescribed a steroid pack to break a Migraine cycle, although they are not typically used for long term use in Migraine disease prevention. There are many options available to treat Migraine disease - over 100 medications! This article will provide you with more details: Migraine Preventive Medications - Too Many Options To Give Up!

Unfortunately it is more important than ever to reduce the number of Migraines we have because research continues to show that people with an extended history of Migraines and/or frequent Migraine attacks are at an increased risk for silent brain damage. Continue reading here: Yes, Migraines Can Cause Brain Damage.

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. There are other member in the forum who have autoimmune diseases like Lupus and Migraines, so it would be a great place for support. We hope to see you there. 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 and a spot to sign up for our free newsletter on the main page of our site, http://www.MyMigraineConnection.com.

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

Anonymous

11/ 7/08 7:58am

I also have had migraines most of my life. I am 46 and I had a hysterectomy in 2001 in hopes that it would get better and of course it didn't. I have been to 3 neurologists, an have taken every test under the sun. I have tried 5-birth control pills, seizure meds, blood pressure meds, along with the meds they claim work; Floricet, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax to name many others. I finally found some relief in useing; Stadol Nasal Spray (1 spray every 4-6 hour for pain), Phenegran (25-50mg/ml shot to the butt or thigh for the nausea) and Loricet 5/650mg. every 4-6 hours for pain. This is not something I take on a daily basis, I take 1 Loricet in the morning and 1 Loricet at bedtime. The other two are basically AS NEEDED!!- The say to take your medication before it gets to the point were you can't stop it. But if you are like me, I can be awakend out of a sound sleep, and it's too late. Just to let you know I take the phenegran shot because I can't hold the phenegran pill down long enough to stop the nausea. I am not kidding around about this, but the phenegran shot burns like acid under your skin, and it is very hard to sit still until all the phenegran has been injected. When taking all my meds as prescribed, laying in a black room, no noise, no light, and no movement in hopes of preventing nausea don't work for me I have to go to the ER for a Morphine drip, along with Relan, Norflex, or Torodahl. In an IV they work great, but are not as effective in pill form, and takes longer to get relief. I hope that this

may work for you, I have no other options. Take care, and good luck!

Marlene Sylvester

9/18/09 10:57pm

Have you ever tried Phenegren Oral Tablet? It really is a small tablet. I have had stadol but only in the injection form in the ER. It really is a good pain reducer and is used for many other types of pain.

nykolaia

11/11/08 8:06am

I am 58 an have also suffered with migraines since I was a teen; I think that they started around menses. At this time, post-menopausal, they seem to be more frequent and the duration is longer. The full moon and barometric pressure bring them on. The pain seems to be much different now, ususally centering on on eye and giving me blurred vision, whereas sometimes, it feels like a vice grip on my skull. I know when it is leaving, as I get tender points on different areas of my skull. When it is gone, I will have very painful spots at the base of my head. I only use Fiorinal. I cannot use the preventive meds.

Marlene Sylvester

9/18/09 11:03pm

Migraines are so strange. They can affect people with the same symptoms but felt in different ways and different stages in our lives.

I had very serious pain change when I was about 26 then when I had my full hysterectomy the frequency was really increased.

They have changed somewhat now too. I am not sure exactly how to explain what is going on now. I just know I still get them but in a different way and intensity.

cking

11/11/08 12:16pm

I am so sorry you are suffering so with your headaches and other health issues. Many on this site have gone through similar struggles, but my observation has been "leave no stone unturned." Seek a migraine specialist, and also, since you have RA, ask your rheumatoligist if you have been appropriately tested for other autoimmune diseases, such as hashimotos thyroiditis and lupus. Both conditions can cause terrible, persistent headaches. You can google these terms to learn about symptoms, etc.

I, too have several autoimmune diseases, and before the thyroiditis was diagnosis, was having daily horrendous headaches for three years. Now at age 51, I still have hormonal migraines around my "time of the month"--8-12 days, but they are not as bad as they were. Several years ago I began having severe nightly headaches and learned last year they are Hypnic headaches, caused by REM sleep. I am on preventative meds for both the Hypnic headaches and migraines, and doing MUCH better.

Hang in there, and continue your research. I hope you feel better soon.

Clemmie

I hope you find some relief soon.

nykolaia

9/19/09 8:48am

I am also a victim of Hashimoto's. I am still amazed that from 2 days prior or on the exact day of the full moon, I get a horrible migraine. My Neuro says that I inherited these. No one in my family experienced these, except my paternal grandmom whom I take after physically as far as eyes, skin, height, etc. He said this was my answer. She lived to be 96. But I do remember her always having severe headaches and moaning in pain up thru the time she died. My grandmom was Ukrainian decent. I don't know if they are more prevelent in different nationalities.

kossamouse

11/13/08 2:16am

I have had migraines since I was 13 year old. I'm now 49 years old and suffer more than when I was a teenager. I average 1 migraine per week lasting as long as 4 days. Everything the doctors have tried has failed. I'm Native American and my medical care is with Indian Health Services and don't qualify for medicaide. Most doctors there think I'm drug seeking, I got tired of this and finally told them "Let me take a sludge hammer to your hand and then maybe we can talk about pain!" It has taken them 3 1/2 years to get me to a neurologist (because "I'm not a priority 1 case) and she gave a prescription for foircet w/ codine and Nemanda, Now they don't even have the medicine nor is it available on "List of drugs they are able to get." I can't afford to buy the medicine myself so it looks like I will continue with the morphine and phenagan shots. She did give me samples of the Nemanda, I 've been taking them out 4 days now, so we'll see if this helps. I know the fustration and anger of deal with my migraines, but my grandchildren keep me going. So, I'm saying hang in there things could always be worse.

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