I just realized why triptans never work for me (even though I have frequently turned to them in desperation just because they're on hand) and how I have actually been contributing to my own problem by trying to use them anyway.  It turns out that I have antiphospholipid syndrome, an auto-immune issue where the blood coagulates too easily.  By using triptans and further restricting the blood flow in my head I was only compounding my problems!  arggh!  Now I know why triptans tend to raise my blood pressure as well.  It all starts to make a little sense.

It's taken me over twenty years of headaches to get to a place where there is a little light at the end of the tunnel, but its finally starting to come together.