Angry Frustrated and Depressed?

By wolfiewoman Tuesday, July 21, 2009

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I've been living with migraine for 26 years. I've been down the road of triptans, ergots, verapamil, veralan, topomax, lamictal- you name I've been on them. They will work for a little while and then they quit working. Now I am taking Lyrica (the maximum dose) and am now dealing with weight gain (I've gone up two sizes since like May?) and the fact that I've lost motivation, am on the verge of tears and have a very poor self image of myself. My self confidence and self worth have gone into the proverbial toilet. I am unfortunately not being seen be a migraine specialist and have had to revert to seeing my general practioner who does what he can, but I don't think it's enough. I am having trouble sleeping and don't feel all that rested when I wake up in the morning. My headaches have calmed down slightly but now I am dealing with trying to stay awake at work and sleeping 2 to 3 hours a day during the weekends. I have trouble with my speech and just plain don't have any enthusiasm for life any more. It's affecting my relationship with my husband and my children. I can't keep taking time off to see the doctor and I am running out of patience. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!! HELP!!!!

Thanks for your support

Comments (9) | Add comment

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

7/21/09 10:46pm

there are now over 100 medications and supplements that can be used for Migraine and headache prevention. The frustration of trying to find what works for us can make it seem as if we've tried it all, but with so many possible preventives, it's literally impossible to have tried them all. See Migraine preventive medications - too many options to give up! for more information.

It has been a rough spring and summer for many of us. With weather changes and what not, many members seem to be in pain. I hope this information helps.

shade

7/22/09 11:25am

Your story reads like a fimilaur book. A few years back I saw a specialist and was told to take 4 zomig at the onset. This has been one of the reasons I am still here. It has helped me continue to look for a better solution. I have been on Seroqul 25mg for 6 mths and aside from 10lbs more weight gain I have been able to go days and sometimes weeks with no migraine. Please look into anti depressents more and see a professional, that is the only way to get a bit of relife to help carry on till we find better solutions. Kind Regards

Jodie

wolfiewoman

7/22/09 11:59am

Thank you for your encouragement, I have been off for a while and it is nice to know I really am not alone. I have an appointment with me GP Tuesday, we will see what happens. I will be adding posts as things work or don't work but I appreciate that at least some people understand

Christine

7/23/09 10:13am

I'm so sorry to hear about your plight but it sounds so remarkably similar to mine. I am still on three preventatives and even with them I have a significant number of migraines per month. I have found that Botox is my savior. Have you tried it? If not, I would recommend it. It has reduced my migraines by about 80%. I consider that pretty to be a miracle! Good luck and I wish you the very best!

wolfiewoman

7/24/09 10:59am

I have made arrangements to see my gp and have a heart to heart and get things straight or find someone else to help me with the many issues I am dealing with I appreciate your support and will keep everyone posted

JaimeM

7/23/09 11:02am

I too am a 20+ year sufferer of migraines and have gone through a laundry list of medications to help manage them. My neurologist had put me on the maximum dose of Lyrica as well and it was working but then I became so depressed that I could barely function. Never mind the 20+ pounds I gained in a matter of months. I received an email from a website called iGuard which tells you if the medications you are taking have any bad interactions with each other and gives you updates from the FDA regarding them. It said that the FDA recently linked Lyrica to increased thoughts of suicide and depression and then I put two and two together and figured out that was the reason I was feeling so glum everyday. I am no longer taking Lyrica but instead am taking MigRelief which is a vitamin supplement with riboflavin (B2), magnesium, and feverfew. My GP recommended it to me since she has migraines as well. It takes up to three months to see any real change but it has worked for me. I only get about one migraine a week now as compared to four or five when on the Lyrica. I hope this helps you out. You are definitely not alone out there. Many of us share similar stories. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

Jaime

wolfiewoman

7/24/09 10:57am

I have made an appointment with my gp to discuss everything that I have mentioned and believe me it will be a heart to heart or I will find another doctor. Your sympathy and concern reminds me that there are more of me out there and I appreciate your support. Will keep everyone posted.

Tricia

7/23/09 11:56am

I know that all of us saying we understand can't help a whole lot, I find that remembering I'm not alone in these maddening struggles does help a little.

Like another poster said, this spring and summer has been awful, so bad for me that my one trusted abortive, cafergot, has stopped working and now I'm REALLY screwed when I get a migraine. (And I have some degree of headache most days of the week.)

I suggest getting off the Lyrica asap...it's probably contributing to your depression. (And I also understand about the weight gain. I struggle with that myself despite an understanding husband...it's so frustrating, just another burden, especially because it can be viewed as superficial even though it can affect your whole attitude. So you feel bad about feeling bad about it. Argh.)

I'm taking Remeron and Wellbutrin, and those have made a noticeable dent in my headaches, especially since I've gone up to 450 mg. on the Wellbutrin. My neuro gave me Zanaflex to try (also called Xanaflex, I think), and that has occasionally stopped a headache all on its own! Like everything else, these may not work forever, but for now they're miracles. Even if my clear days only make me angrier about my bad ones...but I'll take what I can get!

I also understand about constant doctor's appts. I feel like pursuing relief for my various ills is a full-time job -- I need help mainly with migraines, but also depression plus therapy to deal with being a randomly debilitated 36-year-old. I've also gotten allergy testing and have seen a chiropractor. (Would like to try acupuncture next, but I'm burned out on looking for practicitioners.)

Anyway, I've gone on long enough....obviously I needed to unload, too! It's an exhausting and frustrating existence, but I try to remind myself that I could have worse health problems and that too many others go through the same thing. Believe me, my attitude isn't usually sunny, but I do what I can. Hope you find some relief...

lolwme

7/23/09 10:48pm

After withdrawing form Methadone one month and then Percocet the next both cold-turkey, I've gained 23 pounds and hate it. After leaving work on SSD, I lost
60 pounds in 2 years, now gained one third of that back in 2 months yet the pain management clinic (I fired) said it has nothing to do with no longer taking those narcotics. <p>

I'm now weaning myself off of Amitriptyline 100MG (increased dose to 100 MG from 50 MG about 1 year ago to supposedly help me sleep better--nope).<p>

But please just try something that has helped me lessen the strength and times I get cluster migraines with 5 Hour Energy Decaf (contains only 1/6th the caffeine in a cup of decaf so no jitters at all) and Taurine pills (1000MG 2 each day as I feel a hint of migraine coming which isn't often so I use it in the afternoon anyway). It's very cheap.

2 pills per day for 2 months cost a little over $15 including s&h charges.<p>

The 5 Hour I've found the least expensive dealer online who only charges 12% over their costs. I get it with s&h for about $2.50 per day for 1 bottle (2 ounces).

Anyone wanting this info only has to reply to this message.<p>

Honestly, I MAKE NO MONEY DOING THIS. I'm a #1 Best Selling Children's Book Author on Amazon working on our 4th Expanded Edition (out-of-print right now on Amazon until we get the new one up) and just want to help those of you like me who have suffered for years with migraines be they cluster or not.

GBU all
pat

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