MaxJerz

Health Interests

Migraine,  Migraines Without Aura,  Transformed Migraine,  headaches,  Chronic Daily Headache,  allergies,  gluten-free diet,  Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Drugs I am Taking

calcium citrate with magnesium,  Coenzyme Q10,  vitamin B2,  Petadolex,  multivitamin,  vitamin C,  VSL#3,  Zyrtec,  Amerge,  Zofran,  Fioricet

About Me

Most of my young life, I had what my mother always thought were "sinus headaches" in addition to severe environmental allergies. In my teens, these headaches got steadily worse and became chronic, as did my nearly constant nausea and vertigo. By the time I was 20, my headaches were so out of control that I considered withdrawing from college. I was finally diagnosed with chronic daily headaches and migraine. My first neurologist successfully treated me with Topamax.

After I graduated from college with my architecture degree in 2006, I moved out west. My neuro suggested I try coming off the Topamax to see how I would do. The nausea and vertigo came back about a month after I stopped the Topamax, but I didn't realize anything was wrong until the end of the year. I began seeing a new neurologist in February 2007, and have been trying (unsuccessfully) to find an effective treatment plan. Now I have daily moderate migraines and 4-6 severe migraines per month.

I've recently started seeing a headache specialist, with the encouragement of this community. I feel optimistic that I will find a good treatment plan with his help. Until then, I'm just trying to cope with the pain as best as I can.

Now that I'm stuck in the house so often, I spend much of my time knitting, crocheting or doing embroidery, if I'm not reading or playing with my cat, a Korat named Madcat. I still work a full-time job, and make it through the hard days with the wonderful help of my DBF.