16 Days of Different Amounts of Pain

By Dallasemmitt Thursday, May 07, 2009

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16 Days of Pain! It has been a long time since I have had a migraine such as this. Some days are a definite 10 for pain and I cannot function, except to get sick to my stomach. When this stage gets a little bit better, the amount of pain goes down to about a 5 or 6 but does not go away. It cannot be that I am taking too much extra medication because my Doctor at our local Pain Clinic, only allows Extra Strength Tylenol for breakthrough pain. It is useless, so I don't even take it. I don't understand how someone who is the Director of a Pain Clinic, prescribes a very strong narcotic taken 4 times a day, everyday to try and keep the migraines away, but when a migraine comes thru full force, she will only allow Extra Strength Tylenol. My 16 days has felt like a roller coaster, has made my sleep problem worse, and my anxiety, is off of the charts. I still try and stay positive, but it is extremely hard. A few of these migraine sites are my only support, so thank you for always being here. At least I know that I can count on you! Not to single out anyone or forget anyone, but right now it is Megan Oltman that is giving me strength and encouragaing me that there are other resources out there. Thanks Megan

Sincerely, Dallasemmitt

Comments (7) | Add comment

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

5/ 7/09 2:21pm

Hi Dallasemmitt,

Nice to see you posting again, but sorry to hear you are in so much pain. Are the medications for the Migraines narcotics, and do you take them every day? See, here's the thing- taking certain OTC and/or prescriptions medications more than two to three days a week may unwittingly create another type of headache called medication overuse headache, MOH. One of the problems with MOH is that once in this cycle, no drug on earth will work for prevention. We have more information on this in the article: Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires.

Another type of Migraine we may be at risk for when using narcotics and/or have MOH is Transformed Migraine (TM). "Use of opiates and barbiturates is associated with an overall increased risk of TM, at any frequency of use." This is a quote from this article: Transformed Migraine - Risk Increased by Some Medications.

Are you getting any pain free time at all? Status Migrainous(SM) may occur when we have Migraine pain lasting longer than 72 hours without a four-hour, pain-free break while awake. This requires medical attention because SM may put us at an increased risk for stroke. Status Migrainous - The Basics has more information.

I hope this helps and you are feeling better soon.

Dallasemmitt

8/23/09 10:52am

Dear Nancy:

I sincerey apologize for not responding to any of the valued comments that were sent my way during my last extremely long migraine. Due to the fact that I have so many other medical problems (Dysmthia, Diabetes, Sciatica, Disc Degeneration, Nerve Damage, Hyperhydrosis, Fatigue and now I am awake minimal 30 hours anywhere up to 42 hours without sleep, Generalized Anxiety and lets not forget my migraines....to name A FEW), it is no excuse, but some medical problem always has my attention. It is August, and I am now experiencing an 11 day migraine, and it may sound silly, but when I have a migraine this long, I find great comfort coming to the Migraine site and reading articles and talking / listening to what others are doing for relief.

Nancy, what I did want to address, and please do not think that I am arguing, because I certainly am not, because I know you have ALOT of experience ( and are always one of the first to comfort almost all people who write in...thanks for that) but I would like to address the use of Narcotics, and on a daily basis. In Halifax, where I live, which is in Nova Scotia, Canada, we have a Pain Management Clinic where you wait a minimum of 4-5 years to get in. After a 6 year wait, I was lucky enough to have received the director of the Clinic as my Pain Physician. She is an anestisiologist as well as a Psychiatrist, besides having over 20 years in the pain area. When I first went to the Clinic, we discussed over 38 different drugs I have tried for different times before, during and after a migraine. Getting to my point, I was on Morphine for almost 6 years daily, whether I had a migraine or not, and the clinics philosophy is to always have pain meds on board so that when the real "kicker" comes in, your body is prepared. The morphine was working, but only because I was using so much breakthrough morphine, and it would scare you if I told you how much, so I was taken off of Morphine (cannot tell you why she waited so long). This Director of the clinic is a big supporter of Marajuana but for some reason, my silly morals will just not let me take it. I know that alot of people have success with it, but it is not for me. The next drug of choice for this Director, is Methadone. Once again, it was very uncomfortable for me to even think about, due to the fact that it is also used with people coming off of Heroin. I finally did decide to give it a try and I can tell you that it is taken daily as well, and I have gone from at LEAST one headache a week to one approximately every three weeks to a month. I know that you may not be a supporter of using Narcotics daily, but I just wanted to let you in on a case that it is definitely working for. Yes, the 16 and 11 day migraines are horrible, but my quality of life has increased dramatically and I am not taking break through medication at all (extra strength tylenol is not my idea of a drug that will help after a dose of Methadone has NOT helped)

I know that there are many arguements NOT to take a drug OTC or Narcotics, but in my case, it has worked. I am NOT suggesting that everyone run to their Doctor and ask for this, I am just asking for us migrainerurs to be open to all that a Physician may suggest to us. Do your own research, agree to do it on a trial basis only, have the drug titrated to a rate that you are comfortable with etc. It is a possibility, and it has worked for myself and others. I only ask that we keep the door open! Please!

Sincerely,

Dallasemmitt

8/23/09 10:57am

Dear Nancy

*Just a note, that in the title of my response to you, I meant that the long migraines are rare. It sounded like my migraines on whole are rare, and though that is a dream, I meant the long 16 and 11 day migraines are rare.

Sorry for the mix up,

Dallasemmitt

Jonee'

5/ 7/09 6:07pm

Dear Dallasemitts,

I have had headaches all of my life and I am nearing 51. I don't remember life without headaches/migraines complete with all the great stuff that comes with them. I have seen every type of medical doctor and many types of alternative treatments as well. I have daily migraines and headaches that come and go during the day and they are due to over-use of meds. and whatever else I do not know. It doesn't matter where I am, what part of the country, time of day, there are no exact reasons for my headaches.

The previous comment about the Status migraineur I am familiar with, and for me I have found that a shot of Toradol with an anti-nausea medication, (I use Zofran as I am allergic to phenergan), a sumatriptin and valium will eventually help me sleep. Sleep is the only thing that will break the cycle of the headache for me with the above mentioned meds. I too use pain mgmt. and daily narcotics as a way to control pain as I have tried everything else. Many doctors have actually sent me away and suggested psychiatrist or suggest another type of doctor.

It is so frustrating for me as I am sure you are beyond that. No one understands unless they have endured the invisible illness that makes daily activites impossible as well as motor and cognitive skills becoming impaired. I always keep one ice bag in use, and others in the freezer for back up and keep the area as cold as possible. It helps with the pain and nausea.

I hope my comment gives you any information that is at all helpful. Other than that, I too suffer and you are not alone in this illness few people understand or believe. Many doctors do not even believe it, and where I live the E.R. doesn't recognize migraine as an emergency. I think when you want to eat a bullitt or drive into a tree to ease the pain, that is indeed an emergency and a cry for help. I am compelled to see this law changed, and hope to see migraines recognized for the diability they are.

It helps to seek others for support also who share this type of pain. Support and laughter are great stress reducers and quite helpful in keeping headaches at a lower level of pain.

Good luck to you, and know you are sharing your pain with millions of others. This website has been very helpful to me already.

Sincerely yours,

Jonee'

Dragonfly

5/ 8/09 2:39am

So SORRY to hear you have suffered soooo long.

Seams like time to find a new pain doc. It is so frustrating when we migrainers can't get treatment for our flare ups. Going to Urgent cares or ER's are a NIGHTMARE! I've been told flat out that they don't want migraine patients there. One nurse asked me if I tried Extra strength tylenol. This was 11:30 pm on a sunday!! Like I was there for fun.

Keep trying, it's all we can do.

Jonee'

5/ 8/09 8:14pm

Thank you Dragonfly for your reply. I had a ER dr. tell me to go home and get my husband to hit me over the head w/ a baseball bat and drink some whiskey, after I said I needed something to knock me out. Then I overheard him down the hall and say ,"I could have treated her at home with cold washcloths." It wasn't until I heard a nurse reply,"OH my God, she's had a migraine for that many days." Then he came in and seriously wanted to know what I needed to help me. He didn't even know what a Triptan was. That was in Augusta, GA. I have never reported anyone before, but I reported that trip and he later was fired. I think he had treated others with disrespect before me. It is sad that he had to look up in a tiny book what Imitrex was. I have the same book that I bought at a health food store. He is a Dr. and I'm just me. I'm glad we that suffer at least have a place to out our feelings and research our pain. Jonee'

I feel your pain

6/15/09 4:16pm

I have suffered with migraines for years and this is the first medication that has worked for me - find a doctor who will prescribe it for you - don't stop until you do!

16 Days of Different Amounts of Pain

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