Hi! I'm a 16 year old female, that has suffered from this headache for over a year now. Some days (like today) it's almost intolerable.
I suffer from aura, that alternates between flashing shapes and colours, to blurring, to full loss of sight. I'm currently taking 80mg propanolol per day, and have had an MRI and CT scan both of which contradict, one saying that I Have a CM1 malformation, the other saying there is nothing, I suffer severe neck pain, dizziness; numbness in my hands arms and feet, nausea, depression, an inablilty to co-ordinate to the extent that my walk has been described as a 'gait' and crucially, so much neverending pain. Some days i spend the whole day sleeping, others I can't sleep at all, it's unmanageable.
I've gone from a straight A student to an a/b grade, i try so hard but concentrate because pain is all I can focus on, its difficult. I've tried everything, yeast free diets, caffeine free diets, pain medications, trigger diaries, opticians (who then referred me to the opthalmologists with a 'convergence insufficiency') .... to no avail.
I've recently had an MRI of my spine, hopefully that will reveal something. I'm desperate, I can't spend another year living like this, I'm teenage, I should be enjoying being young, not cooped up with a handful of painkillers ( and no, i don't take them everyday, i'm not running the risk of rebound headaches too)
Anyone have any ideas/theories/suggestions?
Oh hun! I understand how hard this is. I am only 19 but i remember how hard it is to be in school, with that much pain. I started to get migrianes by age 10, but they were just eposodic. By my junior year in high school, about age 16, I was nearly disabled. I went from being and honors student to barely graduating at all. I tried and tried just to make it through high school and everyday felt like a losing battle.
Just don't give up! You will be able to find your own strength to get you through through this. It sounds as though you have some dedicated Dr. s. I have to ask though, have you looked into migriane specialists? I mean true specialists, who treat headaches and only headaches.
I don't know how willing you and your family are to traveling, but there are headache clinics, too. I have been to one in Michigan and now go to one in Chicago. I know that there are so many more than that, too. They would be able to find the type of headache/migraine you have and form a treatment plan.
As hard as it seems now, you will get through this. They just keep getting better and better with treatments. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you get relief soon! ;)
hey girls, I am a 20 year old female and get daily chronic headaches/migraines as well. I think one of the worst parts of dealing with migraine disease (or whatever we are supposed to call it) is the loneliness it brings, especially when no one can relate. The constant battle with wacky diets, pills, herbs, exercise, physical therapy, etc. etc.- it sucks! It sucks being at a concert and not being able to sit near the stage because the speakers will give you a migraine, it sucks not being able to concentrate on school, it sucks not being able to have a candle lit because the light will hurt your eyes. Although you may feel like you are crazy, you are not.. and you are also NOT ALONE. There are millions of young girls out there that are going thru the same thing.
On that note, don't give up! I agree with the last post in that preventative medications can really work miracles. Also, herbal supplements when taken daily can help as well. I take feverfew and butterbur 2x a day which seem to decrease the severity of my attacks. I would def. try to find a migraine/headache specialist, they can really help you a lot.
Good luck girls, i wish you the best!