Monday, February 13, 2012

Since Puberty Migraine Sufferer Mom - And Teenage Migraine Sufferer Son

Written by

imcarvernow

imcarvernow

Mon, October 27, 2008

I am a 42 year old mom of three and have had migraines since at least puberty (I used to think they were the flu).  My brother and father and oldest son (14 years old:() all get them.  My mother has never had a headache.  I get headaches when I'm stressed, before my period, from certain foods and it seems, when the wind blows (trying to be funny-sorry).  But, there seems to be no reason sometimes.

 

During the time I was pregnant and when I was nursing, I got them horribly.  My toungue and mouth kepts getting numb, then my hands and it rotated.  That scared me.

 

I get scared EVERY time I get a headache.  It usually starts out with an aura.  I do archery and found out that with the aura, I can see the outside of the target, but not the middle . . . just an observation during archery league night when I was getting a headache.  One or both of my hands may go numb, I get confused, all the muscles in my neck tighten up and there are all kinds of other symptoms that can happen before I have to get into bed and am soon writhing in pain and crying my eyes out.  Usually, after I get sick, there is some relief.  But it can start all over again (cluster headache).  These symptoms can change from headache to headache, but they all wind up the same - I get sick.  I am totally in touch with my doctor and we monitor any changes with different tests.  Sometimes I think I'll die.  From reading, now I wonder if I may one of these times.  It certainly hurts bad enough.

 

Sometimes, my medicine (fiorinol with codeine) is right in front of me and I just don't grab it and take it for relief.  There's something keeping me from doing it.  I've heard that when someone is freezing to death that a blanket can be right in front of them and they just don't have it in them to grab the blanket for warmth - that feels like me.

 

Unfortunately, worse than me getting headaches, my son, who is 14, gets them.  He's at the age that he is pretty knowledgable on ALL subjects and not afraid to be very "strong willed" about it, but when he gets a headache, he wants his mom.  I know he's suffering.  He did take maxalt, which seemed to help.  He doesn't take it anymore because he says it makes it worse.

 

Years ago, I tried Excederin to no avail.  Over about the last year, I have tried Excederine Migraine (I know, it's the same thing as extra strength, right?) and it has worked.  My son has learned to take pills when he gets migraines and the Excederin has also helped him.  I'll take that over having to take a barbituate/stimulant combination. 

 

My doctor said a long time ago that I would have them for the rest of my life.  It does get depressing because they are debilitating and whatever my plans are on the day I get a headache are shot.  If I am somewhere other than home, I have to hurry and get home or I will be in deep trouble - stuck wherever I am at, in a ball. 

10/28/08 6:45pm

Hello, and welcome to MyMigraineConnection.com!

 

We're glad you've found our website, but sorry you suffer with head pain. Let's see what information we can give you and your family to learn the ins and outs about Migraine disease.

 

Migraine is a neurologic condition. This link: Migraine - What is it? explains exactly what Migraine is and isn't. For some people may have their Migraine attacks triggered by weather changes, dehydration, certain foods and poor sleeping habits. Other people haven't been able to identify any triggers food or otherwise. We have lots of information on our Migraine Trigger page you can find HERE.

 

Have you or your son ever kept a Migraine diary? This is a great tool for you and your doctor to see what is and isn't working when it come to treating your Migraines, and what may or may not be triggering them. You can find our free downloadable Migraine diary HERE.  

 

Medication Overuse Headache, MOH, may occur if we take certain prescription and/or OTC medications more than two to three days a week. If we have MOH, there isn't a Migraine prevention medication on earth that will work to prevent Migraines.  It is important to get rid of MOH so we can find the right treatment plan. For more information on this topic, continue reading Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires.

 

Thank you for creating a SharePost. SharePosts are a form of blogging, and there are many things you can do with them. You can share an experience, suggest something that's helped you, use SharePosts as a Migraine and headache journal, and many other things.

We also have a discussion forum that you may want to check out. Especially if you have questions or are looking for information, you may find the interaction on the forum to be quite helpful. We hope to see you there. To get to the forum, just look for the orange box marked "Manage" and click on the Migraine Forums link. Because our forums are maintained by a third party, you'll need to register for the forum. You can use the same information you used to create your community log-in if you like. If you want to go directly to the forum, you can click HERE.

Along with your personal "My Home" page and the discussion forum, you'll find links to a great deal of helpful information and a spot to sign up for our free newsletter on the main page of our site, http://www.MyMigraineConnection.com.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them to the forum or send me a message through my profile.

Welcome again,

 

Nancy Bonk
MyMigraineConnection.com Expert

10/28/08 8:32pm

Thank you for your email.  I will look into the links and forum information, etc. that you provided.  My son and I do keep a migraine diary and are very aware of the medication overuse headache.  I have had that and it's no fun - sort of a vicious circle.  Sometimes a MOH (also a "rebound headache?) can seem just as bad as a migraine.

 

Anyway, I look forward to learning more and talking things out once in awhile so we can gain an even better understanding of migraines.

 

Thanks again.  Grace

10/29/08 12:10pm

We look forward to hearing more from you. Do you see a Migraine specialist or a neurologist? Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? is an important article to see why it is important to see an expert, the Migraine specialist. Then after you read that article if you want to look for a specialist you can find one in our patient recommended speciaist directory HERE.  

Anonymous
Tracy
11/18/08 1:46pm

Your posting sounds EXACTLY like me!  You could have literally been describing my migraine history.  When I get the aura, i usually take 2 Excederin & a bottle of diet coke.  This has helped about as much as anything else.  I have tried the imitrex and malts, they don't offer relief for me and make me very spacey.  The house could be burning down & I felt like maybe I would get out, maybe not.  Over the counter migraine medicine initially helped but then it seem to just push it off and then I was in for a double shot.  I didn't start the numbing in by mouth and hands until after I had kids.  Sometimes it feels like I get a double wammy. The aura, tingling, headache & start over with the auro, tingling, ect.  It usually is all within the first hour.  I can not fine a connection with food unless I skip a meal.  If I skip a meal, I get where food doesn't sound good, then I am in trouble.  Sleep patterns and weather seem to do the most.  I have allergies, so on a cloudy rainy day I usually have a headache, but not a migraine.  My migraines usually last 1 day and then the hangover the next day.  Don't expect brain surgury that day, heck don't even ask me to balance a checkbook!  I wish you well & wish you days free of migraines!!

11/19/08 12:25am
I'm sorry to hear that you go through the same thing as me, but it's also nice to know that you are not alone. My doctor has told me that I am sensitive. I guess some people are more sensitive than others. I also know what you mean about the house burning down. Sometimes I WISH the house would burn down when I have a migraine (the pain is so bad:)). Thank you for posting. I wish you luck and keep reading up on your migraines because they seem to be finding interesting stuff all the time. I am finding now that I have reactive hypoglycemia (where I get spaced out and my blood sugar drops really low after I eat a lot of sugar). My doctor told me that I should cut out sugar and carbs. I did that and felt sooo much better in every way. I was thinking over the last few days that I haven't even had a headache. Maybe that won't work for you, but hey, I can't see how I can go wrong by cutting out sugar. It seems to help. Anyway, I hope you find something that helps you long-term. Grace
Anonymous
Bee
9/12/09 8:39pm

It was very comforting hearing described what I live, too. I am 50 years old and have suffered for 18 years. I am one of those people who had migraine in my teens, minimally, and childbirth triggered a hell I live with every day.

I have tried so many things; 2 different neurologists( at least nine different preventive prescripts), my family dr., vitamin/etc. supplements, exercise, abstaining from alcohol, magnets in my pillow, acupuncture, religion, dental removal of wisdom teeth and orthontic adjustment for TMJ.

 

Well, some things help for awhile, but nothing has solved my problem. I had a really hard phase when I realized that there wasn't a "fix" out there. I always thought that if I could just find the right answer, or fix, that I could heal myself. Coming to the realization that I had to live with this until it chose to let me go was shattering. I thought about committing suicide. Even while taking antidepressants, I have to be careful that I don't sink into depression hole. Not always that easy.

 

Love to give you a bunch of suggestions on that, but you know the drill....I, too, am doing my best. I keep getting stronger, and more able to deal with my lot in life. But, always the but....there is always some forward movement, and some backward.

 

Thanks for listening. Isn't the worst thing the lonliness?

B

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