Hi,

I'm sorry I didn't get to you before you saw your doctor. I've been down with Migraine pain for a few days now too. How did the appointment go?

I can give you a few things to suggest and it is really important to break the current three day cycle you are in. Unfortunately, there can be times when a Migraine just doesn't respond to the medications we have, and it goes on and on. If your regular medications haven't stopped this Migraine by now, it's time to call your doctor for help.[I know you just saw him the other day, but if he didn't suggest any of these, call him back] Sometimes, a steroid taper such as a Medrol DosePack will break the Migraine. Sometimes, the best treatment for intractable Migraines that aren't responding to medications is IV infusion therapy to get the cycle broken. For more information, see IV Treatment of Refractory Migraine. A Migraine attack lasting longer than 72 hours is often indicative of "status Migrainous" a condition requiring immediate medical attention due to an increased risk of stroke. You can read more about that in, Status Migrainous - The Basics.

A word about specialists- they are not all created equal. And here's what I mean - neurologists aren’t necessarily Migraine specialists, and Migraine specialists aren’t necessarily neurologists. Furthermore, neurologists may be fine doctors, but have a hard time being experts in one area. This is because they treat so many conditions like MS, epilepsy and stroke. A Migraine specialist is just that, an expert who treats one condition - ours - Migraines and headache disorders. When you get a chance, take a look at article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists. You may need to travel outside your area as there are only 290 Migraine specialists in the country. There are many members here who travel well over eight hours to see the Migraine specialist they work with - then have a local doctor continue with the treatment plan the specialist provides.

I know how easy it is to feel as if you've tried everything out there, but there are so many medications that can be used for Migraine and headache prevention that it's literally impossible. There are now over 100 medications and supplements that can be used to treat Migraine and headache disorders. 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. You can find a list of potential Migraine and headache preventives in Migraine preventive medications - too many options to give up!

Trigger identification and management is a vital component of managing Migraine disease. One of the best tools for identifying triggers is a good Migraine diary. You can download a free diary workbook from our article Your Migraine and Headache Diary. Some of us have food triggers; some of us don't. It's advisable to determine if your daughter does, and an elimination diet is the best way to do that. For more information and a workbook on this, see Managing Migraine - Migraine Trigger Foods. If you haven't kept one in a while, it may a good time to start a new diary. I really don't think some doctors emphasize this enough.

Chronic Migraine is defined as having tension-type headache or Migraines 15 or more days a month. Botox is FDA approved for chronic Migraine, something you may want to keep in mind. For more information on chronic MIgraine continue reading, Chronic Migraine - The Basics and for information on Botox, take a look at this article when you have a chance, FDA Approves Botox for Chronic Migraine.

I hope this helps, let me know how you are doing, OK?

Nancy

I've had migraines for nearly two decades. I've had year long periods where they were chronic and I and those around me suffered becuase of them. As everyone suggested here, a diary, identifing your triggers, lots of water and seeing an actual speaclist in migraines makes a world of difference. Yet, they still come and I've tried nearly every medication including botox that's out with varying levels of effacy. At the moment I've been using an herbal called Migramedic that contains, Lavender, Myrabolan fruit and other ingrediants. It's worked extremely well. ( 3 migraines over the last 3 months) Even now that they are undercontrol I still cary abortive and rescue medication with me. I'm still seeing my migraine speacialist and avoiding triggers while keeping that faithful diary.  ** If you try Migramedic, be forwarned that it takes a few weeks (yes weeks) to get the product in and it's only a preventitive.    This site and the members on it have alot of insight and all, including my self have stood in your shoes sort of speak.

 Take care,

Zev

Hi MeetingBetty ~ I really hope that your appointment with your Doctor went well.  In your post you indicate that you were on your 3rd day of a migraine.  That's too long....I am praying that your doctor arranged for you to have an IV Infusion to break the cycle that you were in.  

We've all been there and know the hell that it is.  I'm so sorry.  I've been diagnosed with Chronic Migraines since 2006.  And my triggers are also 90 percent weather related ~ too hot = migraine; too cold = migraine; rain coming = MASSIVE migraine...you get the picture.  I can't control the weather, however, I keep very close track of it in my migraine diary along with how stressful my day was and how much sleep I got.  

Another thing about Chronic Migraines, if you've been prescribed any pain medication, it's very easy to get into a habit of trying to reduce your pain by taking them.  However, this can lead to a medication overuse headache.  

I'm sure I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know!  Again, I am so sorry that you are suffering with these.  I know exactly what you are going through!  Look at the list of Specialists that Nancy provided the link to.  The specialist I go to is 3.5 hours away....but worth it!

Good luck!

Karen

I too suffered from chronic migraines for over 20 years.  Amitriptyline curtailed it the best, with the least side effects, but what pretty much stopped the migraines was menopause.  Not only are the migraines gone, but I feel physically and emotionally better that I have since I was age 10.  I knew that hormonal changes was a major player in my migraine problems, but when I mentioned it to Dr.s they just shrugged.  If I had it to do over again, I would insist on tests to check on my hormone levels.  Maybe something could have been done to level them out.  The only migraine trigger that I still seem to have is weather changes.

Hello Meetingbetty,

I know what you mean. I was born with migraines.  When I was in my 50's they developed into chronic migraines.  I have them almost every day.  I've tried many evil drugs and told my neurologist I needed something very different. He has started using Botox on some patients.  We went through a long process for 3 months to get insurance approval.  Even though it's FDA approved, that doesn't mean they will say yes. 

I had my shots 3 weeks ago and have had only 2 migraines.  That's a record for me. The shots aren't easy--23 all around your head just inside the hairline, in your shoulders and center of the neck.

Hi Betty im in the same Boat, i was taking on avarage about 6 to 12 100mg Imigran a Month, what mine generally are were i woke in the morning and soon as i started moving or the first initial hr id have a dull headache, which in most days woult either subside or gradually build, I knew that Imigram would releive it in 70% of the cases.

Now some morning i used to wake with what i called the ACHEY one, these Imigran was 30% effective, these i didnt like i normally had to aleep it off or push myself. I can work at home so it was a godsend.

So before anybody comments ive tried cold turkey ive tried most preventatives

Beta Blockers

Pizotifen

Toparimate

Amatriptylene

Gabapentin

and other, none worked.

I eventually saw a specialist local to me in the UK who prescribed me methysurgide and wowser i had 6 months with only 3 Imigram. BUT you do need to take a break every 6 months for bloodtests etc as a mesaure of safety.

if you havnt tried them see your GP and ask, Most UK GPs dont know about them, One thing to note if you do, RIDE the sicki feeling out for the first 4 days then its easy it goes away.

unfortunely for me i have one today, as i seem to have boughts of 2 weeks where i get lots then they go do the daily thud.

I will however be looking at Botox next year. let me know how you go.

Ive also tried all food allergies etc, but as my professor said, some of us have genetic issues that cant be cured just helped, just dont baffle yourself thinking it could be a trigger, because if your like me and after 20 years your still the same, its probably in your genes.

Teri Robert, Health Guide

12/18/12 10:29am

Good morning, littleted,

 

Methysurgide was actually removed from the market in the U.S. because of the difficulties of using it and its potential side effects.

 

You mention waking with a Migraine or developing one very soon after waking. Do you have any issues with sleep? Waking with a headache or Migraine often indicates that a sleep issue is the trigger. It can be too much sleep, too little, disrupted sleep, or poor quality sleep. Often, we Migraineurs don't even realize there's a problem.

 

As for triggers and genetics - Genetics are at the root cause of having Migraine disease, but aren't the explanation for what triggers individual Migraine attacks, and they do need to be triggered by something. The genes don't do that. Sometimes, we miss our triggers because we have what are called stackable or cumulative triggers, cases where one trigger alone doesn't bring on a Migraine, but two together do.

 

Food allergies aren't always triggers either, so allergy testing doesn't always expose Migraine trigger foods. The only true way to know if a food is a trigger is to remove it from our diets for a period of time, then add it back. For these purposes, some people use an elimination diet where we remove a long list of potential trigger foods, then add them back in, one at a time. For more information and a workbook on this, see Managing Migraine - Migraine Trigger Foods.

 

Welcome again,

Teri

 

littleted

12/18/12 10:54am

i will admit i have never tried anything that effects how i sleep, maybe that would be something i should try next.

 

Thanks for the info, i will mention this next time im there.

 

but ive tried most of the food cold turkeys and even had the food allergy tests etc.

 

yes i heard methy had been discontinued in the states. am i right in thinking the side effects you mention are the abdominal scarring etc ? or was there another reason ?

Teri Robert, Health Guide

12/18/12 11:14am

Good sleep is really essential for us. If there's any chance you have sleep apnea, please check into that too. There's nothing to take for that, but people who have started using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea have reported a great improvement in their Migraines. Other issues can be as simple as going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, including weekends and holidays. Of course, there are also some sleep disorders that are treated with medications, but that's not always the answer. I thought my sleep was fine. Turned out it wasn't. Once I had a sleep study and got two sleep disorders treated, it made a big difference.

 

Foods aren't always a problem. I don't have any food triggers, but I did the elimination diet very carefully twice to be sure. The only way to really know is to very methodically eliminate the foods for a couple of weeks, then add them back in, one at a time.

 

Methysurgide was discontinued here so long ago that I'm not really sure exactly which side effects were taken into account. Another issue was the need to take a vacation from it every six months. Lots of preventive meds, that one included, don't always work if you stop it, then start it again.

 

Teri