Monday, March 07, 2011 shade asks

Q: No hope left!

I am 48 now been told by the third nurologist that they have tried everything last resort was Nardil. I was to scared to try that one. I was on 9 pills some 4 times a day some 2 times a day. I was a zombie and eventually every pill stopped working. I am almost off all the meds except my anti deprresent which I tried to go off and almost ended my life. When you have seen 3 nurologist and have no hope of any treatment left should I try a migraine clinic. I live in canada and we have one in Toronto Ont. I was taking 4 zomig a day for 4 years to get through work.Days off were spent in bed with sleeping pills. Now they forced me to retire. I am full of rage and get migraine daily. Please no more drugs except an anti deppresent that does not cause weight gain and suggestions of what to do now? Please help if you can. Thank you Jodie

- A
- A
- A

Answers (7)

Teri Robert, Health Guide

3/10/11 11:55am

Jodie,

Stop and take a deep breath. There absolutely IS Hope left.

I'm going to be really blunt and honest with you here. OK? You deserve it. Those neurologists who told you they'd tried everything? THEY. WERE. WRONG. There are now over 100 medications and supplements that can be used for Migraine prevention. It takes three months to give a preventive medication a fair trial. So, do a little math. How long would it take to try everything? 25 YEARS!

Now, let me tell you something I learned the hard way. Neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine specialists. They're kind of the GPs of all things neruological. If you stop and think about all the neurological diseases and conditions and all the injuries they treat, you can see that they can't possibly be specialists in all of them. BUT, there are real Migraine specialists out there - doctors who treat only Migraine and other headache disorders. That gives them SO much more experience, and they usually attend conferences to keep up on what's new in the field. Please, take a few minutes to read Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special?

You asked about a clinic in Toronto. I'd suggest that you choose specific Migraine specialist instead. It's not the facility that makes such a difference in your treatment. It's that special doctor that you work with. We keep a listing of specialists who have been recommended by their patients. Maybe one of them at that clinic is on our list. Take a look at Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists.

Jodie, I want you to know that I'm not just talking here. I've been in a similar situation. At one point, I was flat on my back in bed five or six days a week with the Migraine from hell. Nothing worked. I'd seen and fired neurologists in a 100-mile circle of my home. Couldn't work. Felt like a had no life. Luckily, the whole situation made me angry, and I hit the Internet looking for help. That's how I learned about Migraine specialists. My husband and I traveled eight hours each direction so I could see one. He worked with me and helped me get my life back. Now, I often get a couple of pain-free months between Migraines.

So, please don't let anyone take hope away from you.

Will you please keep in touch and let me know how you're doing?

Teri

headjusthurts

3/10/11 1:28pm

I have also been there! I have cried, screamed and cursed my neurologist name while in the middle of a migraine attack. Why cant they help when it is their job...right? Well as was mentioned before, you need to find a true specialist, not just a neurologist. Please hang in there, you will find something that helps.

Second, finding just the right mix of arsinals can be your saving grace....just dont give up!

Have you tried: Wellbuitrin (buprorion), Topomax & Varapamil together?

These could be your preventatives. (none make you gain weight)

Of course you would still have the occasional breakthroughs....so you must choose what you will grab in your medicine cabinet and in what order!

In that case: A Triptin (which I am alergic to, but can still tolerate) Maxalt Meltaway in 1/2 dose, 1/2 dose of a phenagrin (anti-nause pill) and 1/2 of a narcotic only if it is very severe!

*Other things to add to your daily diet are magnesium oxide + calcium (to metabolize the magn).

betsyb

3/10/11 4:25pm

Hi, Jodie!

Teri is absolutely right -- there is hope for help and improvement so don't give up. I'm not a medical professional, just a 40+ year migraine veteran, and if I were you I would definitely get myself to a migraine specialist as quickly as possible.

I am still trying and evolving in my migraine experience, and after all these years and with menopause, my situation has finally improved somewhat.

Best wishes for your journey to improvement!

Betsy

ladykricket

3/10/11 5:02pm

Hi Jodie,

I just wanted to say that I understand what you are going through. I spent 10 years with a neurologist trying every drug that he could throw at me. He was also giving me so much pain medication that my brain became unable to cope with the pain of my really bad migraines. Last year I learned about Migraine Specialists and so I sought one out. Unfortunetly he wasn't any better than my former neurologist, he just kept pushing more drugs on me and sent me to a pain management doctor who kept pushing Methodone on me. What ever you do, do not let them give you Methadone as it is almost impossible to wean yourself off of.

After a year of no help from the Migraine Specialist I went hunting for a better one and I found a wonderful doctor. He put me in the hospital for a week to detox me off all the medicaitons that I was on and trust me, it was a rough experience. He also gave me DHE 3 times per day, unfortunately I happen to be one of the folks that DHE doesnt help. We are now starting over with medications to try to break this migraine I have had for 3 months and which is keeping me from being able to work. He has a wonderful beside manner and I can ask him anything. He has a Migraine program that all his patients go through and I am absolutely amazed at how intensive it is.

My point in telling you all this is that I do not want you to give up. I know it seems like you will never find help but you will. You may have to search and interview Migraine specialists until you find the one that works for you but it is worth it. You deserve to find some relief from the pain of your constant migraines. There is hope for you so please try to find a good Migraine Specialist who is interested in helping you.

Angela in Pain

3/10/11 5:11pm

We are the same age, same health care system and I feel the same way. I've been waiting almost a year for my first migraine neurologist and still no appointment in sight. I've studied the internet for years and I swear I've tried all the obvious, and many of the not so obvious migraine releifs.

I hear Teri's words and the words of others, and it helps, because of course there are more things to try. But disappointment after another miserable pill after another day of pain and stomach ache is.....well, it's hard to take sometimes.

What about the statistics of people who do get better? People who get better just drop off and away and all I hear about is those who get worse. Is this a strictly degenerative disease as it is happening to me, or do people get better?

And what is the success rates of these doctors on your list? Do they keep patients coming back because they give good care? Or do people stop going to them because they went to find another doctor?

I'm feeling just as hopeless. When you are up to your neck in water, it's hard to know if those boats on the horizon are floating or sinking and lately, the boats I find all have holes in them.

Angela in Pain

3/10/11 5:20pm

I'm sorry, just after I posted that I realized what a downer I was. Of course keep trying Jodi, and thanks for sharing that.

I just wanted to say, I related 100% and was treading water right beside you.

Denise Garrett

3/10/11 10:29pm

So sorry, and I know also what you are going through. This forum proves, "we are not crazy." But, don't give up! I had surgery for my migraines, and have tried sorts of medications, that I absolutely can't say "take them away",.......but, they are better since my surgery "ocipital nerve decompression", and narcotics and Aleive are about all that work for me. I'm on other medicine, and also anti-depressant, and I'm with you on trying not to take it. I got so depressed, and cried and cried, over everything, and sometimes I didn't know why I was crying. So that is a whole other diagnosis for me. I have depression, and anxiety, and Fibromyalgia, so I know pain, and some days are hard for me too. What I'm saying is you are not alone, and I don't know if you are religious, but I believe in God, and I pray, and keep praying, and it does help. Just have faith, and don't give up. Hang in there. I wish you the best!

Vereasecia

3/17/11 6:55pm

I can relate. I have a migrane every week and it is to the point that when one leaves another one is right behind. I am on a antidepressant and I dont sleep I have every and I mean every trigger under the sun sometimes at once or back to back. I am on 5 types of med and now another one so that I can try to funtion during the day. My job is uncaring and they poke jokes at me when I am out or wear sunglasses. My job is trying to fire me and I am crying and now my doc want to put me on leave. As if I can afford that, I can say one thing all is not lost some people live out their lives trying to find a cure we of course know there is none and hey that it is fine maybe one will be found but until then don't let the idea take over your life when there is a will there is a way it may not come now but who knows you may be the missing link to a sure fire way to control this.

Q: No hope left!

Related Questions

Ask a Question