Hi Zombie,

Here's the thing, a Migraine specialist knows what to offer you because they are experts in one area - ours - Migraines and headaches. It's important to note that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine and headache specialists. Take a look at the 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.

It can take up to three months when we start new medications to see a reduction in our Migraine frequency and severity. So, let's say we start our new drug and after four weeks we haven't seen an improvement in our Migraines. Stopping the drug after this short period isn't really giving it a fair trial. If we keep changing medications every four to six weeks, besides never finding a medication that will work, just makes the process frustrating for us and the doctor. Does that make sense?

Having said that, I totally understand how you feel and where you are coming from because I have "tried it all" and "taken everything out there for Migraines" too. At one point I was switching medications way too often. I no longer see that doctor.  So even though you think you have "tried everything" it really isn't possible....it might just be that third calcium channel blocker you have to try, or just the right combination the Migraine specialist can come up with.

Either way, don't lose hope, there are answers.

Nancy 

Zombie

7/ 4/09 5:46am

Nancy, when every anti-hypertensive has lowered my blood pressure to a dangerous level, most doctors aren't going to want to try another one.  It isn't worth the potential legal issues.  Same thing goes for meds that make someone homicidal or suicidal.  By now, I am more than aware that meds take 3-4 months before one sees the full effect.  The ones that haven't worked (and been disgarded) were tried for 4-6 months.  The ones that caused ill effects are the

 

I've already read the previously mentioned articles.  Other than some of the non-FDA approved (and no to very limited peer reviewed material), I'm not seeing anything more than someone who is going to want to either start over from scratch or start from the top of those meds left that I haven't tried, complely disregarding why the rest of the family has been marked off the list.  I'm also skeptical of the success rates that some of migraine specialists are claiming.  If your success rate is soo far above the norm, why not publish and make your findings more widely known?

Nancy Harris Bonk, Health Guide

7/ 6/09 3:05pm

Hi Zombie,

 

Since I am not a Migraine specialist I don't have clinicial "success rates" to publish. What I do have to offer is information and support on how one can try to live with Migraine disease.

 

Having said that, my medication list sounds very similar to yours, excluding the low pressure issue.  I could certainly "publish" my long list of medications, along with the ever increasing numbers doctors I continue to see in hopes of reducing my chronic head pain. Every time I see a new doctor, we go over my medication list, and they would like to start over. I do know exactly how you feel. It stinks. But what other options do we have? We can go to our current doctor - continuing down the path of frequent Migraines and pain - or try a new path - a Migraine specialist. These doctors devote their entire practice treating patients who have Migraine disease and headache disorders. They attend scientific conferences learning the latest research, treatments and diagnostic tools.  

 

I'm not sure what Migraine specialists you are speaking about regarding their success rates, but certainly "cure" and "free from pain" are not typical statements we hear from the Migraine specialists we work with.

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Thanks for being so thorough with your details. Wow. I feel for you. That's quite some list. We can't give medical advice, but let me see if I can think of any information to share with you. OK?

Have your Migraines gotten worse since your sleep pattern got messed up? Sleep issues can be a big trigger. Do you know what triggers all of your Migraines?

Is it safe to assume that when the side effects weren't dangerous, you tried the preventives for about three months each to give them time to "kick in?" As thorough as you are, I'd imagine the answer is, "Yes," but can't be certain without asking.

One thought on prevention -- depending on where your Migraines begin, there may be some nerve block options to be tried.

According to Migraine specialists and researchers, there's about 3% of Migraineurs for whom they can't find effective preventive regimens. A good Migraine specialist won't give up finding that regimen and may suggest trying things that aren't on our list. He or she will understand that you want your life back and will look for a way to give you relief as many days as possible without risking putting you into an MOH cycle. If any of the abortives work for you, they may say to take that abortive a couple of days a week and give you a pain medication that you can use a couple of other days a week.

I really wish I had something more concrete to offer you. Please feel free to continue a conversation here if you'd like.

If you'd like some additional support, come join our discussion forum. You'll need to register again once there because it's a separate membership database, but you can use the same member name, email address, and password that you used here. You can find our forum at http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/migraine/forums.

with a gentle hug,

Teri

Zombie

7/ 7/09 6:41am

Yes, I know my triggers and avoid them religiously. I still keep a small food diary just in case something that previously wasn't suddenly becomes one. I also track when I'm sleeping. As for my sleep pattern, my neuro and I decided at my last appointment (a couple of weeks ago) to stop fighting it for a month and see how it goes. Since I'm not working, I have that luxery. Generally, the more I fight it, the worse the headaches are. I've been there and done that with the perscription-based sleep aids; guarenteed headache.

Yes, when I wasn't getting dangerous side effects, I did try the meds for a full 3-4 months with several going a full 6 months.

I've had several temporary nerve blocks. The steroid allergy eliminates a lot of stuff from any doctor's arsenal. I'm also allergic to most of the NSAIDs. I'm to the point that the abortives work maybe 50% of the time, hence changing them every 3-4 months. For some reason I cannot tolerate Immitrex, but don't get the same side effects with the other Triptans.