Right now my main concern is about my Transformed Migraines and my sleep issues. I also have epilepsy (complex partial seizures/ the epileptic activity is located in my left temp. lobe.) I take Lyrica for both my epilepsy and migraines. I also take Maxalt for more severe Migraines.
I have cardiac arrhythmias and a heart murmur. (Which I take a beta blocker, bystolic ). I have other mild cardiac anomalies such as small aortas and false tendons around my left ventricle. I have had a cardiac ablation to correct one of the arrhythmias.
I have asthma (take advair and xopenex), Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and severe joint hypermobility with the early onset of arthritis, kidney stones and chronic Urinary Track Infections.(I'm 27 years of age.)
However, back to the issue of my Transformed migraines, I find that I have difficulty falling asleep. When I do sleep it's a very light sleep. I am often awaken by headaches or mild dream like (hallucination)seizures. On the other hand after several nights like this I will become so tired that sleep comes immediately and I sleep deeply. The conflict with a good decent sleep is that when I wake up I wake up to a full blown-- could cry from the pain-- migraine. What can I do to achieve better sleep and less migraines?And is it possible that all my ailments are somehow related??
Thank you,
T.Marie B.





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I honestly don't think over medication is at all related for me. I went six months with transformed migraine until I finally saw any doctor about it. I tried over the counter medications in the beginning..but none worked...so after about the first month of a constant headache and migraines--I gave up on over the counter medications.
When at first I saw a physcian I saw an eye doctor. I figured seeing my GP, that would be the first thing she would tell me: see the eye doctor. So I did and then I saw my GP and next a neurologist. A new neurologist who specializes in headaches. But he's also taking over my epilepsy as well. After several doctors and tests..we end up with transformed migraines.
Though he has perscribed lyrica and maxalt. In ....4 months I've taken maxalt once. For two reasons...I'm not big on taking medications. I just don't like to medication if I don't have to. I've had 3 c-sections...and refused pain medication afterwards for each one. (REason...I'm not gonna have morphine to help me when I get home anyway...so might as well bare it and keep trucking)
The second reason is $$. I can't afford to fill my maxalt perscription. So when I have only 3 little pills at a time...I better have a full blown migraine for more than two days straight (nights too) before I break out the maxalt. Besides the one and only time I took it....it didn't help.
This is why I don't think over medication for my migraines is the cause. The only thing I take is lyrica as a preventive. At first it worked....but not so much now though. Maybe lyrica is over medicating???? But without it....it's the same. I have a headache no matter what.
I had a full blown migraine for 3 days and 2 nights this weekend. I thought I would go out of my mind. It was constant...no relief, even the dark seemed too bright and to cry would only add a cry headache on top of it.
My next appointment isn't until oct. I've called today and am waiting for the nurse to call me back..hopefully with a close appointment.
I do have decent doctors. They are friendly and they listen to me. It's taken years of crappy doctors to get to decent ones.
I really appreciate your answering my post. And the sleep information!! Thank thank you! I will get right on that. No more reading in the bed before I go to sleep. ;o)
If I may ask..do you have any articles on migraines and heredity? My 9 year old daughter suffers migraines. Fortunately she only gets exactly 1 migraine every six months for the last 2 years. So she is not on medication. (Thankfully, for now. I only hope it stays that way for her.)
Again...thank you so very much for your reply. It's nice to have people who REALLY understand.
Thank you