Hey Pen, a thought.

I've read a lot of your posts and it really looks that you are having an incredibly tough time with migraines with real success or relief.

That's gotten me to ask some questions if you don't mind.

Have you had a formal diagnosis of your type of migraine?

Bloodwork?

MRI & MRA (magnetic resonance angiography of your brain)?

Any preventatives that help to keep your pain low.

If memory serves, you have been on a few different meds. Do your docs have any clue why nothing is being effective?

]I've read a lot of your posts and it really looks that you are having an incredibly tough time with migraines with real success or relief.
That's gotten me to ask some questions if you don't mind.

Thank you for your interest...sorry dont know your name.
Excuse me answering in this way but was easiest.
Should point out I have Fibromyalgia and IBS as well.

Have you had a formal diagnosis of your type of migraine?
Yes from 3 neurologists. Hormonal migraine and muscle contraction headaches.

Bloodwork? Well I have had lots of blood test, anything in particular??

MRI & MRA (magnetic resonance angiography of your brain)? Not done here....CT scan though.

Any preventatives that help to keep your pain low. Tried most and all the side effects and no benefits.

If memory serves, you have been on a few different meds. Do your docs have any clue why nothing is being effective? In a word, No

Pen, have you checked this website and tried trigger point therapy for your muscle contraction headaches?

http://www.round-earth.com/HeadPainIntro.html

I believe that my headaches are due to muscle contractions and I've been going to a trigger point massage therapist for treatment. I think we have narrowed the headache as follows: Left side headaches, with migraine like symptoms, to tight left side SCM muscles. Back of head headaches to trap. muscle trigger points. Headaches are now much less intense, but it has been a long road.

I also bought a memory foam side sleeper pillow that eliminated my left neck muscle soreness. However, i was still was waking up with headaches, so I raised the pillow by placing a folded up towel under the pillow. So far, a week or so, I do not wake up with intense headaches. However, that is not enough time to say that the pillow is at the right height to prevent waking up headaches.

Any way, just a thought for your consideration.

hi pen,

i'm mgb (marc). i've been around rhonda's for a while. i noticed you've had a tough time and triptans aren't working for you. i can see why with your diagnoses.

for muscle tension, have they tried muscle relaxers or even long acting benzodiazapines like klonopin? triptans aren't going to do much for hormonal headaches--its targeting the hormone that causes the problem that will long term make migraines better. i know ladies go through their things (sorry) and it's hard to treat and minimize cyclical hormonal changes.

IBS and fibro are tough issues to deal with two. sound like a your body goes through a great deal of inflammation from both of the issues, plus the migraines. i'm wondering if you're having triptain rebound. your vessels are constantly going through a constriction and expansion.

i'm just wondering what preventative can help treat the underlying issues so you don't have to use so many triptans.

bloodwork--docs can look for a lot of stuff including clotting factors and inflammation markers that will hint towards a disease process. Same with some vitamin deficienceis.

wishing the best,

Hi Pen,
I'm sorry you are having such a difficult time..Hoping that you are feeling better.

I have fibromyalgia and IBS as well..my vitamin D level is really low..it was checked by a pain specialist..so I was on prescription strength vitamin D I believe for 6 weeks..one pill once a week. Is your vitamin D level low as well ?..that can make your pain worse.

Praying for you.

Greeneyes, I have no idea, they never checked me for anything like this, but as a sufferer of all the same 3 things, I shouldn't wonder.
Maybe I will take some anyway, and thanks so much for this.
Pen

Pen,

I like to remind folks once in awhile about the relationship between stomach meds and B12. If you take stomach meds like Prilosec, Prevacid, etc. and are not taking extra B12, you are most likely deficient in B12. Not having enough B12 can cause all sorts of health problems. I take Prilosec every day. When I learned that I was probably low in B12 and started taking it, I noticed a definite improvement in energy levels among other things. I didn't think the B12 would have any effect on my migraines and it may be coincidental, but when I think about it, I have had fewer migraines since I started taking the B12 several months back.

Chris