what fresh hell is this? (rant)

My headaches have been under control, but I'm still getting migraines, of the confusional variety. Today I was out trying to do some shopping, but my brain was not co operating and I was in a fog. Couldn't take a triptan because I took one last week, if I take one so soon it is not likely to work. Doctor says take two, I hate to keep upping the ante. I lost/couldn't account for 5 dollars. At least I still had the fifty dollar bill in my wallet. I am so sick of this disease that if I believed in God I'd be questioning his/her existence. In desperation and because I had to drive home I bought a cappuccino, drank about 1/2 and it didn't make a dent. When do I decide that I can't drive anymore? If this continues that day is coming sooner than I would like to think. Help, my brain is broken!

I cant say much more than I am on the same page and I hope it passes soon.
How come Triptans only work once a week??? Never heard that.

Hugs!!!
Pen

It just sucks when your brain leaves. I had the same thing happen when I was shopping this weekend. My daughter and roommate were with me so I at least had someone with me who could think. The confusion and such are so annoying. I was also having the Alice in Wonderland effect where everything seems to expand and contract. It hits my peripheral vision and is so disconcerting!

I'm lucky in that almost everything I need is with riding or walking distance so when I don't trust myself to drive, I can at least get what I need.

My fervent wish is that some time soon, a reliable way to manage these things will come along.

Pen,
Last summer I was on vacation and took a bunch of triptans to get through it. The migraines started coming closer together and when I came home they were like tic tacs, they did absolutely nothing. I gave myself a six month break and they have been working on a hit or miss basis. The GP says I can take more than one triptan in one episode, but given my history, I'm reluctant to do that. If I have time to deal with the migraine, I deal with it.

I've been cleaning my windows with a chemical and even though I open the windows, I wonder if it is making me sick. I've used it twice and gotten a confusional type migraine both times after using it.

Ah gotcha, right. Shame about that, but understand.

Chemicals, oh I hate anything like that.
They will set my head off, but not like a migraine trigger, like a light headed headache.
Horrible. I use dish liquid, water and newspaper on my windows now.
I also bought a hand steamer....great, no smells and no pollution.

Even wearing a mask doesnt mask those smells.

Pen

Just curious if any of you who have these type migraines are on topomax? When I was taking it I would forget things all the time and be in a fog. My therapist calls it dopomax because it makes your mind all foggy.

Chemicals are one of my biggest triggers. I'm anal about what kind of cleaners come into my house. No scented cleaners and nothing with petrochemicals. Regular old soap, vinegar, and hot water clean 99% of household jobs. Anything else has to be cleaned outside so the fumes are dispersed and not trapped in the house.

I've been off topamax for several years and had these types of migraines before, during and after my experiment with dopamax.

I'm on a low dose of topamax and I do have slight trouble with words for about two hours after I take it and then I'm fine. This was a confusional migraine and possibly a panic attack. When I got home I took double my usual dose of topamax (which is still well within normal dosage), took a nap and when I woke up I felt fine. I got a nasty regular type migraine the next day, however.
I think I will get a steamer and keep the chemicals down to a minimum when I get back to the US. Right now I'm cleaning up the house in Australia to sell it and I have to resort to chemicals since I'm pretty weak and don't have much "elbow grease" anymore.