Newbie-Vent/Need Some Advice

Hi.
I just found this site, & I'm glad I did. I have been suffering with migraines for a year now and I am having a hard time dealing with them.
Within the last three months they have been so bad that...I just don't know what to do.
I have not received any answers from my doctors and my family has mixed emotions of supportive and worried. I just don't know what to do; I feel so alone...like I'm on an island waiting for someone to save me. I mean, I'm crying as I'm typing; I have been crying for the last hour and a half.
I am on day three with this migraine and I would like to receive some support. I thought maybe you might have some uplifting advice for a newbie like me

Your not alone.
I promise.
Welcome, although i'm sorry that your here, because it kind of sucks.
This is one of those things that it takes a long time to find a treatment,
or maybe it doesn't. Some people are lucky and the first medicine they try
works for them. If you don't mind, share with us what your doctor is
recommending for you.

The drugs they give out are sometimes a little wacky. I'm on topamax.
For the first two months up until now I was and still am (a little) dumb.
Well, thats more of an understatement. I'm like a 16 year old stoned for
the first time every day of my life. I took away my own drivers license
It's getting tons better as I continue taking it and so are my migraines
which is very cool.

I have almost daily migraines. I get the tricky suckers 3-4x a week, sometimes more.
I've tried Imitrex, Frova, Treximet, Maxalt, Hydrocodone, Nucynta and finally Fioricet.
I like Fioricet, it seems to be doing the job. Tonight is the first night it is giving me a hard time.
These are all "rescue" meds. Topamax is preventative. That one I take daily. Rescues I take
as needed.

You'll find you're way, and we're here to help you and support you. This is one heck of a
forum. I love it here, and I hope you will too. I'm sorry your having a rough time with
your family. I know I can relate, and a few other members can as well. This is not
an easy problem to have, but we all have each other.

As an introduction, I'll let you in on a few forum secrets It's much easier to the eyes if you
break up your posts into small paragraphs. You'll notice all posts are done like this here
because some of us read while migraining. Also, we like to keep the language subtle. I
love a good rant though, so if you ever need to get out some good foul language you can
private message me any time you'd like!

Please know it gets a little easier and there are hard days but there are very good
days too, and there is hope that one day these buggers will be gone all together as some
lucky people wake up and poof! No more!

Thank you

You have made me smile during this harsh time. And I thank you for that.

I have already seen the benefits of this site, and starting to love it.


THANKS-A-BUNCH!

Absolutely, and stick around! BTW, I responded to your PM.
You'll love it here!

And sorry Risa if I took your introduction away. I just realized you usually like to explain
the breaking of paragraphs up LOL!!!!

I'm sorry you're suffering from this dreadful migraine disease. It certainly turns your life upside down and inside out.

I've been off/on so many different preventative and abortive drugs over the years. Some work for awhile and then peter out, some never work, and some cause severe side-effects.

Please know that we understand what you're going through--not only the physical symptoms but the emotional as well. Please take care and I hope your doctor(s) are able to find a mix of preventative and abortive drugs that will allow you to have a life. Hang in there.

You're in my prayers.

Becky

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I so sorry that the migraines are so bad right now. Do you have a migraine constantly? Here is a link to an articly about New daily persistent headache/chronic intractable migraine. (I am not sure that this is what you have, but thought I would post it because you said that the migraine has been there for a year.)
http://www.helpforheadaches.com/articles/ndph0905.htm

I got my first migraine at age 12, but they became chronic at 17. Unfortunately the only way to find out if a medication works for migraine is trial and error. I have run the gamut of preventatives and abortives. It took a long time to figure out which ones work best for me. Everyone is different when it comes to migraines and migraine medications. I wish trhat I had some better advice,

If the doctors aren't helping much, it might be worth getting a second opinion about treatment options. You might want to look into seeing a headache specialist or a different neurologist to see if they have any ideas.

I hope that this helps.

Pain free days,
sailingm

Thanks for that information.

I'm sorry I did not clarify very well... I have had migraines on & off for the past year. I did, although, had a two month migraine-free period, then they came right back.

I can imagine how hard it was for you at 17, I did not want to post my age but I am going to... I am 16 going to be 17 in March and I cannot handle it. Well, all the replies to my original post has given me some hope and reassurance that I am not the only one.

Thank you once again
Lillian

Welcome to the forum and I am so sorry you have to be here. You should be able to get some answers and definitely support as we have all been through this. I started getting migraines when I was 12 and have had them for (eek) 36 years now. My daughter started getting them at age 8 and my son at 13. The good thing is that my son grew out of them for the most part and my daughter has gone from chronic to 1-2 a month.

There are lots of meds to try for prevention, aborting, and rescue. You need to get a good neuro to help you with finding a preventative for daily use, and abortive for when one hits anyway, and rescue meds for when the abortive doesn't work.

The unfortunate thing is that what works for one person doesn't work for another as migraines are neurological in origin and everyone's brain's are different. But with trial and error, and a bit of time, most people find a regimen that works.

A lot of people don't understand migraines or feel helpless when one hits so they don't always react the way we want. With a little education on everyone's part, that can usually be helped. Ask any questions you want, come here to rant, whine, cry, whatever. This is the place to do it as we ALL do feel the need at some point.

Good luck
Alli

Hi Lillian and welcome.

My daughter is 13 (this is her picture) and she has had a migraine since March. Her birthday is in March, too. She actually used to dance. The picture that you added reminds me of her old pain free days.

This site is wonderful for support and ideas. You might want to have your parents take a look at the site too for some different ways to help you. There are many parents and spouses on the site along with the migraine sufferers.

I feel awful for anyone that has to go through migraines (I get them occasionally but nothing like the people on the site..I would feel silly even complaining about mine), but especially the sufferers as young as you guys.

Sending hugs...let us know what we can do to help!
Jen

Thanks for the advice.

I just found this site yesterday, I did share it with my parents, and it is already helping.
I needed a place to go for support from others who can relate.
My mom certainly liked it because, like you said, spouses and parents can relate to each other on how to support and just relate to one another.

Tell your daughter to keep strong.
I used to dance when I was younger, and I am starting a ballet class tomorrow night, as a positive 'migraines aren't gonna get me down' activity.

The picture has my personal motto underneath it.
"Believe in yourself, and all things are possible"
It is a picture of a wooden frame/hanging picture I have had for my entire life.

I wish for the best for your daughter and for everyone who reads this

-Lillian

Welcome, Lillian
I hope you'll find this site as supporting and informative as we do. M (migraine) is hard to live with, but hopefully you'll find a way to deal with them so as not to let them control you life.
Hurray for the ballet! I love to watch ballet. even if my exposure to the ballet is, truthfully, minimal - just a few shows seen live and some on TV, plus some books read on the subject. still I love it!

And sorry Risa if I took your introduction away. I just realized you usually like to explain
the breaking of paragraphs up LOL!!!!

[quote]
Sweetie on the contrary - I feel like a broken record and an old bore to boot whenever I write about paragraphs so many many MANY thanks for holding the torch for me


you are a sweetie!!!!


Risa

Lillian there may be something called a trigger that starts your M.
it could be smells or foods can be triggers for some. you can find long lists of triggers on line

everyone is diff and some people have none. some have noise or light trigger.

Welcome!

So sorry you need a Migraine support group (I wish none of us did) BUT you have found an AMAZINGLY supportive and informative community here. It is like no other online forum. Seriously. People are always on, always answering posts and the support and closeness of the friendships here are really helpful. Especially b/c Migraines can be such a lonely and isolating disease. Migraines hit me head-on about 2 yrs ago. No one on my family, nor any of my friend gets them so I felt so alone and like no one understood. Then all the meds and their goofy side effects. I honestly can't imagine how I would have made it through that first year without this forum. Weather it's a question about meds, a vent about people not understanding, or if you are scared because of your symptoms, there are caring people here and you will be amazed at not only how quickly they respond, but how valuable the support will come to be to you.

So again, Sorry you are suffering, but glad you have found this forum to help ya thru! We're here for ya and we all "get it" !!

Welcome to the site, but so sorry you need to be here. I hope you find some help and ideas of things to try to make your migraine burden less troublesome

Take care

Amy

Here's an official "welcome"!

I replied to your comment on my GS-related thread on the misc side a few days ago, but wanted to give you a proper welcome.

I have had migraines with and without aura since I was about 12. I'm turning 40 this year. I have 2 daughters, ages 7 and 9. My 9 year old gets migraines without pain. She gets "Alice In Wonderland" migraines that only affect her vision or perception of objects. She's been getting those for 4 years.

Hope we can offer enough support for you here.

I'm so glad you found us. It's a great group of people here. I stumbled on the site about three years ago, lost touch for a couple years, and have come to rely on it with a vengeance.

We are such a diverse group that you will get a wide range of opinions and experiences. Knowledge is power!

Welcome!

Charlotte

Stillhurtin wrote:Especially b/c Migraines can be such a lonely and isolating disease. Migraines hit me head-on about 2 yrs ago. No one on my family, nor any of my friend gets them so I felt so alone and like no one understood. Then all the meds and their goofy side effects. I honestly can't imagine how I would have made it through that first year without this forum.

Same here. No one in my family gets migraines, and it is difficult to explain what I am going through.
This might seem mean, but... My dad did make me smile the other day... he had a headache and he thought it was so painful... he told me "Wow, I could just imagine what your migraines feel like"

Omg, I don't think that mean at all! I actually tell my husband all the time I wish he could have Migraines for 1 week. Just so he could really, truely "Get It"

How have you been feeling? Are you on any preventatives? Have your Migraines made you miss much school?

Welcome to the site. Pull up a chair and make yourself at home. The woman to men ratio seems to follow the national statistics as I'm in the minority here, BUT we all feel your pain and can relate and commiserate.

Word of advise: If you browse other "migraine" sites and find a lot of posts like "Where can I get cheap Vicodin on line" don't bother with them. They are drug seekers, not true migrainers. I've never seen a drug seeking post here (including the old board).

Welcome and I'm sorry you need us.

Every time I see vicodin and drug seeker in the same line I think of Dr. House. Mmm. Steamy. LOL
Sorry Dan I'm just re-enforcing that women are the majority!

The only thing that is wrong with that man is his vicodin craze, other than that I'd take him!

MMMmmmmmm..... Dr. House

I'm glad you see it too LG....my friends think I'm nuts!

nope not nuts, you just know how to appreciate a hot man when you see one.

So so fine.

Hey now!

Sorry Dan.

How about cars, you like cars..we can talk about cars! HAHAHA!!!

Lillian, hows it going? Haven't seen you post in a bit..
Hope all is well and school is going good.

Stillhurtin wrote:How have you been feeling? Are you on any preventatives? Have your Migraines made you miss much school?

I have been feeling alright, except for side effects and the usual migraine. Started taking topamax (25mg) last monday. Migraines have made me miss a lot of school, but all my teachers, including school nurse, principal & counselor, are all supportive and helpful.

Thanks for asking,
Lillian