feeling stuck between migraine and fainting

Hi All,

Lately, I have been feeling like I am stuck between a rock and hard place- between fainting and migraine. I do not know what to about either one of these right now.

I am currently fainting anywhere between 3 and 10 times each day. Though I have tried numerous medications, none has produced a lasting effect. I feel like I take one step forward and two steps back. If I have a good day, I know that I will be paying for it for the next few days. I am having a loop recorder implanted on Tuesday by my cardiologist in Toledo. The recorder will continuously record my heart beat and let us know if I need a pacemarker. Even if it doesn't show much, at least the test will be done. I am also going to talk to my doctor about some other medications for fainting. (I think that stimulants are the next thing to try.)

The migraines have also been horrendous lately. Nothing I have is really controlling the headache at all. I have been on a long acting pain medication (MSContin) for several years now. However, it appears to have stopped working. (I have found that this usunally happens after a few years on a pain medication. Furthermore, I was unable to talk to my pain doctor about any of this because I didn't see him last month. The receptionist just handed me my prescriptions. I did leave a letter for the dr, but I am not sure he got it. I truly believe that it is time to change medications and time to get the pain under control. I have an appointment with my pain doc at the end of the mnonth and if he still doesn't do anything, then I am going to get a second opinion on treating the pain.

Between the fainting, the migraines, and resulting pain, it is extremely hard to function normally. It is hard to make plans-even to go to lunch-because I never know how I will feel on a given days. I am so tired of all of this. It is really taking everything I have just to survive at the moment.

I would love any advice on this matter.

Pain free days,
sailingm

Oh, sailingm, I'm sorry I don't have any wisdom for you. Please know that I keep you in my prayers.

Becky

Sallingmuffin,

So sorry to hear you're still having such a hard time. A couple of years ago I was having such a hard time I almost gave up. Then I went for about the sixth opinion, and they did a three week long holter monitor, because this one doctor who is probably the best doctor I ever had, saw past all of my anxiety and kept looking for one more thing. I got a pacemaker three weeks later, because my heart was pausing 4-5 seconds every other night. Now I still have wacky, crazy, horrible migraines, and my neurologist and cardiologist bicker back and forth whether is is lightheadedness due to migraine or low blood pressure, but the end to the story is that the greater majority of the time I can do what I want to do. Right now my neurologist has me taking naproxen and phenergan when I get lightheaded too, as he sees is as a symptom of migraine. This has helped tons, because I am usually feeling much much better 30 mins. later.

I had a tough week this week, because I had to do this about 4 times, and it really only worked two of them, but this is the exception rather than the rule. And it did turn out that my more persistant lightheadedness is due to migrianes, I think. Because this taking of migraine meds actually does make it better.

So all this to say...believe in yourself. You know when something is wrong, even if the doctors can't find it right now, or put their finger on it as it where. I got my pacemaker when I was 27. Also, have you ever done a heart monitor for a month? What I did was called cardionet. It was one of the simplest tests I had to do, but really I feel for you. Because I remember clearly being two weeks into it, and thinking it really was all in my head. And really being resigned to that. And my cardiologist saying that my symptoms didn't correlate to my EKG....and then two days later saying my heart was going too slow....and then saying really too slow....and then having emergency pacemaker surgery.

And honestly I rarely actually faint....so really keep up the search, because there has to be an answer out there...you just haven't stumbled over it yet.

Angel

I have read recently that Basilar M cause fainting.

Maybe what you have is Basilar M?
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/b/basilar_migraine/symptoms.htm


I am so sorry for your suffering, I hope your drs will find something out quickly.

Risa

sailingm,

I can't imagine someone having such an awesome avatar having so many problems. I'm sorry.
Still really like that winking kitty. My daughter does too, she pokes my computer and "meooows"
every time she sees it.

I read your posts about your pain management doctor. I really didn't like the sound of that office
and I'd have switched already. It's just my opinion, but it's common knowledge that after being
on the same dosage of the same narcotic, your body adjusts to it and it no longer works. How
can a doctor who is familiar with your situation make you sit in pain for that long? I think a more
compassionate doctor is needed. I'd like you to keep in mind that you are paying to put good
food on his table. You employ him, and he needs you. It shouldn't be the other way around.

I wish you lots of luck at your appointment and hope you get the relief you deserve.