Welcome! Let me assure you that you're not alone in this one--you're among friends. I myself am approaching 7 years of 60/60/24/7/365 headaches/migraines. I go to the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia and I've been there for three and a half years. They've been wonderful in trying to help and I think they're extremely competent but they've come to the conclusion that I've tried everything that they (and similar clinics) can offer. I'm on a lot of medication daily though I'm always in at least 8/10 pain, very frequently higher. Right now I'm trying to learn how to live a meaningful life as someone with constant pain. It's very hard but I'm making some progress.
Why don't you let us know some of the things that you've tried, as well as what your migraines are like. There are a lot of us here who have had very similar experiences and I think that we might be able to share our experiences and, at the very least, you'll be among friends. It can be really helpful to talk with people who have gone through or are going through the same sort of experiences that you are--I know it's helped me feel not as alone.
Again welcome, and I hope that we can be helpful! Hang in there. No matter how bad things are or seem now you DO have a happier future to look forward to. I promise you that.
With kind regards,
Ben
P.S. Oh, since you shared, I'm 24 years old and male. My headache started when I was 18 (January 11th, 2003 I think) totally out of no where right as I was visiting the college I ended up attending for the first time. I was able to battle my way through two full years at university and I very nearly finished my BS in Biology but things took a turn for the worse during the Fall semester of my Junior year and I was never able to finish another class. Right now, following my third planned hospitalization last summer (experimental ketamine infusion that didn't relieve any pain but put some things in perspective), I've been slowly piecing some of my life back together. I still can't work or finish my degree but I no longer spend months at a time without leaving my apartment and I've reconnected with friends who I wasn't able to talk to for years. Just now I'm about
to go for a long walk (the only sort of exercise I can tolerate). My life is far from what I'd like but it's much better than it was a year ago and for the most part each month is a little better than the last. Recovery can be painfully slow but even if nothing can be done about
the pain you can still live a good life. I'm confident that you'll learn how.
DX: NDPH, Recovered CRPS
RX: Lamictal, Concerta (Methylphenidate), Clonazepam, Wellbutrin XL, Namenda, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Melatonin, Magnesium supplements.
PRN:
Ketamine nasal spray, Celebrex, Migranal, Haloperidol, Zyprexa, Lodine, Zofran, Phenergan, Thorazine, DHE IM, Droperidol IM, Toradol, Reglan, Ambien CR, Provigil, and all triptans
Post Edited (korbnep) : 6/17/2009 12:08:55 PM (GMT-6)