Posted 10/12/2010 4:12 PM (GMT -7)
Hi guys! I'll put it bluntly... I'm desperate - and I'm sure many of you know the feeling! :P
But first, a little background :)
- To meet me, I seem to be your average 19yo female
- I have been experiencing debilitating migraines since I was 13.
- 5-ish years ago I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
To an extent, I have learned to live with my migraine pain and have built up a pretty good pain tolerance.
My 'normal' migraines exhibit normal migraine symptoms - no newsflash there.
However, a few weeks ago the pain changed for the worse, and it's hard to explain, but I'll try.
There's the usual continual, constant pain with peaks - but when the pain peaks, instead of my usual feeling of extreme pressure - I feel a kind of extreme constriction, like everything is being sucked inwards towards an epicentre in the middle of my head, pulling hard especially on my forehead and temple areas. As weird as it may sound, it feels like my brain is cramping. The pain is worse, much much much much worse than normal. If I was to describe the pain of my normal migraine to be a 5 out of 10, this current pain is closer to an 8 or 9 out of 10 :(
Normally I have high sensitivity to light. At the moment with this migraine pain, I can stand outside on a bright sunny day without sunglasses and it doesn't bother me in the slightest :S
I have suffered nausea, but no vomiting.
I have been experiencing cold and hot flushes, when the pain in my head is peaking, I get hot all over and break into a sweat.
I don't drink alcohol, minimal caffeine, have a pretty well structured bed time and get plenty of sleep (usually, not so much now though, stupid migraine!)
I have been to my GP multiple times in the past couple of weeks.
Blood tests - clear.
CT scan on my head - clear.
CT scan on my sinuses - clear.
I have been referred to a leading neurologist - which I can't wait for! an answer would be great :P - but that is not until November 14th, a whole month away. Just the thought of another month of suffering this pain is..... unbearable.
The medicine/s I am currently on:
Topamax
Valium
Endone
...and other than knocking me out/making me sleepy - it's not dulling the pain at all, or stopping the migraine.
In the past, I have tried:
Imigran
Sandomigraine
Voltaren
Tramedo
Panadol
Panadeine/Panadeine Forte
...in varying doses, for little success in prevention/pain management :(
So basically, I'm mainly looking for some/any tips on things I may be able to try to manage this pain, although any ideas as to what 'it' is would be aces.
Thanks for reading and any help, ideas and contributions will be greatly appreciated! :)
OzKittyKat