Just wondering if anyone can relate?
STORY: I have had migraines since I was around 12 yo. But they were rare, only 2 a year. Jan '05 I started to have 1-2/week. It the progressed to 2-4/week. At first I was taking Percocets and sleeping in a dark room, with an eye cover, ear plugs and ice bag because this was the only thing that worked. The only triptan I had ever tried was Imitrex, which didn't work. Finally my GP/Gyn referred me to a Neuro. He had an MRI done, and it came back fine. He promptly put me on Topamax and gave me samples of every triptan available (and Migranal). I started the Topamax and increased my dosages weekly, as instruted. And would try a triptan when I got a migraine. I soon discovered that I was allergic to something that was in the triptans. My neuro told me not to take them anymore. I keep taking the Topamax without any improvement (I was still having 2-4/week). Every time I would see him, he would tell me to up the dosage. I would get these 2 day constant migraines that he would prescribe me Predisone for. It would work and break the cycle, but the side effects were horrible. I was growing increasingly discouraged. I was missing work constantly. Fortunately, I had worked there for some time, so they worked with me.
In June, I stopped seeing the neuro. He just wasn't helping at all. My GP/Gyn continued to give me script
s for Percocet and even hinted once at trying Demoral. I was constantly in pain. In August I officially took medical leave. Luckily I have Short Term Disability. In September, she referred me to a Psychiatrist, as my depression/anxiety was worsening. (I have also had this problem since high school.) He diagnosed me Bipolar II (something that I had always wonderered about
). My life made sense. He put me on the Lamictal starter pack and I started the slow titration to my target doses which kept changing. Meanwhile, my GP/Gyn got me in to see another neuro, a friend of hers from medical school and a migraine specialist. I was unable to see him until December. I was still on medical leave. I stopped taking Topamax about
this time. I was having all the weird side effects and was becoming unable to function at some times. He eventually put me on Paxil, Xanax and Seroquel also.
When I finally saw him, he was wonderful. He was happy that I was taking Lamictal because he uses that on migraine patients. He did want me to up my dose though. Gave me script
s for Gabapentin and Reglan to be used as needed when I got a migraine (with the Percocet although he suggested me switch to OxyIR). The Gabapentin was supposed to put me into a deep sleep (stage 4/5) to 'calm' my brain. Unfortunately, the dose he prescribed didn't work and I was taking up to 10x the amount with no sleepiness. He then prescribed me Lyrica, which I have been taking now for 2 weeks with no improvement.
I am at the end of my rope. Can anyone relate? I am still on medical leave and will be quitting soon due to my husband taking a new job and us moving. At first the GP/Gyn and I contributed the migraines to work situational stress (my biggest trigger), ie - certain situations at work, not the job itself.
I am still having 2-3/week. Pain scale of 8-9. Pain meds no longer working and I refuse to take more than prescribed and often try to make it through without.
Meds I have tried (or the ones that I can think of):
Fioricet/Fiorinal, Darvocet, Midrin, Ultram, Tylenol 3 w/ Codeine, Lorcet, Lorcet Plus, Vicodin (no relief)
Triptans (and Migranal) - unable to take
Lexapro, Cymbalta (both made me dealthly ill), Wellbutrin XL
Currently on:
Daily - Lamictal, Lyrica, Paxil
As needed - Xanax, Seroquel, OxyIR
Thanks for reading, if you got this far!
Jen
Dx: BPII (and everything that comes along with it), Chronic Migraines
Current Rx: Lamictal, Paxil, Lyrica, Seroquel (prn), Xanax (prn), NuvaRing
Past Rx: Prozac, Paxil/CR, Lexapro, Cymbalta, Ambien, Wellbutrin XL, Effexor/XR, Topamax, Neurontin, Trazadone, Klonopin, array of triptans (allergic) and lots of pain medsPost Edited (JenMcD) : 12/27/2005 3:21:16 PM (GMT-7)