new to board

Hello everyone!

I have just begun to get what my doctor called migraine headaches. I am 50 and she told me that I was too old to get them, but with the symptoms that's what it had to be. I started about 3 months ago with pain on the right side of my head in front of my ear, going to behindmy right eye and moving to the top of my head on the right side.  At first they were sporatic but now I am getting them weekly and they last about 3 days. Painful, with the light sensitivity and noise sensitivity, but I can't stop living. I also have cardiomyppathy, and a pacemaker, so my choices of treatment is limited. Years ago I had an Estrogen induced migraine and my gyn gave me Imitrex. I had a terrible reaction in his office and ended up being transported to the ER.

My doctor now prescribed Maxalt-MLT which seemed to work well the first time I took it. The second time I had shortness of breath, arrhythmia that made my pacemaker slow my heartbeat down, and so I felt like I was encased in jello. Needless to say, I am not taking that again. She got fed up with me and prescribed Darvocet for me. I will not take that because it makes me sleepy and I can't be sleepy during the day. I have tried OTC medications with no luck. I am now mixing tylenol with asa and lots of caffine (which I'm not supposed to take) and Benadryl for sleeping.

I had a CT done and it was normal, I can't have an MRI done. I have seem my opthalmologist, and my eyes are fine. I have an appointment with my gyn to check hormone levels. I don't work outside the home, so it's not job stress, but I have a large family so that might be a contributor. They have been great though, which helps.

Am I really too old to be getting migraines? I am doing as much research as possible. I am very glad I found this board, the info is great.

Sorry this is so long, this is all new to me.

Thanks

Megthered

Hi Megthered, Welcome to Healing Well, I hate to say it but Sara is right about the medication overuse it took me years to work that one out - maybe I am a little thick!!..lol....but there was a time that I had a headache nearly every day from taking pain releiving medication most days. Thankfully for me those days are over I just have new challenges now!

As for age, well I am 52!!! So hang in there, it is possible that your migraines are connected with the Menopause? My sisters Mother-in-Law suffered the most awful Migraines through the Menopause but does not have them now thankfully, but I am post-menopausal and they are getting worse for me, seems everyone has a very different experience with them.

As Sara said have a look at the food you eat in case there are some answers there and let us know how you get on. Take care Ann.