Posted 9/13/2007 8:55 AM (GMT -7)
I have suffered from migraines since I was in my early 20s. I really believe that it all started when I was on the pill in my 20s and into my 30s. I used to get migraines so bad I would be bed-ridden for at least a couple days, with severe nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light/noise, etc.
As I've gotten older (I'm currently 47), the headaches have been less severe, but I seem to get them more often. They are still migraines, however (one-sided headaches, nausea). I also am menopausal, as of about two years ago. It's only been recently, however, that the headaches seem to be increasing in frequency.
I have taken a variety of migraine meds - Imitrex until that started to lose its effectiveness, and I currently take Zomig (which is effective about 60% of the time). The problem with the Zomig, and perhaps any other migraine medication, is that for me it will take the headache away (big relief), but my headache will rebound hours later and I have to take the medication again. It will go on like that for three days. It's like the headache wants to follow its 72-hour course whether I like it or not. Sometimes, after the initial 72 hours, it will give me a day's break, and then migrate to the other side of my head - for another 72-hour period. So, at times I can spend an entire week coping with a headache and not feeling well.
The past 6 months or so, the headaches have been increasing. I now get a headache like this at least once every couple weeks.
I have about a 4-hour daily commute and get up at 3:30 a.m. and don't get home until 6:30 p.m. I do this four days a week. It's really tough for me to get up that early. It's not something my body has ever quite gotten used to. Maybe these increasing headaches are my body's way of telling me, "Enough." I do love my job, though, but as in other areas of the country, you can't live close to your job in the area I live in (Seattle). In order to find affordable housing, you have to live an hour away. It's a dilemma many people face here. I do love my job, however. The trade-off to all this is the long commutes and the ridiculous hours and schedules.
Maybe these rebound headaches are BECAUSE of the meds. I don't know.
Does anyone else here experience this type of pattern of headaches? Any insight would be appreciated. I have another appt. with the doctor today to discuss these issues, but perhaps I need to start seeing a specialist who deals with this type of thing. A neurologist maybe?
knownway