Migraines - Why does nothing work???!!!!!!!!!

Diseases & Conditions Migraine Headache
1
Hi guys!
 
I'm new to this game so you'll have to bear with me here...!
 
I suffer from chronic migraines and they can last for days on end and nothing I've tried has really helped. I am 23 and have been having these migraines since I was 14. I've had brainscans (normal), and tried a medley of different medications but I can't stop the migraines!
 
I'm currently taking Maxalt tablets, prescribed to me by my neurologist and for a while they seemed to do the trick. But after 6 months of taking them they stopped having an effect. I'm really fed up!
 
If anyone has any tried and tested remedies can you please let me know?
 
Cheers! :-)
2
Hi Hairspray Queen,

Welcome to Healing well. Sorry you are having things so tough at the moment. Maxalt is one of the group of drugs known as 'Triptans', it maybe that there is another one from that group you could try, but you would need to discuss this with your Doc.

Excuse me for asking a personal question, your name 'Hairspray Queen', does that portray that you use a lot of hairspray? The reason I ask is that for instance I have not been able to use hairspray for donkeys years as any aerosol can trigger a migraine with me, along with chemical smells, perfumes, deodorants etc...... roll-on deodorants are ok if they are not heavily scented! .........it's a pain in the backside!!!! lol I was wondering, do you know what your triggers are?

Have you seen a Neurologist? What meds have you tried? Have you tried a preventative? Sorry about all the questions, but the information will help us to help you! Please let us know how you get on, take care,

Ann
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Hi Ann,

Thanks for your reply - it's nice to finally come across people who know what they're talking about as opposed to those "Oh, pull yourself together" types! Sorry for the late response - I think I was in bed when you posted yesterday! I'm in the UK so the time difference thing can get a bit confusing!

I don't actually use a lot of hairspray! The name is just the title of a song I like! I try to avoid hairspray - it's not an actual migraine trigger but it does cause headaches. My triggers are citrus fruits, coffee, bleach and other chemicals, dairy produce, wheat, alcohol, stress, heat, humidity and temperature change (trying to get a bath without it causing a migraine is ridiculous!)... I think that's about it. It's sooo annoying!

I have seen two neurologists. I had a brain scan back in 2001 which was normal. Since then I have seen another neurologist who said doing another brain scan would be a waste of time as that would probably be normal too. They've tried me on Pizotifen, Amitriptyline, Zomig, Imigran, Propranolol, Tramadol and numerous others that I can't remember the name of! I have a medley of symptoms including: loss of vision, weakness and pins and needles down the right side of my body, sickness, dizziness, audio sensitivity, light sensitivity, nose bleeds, slurred speech... Nightmare!

I'm currently taking the Maxalt and 400mg of Epilim which is meant to prevent daily headaches. The theory behind this is that if I don't have daily headaches I won't get migraines! Unfortunately the Epilim does nothing either! My doctor doesn't seem really fussed about my migraines and I've encountered a lot of people who say I've "just got a headache" or, "no one's ever died from a migraine"...

Is it just me or do migraines make you really emotional and snappy? My doctor said that I'm either imagining it or I'm just an emotional and snappy person! How encouraging!!!!!!!!
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Hi, I just hate it when someone says "you've just got a headache", or even worse "no one has ever died from a migraine". It is not just a headache!!! ggrrrr If you look around on this forum you will find a post of mine that talks about "no one has ever died from a migraine" at one point and the tysmyboo replied with a link about it!! I will bump it up for you, it is entitled 'How does your family cope?'

When are you going to see your Neurologist next? You need to see someone that specialises in Headache. I am in the UK too, and have been referred to a Headache Specialist in London - he sees difficult cases from anywhere in the uk - very long waiting list though but well worth the wait - approx 24 months!!

Sometimes I get a depression that comes with an attack and goes either with the attack of very soon after! It makes me snappy, weepy and generally over emotional!! Hey, I wonder what your Doc would do with two of us like that!!! lol Sadly there are no quick fixes with this disease, I only wish there were, but hey, you have got folk here now that understand, and can appreciate what you are going through!! Hang in there girl, feel free to email me if you want!

take care Ann
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I have had migraines since I was 9. Since 2003 I had migraines about 3 times a week. I tried just about every med. twice. Then, about 2 months ago a Neuro put me on a COMBONATION of meds and I have had 4 migraines. Miracle for me. I take Topamax 100, Verapamil (BP med) 240, and nortryptyline 50. All of these I had taken before sometimes more than once but never at the same time. Its something to ask your doctor. The side effects can be kind of harsh, (my metal sharpness isn't so great, restless sleep, vivid dreams) but It was better than getting a pain shot 3 times a week and living with the horrible pain. Maybe its something your doc. would consider. Good luck to you. Also, my biggest trigger, artificial sweetner. I have to totally avoid that.
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HI EVERYBODY!
Boy, the following comment makes my blood boil!!!!...
 

"My doctor doesn't seem really fussed about my migraines and I've encountered a lot of people who say I've "just got a headache" or, "no one's ever died from a migraine"...

My first reactions would be to as this jerk if he had ever personally had a migraine attack, with all the symptoms, i.e. nausea, sensitivity to light or sound, etc...  Then I would point out that the continuous pain can cause people to be suicidal.  I often feel the urge to slice my wrists open when I have a migraine, just to relieve the pressure, not to kill myself.  However, this thought my take other forms with other people.  Bottom line, this Doc has NO BEDSIDE MANOR!!!  Just as self defense, always refer to a migraine as a "migraine attack", not any kind of "headache."  A headache is always far more dismissible than a migraine "attack."  Just a suggestion.

Let us know how things go,

Leigh Ann cool

"The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful."
                                             - Jimmy Buffett

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Hey Leigh Ann,

Thanks for the reponse to my post... It's good to see that I'm not the only one that's hacked of with the medical profession!!!!!!!! I shall take your advice and, possibly, depending on how my next appointment goes, tell him he's a complete idiot!!!!!
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I'm definately not an expert, but I have had chronic migraines for years. I tried so many things. Luckily the imitrex and other migraine meds do help me so I'm able to head them off if I feel one coming on. But it's hard to live life like that.

My current doctor has put me on a preventitive program of a blood pressure medication. It took about a month or two to taper the migraines off, but where I was getting a 3-4 per week at the worst, I now get them once a month (usually close to *that* time of month). If I run out of my BP meds and don't get the script filled right away, they come trotting back in to take over.

At first I really doubted my doctor when she started me on this program. But the first time they came back after being off the BP meds I believed. I will have to take them for the rest of my life, but I would rather do that then have them come back. The first week without a migraine was one of the best of my life. To not have a headache is an amazing experience for a chronic sufferer!

Best of luck!
Nicole
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You didnt mention if you had tried Imitrex.
For me, oxygen stopped the progression if takem immediately. Full strength, 3 to 4 blasts.
Ive been told that it is very effective for certain types of migraine and only works on about 30% of migraine sufferers. Go to the national Headache Foundation.com for vital information on catagories and treatments.....very helpful to you and your Dr.
Cold packs , I kept my head in the freezer for as
long as I could stand it and it sometimes would help.
I started taking Hoodia about 3 weeks ago and havent had one since. Check out my history and results in the forum column for retouch.
I hopeyou get help fast but it was my experience it was up to me to find out the latest on migraine and the like. That's how I found the Natl Headache Foundation, a most informative website. Good luck! :-)
Retouch
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UNHOLY OF ALL UNHOLY DEMON SPAWN!!!
 
I have finally met this EVIL doctor in person, yesterday at the ER.  I brought my mother, unfortunately, because my dad is much better a dealing with this problem.  I went in at 6:30am, when my regular doctor's office was closed.  Well, the doctor started off by saying that is was now open and suggested that I go there for treatment.  I asked him if he expected me suffer for several more hours, rather than receive treatment that I had already waited there in the ER to get for three hours.  Then he got into a discussion with my mother over how to manage my problem "globally" instead of just going from shot to shot.  Well, I've been trying to handle my migraines "globally" for THIRTY FREAKING YEARS!!!  Then he said that if I continued to get narcotic shots, I might as well go stand in line every day at the local Methadone clinic.  This was so out of line, my head almost exploded.  To equate a migraine sufferer with a heroin addict is beyond my comprehension, not to mention highly unethical in my opinion.  I finally asked DR. DEATH skull if he had ever had a migraine attack personally.  He just started giving me lip service about seeing people in pain everyday.  YADA-YADA-YADA...I just totally shut down and didn't say another word.  Finally, after my mother discussed things with the doctor for several minutes, he finally agreed to give me a shot.  It would have been so much more appropriate if he had waited until after the shot had time to lower my pain level, so I would have had a fair chance in the discussion.  ARRRRGH!!!  I just got the hospital survey about my ER experience in the mail, and boy, it that doctor going to catch it!!
 
If anyone has any questions about a particular medication, or just questions in general, let me know.  I am pretty sure I've taken everything used for migraine treatment in thiry years, so just ask!
 
Leigh Ann cool

"The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful."
                                             - Jimmy Buffett