posted on March 11, 2002 11:19:04 AM new
Alwaysbroke: Have you seen a neurologist? Have you ever "charted" your headaches? Charting them teaches you which ones to ignore because so many headaches are rebound headaches. Also teaches us which ones to treat.
When I started with a famous neurologist in Los Angeles (Lisa Kudrow's father) it was before Imitrex was available, and the key was prevention.
Now Dr's have a much better understanding of the cause (fluctuating serotonin in the brain). I take an SSRI daily for prevention, and Imitrex or Zomig for the "true" migraines. Imitrex and Zomig and the other "triptans" don't have analgesic qualities, so they aren't pain relievers. If they work, then the pain was truly a migraine.
My main purpose in life is migraine prevention, and all other medical treatments must take a second place. That is why my chronic illness is being so difficult to treat. Too many of the medications intended to treat my chronic cough have triggered migraines. The current thinking now is that my cough is caused by years of heartburn (or GERD) so I was prescribed Zantac at 150 mgs. Instant migraine. I can take OTC Zantac at 75 mg ok, but not a higher dose.
Chocolate can trigger a migraine for me, and wine. Sometimes shellfish will.
If you are not currently under the care of a neurologist, there have been tremendous advances just in the last two years in migraine control. I'm taking two experimental medications right now as part of a study.
Also keep in mind, not all neurologists are headache specialists.
And yes, I know what cause mine, and in 10 more years, I should outgrow them.
Not my name on ebay.
[ edited by Valleygirl on Mar 11, 2002 11:21 AM ]
posted on March 11, 2002 06:56:03 PM new
No neuroligist yet. Maybe they were originally triggered by all the allergy prescriptions I was taking. Maybe all the antibiotics for chronic sinus infections. It isn't good to always take those medicines so often. I just assumed it could be handled by a family doctor.
The sinus infections stopped 2 years ago (hurray!)so I'm not taking meds for that. The doc is giving me blood pressure prescription which has stopped the frequency and severity, but they still come.
Since there is no history in our families of high blood pressure, I wouldn't be surprised if taking all those prescripts the last 10 years caused the whole problem. You mentioned something about a prescription triggering yours, so it's could be possible for me.
Thanks for your interest. These headaches can be a real show stopper!!
posted on March 11, 2002 07:07:57 PM new
My brother used to go to the same doctor. Lisa Kudrows father makes it easy to remember. He has cluster headaches...my brother..but so does the doctor. They have never been able to do anything for him. Worst case of clusters they have ever seen and he never outgrew them. Has had them almost daily for over fifteen years. Takes injections and pills and it only takes the edge off. Clusters are horrible things.
And still he goes to work and lives a full life..I really give him credit for that.
posted on March 11, 2002 07:56:39 PM new
I used to have cluster headaches but very fortunately have not had them in a few years. Many medical experts say they are the worst pain a human can experience. There have been many suicides among the sufferers. Fiornal(or Fiorcet) seems to help. Botox is being used successfully to destroy nerves in the areas of pain.
I am really surprised at the response to this thread. I remember the pain being so bad that my husband had to wrap his arms saround my head. I hate to think any victim of this thing would commit suicide to stop that pain. I can believe it, but it is so sad.
posted on March 12, 2002 05:10:15 AM new
rawbunzel,
I am amazed your brother can consistantly go to work and be able to actually think and be productive. The pain was so bad for me, I thought I was going to have a stroke. My friend used to have to leave her desk to lay down because she couldn't see.
I did learn that IB's can add to the repeating cycle these things get stuck in. I quit taking the IB's and noticed a difference.
Do those of you who get these headaches know in advance when one is coming on? My right eye loses some vision, and there are other things that are harder to describe.
Did any of you have unexplained weight gain? (no jokes, now). Swelling? Did you get any headaches that lasted several days- a week? Any blurred or double vision?
I never leave the house without migraine pills even though I don't get the headaches as often. I'm not a big baby, but if I don't hit it hard when it starts, it gets out of control. I am concerned that they will losed there effectiveness if taken too often.
posted on March 12, 2002 08:48:08 AM new
Migraines and clusters are very similar in that they are both vascular in nature. The blood vessels swell up and put pressure on the nerves in the area. There is often an "aura" or warning such as nausea, a sense of flashing lights or tearing of the eye on the affected side. Noise, odors, changes in the weather and certain foods can trigger an attack. Clusters occur at the same time every day for as much as several weeks at a time. Natural treatments include magnesium, B12, and feverfew. Useful pharmaceuticals include the "triptans", Depakene, Topamax, and the anti-convulsant drug Neurontin.
alwaysbroke- The problem with the triptans is not a tolerance but rather that because they are blood vessel constrictors, they should not be taken by anyone with high blood pressure.
posted on March 12, 2002 09:00:20 AM new
My MIL had cluster headaches and went to Dr. Kudrow, she was suicidal and he gave her a prescription and the headaches stopped immediately and she never had another.
I wasn't that lucky. I had a reduction but they never stopped. Then Imitrex shots came out. It was a miracle, but I hated the side effects.
Pills were even better. I was driving 4 hours each way to see Dr. Kudrow. Then he retired and I saw the son, I didn't have the same rapport with him. Then I moved further north and changed Drs.
This one totally changed all meds. Like I said, I take an SSRI daily for prevention. Then Imitrex pills for actual attacks.
I have no aura. It just starts out as a dull headache that dramatically gets worse when I take regular headache medications. Then I take an Imitrex, try to lay in a dark quiet room and sleep for two hours. Then I get the euphoria and I'm done until it comes back the next day. Mine usually last 48 hours.
One thing that I had discovered is ICE. Ice alone will cut my headaches by 2/3. Either icepacks using real ice, or the kind you keep in the freezer. Studies have shown that migraines start at the base of the skull (even though that might not be where your pain is, mine is behind my left eyebrow). Put one icepack at the back of your head, and the other one directly on the pain and it is a miracle.
Not my name on ebay.
posted on March 12, 2002 09:08:01 AM new
Dr. Kudrow taught me that part of the key to treating migraines was "charting" them.
Use a calendar, record the intensity of the headache on a scale of 1 to 3, the duration, and any relevant info, i.e. ate chocolate, had a glass of wine, ate cheese, mother sick in hospital, child injured (stress related?).
After about 4 months of charting headaches, I saw a definate pattern. Because I took aspirin at the first sign of any headache, I was having rebound headaches. But, seeing the pattern on the calendar, I learned which headaches were going to be real migraines and which ones were minor and not worth treating. That was MY major breakthrough.
Not my name on ebay.
I want to say Indocet? It is actually an arthritis medication but it stopped her clusters cold. With the first pill they stopped and never returned. But it is rough on the stomach.
Not my name on ebay.
posted on March 12, 2002 10:38:05 AM new
Probably Indocin- there have been many different drugs prescribed but this is he first I heard of this drug for the headaches. It seems to have had miraculous results.
posted on March 12, 2002 11:42:01 AM new
There is a lot of really useful info here. Thanks to everyone. Today & yesterday have been "down" days - not sick, no headache - just "foggy." It would not be unusual to get headaches soon. But I think what you have said will prove helpful with the charting and the prescriptions.
