Heart Bypass Surgery

COULD EVERYONE SEND ME AN E-MAIL JUST SAYING HI! I THINK THAT THIS VIRUS THING MAY HAVE AFFECTED MY COMPUTER. THANKS. JENNIFER

With meds, migraine triggers, you-name-it, the thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to physiology, no one is created equal. Even different formulations of the same meds will affect different people differently. Too bad the doctors don't realize that what works works and what doesn't should be abandoned -- for *each* patient. Too many drug salesmen and docs that don't read the literature for themselves... Ron

Migranal, being another form of ergotamine, has the same problems as old cafergot (ergotamine tartrate + caffeine) -- gotta take it during the pre-migraine aura stage, and it makes most of us nauseous. Since I don't get the aura (at most, a "funny" feeling as a migraine comes on), the cafergot was (1) too late and (2) couldn't take enough cause of the nausea. The triptans (Imitrex, Zomig, etc.) were the big breakthru since they could be administered at any stage of the headache -- except for those who can't take it. Along the same lines (vaso-constrictors & dilators), if you are ever given nitroglycerine for angina, expect to instantly get the worst migraine of your life (this med directly dilates the blood vessels -- all of them). This relates to diet: avoid **all** preserved meats (lunchmeats, bacon, etc.) -- a quick look at the label shows them all preserved with nitrates & nitrites. They will build up and have a similar effect as nitroglycerine. If you can't resist something (love that bacon), keep the amt. & frequency down. (Avoiding MSG just goes without saying.) If you've got a doc who's willing to prescribe out&out painkillers, don't go buying into the bullshit. Chronic pain sufferers who are prescribed opiates rarely become "addicts" and the side effects and dosages level out based on pain level. As opposed to true addicts, chronic pain sufferers on opiate maintenance re-join society instead of withdrawing. My migraines are caused by a damaged cervical spine and the purely "migraine" meds don't touch the cause or the neck pain that radiates... [do a 'net search for an org called asap -- they got lots of info on opiate stats, facts, etc. -- also lots of good cross-references] Ron

Hey Everyone, I have really been having a hard time of it and have just now caught up on my mail reading. I haven't touched my computer since the 21st. That's a record. It was comforting to read all the post. I have been migraining like crazy and refusing to go back in the hospital. I am going to see a new neuro next week though. The one I have been seeing has been so nonchalant. Even my other neuro for my seizures said so, so at least I don't feel like its me. I am so sick of this and I feel completely useless to my family. I know that in this group you understand what I am saying. I am tired of being tied down in bed and time seems to have no real meaning for me at this time since my memory is so bad. I feel so alone and frustrated that the docs haven't been able to break this cycle that I am in now. It has been months. Oh, I sound pitiful so I will sign off for now. Sandra

I tried them all: Migranol, imitrex, Amerge, in a variety of forms: injectable, pills, nasal spray. The outcome? NONE HELPED WHATSOEVER! My docotr has since told me that I may have "Chronic Daily Headaches", which are not technically Migraines but they feel as if they are. His "cure" for "Chronic Daily Headaches" does not include the above "anti-Migraine" meds. He uses daily pain medicine, kind of like cancer patients who suffer from pain continuosly. I'm on Oxycontin, 20 mg. twice a day., with Cerebrex for breakthru pain (it doesn't help one bit). The oxycontin is Percodan in a "shell" so it's time released over 5 hours. So...I take 2 a day, about 5 hours apart. I feel like next week I'll be needing Narcotics Anonymous at this rate. But what other choices do i have? The oxcontin works LIKE A CHARM!! Any others using Oxycontin? Please let us know how it works for you! --MyAchyHead =) -List Moderator

has anyone ever tried the migrainal nasal spray? What forms does the amerge come in? I've had a severe migraine since Monday and have missed this entire week of school. I've tried all the drugs I have been prescribed in the past and amerge is the last thing to try. thanks, Kelsey ____ "A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you today just the way you are." Anonymous

Well, I went to my new doctor yesterday. I went in with a plan and she said it's a good one so we're kind of starting from scratch. I couldn't get a male doctor to acknowledge the possibility that my migraines are for the most part hormonal, particularly caused the estrogen in the birth control pills I've been on forever. She immediately recognized this as a likely possibility and we're going off the Inderal and the B/C pills, leaving me only with Imitrex in the event of a migraine. I go back in six weeks and if I haven't had a migraine by then we'll have pinpointed the culprit. :) I'm excited about the possibility of it being something so simple...but that doesn't explain the perfume / odor triggers...unless I'm more sensitive to them at certain times of the month. Enough female talk on a mixed list. :) Melody

Karen~I first was trying to get info about serotonin since I had heard that a test showed people with Migraines had abnormal levels of serotonin. Then I found out about 5 Hydroxy Tryptophan.(diet/herb supplement)which is the percurser to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates several vital processes in the body, including sleep, emotional stability, pain sensitivity & cravings.(it is in certain foods in small amounts) Of course a lot of the info I got was way above my head! Try searching on the 'Net & also ask about 5-HTP at your Health Food store or GNC or if you have an Herbal Pharmacy. Since I couldn't continue with it because of the Magnesium effects I'm hoping to find it without the added mineral, vitamins & herbs. ~Lyn~

Since I'm fairly new here I don't know how much you've discussed this but is any one taking extra Magnesium? My Dr heard of a study that us lucky people with Migraines tend to need or not have enough Magnesium. He started me on 750 mg a day in Sept but warned me of the laxative effect. (milk of magnesia & magnesium citrate are laxatives)He was right, & I couldn't continue it. I did take cal-mag before ,though not that high a dose & may try that again. I also heard of some one getting a shot of Magnesium to relieve a Migraine. The 5~HTP supplement that I tried (for serotonin) also had Mag in it so... Anybody have any results with Magnesium? Thanks, ~Lyn~

I saw that someone has had a migraie related stroke. I'm sorry but I've never heard of that. Can you tell me more about it? Do people with migraines have a higher risk of stroke? I went to the ER with stroke symptoms once and they told me I'd regained functional use of me extremities to the extent that within the given period of time (don't recall what that was) it ruled out a stroke and was probably just a drug reaction. Anyway, I've always wondered with all that pain in my head what damage could be done up there. :/ Anyone care to tell me what I'm at risk for? Like I said, I've been having migraines for over 10 years but I've only recently sought treatment (long story). I go to the new doctor this afternoon and I've had so many bad experiences that I'm a bit nervous about it. Thanks again for all your tips and advice. I plan to put much of it to use. Melody

My migraines are almost all on the left, but they are cervicogenic in origin and that's the side with the pinched nerves, etc. Sometimes, when I've succeeded in killing a bad one, it will get back at me on the right. The cervicogenic nature of mine is why all those prophylactic meds don't work -- there's no chemical trigger, just a crunched neck from when I was 8. With age I can actually feel the pain start up the left side of my neck, dive just behind/below my ear (at the mastoid process, if that means anything to you) and surface at the left temple with all guns blazing. Imitrex only works on the throbbing enlarged blood vessel / spike-in-the-temple part of the migraine -- does nothing for all the other stuff that's involved (and caused it). There are some major places of research & treatment of cervicogenic headaches (not all migraines), but I don't have the bucks to go travel to any of them (yet). Depending on your own history, a cervical MRI is something that should seriously be considered. Ron (north-eastern PA mountains)

Hi Folks! I am very curious about the side of the head that people get their most of their migraines. You see, I get most of mine on the left side of my head, but two friends of mine say they get most of theirs on the right side. I wonder why it is that way, and what it may mean. So, how about it? Where do you get your pain? Thanks! Just interested! Sue, in New York

Does anyone know where I can find out more information on migraines without the headache? Does 20 minutes or 2 hours sound familiar to anyone? And kind of reminds you of a seizure, but it isn't. Greer

Here's another online support group for headaches.

Hello~ I just found out that onelist had an email group list for Migraine & just joined. Thanks, ~Lyn~

Here's an online support group I came across for parents with children who suffer from migraines.

to all of you who have answered my questions. You've been lots of help to me already. I plan to make a list of questions and things I want to be sure to talk to the new doc about on Tuesday. Melody

Hi! I'm Karen, 37, from Sarasota, Florida. I just found the list yesterday, and have spent the last two days reviewing the archives (I'm halfway through:), so I feel like I know some of you already. I'm a migraneur of 26 years. My migraines are, theoretically, the result of an injry to my brain at the age of 11 (my drunk father threw me down the stairs and I smacked my head). After trying dozens of different regimens for headache prevention/prophylaxis, I am currently on 40mg Oxycontin twice a day, plus 4 Percocet per day for breakthrough pain. Oxycontin was a godsend, and has made a HUGE difference in my life. It doesn't handle everything, but it does handle most and for the truly unbearable, I take MS Contin 100mg. That's time released morphine for those of you that are not familiar. My migraines are continuous, literally, with varying degrees of intensity. As for hardocre narcotics, I've tried Duragesic, Stadol (bad story there), and Oxycontin and MS Contin. I've been told by a diplomate of the American Board of Pain Medicine that there is nothing that can be done to "cure" the problem, the best we can hope for is to keep the pain under control. My GP is a great guy, who insists that my quality of life is paramount, and doesn't squawk about giving me what I need to function. I'm thrilled to find this list, unhappy that we all have a problem that brings us together. Looking forward to talking to you all. I monitor two lupus support lists for a friend of mine who has that disease, and no computer, and I've seen firthand the good it does to have other people to talk to who understand. I've been blessed with a perfect husband (and am soooo sorry for those of you who have unbearable mates to go along with your unbearable pain). Had a horrible one yesterday that the morphine didn't touch, and he massaged my neck and scalp for me until I fell asleep. That's me in a nutshell....hope to talk to you all again soon. Karen

If someone's already given this info, please forgive me...but what is Stadol? I've been home from work with a migraine for two days. Day one the doctor's office gave us the runaround and I've got an appointment with a new doctor on Tuesday. My doctor did finally call in some pain killers (vicadan <sp the edge off anyway. Today I'm back to work with the blinds closed and hoping against hope no one comes in wearing perfume. Anyway...the Imitrex didn't do a thing and I'm so blessed that I have an understanding boss. He told me, "If I was going through what you're going through there is no way I'd be coming to work!" Still I don't like taking the time off. Fortunately I'm a salaried employee so I don't have to worry about losing two days pay just weeks after buying a new house. :/ My question...in addition to what's Stadol...is whether you might give me some pointers on what to ask / tell this new doctor on Tuesday. Thanks! Melody

Anyone tried it as a preventative? Some people swear by it...but I've never tried it. Also...someone told my hubby this week that they heard of people taking Magnesium shots for migraines? Anyone know anything about this stuff? Melody

Hi Patti, Yes I have the same problem. I love to play basketball but after about ten minuets of playing I start to get a migraine. It happens also from any kind of physical work too. I just stay away from those activities. If anyone has any suggestions... Adir

well, we went to Fla. and the airplane ride was ok, I was a nervous wreck. We got to the rental car agency and our ATM card wouldn't go through, lucky for cell phones, I called our bank and they told me that we have a $350 a day limit, the car cost $425. I asked for an extension so we could get a car, oh yah, the discover card didn't work either because the computers were down. so we finally talked the bank into letting us have more than the daily limit of our own money, and went on our way. We took the wrong way comming out of the rental car place, got lost and it took us 3 hours to find the hotel that was 15 min. from the car rental. The hotel went ok. the first full day we went to Kennedy Space Center, that was fun. I got a wheel chair and we got to go ahead of everyone in lines. On Friday we were going to Universal Studios and getting onto route 4, we got into a 5 car, highway and trailer truck accident, we got slammed two times and I got double whiplash, poor Justin was screeming in hysterics but was ok. I called 911 on my trusty cell phone but was unsure how to tell them where we were, I finally found my map and told them. it took over 2 hours to get the ok to leave and we decided to go on to Universal Studios to get our mind off it. We had fun there until the Mardi Gras parade when they started to throw beads from the floats, everyone was jumping and I almost got trampled sitting in my wheelchair, the security person couldn;t do anything to stop them and I couldn't move back, needless to say, I was in a state of shock betwween the accident of that morning and the parade. My neck was hurting alot and I just wanted to go home to Mass. But the next day we went back to Universal, that went well. Back at the hotel that night 2 bus loads of teenagers pulled up and made noise all night. We went to Disney, Magic Kingdom on Sun. that was great, my neck was doing much better so I was able to go on some rides, we met all the Disney charaters and I got a kiss from Timon, and Rafiki. On Mon. we went to Disney Animal Kindom, the Lion king show there was awesome. The plane ride home went good and by this time I wasn;t very nervous. We are almost unpacked and are in shock of the New England cold wether, we miss the nice Fla. sun. Cathy/Justin

What is that the address to?? I'm lost!

Hello, Thank you for your welcome. I look forward to meeting all of you. I was interested in your post.....after you discontinued the Fiorinol/codeine and Tylenol/codeine, what do you take at this time for your pain? Are you taking any preventives that seem to work? Or any abortives that work for you? (ie. Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, etc.) I've been on probably 200 meds over the last 25 years and only Elavil and Inderal ever worked to prevent the pain, and only for about two months..then the pain returned. Zomig works about 30 (?)% of the time for a migraine.....but I do take Fiorinol/codeine for pain....I try very hard not to take them often and I know all about rebound h.a.s, but what do you do when none of the preventives work for you..year after year? I personally cannot withstand that much daily pain. My neurol. lets me self-inject Demerol/Phenergan for the super severe migraines...but of course, that is quite limited. Just wondered what worked for you....how do you manage your pain? And how do you cope with the emotional effects of constant pain? Thanks! Christy

Try getting glasses with a 10% brown tint -- it cuts out that blue glare w/o noticeably darkening anything. A very good optometrist did this for me (I'm a professional bureucrat doing paperwork under wall-to-wall flourescents) and it was a lifesaver... Ron

Amy about your boss...you've got to create a paper trail. Go to your human resources dept ad file a complaint and make sure administration gets a copy. If it happens again or you are harassed in any way shape or form , find a good attorney with expertise is labor law. Have the attorney write a letter stating your case and possible legal action to be taken if the situation isn't corrected pronto. ~~~The conventional wisdom and accepted facts are dead wrong! ~~~Don't go for second best, it's never good enough!

Please remove me from this list.........

Please unsubscrobe me from the migraine onelist. thank you LLHUG@...

Jeff-- i hat to burst your bubble....my father is 63 and his have not gotten any better.....I also use stadol......have used about a bottle a week for the past 3-4 years. then all of a sudden in October my neuro took me off of everything. Insisted I take absolutly nothing for HA...and I did that. At my last appointment he said that he wanted to start on regularly scheduled doses of an opiate. I asked if there were anything else...so now I am trying lithium.....it hasnt helped the migraines but has made me very nervous,,,,,,,and he put me back on Stadol...but only one bottle a month. I know that he had thought I had become addicted because he wanted to put me in the hospital to take me off of it and I told him it wasnt necessary..which it wasnt. By the way there was just an article in Saturdays paper about BCBS refusing to pay for a patients stadol. He was using 2 bottles per day. The manufacturer stated anything past 1 bottle per day wasnt medically necessary. Debra

Hello... Just thought I'd send in a quick intro...I just subbed this week. My name is Melody...and I'm 35 y/o and married with children. I've had migraines for years...diagnosed as migraines about 12 years ago. From what I've read here so far I have nothing to complain about. I have a couple of questions. Even though it's been 12 years since the diagnosis, I was never really *treated* for migraines until just under two years ago and I'm still quite ignorant about the different treatments available. Anyway, the questions... I know it's important to pinpoint your triggers and avoid them if possible. Well, the main triggers I've discovered so far are certain odors. Strong perfumes, bleach, and some cleaning solutions set of what I call *sparklers* immediately. Getting away from the "fumes" in a hurry will often help...either circumvent the attack completely or at least lessen the severity. The question is simply how common is this and do you have any suggestions on how to deal with it? The other question I have is regarding my medications. I tried Midrin and it didn't help at all. Now I'm taking Imitrex (nasal spray) and it's "hit and miss" as to whether it works or not. The first preventative I was on was Elavil and it didn't work out. Now I'm on Inderal and I've noticed some improvement. Is anyone familiar with Inderal as a preventative? I'm interested to know what everyone finds works for them...questions I should be asking my doctor...things I should be reporting to him, etc. Thanks for all your help... Melody

Karen, I'm sorry you're allergic to so many foods! It's not fun at all. Corn is in soooo many foods! It's probably the hardest to avoid. You need to read EVERY label, ask for ingredients at restruants, and be careful eating at friend's houses. Mustard isn't too hard to live w/o, it's not in many foods. I'm allergic to yeast too. I haven't had bread in a long time, but there are many recipes for flat breads or pancakes and stuff like that. Olives, you just need to watch out for olive oil mostly. Cucumbers and oranges are usually not in many foods. Corn has lots of names, though. This means no Coke, most candies, most junk food, fast food, sweet foods, alot of foreign foods. It's really hard at first to avoid everything, but it IS worth it. Less headaches or at least less severe. I'll send you the FAST website. There is alot of info on there, and I think a link to a page with the names of forms of corn, and some very good recipes. I'll try and answer any questions you have! Good luck, Kelsey, New Orleans ps- What type of testing did you do? ____ "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalm 34:7

Karen -- This is the problem with treating migraines -- the triggers are as diverse as the number of people with migraines... Corn: almost every sweetened drink these days is sweetened with corn syrup, and corn starch shows up in many places... Olives: now that olive oil is "hip", watch out for that as an ingredient... Check out the 100 tablet bottles of generic chlortrimeton (chlorpheniremine maleate) in your local pharmacy -- my son's girlfriend leaves a bottle of them here to forestall reactions to soda (corn syrup) as well as our cats. Ron

Hello All: I just joined this list. I've suffered from migraines since an automobile accident 7 yrs ago. For a year afterwards I was on nortriptyline. It affected me badly and now I have a brother-in-law who has been taking it and having the same problems. The include: personality changes, mood swings, weight retention, sensitivity to sunlight and tiredness. I am trying to gather information to present to him in hopes of convincing him to search for a different medication. If this is a redundant subject for this list, I apologize and ask those with information to email me privately in regards to the nortriptyline. Thanks everybody. ALindsley

Hi all, Just a thought on the blackouts.....could any of your meds be lowering your blood pressure enough to cause the blackouts? I have had some meds that I had to discontinue because of the low blood pressure side effect. Mine is about corpse level anyway. Ellen -

Here's a page with links to several articles on headache.

Jeff, I also have had the same migraine for the past fifteen weeks. Out of that I had five migraine free days. I just got off of Nortriptiline about 3 months ago. I experienced extreme weight gain, kidney problems and a dry mouth that could not be quenched. I had to take a drink of water between every sentence just to be able to talk. The thirst problem is now gone, the weight is still here and also the kidney problems even after getting off the med although I did not have these problems until the nortriptiline. I am also on deprakote and tegretol for seizures. They have had little to no effect but also no problems except adding to the problem of weight gain. My neuro took me off of both of them today. As for memory problems, you are talking to the champ. It is so humiliating, especially when your mind was once so productive and active. I was a workaholic up until four years ago and now I can hardly function in my own home. My kids have really given me a hard time about my memory and this hurt greatly. Only recently have they come to understand. I forget whole days sometimes. It is horrible and I feel for you being out there with such a responsibility and having to explain it to your peers. You have great courage and hoorah for you! Best Wishes, Sandra

Hi I don't post often but do read all your mail and think wow where do all these drugs come from. I have never been prescribed anything before for my migraines even though I get them nearly every day. I now find I cannot cope and have gone to my doctors who have prescribed Pizotifen1.5mg to be taken at bedtime - they act as a preventative and Domperamol 10mg. Does anyone no of any side effects. Catrina

Sorry everyone that I haven't responded the past couple of days. I am sure that you will understand. I have been migraining the past couple of days. Yesterday was really bad. I couldn't even see most of the time and something new started about five months ago. I think that it has to do with my seizures. I just feel out. I didn't even know I was falling until I was there. I scraped my hip pretty bad and one arm. Just as soon as my husband got home he wanted to know what had happened when he saw my arm. Oh well. Today was not as bad. :-) It will be better tommorrow and I am going to see one of my docs ( whom I like by the way). He is a neuro but also my psychiatrist. Hopefully Thursday I can catch up. I do want to say that I agree with what you said wholeheartedly changeagent and I am going to do what I can to make sure that someone hears about the treatment that I recieved. That man could have cared less. And Dick, that is a great idea about the pain management clinics and an avenue that I have never explored. There is one in the same building as my neuro and another across town that I know of. I am definitely going to discuss it with my docs and if they aren't in favor I will check it out myself. I hope and pray that everyone of you are doing well and I well catch up on my reading and my mail on Thursday. All the best, Sandra

Hi everyone! I am going to see my sweetie who lives in London - yes, I know, I know... But I was wondering if there are any meds good for migraines that can be had over the counter (that is, off a shelf rather than by script). Not Paracetamol (or however that's spelled). My usual meds are Fiorcet, Reglan and MANY Bonines (meclazine) for the vertigo. BTW, yesterday I went for an interview to start in a study on Topomax for Migraine rather than for epilepsy - I happened to have a sizeable HA, so they gave me an injection of some cortisone thing, a kind of novocaine and meclazine - IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD!! Needless to say, it did nothing but make my scalp numb. I had the HA until I went to bed at 9:00 PM. YUCK-O! Thanks in advance, everyone! sue h

I've given up all food, due to allergies and stomach probs, and I still get migraines! I've stayed mostly away from my triggers for 5 years (I will admit to occasionally cheating) and I know weather changes affect my migraines. I don't know what else it could be. The Neocate I'm on is all amino acids, proteins, carbos, predigested stuff, so I hope it's nothing in that! Could pollen aggravate migraines? We have 40 trees in our yard and our cars stay yellow no matter how many times we wash them. Has anyone ever tried remoral? I did Thurs and I've been exhausted and sleepy ever since. At least I stayed awake most of today, I had to fight it Fri and Sat and half of Sun. Barely got through my senior play on production nights! Kelsey ____ "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalm 34:7

I've been on medicaid for several years and have found that at least half the docs in my area refuse to see me because of my coverage. Those that do have to see at least some medicaid patients each month in order to keep their aditting privleges at a local hospital. Its a condition the facilities bylaws. Most times when you see one of these docs you get a half hearted effort at help if that much and then they'll find some excuse to nudge or push you out the door. It gets even worse when you have severa subborn medical problems such as mine. They don't want to know you. Period. ~~~The conventional wisdom and accepted facts are dead wrong! ~~~Don't go for second best, it's never good enough!

I know I get migraines when I fly, but chewing gum, making sure my ears pop, and wearing special ear plugs all help alot. And I try to sleep as much of the flight as I can, popping pain killers an hour before take-off. Good luck! Kelsey ____ "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalm 34:7

Hey everyone! Just a little thought. My GI doc who's treating me for unknown stomach probs and GERD says it's entirely possible that my food allergies, leaky gut, GERD, throwing up everything I eat, etc was caused by overuse of motrin. I took ALOT when I was in 7th and 8th grade, on advice of my docs to treat my migraines. I alternated w/tylenol, but still took motrin every day for months at a time. Please be careful in your motrin use, though I doubt that it would help anyone's migraines much. I took so much because it never helped. For some reason I thought the more I took maybe someday it'd work. Now i just sleep or grit my teeth when I get a bad one. Kelsey ____ "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalm 34:7

Hi Karen, I am very glad that you started this group and that I found it. Already I feel better just from your letter. I too suffer from rebound migraines and the doctors so far have been unable to find anything to help. Being a fellow rebounder, I am sure that you know that morphine, demerol, ect. have no effect on the headaches but only temporarily. After it wears off, which is very quickly for me now, the pain and nausea is even worse. I am totally housebound now from mine. I was already on disability from seizures which started 3 years after the migraines. The migraines started in '92 and the seizures in '95, but until the past few months I could still ride in a car, go outside, ect., but now I am confined because the migraines have been rebounding so bad. I too was hospitalized about six weeks ago and 3 days after I got out I started migraining again. I feel so helpless. The doctors won't move my appointment up and my M.D. is on maternity leave, which leaves me with this jerk who thinks that I am only after narcotics, not even giving me a chance to explain that I can't take them because I will just rebound even stronger. The reason I call him a jerk is that he left me sitting in an exam room for 3 hours last week and everytime he deined to come and speak to me he treated me cruelly and like a criminal. Has anyone else been throught this. It was painful and humiliating. I was hurting so bad all I could do is cry which is not like me at all. His only advice was to go and sit at the emergency room until my neuro checked me in again. No thanks. I'll suffer until my appt. or as long as I can. Oh boy, sorry for the long speil. I guess that caught all of you up on my headaches. I'll tell you about the good things in my life in the next post. Thanks for listening, Sandra

Better they show their true colors now than when you really get into a bad situation and really need them. It sound like they were offended on some level. I've also found that this kind of behavior when exhibited by the other party is symptomic of something else. Personally, I think that a lot of\ docs don't like giving narcs on an ongoing basis because their affraid (wrongly) that you'll become hooked and or the mere fact that such an ongoing script can raised their malpractic/liability insurance rates. It also says that they care more about protecting their own butt instead of rendering timely assistance to you. Many medical practices and HMOs are fighting to survive financialy. WHEN this happens they will do anything to get dump a patient they consider even vaguely a risk. And they'll come up with many different types of excuses to rationalize their behavior. Its sick. ~~~The conventional wisdom and accepted facts are dead wrong! ~~~Don't go for second best, it's never good enough!

Maryline -- Do not worry about the english -- "american" is a separate language altogether, and we're a nation of immigrants (including the so-called Native Americans who had legends of "the ones who came before")-- Besides, your english is a far sight better than my french... Michelle -- look on the positive side: as compared to the migraines, at least the docs have some idea of what to do for the ear/cold/etc..... I'm coming down from a two day trip (3 hours down to Philadelphia for a 3 hour job interview, then to a friend's house to relax & talk business, & 3 hours back) in the midst of a 3 (or is it 4?) day severe neck pain that cycles in & out of migraine. Just before I left I got a phone message from my new pain doc who, after a closer look at my cervical MRI, really wants to talk neurosurgeon with me... Never a dull moment. Ron

Went into the ER today because of 6-day-old migraine and high blood pressure. I normally have dangerously low blood pressure, but I take an MAOI antidepressant and they can cause very high BP. So the ER said I was having a hypertensive crisis so I stayed the night and got drugs and IVs and a bunch of student docs staring at me (since I'm so unusual). So now I cant take my antidepressant anymore, which was a big part of my migraine treatment.

Hi all, Just wanted to share my thoughts. I am so tired of the stress of having to call my manager and explain I won't be in to work again today. I have been down since Fri with a severe head cold, ear infections and of course the ever present migraine. I wish I could just have the cold. I have taken double doses of Maxalt to rid them, yet I wake up each day with another. The amerge I tried had done nil. Sat I went to emergency for the head pain. I had migraine and sinus or tension headache together. The IV treatment worked until it wore off. My infection in my ear ruptured my eardrum Monday, leading to an ENT. It is hard somedays not to feel really sorry for myself. I wish I didn't feel that way, but most people do not understand. Not only am I in the profession were I have to reschedule my clients, affecting their lives, I am slowly going broke trying to stay in migraine meds. Not to mention all the Dr. bills, and this is with insurance. I am slowly getting to the point of letting go what others think about my health issues. I feel like I always need to justify myself. I am trying to accept this is how my life is right now. I can't change it. I just need to keep trying to find solutions and not beat up on myself. I could sure use the words of others here, who have had these struggles as well. Thanks foe listening, Michelle in Iowa

Hi Michelle! I can truly relate to what you said in your note. I used to work at a place where they always looked at me cross-eyed when I called in sick. They never believed me, nor did they want to! They always said that I could make it in if I really wanted to do a good job. The guilt and misery I went through was horrible and unfair. If they could only have experienced ONE of my migraines!! I am lucky now to be working at a place that understands when you don't feel well and that it is not something you do on purpose. But I have a part-time job teaching where the students (some of them) treat me like a criminal if I have to miss a class. People do have a hard time understanding someone who is not in perfect health. It does make you feel very much alone. Just remember you are NOT alone! We understand! As I said, I surely can relate to how you are feeling. And it is a lousy way to have to feel. Not fun! I wish you some peace in the midst of this. I also hope that you can feel better soon and have some nice days. Good luck with your job and clients. Always come back here and talk to us so you don't feel so alone. Know that others do experience some of the same things. Sue, in Westchester County, New York - (just north of NYC)

please unsubscribe me.

Dick in sunny (& warm) Phoenix, AZ, USA Be migraine free everyone.

I may be a bit premature (my pain doc wants to take another, closer look at the MRI) but I feel better knowing that something actually showed up: ruptured disk in my neck (C5-C6). He said he'd call me after another look, and if it seems to be either serious enough by itself or related to my headaches, he will refer me to a neurosurgeon for more specialized diagnosis and recommendations. Meanwhile, I have something objectively verifiably real to relate to my sceptical relatives and to SSDI (for my appeal). And people wondered why I got hung up on the term "cervico-genic migraines"..... If any medically trained &/or knowledgeable people can tell me more (like what *don't* I want done...), any and all comments gratefully accepted. Ron

Hey everyone. I am having a really bad day. I have numbness in the right side of my face. I am a real B....! Does anyone else have mood swings with migraine. I feel like a black cloud is hanging over my head and ready to come down on me. So I am trying to take steps to avoid the coming storm. But it is catching me real fast. deb wytheville va

Hi, I've been taking B2 and magnesium and it's been helping. I only get one bad migraine per week. Adir --

I have been taking vitamin B2 for quite awhile. I don't really see too much of an improvement. I have heard of others who have. Too bad for me!! Karen

I've been eavesdropping on the complaints and interchanges and I haven't heard anyone mention trying riboflavin ( Vitamin B2 ) for prevention. The dose is 100 mg 4 times a day-- or possibly 200 mg twice a day. There are no side effects other than a fluorescent urine. Check out the reference in the journal Neurology.

Dont have anything usefull to say, just complaining. Got an awful headache friday that I'm still recovering from. I was volunteering up in the mountains (we were in the lowest valley of the area, so I dont think the elivation was any higher than where I live). Took 3 percodan that didnt do much for the pain but my blood pressure got so low that I couldnt take anymore. I would have gone to the hospital had it been at all practical. This stinks--I cant take vasoconstrictors and the prophylaxis meds I've tried made me too sick to be worth it. Also cant tolerate most antinausea drugs because they drop my blood pressure. I miss my immutrex. I took the narcotics, excedrin and oxygen, but it barely made a dent. And I havent had a migraine I couldnt sleep off for almost a month, so I thought I was improving. Now I wish my head would stop throbbing, it's been 72hrs, yeesh.

Hello, I am a frustrated migranuer, lately only having stretches of five days without a headache. My Dr. wants to keep try one med. after another. Each one's side affects causing more havoc, until I know neither heads from tails. With head spinning I look to you all. Thanks, Michelle 31 Iowa

This is something my daughter Samantha who is 13 gave me. deb richardson The Beatuiful Color of Love

Anyone feel funny after they have migraines? If I have a really bad migraine I feel like I have a concussion the next day. My head feels funny, a little forgetful, foggy, irritable, clumsy. Not horrible but not pleasant. I remember reading somewhere about status migraines and that they could actually cause mild brain injury. I once had a migraine that lasted 3 1/2 weeks and for a couple weeks after I still felt funny even though the migraine symptoms were gone. I didnt go in to get it treated for the first few days because it didnt hurt too bad--it would start off a 2 or 3 on a scale of 1 to 10 but it would end up a 6 or seven by evening and I'd have to take something to treat the pain, but I was used to just getting refills and not seeing my doc. I couldnt take Immutrex or any vasoconstrictors or anything with cardiac effects because of a medication I was taking. After two weeks went in to see my doc and he shrugged and gave me more narcotics. Finally something happened and it felt like I had been stabbed with a knife through my skull. It didnt feel like a migraine, it wasnt in the right place and I wasn't nauseated or sensitive to light or sound, but it hurt more than any headache I ever had. I was volunteering at a performance and my friend was in charge of first aid so she gave me some oxygen and finally convinced me into letting her take me to the ER. I took a total of 6 percodan (I hadn't been taking it regularly enough to build up a tolerance, 2 was my usual max) and 6 vistaril over a 2 hour period and it didnt faze me and it still hurt more than anything. I get to the ER with high blood pressure and huge pupils and trouble walking so they think I'm having a stroke and give me morphine and compazine and scan my head. Scan was negative so they figure they'll just give me immutrex anyhow and keep me there so they can monitor my heart. Got pretty out of it after my second morphine/compazine combo so I dont know what else happened, but I was fine when I went home, just felt like I was recovering from a head injury. I've had a couple bad concussions and it really does feel the same. The symptoms lasted about 2 or 3 weeks but they improved with time so I guess I cant complain. Anyhow, I've always heard that migraines are benign, they're painful but dont cause damage. But I've also heard letting them last isnt too good for the brain, so I wonder. I dont know if it's chemical changes or changes in bloodflow to the cells, but I do think it does something like a mild head injury. I guess it's pretty hard to test, cause only big things show on most scans. Does anyone else get post-migraine symptoms?

I feel as though I take too much of the triptans also. I do not even like to take it 2x a week. Fiorecet works most of the time for me too, but only if I get to the headache in time. I am still waiting for that miracle to happen when I wake up without a migraine for a few days in a row! Take care...Karen

Cathy / Justin: I've posted before about my son who's had migraines since around age 6, but much worse now with puberty (one h/a per week, misses one day of school every week). He's tried many meds, Midrin, Butalbital, Ultram, and finally when he turned 12, the neuro gave him Imitrex, Amerge, Zomig, and Maxalt. None of this seems to work. Every time I go back to the neuro it's the same old thing. He asks us the same darn questions, makes my son perform the same darn tricks, then gives us another sample of something. Last week during our appointment, I told him that although the Zomig seemed to be the med that's worked best so far, it seemed to really really knock Danny out. OH NO, he said, that's not from the Zomig, it doesn't cause that. The thing is, most of the time when Danny gets a h/a, he takes a pill and goes to bed and sleeps for 3 - 4 hours. Sometimes the h/a is gone when he wakes up, and sometimes NOT. So then the neuro told us at the end of the appointment - "well, things are looking pretty good, come back in 3 months," and he gave us a script for more Zomig and Phenergan. I'm beginning to think this guy is a moron. (Truthfully, I've been thinking it for a while now.) Is it wishful thinking on my part - or is there something somewhere, some med so that when my son wakes up in the morning with a migraine, he can take a dose and make it to school? That is what I want !!! He has missed so much school, and like you said, kids have enough stress to deal with, without having the pressures of make-up work ALL the time. I just don't know what to do anymore. It's so frustrating. I really felt like this doc was blowing us off. How many times does he have to ask us the same questions, over and over. Can't he read the file? He's been absolutely a waste of my time, money, energy and gas. Thanks for listening. Suggestions always welcomed and appreciated! ...Tina "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars" --Emerson

please

Hi! My name is Sue and I am a migraineur, as many of you are. I have been suffering with these headaches at least since I was 10, and I am 43 now. I have been reading your messages for a few days and I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know that I hear you pain and frustrations with this awful disorder. I really can relate to most of what you are going through. At this point, I usually take Fiorinal or Fiorinal with Codeine for my more severe headaches, having tried the new wonder drugs like Imitrex and Miganol, with little success. I get daily headaches that are less severe, and take either Tylenol or Excedrin or nothing for those. The more severe ones come about 4 to 6 times a month. This disorder is a live-changing one. It strikes at work and at play, and can leave a person, besides the pain, feeling alone and very frustrated at the least because others can't understand how bad it can be and because there is so little real help for it. Well, that is all I will say right now. I wish all of you headache free days. Sue

In a message dated 2/26/99 9:18:28 AM Eastern Standard Time, luna1@... writes: << I wanted to let you all know that next Thursday evening (March 4) on 20/20 they are having a story on people who suffer from migraines. It might be a good one to watch. I think it is going to be on 48 hours, not 20/20. Karen

Hi all...just got back from my neuro appointment. I am still going to take the depakote (along with my almost daily now fiornal w/codeine) and we are now trying out Zomig. Any comments, suggestions or random thoughts anyone has about your experience with this medication would be helpful. I am also going to have an EEG which was supposed to have been done at the time of my MRI, but never was. It's such a hassle to have to get a referral from my PCP for every single neuro visit and test. Still, I shouldn't really complain, I can't imagine how I would pay for this had this happened to me a few years ago when I had no insurance at all. Anyway, I hope this works and all of you have headache-free days! Cathy

Hi, everyone!!! First of all, let me say to Deb that I am most sorry to hear all the frustration you have gone through lately with doctors treating your migraine. That in itself is enough to make the migraine problem worse. I know I have seen a lot of doctors who were jerks throughout the years that I have been dealing with migraine. I think either one of two things happen. When you are a patient that is more difficult to treat and do not respond to conventional medicines, you challenge their abilities as a doctor. And, if he/she doesn't know what to do for you, it is so easy to throw that problem back on to the patient. The other thing is that if you don't have migraine, no matter how much you read about it, you still don't understand. Whenever I have visited emergency rooms in the past, people I know would even say to me "You mean you went to a ER for just a headache." That's the problem....it is not just a headache and they simply don't understand. More recently I have encountered nicer doctors, but also ones that aren't sure how to help me even though they believe me. I just went through a headache clinic that is suppose to be on the cutting edge where I live. To me, unfortunately, I feel that the doctor and his associates that got this thing together have a great money making scheme going. The other thing that bothered me is in a lot of their literature, they mention "If you suffer migraines or a similar emotionally related medical problem...." I think they have generalized that all migraines are emotionally oriented. No doubt, in some individuals stress may be a trigger and no doubt that when you are constantly coping with migraine it is going to stir up feelings of guilt, anger, depression, etc.... But, as we all know, other illnesses, foods, weather, hormones, allergies, chemical imbalances, plus things they don't even know yet can trigger this problem. Therefore, I didn't like the philosophy this headache clinic had so I decided that I am going to keep pursuing other treatments with my family doctor that I have an appointment with in a couple of weeks. The doctor at the headache clinic was a firm believer that you do not get any sort of pain medicine under any circumstances and my family doctor doesn't necessarily like to give it to you, but if he knows you and you either call the answering service or go to the office, he'll atleast give you something to help you over the rough spot. I figure that as long as I have went to various neurologists that have ruled out any more serious neurological problems that I might as well just stick with the family doctor to explore new treatments. Atleast he believes me. I think that is the biggest thing, Deb. You have to atleast find someone who believes you that you have a legitimate problem even though there is no guaranty that what he/she will try with you will work. I have atleast found that if they believe you they are more willing to try other medicines and a more receptive if you come to them and tell them about something you have heard about. I am still out here struggling to find something that will atleast take an edge off or calm my problem down. Several years back, I was on disability for 3 years because I could not work due to this problem and I felt as badly as you did, Deb. Some people that get migraine are lucky enough to find a treatment that works for them. I have known people who have taken Inderal on the first try and have never had a migraine since. The rest of us for whatever reason still struggle from medicine to medicine and doctor to doctor. It is so hard when you feel like this, but you must keep trying. There are new migraine medicines continually being developed and you never know that one of those could be the one that works for you. That's what I keep telling myself as I suffer. The rest of the time I just try to cope as best as I can. I try to do whatever I can do to make myself as comfortable as I can while I am feeling badlly. And, I think this list helps us all keep our sanity. Have a great headache free weekend everyone! Take care, Diann

Jess... I know what you mean by idiot doctors. Either they don't take you seriously because it is "just a headache" or they just don't care. Don't give up, make sure you do some research on here to find some information. Karen

After being used as a test product for doctors. I am just tired. I went to the ER for a migraine attack. My regular doc. or one of his team was not able to meet me so I had a cocky temp. doc. He told me that I was to much of a complication for him to handle. Tremors along with the migraine. I gave him a list of meds I was on and a list of the mix of demeral & phen. amounts my doc. usually gave me. How could this be hard? So he decided he wanted to try something that I knew would not work. What a battle! After I had thrown up several times and passed out, he finally gave me what my doc. would have 3 hours before. I cannot tolerate most meds. so I am very discouraged. PHYSC. told me yesterday he had ran out of options. I go to a new neoro. in May. A long wait. Deb Richardson

Remember: There are three kinds of people: those who can do math and those who can't. Ron

This is Deb Richardson. I have changed my email address.

Hi folks, I see the pdoc Friday for a med check. Hope to get some changes for relief of tinnitus, or ringing in ears(actually "hissing" and "chirping"--varies, but it is non-stop). I have mentioned that I have had success with Calan for migraine prevention and Imitrex for the actual headaches which are few and fart between now. I guess I'm stuck being on meds, which doesn't thrill me (also on thyroid meds, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds). I hope to continue to be migraine-free and due to the volume of mail I get from this and other lists, I am getting eyestrain and frontal headaches, in addition to sinus headaches. Will continue to lurk a little while longer and have enjoyed this list. Unsubscribing can just be considered a form of success, IMO! So if I do so soon, it is a good thing, and nothing personal to anyone. I appreciate everyone's input and support. Funny, as I'm typing this the "hissing" turned into an ear-test type ringing in one ear. I may need to go to an ENT and I know clenching and grinding my teeth in my sleep (nocturnal bruxism) isn't helping the tinnitus. I am still stressed, but at least the Calan helps the B.P. as it is intended to. Back to you all later. Thanks, Noel

hi Deb: SUICIDE IS NOT AN ANSWER! We all live with headaches. I have headaches daily...and no meds help me either. Have you tried anti-depressants for your despair? I'm on Paxil for depression, and it has helped. I still do have the daily migraines, but my outlook on life is NOT as dismal as it was. See a Psychiatrist for the meds; regualr primary care docs don't *really* know about the different anti-depressants available. PLEASE...keep us informed on your progress, and keep in touch regularly. We support each other. You are not alone! -Karen ************************************************************* Disclaimer: Any Errors in Spelling, Tact, or Fact Are Transmission Errors!

Here is something for all of you deb

Hello everyone. I wanted to introduce myself to the group. My name is Wayne and I am a 28 yr. old male. I have been lurking in the background reading the emails from all of you and have learned a bit of information. I started having Migraines about a month ago, they started on the 12th of Jan. I had never had a Migraine before or if I did they didn't last for too long, or were never as strong as the one that started last month. I was out work for a week with this Migraine. I saw my doctor twice during that period. The first time I saw him he gave me Imitrex, Percodan(sp) and Phenegran. The only things that seemed to help were the Phenegran and the Percodan. I went back on a Monday(the first visit was on a Wednesday). My doctor then gave me a shot of Demerol and prescribed Ferenol(actually I got the generic version of it) and a steroid to use. Those two combined helped ease the pain. I had hoped and prayed that once that Migraine went away it would be over, but that was not the case. It seems that I have at least two a week lasting anywhere from about 3 or 4 hours to two days. I have been keeping a journal of what I eat or drink or do when they come on. It is weird that some of things that I eat or drink seem to be triggering them, but they didn't before. I can no longer drink Orange or Grape drinks like SunKist or NuGrape. It also seems that chicken triggers them as well, no matter how it is cooked. I have read that some people see an Aura before the Migraine comes, my sign seems to be a chill as if I had the flu. The other thing that happened with the Migraine was the fact that I lost my job due to the time I was out, it didn't matter I was under a doctor's care or not, and I was working as a contractor at Glaxo Wellcome here in Raleigh NC at the time..sad sad. I wanted to let you all know that I enjoy the information that I have gotten from each of you and I hope that I might have been able to shed some light on a few things with my Migraines.Thank you for letting me share my story with you all. Wayne Padgett

Karen, Sorry it has taken me a while to respond, I've had some problems lately and i've had to sort them out. I live in Vancouver BC. I'm really interested in checking out a centre. My DR is an idiot, she has no idea what i go through, so i'd just like to take my problems to a DR who will know what to do, and will believe me. Thanks for the info. Jess

? I never heard of this, and I'm curious. -Karen

Dear Adir, You are so right. I think women can "get by" with the complaint of a headache more than men. So in a way, migraines in and of itself are sexist!!! I have a hard time driving my Suburban with a migraine, I don't know how in the world you chug along in a tank! Here's a question for the taking...How do each of your employers take your needing time off or possibly impaired work during an attack? Thank God, I have an understanding supervisor. I can go home maybe an hour and get my Imitrex then rest a minute. I am a school teacher. Hope we have a day tomorrow with no aches and pains! Suzan

Hi everyone, Usually I post about my son Justin who is 11 1/2 and has migraines. This time it's about me. Back in November I had bronchitis. One day during that illness I got a terrible headache. I now wonder if it was a migraine. The latest thing is, last week I had a terrible pain that started in my jaw on the left side, it involved the whole left side up to above my temple, the pain on a scale of 1-10 went from 2 - 9. the strongest pain usually began gradually then got very bad the whole thing lasted an hour or so then got better. These episodes went on for a week. I went to a local dentist who said I needed to see an oral surgeon, he thouht it was my wisdom tooth. I saw an oral surgeon at Mass. General hosp. in Boston. She took panorama x rays and said my teeth looked ok but I do have a cavity which I knew about. She said if the pain continued after the tooth was filled it wasn't my teeth. I have yet to get the tooth filled, this will be next week sometime. But the pain has been gone since this past Tues. I wonder, and the dentist suggested could this pain have been a migraine? Sorry this was so long. Thanks Cathy/Justin

One of the things that levels out the male/female migraine stats is the statistically higher rate of accident injury for males. My migraines started with an 8 year old boy thinking a cape would help him fly just like Superman.... The first doc to recognize my headaches as migraines (as opposed to the tension headache brush-off) got them due to a motorcycle accident. This sort of thing also throws off the what-happens-as-you-age stats -- My headaches are getting more constant due to my neck & back aging (and not gracefully, either). Just recently had my first visit with a local pain clinic and the doc (first one to take my pain seriously in ... forever) said that migraines are about the least understood pain. Wow, a doc who doesn't think he's God.... Ron

Hi all, I am responding to a group of questions /comments from the digest format. thanks you all for your responses. Re: tinnitus. No ASA products being used. Mom and aunt with tinnitus have no migraines, but grandmom had migraines. don't know if she had tinnitus. I do have sinus problems, but have had x-rays, rhinoscopy, allergy testing--nothing indicated. I also clench/grind my teeth in my sleep (nocturnal bruxism). Have broken a couple of nightguards! This can contribute to tinnitus. I am under the impression it is med related tho. Calan, is a Calcium channel blocker, usually used for HBP (high blood pressure). It seems to help avert my migraines greatly! BTW, I am a real stressed type A person. surprise! Later all, Noel

I sure wish there was Imitrex when I was a kid -- now, while it *does* work, I have so much cervical involvement that i need additional things to go with the Imitrex. I found the nasal spray to work better than the shots -- don't know why, but that's why they sell it in more than one form. As for wearing off in a couple-three hours, there are a couple of new meds in the same family that supposedly last longer: Zomig and Amerge. I've read the official literature on Zomig (the kind of info you'd find in the PDR) and the studies show strong statistical proof of lasting longer / headache not returning. Naturally, the geek that calls itself my doctor just brushed off my educated inquiry into Zomig. (I don't think he researches half as well as I do...) However, just had first visit to a local (out here in the woods!) pain clinic and *this* doctor listens, thinks, knows all the latest, asks questions and lets you talk, and believes that chronic pain should be prevented, just like diabetes and high blood pressure. He even invited me to look up stuff on the 'net (after being amused that that's how I found him). I could see that he quickly understood my meds had not been changed in 28 years, even tho his professionalism prevented him from making out-loud comments on other local doctors who do nothing (i.e., my geek). That was yesterday, and I felt like doing an end-zone dance (until I got home and the rising-from-when-I-got-up headache got bad...). Today is a cervical MRI -- so, gotta go. More later. Ron

Hi folks, Mostly lurking due to schedule and volume of mail. Migraines under control with Calan. No Imitrex needed for some time! what I am, and have been suffering from for 3 1/2 months is tinnitus, or constant ringing in my ears! Had tests done which were inconclusive. They don;t thin it is med-related. Mom and aunt have it, but live with it. I find that it contributes to not being able to concentrate and gets me more depressed, and trouble sleeping. I use white noise when needed, or other sounds from sound soother. I am already on other meds for hypothyroidism, anxiety and Depression. Any comment, suggestions? It is driving me crazy. Have looked at www and other E Mail lists. No luck. Just thought I'd run it past you all. Thanks, Noel

Hey! Welcome to the list! Hope you have a relatively migraine-free day! Smiles! Kelsey ____ "May God give you eyes to see beauty only the heart can understand." Anonymous

Hi Jess! Sorry it's taken so long, I was in FL w/my family. I'm 18, too, w/migraines since I was 12. Nothing's helped here either, and we've probably both got enough drugs to open a pharmacy! The neurologist just put me back on something to knock me out so i can sleep and welbutrin. I have alot of other probs too, but everything seems to point to something screwed up in my hypothalamus and basilar artery, hence the migraines. What have you tried already? Anything in the line of hypnosis, imagery, alternative stuff? I personally like massage therapy! : ) I get the cold/heat thing too. Are you in h.s. or college? I'm a senior and I have to go talk to my toughest teacher tomorrow who told the class (while I was absent) Friday that I'm perfectly well, I just don't like to wake up in the mornings. Hope I can do it civilly! Good luck and feel free to write me! Kelsey ____ "Let no one who loves be called unhappy. Even love unreturned has its rainbow." James M. Barrie

Hey, My Doc hasn't really done anything to help with my migraines, personally i think that tests should be done to make sure that everything's all right. I guess she must think it's all "in my head". It really bugs me that she perscribes me stuff and it doesn't work so she perscribes something else, i've finally given up talking to her about it because she won't go any further than giving me more pills. So far I've tried Ergomar, Nova-Pranol, Toradol, and a bunch others but I can't afford to keep going to her for pills that cost too much and don't even work. Has anyone tried the new one Imitrex? Anyways I'm not sure where to go from here. My dad has severe migraines and he's been taking medication for years, I don't really talk to him so i don't know if he's been diagnosed with anything. All i know is that he's taking expensive medication, some of it is even injected. Anyways like i said i don't live with him and i don't talk to him so i'm not sure. I want to get a Dr that specializes in migraines and the like but i'm not sure where to go or how to do that. Well thanks for caring, I hope you can also find relief, Jess

Patti, sometimes before I get a migraine I get very depressed, to the point of being morose. Once the headache comes and leaves I feel much better. Sometimes I feel very edgey or aggitated just before, other times just very tired. ~~~The conventional wisdom and accepted facts are dead wrong! ~~~Don't go for second best, it's never good enough!

Yeah, I got a bitter laugh out of that whole Excedrin Migraine ad campaign -- and "Extra Strength" Excedrin happens to have exactly the same amounts of the same ingredients as regular excedrin -- one product with 3 different labels -- isn't marketing wonderful? I just take the store brand of it along with everything else on the just-in-case hope that there may be some synergy. Although I get the true, engorged blood vessel in the temple spike in the head migraines, they come from a childhood cervical injury, so for me the Imitrex is saved for just the one particular symptom, added to the Fiorinal, Valium & Ultram. If I'm real lucky, something will work... This Thursday I've got an appointment with a local pain clinic, so I'll see if they will do anything more for my chronic cervicogenic migraines than the geek I got to refer me. I love all the meds that tell you to go sit quietly in a darkened room after dosing -- if I could do that whenever I wanted, probably would get fewer headaches... I get a laugh from anyone who says "I've got a headache. I'll take a couple of aspirin/tylenol" -- if that's all it takes to stop it, it doesn't even count as a headache. Ron

Dear Friends, Has anyone here ever been faced with the prospect of jury duty? My doctor faxed a medical excuse to the commisioners of jurors, and I received a postcard today saying migraines are an insufficient excuse for pardon. Lovely....I am very sensistive to perfume, cologne, etc., and am basically unable to work due to the frequency and severity of my migraines, amongst a few other medical problems. I would be more than happy to attend if I knew I would feel 100 percent for the duration of a trial, but what are the chances of that? So please, will you all bake me a cake (chocolate, of course)....with a file enclosed and come bail me out of the slammer? I refuse to go!!!! Nance T. nanceT@... remove .abc before replying

hiya...Excedrin Migraine is Extra strenght Excedrin and nothing more. It's Tylenol, Aspirin, and caffeine. Period. Did it help me? Once in a while it does. As far as other medicines, keep reading this mailing list...I think we have covered every drug know to man...and then some. And I'm quite sure we will continue to discuss old and new meds, and other thoughts/ideas about Migraines. Just keep us informed on your progress. We all care, and are in the same boat. Be Well, Karen

What is Maltex 10? That's a new one to me. I'm curious. -Me

I was prescribed Migranal nasal spray today, and was wondering if anyone could share their experience/knowledge of this medication? I usually take Amerge with a 50% success rate, and was given Migranal for those times when Amerge fails to work. I haven't tried it yet, as I am always cautious of side effects with new medications. Thanks, Sue

Just for fun. Here's some medical humor. Diann

x-no-archive:yes Last week, I posted about the side-effects apparently caused by a new med my neurologist had started me on. I deleted copies of the post from both my "sent" file and then from my "inbox". Therefore, I can't be sure of this, but I think I mistakenly called the drug "Elavil". What I should have written was "Epival" (it's also called "Divalproex"). My neurologist had me taper off the drug and I had the last pill Saturday night. The side-effects continue each night. I still get hallucinations and have trouble in not falling over. On Monday night, I fell down in the bathroom as I began to turn around. I knew I was falling and bouncing off the cupboard under the sink, but I just couldn't do a thing about it. My head hit the front edge of the counter, then the cupboard door, and then the floor. I could easily have hit the edge of the counter or of the door or I could have landed on my face breaking my nose, so if it had to happen, it could have been worse. My right shoulder hit the edge of the door. Good old Anglo Saxon four-letter words were heard at the conclusion of the fall. :-) My neurologist said to see if the problems continue until this Friday, at which time I'm to call him. I saw my family doctor a couple of hours ago. He thinks that the problems may be due to the fact that I reduced from a bottle of Stadol every three days to using none at all in the past 17 days. Unfortunately, the primary reason for discontinuing Stadol is financial. In fact, the balances of my and my wife's credit cards is 95% for medicication. Tonight would be a great time to win the lottery. :-) Has anyone else had any problems with Epival/Divalproex? Jeff

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Hi everyone...and an advanced Happy Valentines Day to all! Lately, if I'm even near someone who has just smoked, and smells of smoke - BAM! - instant migraine! I always knew that being with smokers was a trigger...but now, even the remnant smell on their clothing sets off a whopper of a headache. Does anyone else find second-hand smoke triggers their headaches? Its a big problem when I meet with clients, friends, etc. Hope to hear feedback soon =) -Karen

Hi, I'm alli <alleycatss@... I'm amazed that a lot of you seem to be having trouble getting pain meds from your doc. Right now my main migraine meds are Excedrin, Percodan and Compazine. My doc has treated me with pain meds for several years (since I was 15), which is especially nice now that I cant tolerate vasoconstrictors. Sometimes I've had trouble getting the pain meds promptly, so I always make sure I dont wait till I'm down to my last one to get more. I've shown up at his office several times with a bad migraine in progress, so it's pretty obvious that I'm not lying about the headache to get drugs. I suppose that back pain and headaches are two of the big things drug seekers complain of, which makes it difficult for the rest of us who are in real pain. I have had one receptionist ask "so, do you....LIKE the Vicodin?" but my doc has been agreable when I say that I need a pain med and explain why. And I'm pretty aggresive in saying that even with the other treatment (excedrin, imutrex) I still need something for the pain. Part of it might also be that I dont get tend to vomit when I have the headaches, and narcotics aren't great for the stomach, so some docs dont like using them if the patient feels nauseated. I guess different docs have different preferences though, cause my doc hates prescribing tranquilizers.

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Hiya Migraineurs: I needed a laugh today, so I decided to share it with you. We are always talking about meds here...so here is some cute "medical" humour!

Hi, everyone! Last night on our local news here in Pittsburgh, the health segment talked about the book I am providing the link to which is "Foods That Fight Pain". The segment was in particular about migraine headaches and mentioned that this book had lots of useful information. I think I am going to check it out at the bookstore tomorrow when I go to work. (Oh yes, and I still can't get rid of this darn headache. It's like the Energizer bunny, it keeps going and going and going). It's been raining here all day and I noticed the humidity has fallen from 100% from a couple days ago to around 70% now. I am hoping headache relief will come with the lower humidity. Also, thanks to everyone who provided me with information on their experiences with atenolol and Ultram. Take care everyone, Diann

Diann -- My doc (the prior one, who actually tried treating me instead of just repeating Rx's) switched me from Darvon65 to Ultram. He said that it was found that Darvon (promulgated as a non-addictive pain reliever) was addictive, and Ultram was developed as a non-addictive substitute for it. I could not tell any difference between them. (Of course, my normal headache treatment = 1 Fiorinal + 1 Valium + 1 Darvon/Ultram + 1 aspirin/excedrin/tylenol. Repeat 30 to 60 minutes later when the headache doesn't go away. Nowadays, add Imitrex for the spike in the temple. And this "cocktail" is by no means a sure thing, but I gotta find a doc who will up the ante to Fiorinal w/ codeine.) The joke is that now I'm seeing commentary that Ultram is becoming considered "addictive". Dare I say that the addiction is to relief from pain?..... Zantac is great stuff. After too many years of over-stuffing my stomache, hot spices, not cheweing well enough, swallowing aspirin dry, you-name-it, I got put on Zantac when they let me out of the hospital (er, middle-aged male deskworker with chest pain ... turned out to be not my heart but those tacos the night before...). It's kept me going okay, and friends on it would not live without it. Ron

Here's a page where you can sign up to get a one tablet trial of Imitrex or Imitrex nasal spray.

Does anyone have any experience with the pain medication Ultram? Just wondering as my doctor said this might be a possibility for me. Diann

Cathy, What needles would Justin have to go through? I didn't have any for any of that testing. I had an iv for the endoscopy, but they gave me a cool numbing thing on my hand first. I love children's hospitals! : ) I bet food allergies, GERD, and overuse of pain killers are all linked. I don't know how, I just want it to stop! This year I spent 9 weeks home-taught in physics and calculus but was so far behind I dropped both at semester. Funny thing is I had all A's but those two, which were B's. So now everyone thinks I dropped them cuz I got a b!!! If Justin has any questions, I'd be happy to help! Kelsey ____ "Mouth: in man the gateway to the soul; in woman, the outlet of the heart." Bierce

Hi, everyone! Still suffering with the darn migraine, but atleast now I have it down to more moderate pain and soreness all over my head. The nausea and vomiting have subsided thank goodness. I went to work even though I was very ill and by 11:00 AM I had to leave. I was vomiting at work, lightheaded and that migraine sickness you get was so bad that I wasn't quite sure how I would get myself home. The new neurologist I am seeing doesn't have any appointments available between now and my appointment on the 26th. I am told he is the best neurologist in the City of Pittsburgh for the treatment of headaches, but he is extremely difficult to get a hold of. When I called the office on Thursday, I was just told that he was calling in the atenolol which I have yet to get as I have been too sick to get to the pharmacy So, when I got home yesterday, I called my primary care doctor to see if I could get an appointment, they gave me one but with an associate in his practice. The guy was a genuine jerk. I would have been lucky to get a baby aspirin out of him. However, I did make progress with him in two different areas. 1) I also have been having a lot of reflux (burning, indigestion, gaseyness) so he prescribed some Zantac for that. I think that might help. 2) Also, I have gained 8 pounds since my last visit a month ago. I stressed the tiredness I feel, the headaches and the weight gain, so I got him to redo my thyroid blood work for what it is worth. So, I'll have to see now. My situation at work is that I work for a small law firm. The attorney I work for never gets sick and the other woman in the office is a chronic hypochondriac and always leaving work for some malady or another (the problem is she is really just trying to get out of work) So, here I am with a legitimate problem, I get the brunt of his dissatisfaction over people being off work. For whatever reason, I am having a terrible time with the migraines this year so far. Since January, I have already missed 4 days of work and that's not even counting the days I have went to work with a bad one and suffered. Well, I am going off to get a shower to see if I can relieve any of this muscle tension in my head and then see if I can get out to the pharmacy to the Zantac and the atenolol. It has been raining here and the humidity has been really high too. Hope everyone's head feels better than mine. Diann

Hi Fellow Sufferers: Today, 2 people told me they saw something on the news about Botoxin, and how it seems to help migraines. Botoxin is actually made from the organism that causes botulism, and had been found to help cure wrinkles by injecting a tiny, tiny amount into the forehead wrinkle, and the botoxin somehow effects the weakened muscle, thus causing the wrinkle to disappear. NOW....someone who had a migraine at the time she went in for the wrinkle reduction....and the headache went totally away after the botoxin was injected. Unfortunately...I missed the actual airing of this news report/ Has anyone else seen or heard about this? I'm anxious to find out. Could the new migraine cure actually serve 2 purposes? Just kidding...I'll keep the wrinkles and lose the headaches anyday! -Karen

The key point to keep in mind (and one that too many docs ignore) is that no one's physiology is exactly the same as another's. You need a doc who will work with you regarding what to try, what works, what doesn't work, what has bad side effects, etc...... I had one doc who went thru every "official" migraine preventative with me -- Zoloft, calcium channel blockers, daily aspirin/motrin/etc., you-name-it. The only reason I stayed with Zoloft was that, upon taking it, it became apparent in retrospect that I *had* been depressed (nothing staggering, but I would have been drinking more heavily if I drank -- just the middle-aged angst thing...). There is no magic cure-all for migraines, unfortunately, and both preventatives and treatments *must* be tailored to each individual. Curiously enough, now that "migraine" is an okay subject, doctors tend to focus too closely and forget everything related. Mine are cervicogenic and, with age, more pain starts in the neck; this requires old fashioned pain meds, as Imitrex only works on the pure migraine "spike in the temple". Everyone should be an informed and verbal patient, and if your doc wants a dumb hunk of meat to pay his bills, "fire" him/her/it and find another one. Ron

Diann, Gosh! And I thought I had it bad sometimes! I am as yet unemployed and it's okay to miss alot of school (41 days this year so far!) cuz I have docs' notes for every day. I think my mom has them on speed dial! You have my utmost respect that you can hold down a job w/migraines! I had a little 2 week thing last summer, and baby/pet sitting, but that's my job experience. I haven't found any drug to help yet, but hypnotism did some and so did yoga. Exercise, even though it made headaches worse, like walking in the fresh air w/my dog helped alot. When I COULD get out anyways! Have you tried cutting foods like caffeine or sugar or corn or wheat out? Turns out I have food allergies and some intolerances to those and alot more. Not saying you should restrict your diet, but maybe trying it for a little while, like one food at a time. My pain managemnet specialist something or the other put me on a diet and I could really tell the difference. I would seriously have a doc tell you to so he/she can monitor the nutrients and that stuff too. I am on so many supplements now so I don't become vitamin deficient. Sorry i can't help more! Feel better soon!!! Kelsey ____ "Mouth: in man the gateway to the soul; in woman, the outlet of the heart." Bierce

Hi, everyone! Well, unfortunately, I am back in migraine hell again. Monday and Tuesday of this week, I had a mild to moderately severe migraine that I was able to keep under control. In fact, when I came home from work on Tuesday, I ate something light and went straight to bed. I woke up Wednesday and felt 100% better. I was relieved that the rest and sleep helped to break the cycle. However, all day Wednesday, I felt very on edge and I ended up staying up late because I just had trouble sleeping (which is very rare for me). I woke up out of a dead sleep this morning at 5:30 AM with such a violent pain in the back of my head and my head felt like it was a 2,000 lb. ton of bricks. To make matters worse, I was so nauseated and had dry heaves. I didn't have to get up and get ready for work until 7 AM so I took an Imitrex for the head and a Phernegan suppository for the nausea. Well, I have absolutely no idea how I ever got myself together and got through the work day today. I was even having vomiting at work and had to excuse myself to the ladies room a few times throughout the day. I called my new neurologist who finally got back to me to