new to list - Drs appt!
Hi all, Thank you so much for the wonderful welcome - I have had several welcome letters sent privately too! It is so good to be amongst people who really seem to understand. I remember just a month or so ago I read an article in the UK's migraine magazine from the Migraine Association. It was from a lady of my age and she wrote about her migraine in such a way that I could really empathise with. I cried with relief that I wasn't alone! I hate to cancel events and appointments with friends because it always sounds like a pathetic excuse when I say I have a migraine. I worry they will think I am just making excuses and that my headache is nothing. Only those few friends who have actually seen me mid-migraine really understand the extent of the problem. My trip to the Drs was a success - he was great. He says I sound as though I need a preventative but he doesn't want to start me off on that yet and wants to try other things. He has prescribed Paramax to begin with and said to go back in a month if they are no good - he says there are so many different meds and they each suit different peoples migraines. He says 97% of sufferers can be cured if they find the drug to suit them. He gave me a prescription for 100 sachets. He did say that there is no drug on earth that will stop a migraine once it has started and the aim is to stop it from starting in the first place - so I really have to concentrate on noticing the early signs of an attack. (For those not in the UK, a prescription is about £5.75 a time (not sure exactly - ages since I had one!) (approx $10.) so 100 sachets is quite good really. Does anyone know anything about Paramax? Is it helpful. Side effects? Reliability? The scary thing is that now I am quite looking forward to my next migraine just to see if it will work. I am doubtful that it will - surely I can't be lucky enough to get the right drug first time. Luckily my Dr is very interested in migraines - they have participated in trials and research into various medications for migraines. He was very matter of fact and positive about everything. He said I should keep going back until I find what is right for me! Now, today I have rushed about constantly. Now 8pm and I still haven't had a chance to sit and relax and I now have to go to my astrologgy class - yet I haven't had a migraine - why? All the trigger factors have been there - not eating regularly, rushing about, stress - yet no migraine. They are crazy things aren't they? Thank you again for your messages - It is so good to read all your messages and to know people understand how I feel. Take care, Bws Jane
Hi Jane, I'm so happy that your doctor seems to be interested in migraine and seems "up" on the treatments. Migraine is SO much more than a headache - it's a true total body phenomenon. It may take a while to find the meds that work best for you, but I think you'll find something that helps treat and manage them well enough. I'm not so sure when doctors use the word "cure" that that is accurate. I think it's more like managing the headaches. He's right - to try to catch them as early as possible. Often we find that treatment for migraine is not a static thing...what works sometimes changes from time to time, year to year. That's why you need a good partnership with your doc and this one sounds good. I'm not sure what Paramax is. Names of drugs may be different here. Can you tell us what the chemical name is, not the trade name. Then we can tell. I really can relate to what you said about not wanting to tell friends and co-workers when you have a headache...again. So often we plough through events with a headache running on pure adrenaline just to get through it ( and often not disappoint someone), and collapse later. You sound like me....running all day, stress (I have 2 different careers - Physician Assistant and massage therapist, plus help run a non-profit torture treatment center in Baltimore, plus I'm in school)...not eating right...wanting to relax and then having to go to school! I'm in the School of Spiritual Science here in Baltimore, Maryland. We're studying a bit of astrology now too. I love it, but class starts at 7 pm after a full day and sometimes I'm so tired! Seems like migraines come AFTER the stressful eventswhen you can finally exhale. Hopefully this won't happen to you today. Don't want to test your new medicine TOO soon! Corinne
Hi Jane~ Please do some research, bring in the info & talk to your Dr again about the 'Triptans. Maxalt, Imetrix, Zomig & Amerge are abortives. They of course are not 100% effective every time but I have had then relieve the pain within an hour even if I have had a #10 migraine for 2 hours or more. Yes you have a better chance of complete pain relief if you do take them at the first sign but they will work after the migraine has started. I'm surprised he told you there was nothing that could help after the migraine had started. Also I'm doubtful about the 97% success rate he quoated you. I don't believe there is a *cure*, unfortunately... Best of luck, be well! ~Lyn~ ~*~*~*Jane wrote: He says 97%
Oh yes, the clinical data does not support his 98% figure. He is making this stuff up. Suzi Kaplan, MA Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Inc. Drug Detoxification, Rehabilitation and Aftercare Program Pharmacologic Research Unit 603 Clayton Street San Francisco, CA 94117
Oh yes, the clinical data does not support his 98% figure. He is making this stuff up. Suzi Kaplan, MA Haight Ashbury Free Clinics, Inc. Drug Detoxification, Rehabilitation and Aftercare Program Pharmacologic Research Unit 603 Clayton Street San Francisco, CA 94117
Paramax is the trade name for a combination med. It includes metaclopramide and paracetamol (acetamenophen in the US). I used it for awhile, but it stopped working for me. Eve -- There was a young lady called Perkins Who had quite a craving for gherkins. One evening at tea She ate twenty-three, And pickled her internal workin's. (author unknown)