Migraine? Don't be too sure...

[webbiedebbie]

I had suffered from "migraines" for over 25 years :frowny:. Went to doctors who ordered scans. Nothing wrong, they would say. Hand me a script for pain pills. A lot of times, they didn't work, or would put me "out". Hard to be a nurse when drugged up or in severe pain. Got tired of getting Toradol from the ER...oh, it worked great, but the stigma involved from the ER staff.

One time, the pain was soooo bad that I spent 4 weeks literally on my back in bed. I couldn't move w/o my head feeling like it was literally going to blow up! If I stayed on my back, I was fine, but when I would turn in my sleep, the pain was horrendous! More scans and pain shots. Began my break from nursing at this point.

2 years later, I thought I was having a stroke. My speech was slurred and my right pupil was dilated. I freaked! Of course, my doctor's office was closed. I went to an after-hours clinic. The doctor ordered a cervical spine MRI. Guess what!

They found Arnold Chiari Malformation I. Well, I read up on that and was scared to death. (They say it is rare, but I found a lot of people with it on the internet).

Anyhoo, I decided to have the surgery. The neurosurgeoun said he couldn't guarantee that I would not be bothered with migraines after the surgery.

Well, GUESS WHAT! I have not had a single migraine in 3 years! The man saved my life! :smiley: I am back into nursing.

Please don't be too quick to judge those who frequent the ER's or those living on pain pills. Put the bug in the doc's ears to "check the neck" if other scans fail to show something.

[webbiedebbie]

I thank everyone who has shared so far. I'm trying to open some eyes up regarding people suffering and medical care. I went through a lot of money and suffering before my condition was found. ( And this wasn't the first time...see my thread about "heres another one"). WE as patients (and nurses) know our own bodies. Do ya think the physicians feel threatened because of this?

[Mimi2RN, ASN, RN]

I had always had headaches, had severe ones , and was hospitalized once. An LP was done, high pressure bloody tap. I was diagnosed with encephalitis. Four years or so later, I had a headache, noted that my pupil on the left side was dilated for two or three days (I was in nursing school at the time). This happened with every headache-told my family doc and opthalmologist several times over the next few years. Five or six years later, this problem continued, and my family doc sent me in for a CT.........Cerebral aneurysm on the left ascending carotid artery! Also showing was the result of the SAH I had had 10 years previously. I was one of the lucky ones. I now have a little clip in my head.......I'm sure techniques have improved since my bleed, I have had no long-lasting effects effect from the bleed or the surgery.

Mimi

[Emery]

I also suffered from "migranes" for about a year and a half. It was so painful all I could do was lay there. I missed an entire year of school (made it up the next year). I went to all kinds of doctors, had all kinds of scans, they all said nothing was wrong. Then my grandfather says "I think you need glasses. go get your eyes checked". So just to get him to be quiet, I went to the eye doc and he said that the perscription wouldn't make any difference; it was too weak. 3 bottles of excederin migrane and 30 lbs later I got glasses and no more headaches! It has been so nice!! I am forever grateful to my grandfather!!

~Emery

[LilgirlRN, ADN, RN]

This applies to children too... friend was working, hubby was home with the kids.Told 12 y/o daughter to do her chores, she asked for tylenol for a headache and asked if she could lie down for a little bit till it started working. Dad went in her room an hour later and she was in a coma. CT showed multiple brain tumors that by that time were inoperable and she died 3 days later. She had been complaining of H/As, family thought she was being lazy. Very sad. Wendy

[webbiedebbie]

Aw, that is sad, LilgirlRN. Commercials on TV for headache remedies should post a warning....the bottles do. People don't take headaches seriously enough. There are many causes for headaches. AND there is a difference in head PAIN!

I am so sorry for your friend. Hope she is doing okay.

[Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Generally, kids don't get headaches. If you find a kid getting repeated headaches, something is really wrong. Persue it until it is actually dx with the true cause.

[webbiedebbie]

I don't think most parents realize this. I had headaches as a kid but was told it was sinus related. Never was tested. As I got older, they were termed "migraines". Again, never tested. Wasn't until I was in Nursing school that I realized that something had to be done. But brain scans (CT and MRI) were all normal. Next step should be "check the neck".