Migraines....Anyone else have 'em?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

I have suffered from these suckers for eleven years, ever since I was 17 years old. Have made quite a name for myself at jobs because I would refuse to call out with one, even though they lasted 3 days, I could not eat, and I was so worn down from the n/v that I passed out on more than one occasion. Fast forward, I am now in grad school, rounding with a cardiologist whose wife is a neurologist. After seeing me get down with one, he got me in to see her (after telling me I was nuts to wait so long), and she started me on Topamax for prophylaxis and Frova for the acute spells. I could kiss this woman, I feel so much better. My migraines are stress-induced, and with school, I was getting 2-3 a week, so I was basically in pain 24/7. Now I have had 4 in 2 months, not great, but 100% better than it was. I hope after school they will become less frequent.

I have one problem. No one else in my family has these, so they do not understand what I go through. My DH is the worst. I usually wake up with these, and have had to miss work a couple of times this year (only 2, mind you). His take is that I am just lazy, and I am just whining because I don't want to work. I DO want to work. I would not be getting an NP certificate if I was not interested in working. It's no good trying to explain things to him. Then, at times, he's really caring and sweet, and wants to knowwhat he can do for me, he's sorry I hurt, etc.

My parents, God love them, are not as bad, but almost. They insist on having a conversation with me, keep all the lights on, the phone rings nonstop, and when I say that I am going home, they act hurt and say, "Well, you can lay down here." I know they miss me when I am not there, (I only live 8 miles away) but the noise does not stop when I lay down.

Aside from hexing them into a migraine so they will understand, I don't know what to do. Any other sufferers out there? I'd love to get to know you.

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I am also a suffered however I am lucky that my family supports me even though they don't understand. I've tried non-prescription meds and prescription meds and sometimes they help and sometimes they don't. Mine are hormone and stress triggered. I'm a pre-nursing student, working part time, with 2 small kids so they are frequent. Currently I had one since Saturday. It's very dull right now but it's there... I'm glad you found some relief! You have to take care of yourself sometimes!

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I get them sometimes. Light and noise hurts and make me nauseous. Just want to curl up in a dark, quiet place. About once a year, I've have to go home from work because it gets too bad to work through it. Haven't noticed any particular triggers but luckily don't get them too often. I don't know how many I've averted, though. If I'm able to lie down & minimize stimulation when I feel bad and I don't develop a migraine, I can't tell for sure if it was or wasn't a on-coming migraine or not!

It's too bad that your loved ones don't understand. Since you'v already tried explaining it, it seems the best you can do you is insist on taking care of yourself and demanding the quiet you need, even if that means leaving the gathering. There's no reason for guilt on your part, even when others don't get it. Since you've already tried explaining it and asking for support, don't continue trying to convince them the validity of your pain. Just calmly state your needs. "I need it quiet if I'm going to stay." "Oh, another one of those "headaches" huh?" "Yes, I need it quiet if I'm going to stay." "I don't know why you make such a big deal about them." "I need it quiet if I'm going to stay." "Can't you just take some aspirin?" "I need it quiet if I'm going to stay." And then you leave, not angrily, just matter-of-factly, if they can't stay quiet.

For me, I'd repeat the serenity prayer as I worked through it.

So glad to hear that you've found some success with the new doc and med! Yeah!!!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

I have had migraines since 1997. I finally have gotten some relief in the last couple of years. A new doctor found I had displaced discs and bone on bone facet points at C-3 through C-5. He burned the nerves off at the root with laser. Sounds terrible, doesn't it? But it has helped. I still get headaches, but not the kind that last 5 days and I have to go to the doc and get a shot for, thank goodness.

My oldest daughter has them, and she has a congenital defect in her cervical spine, in that it has no curve. Her doctor is trying to do P.T. with her.

I understand how you feel with your DH and parents not understanding. My DH yelled at me one day for not going in to work. I had the headache for two days, and it was snowing that morning. Do you know the pain you get from driving in bright white snow with lights on it????:nono: :no:Dear Heaven, that was excruciating to think about. I don't think he has ever understood it. Other than taking a cast iron skillet to their heads, :lol_hittiI don't have a good suggestion for making them understand that total darkness and total quiet means just that!!!!!!:aln:

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

Cast iron skillet.....down here we call those "husband trainers", LOL. Seriously, I do think he gets it, just sometimes he gets aggravated. I'm hurting, he can't do anything, he's the man, he's supposed to fix things, etc. So the lazy-calling thing is a defense of his, the more helpless he feels, the worse of a jacka** he is. Why it's directed at me, I don't know, but once he sees that I'm too sick to get riled up,he backs off. I guess that's his version of a faker test to see how sick I am.

I make excuses for him, but one of these days, he's really going to catch me wrong, and I'm going to ring his jaws for him. I have never raised a hand to that man, but there's a first time for everything, LOL!

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Hi, How are you... I have also suffered from migraines for years and like you believe that mine are stress induced. I take imitrex for acute episodes and have for years, yet just began taking Topamax last week. I am curious to see if you have had any side effects or anything I guess weird happen when taking the Topamax? (I think I have just noticed some drowsiness although it may just be working nights and going to NP school LOL) I have heard so many mixed reviews. What dosage did you begin on? My Dr. began with 50 mg once a day at HS and then wants me to progress from there. Any help or feedback on Topamax would be great thanks:)

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

Topamax, I could write a book. I am on 25mg po at hs (bedtime). My Mountain Dews taste like mud now :cry:, I get little tinglys in the tips of my fingers, and I have lost 15 pounds:yeah:. All of this is normal, according to my neurologist. The tinglys will go away, she said,and the weight loss is probably cause I can't stand my Mountain Dew anymore. I have not noticed it making me sleepy, but I ma sleeping better, so who knows. It has a horrible effect on an unborn fetus, though, so be sure to use contraceptives if you're female.

I was to progress my dose as well, but am doing so well on this dose that we have decided to stay where I am until I decide to go up, if needed. She loves it when her patients are nurses!!

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I have an understanding of what you are going through. It stinks:down:! I have had migraines for about 11yrs. I have had a lot of stress and emotional turmoil for the last 3 wks and have had a migraine almost nonstop. I have tried many PO meds, comfort measures, chiropractic therapy, been to 3 different MDs. Sometimes medication will work and sometimes it won't. I do get the aura, sensitivity to light, sound, get nauseated although I have never vomitted. (I avoid that at all costs.:) It just seems like sometimes that headache is going to run it's course no matter what. I have a congenital defect in my neck along with TMJ, which was supposedly treated with orthodontics. I don't no what the answer is. I know it is helpful when the DH can be even somewhat understanding. I'm sure if he had just one headache like yours it would change his opinion.

I'm happy you found a dr. that can help and I hope the headaches continue to become less frequent for you in the future.:)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, psych, 7 yrs EMT.

I feel your pain hunny! Got my first Migraine in my last semester of nursing school. Came on like a ton of bricks right in the middle of our fluid and electrolyte test. Remember it vividly... I told my instructor that I couldn't see out of my left eye and I was pretty sure I was having a anurism of some kind. Didn't matter though, had to continue with the test (didn't do so well) and ended up in the ER shortly after. After a several of these debilitating occurances the doc put me on Maxalt. Works wonders for me but you don't take them until the headache has already hit. I definetly know the feeling of people thinking that maybe you are exagerating a little... Would like to know how they would feel with a spaded shovel pounding them in the head repeatedly for hours upon hours. ...Torture...:sstrs:

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Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

My hubby became a believer after he saw me throw my toenails up for three days and sleep on the bathroom floor. There have been a few with slurring and vision loss, and he sees my fear and knows theres no exaggeration there.

Have you tried to specifically explain what it feels like and what gives you relief? Think in terms of something they have experienced... like the worst hangover EVER... kind of thing. I too, am super glad to hear that your med regimen is doing the trick! Cheers, Ivanna

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Call me stubborn but i havent ever really gone to a dr for the migraines. I started getting them when i was 10. I get a couple really really bad ones a year and it takes me out of work for at least a day. I have the nausea and vomiting, light sensitivity etc.

If i get up with them im done, sometimes if i feel it coming on during the day i can medicate with sudefed and tylenol and lay down and get it under control. They are miserable and i make no excuses for anyone. Leave me alone or ill tear your head off between wretches over the toilet. My family knows when to leave well enough alone.

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Specializes in acute care.

I've had them since about 15 but didn't get diagnosed until I was about 25. Back then, I seemed to get them every other day, if not everyday. One day, I over heard my mother and older sister talking. They were saying that they needed to get rid of the Advil because they believed I was addicted to them.

The first doc I went to gave a pills and nasal spray. The pills were to be taken everyday for migraine prevention and the nasal spray (Zomig) was for days the pills didn't work. I stopped taking both after a month because they didn't work.

My current doc prescribed Imitrex, but all it does is make my migraine unbearable and to the point where I can't tolerate ANY light or noise. I end up having to go to bed and pray that I fall fast asleep. I'm better off taking motrin IB for it.

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