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.
Migraines are horrible things...and I actually think I am getting one right now and I work in 2 hours.
I normally get auras and start excessively yawning ...then I start sweating. The yawning tips me off that it will hit in about 2 hours. I have tried many drugs...what works for me was a Percocet, Imitrex, Compazine and 4 Advil. Depokote was great for prevention but horrible for the waist line. I gained 100 pounds...not too happy about that. It has been a struggle to lose weight.
I hate noise, lights, smells... anything to do with the senses when I get them. My wife offers to massage my neck and I am like...heck no... please just leave me alone in the dark bedroom... I will be good soon. I just have to wait... Just wait until the pain slowly goes away. Maybe it will be a "good" migraine and I won't throw up... I hate throwing up.
must be something with the weather. I slept for 12-14 hours without meaning to. Always a bad sign with me, and woke up to a killer migraine. We've had horrible thunderstorms all day. Just glad I didn't have to work tonight.
Yeah, my wife is a great predictor of barometric pressure changes in the atmosphere...cold fronts always trigger a bad headache.
Isn't that something. I get a migraine if a storm is moving in... well it has to be moving in quickly. If it takes time, then my head must have time to adjust or something. But if it is nice out and then an hour later it getting stormy looking outside...I know what's coming.
God I love Topamax...I started having migraines when I was 16...tried amitriptyline for a little while with no results, then was started Topamax about 4 years ago...I love that stuff!! 100mg bid works for me!
I get the weird migraines that feel like sinus headaches but last for several days...sensitivity to light and noise too, and if I let it go long enough I'll start puking too. It seems lately like I've gotten more than normal...at first the Topamax kept them away but I have been under stress lately and I think it's bringing on more...I've gone from having 2+ a week to maybe 1 a month...
I haven't been able to find anything for the breakthrough headaches though...I've tried Midrin, Imitrex, and Piroxicam, and so far nothing has worked. I have an appointment next week to see what else we can do. :S
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PsychNurseWannaBe, BSN, RN
747 Posts
Migraines are horrible things...and I actually think I am getting one right now and I work in 2 hours.
I normally get auras and start excessively yawning
...then I start sweating. The yawning tips me off that it will hit in about 2 hours. I have tried many drugs...what works for me was a Percocet, Imitrex, Compazine and 4 Advil. Depokote was great for prevention but horrible for the waist line. I gained 100 pounds...not too happy about that. It has been a struggle to lose weight.
I hate noise, lights, smells... anything to do with the senses when I get them. My wife offers to massage my neck and I am like...heck no... please just leave me alone in the dark bedroom... I will be good soon. I just have to wait... Just wait until the pain slowly goes away. Maybe it will be a "good" migraine and I won't throw up... I hate throwing up.
Yep...ones a coming... gotta go.
Peace