Migraines - A long Post, But It's My Baby Girl

[greyhoundmom]

Who else has them? My sweet daughter has been dealing with them twice a week for 10 years. She has taken every prescribed migraine medicine on the market. She is currently taking Maxalt which usually works for her. She had been taking Topamax for about 2 weeks prior but had to quit because she said it made her feel weird. Her migraines seem to be induced by stress which she deals with daily. Long story, it isn't pretty. She lives in NC and here for the week. On Wednesday I came home from work at 5:00 and she'd been in the bed since 1:00 with a horrible migraine. Tried to take Maxalt but couldn't keep it down. At 8:00 pm she came halfway down the stairs to sit and said she needed to go to the ER.

We piled 11 year old (who wouldn't stay home because it's her mommy), hubby and myself into the car to ER. She is throwing up in a plastic bag in front seat....one block from ER turn-in we get pulled by po-po doing 49 in a 35. No sympathy, here's your 81.00 ticket and hope she feels better (on the 12th I will go to court and contest extinuating circumstances).

ER was a circus....let's see, people eating Popeye's chicken meals, kids running around like crazy, bright lights, loud tv..smells, sounds, all the things that make a migraine worse. I turned to S/O and in a loud voice said, where are the sick people? He gave me the look. At 8:30 pm out to the car, heater on, so she could rest...raining like hell. At 1:00 a.m. I go back in and ask what it will take to get my daughter in as she can't walk because she is so sick. Did I mention she was diagnosed 11 years ago with a sleeping aneurism behind left eye? Two minutes later the ER nurse comes out to get her.

At 1:00 am they take her in, take her history (she's from NC), promptly hook her up to an IV and administer what they say is the newest miracle drug for migraines, Compazine. Said in 15 minutes she should feel relief. Her pain level was a 10+. 45 minutes later no relief. Promptly give her an IV dose of Demoral. Immediately her pain level is down to a 6, stays there for about 2 hours, take her to do a CT scan, all looks good (no sign of bleeding, so aneurism is out), bring her back, pain level goes back up to an 8. At 5:00 am, give her another round of Demoral IV and release her at 6:00 am. Wheeled her to the car, got in, she promptly threw up again, home and bed. S/O and grand had been sleeping in the car all night off and on with me texting grand about mom's situation. It was a nightmare that I hope to never repeat. My daughter is the epitomy of strong willed, never lets the pain get in the way of clear thinking. She couldn't walk straight, couldn't see, numbness all through her arms, could barely talk above a whisper because it hurt so much. We sat in a dark ER room for over 8 hours because she couldn't stand the light.

The good news is that when she woke up at 12:00 noon she had no migraine. Now we are looking at the things that we think could help trigger, red wine, chocolate, cigs, caffeine. All through the years, we'e looked at these triggers. We see that there is a thing called re-bound migraines...people that take migraine medicine often (like my sweet Jennifer) get migraines when they don't take it because it is out of their system thus creating a new migraine.

I do love this girl and seeing her in this agonizing pain for so long makes me appreciate what a tolerance she has for pain. I told her if I was in that kind of pain I'd be crying and yelling. She said because of the pain level you can't do that because it evokes another level of pain.

Has anyone experienced horrible migraines? How do you deal? I'm grasping at straws.....

I'm sorry this is so long but I am putting it out here in case anyway has any suggestions. Thanks for reading this never ending post

[Connie]

I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this. I have no idea how I would feel. Husband and his family has had a history of migranes, but they all grew out of them.

I believe it's time to see a neurosurgeon/neurologist. Maybe they could help her out.

Don't give up. Do a whole work up on your daughter and demand answers.

Good luck!

[greyhoundmom]

Connie,thanks for your input. A neurologist is next on the list. Hopefully, there is an answer to deal with the migraines.

[linne]

greyhoundmom!

I cannot give good advice about migraine, but how I feel for your daughter- and for you. Nothing must be worse than to see your child suffer so much.

Linne

[ifloat]

My migraines started out as monthly hormone related, but at my low point i was having 20 migraines a month.

Some people are triggered by caffeine, but I am one of the lucky people who can take caffeine to END a migraine if I time it right. The prescription drugs didn't help with the pain, they just made me wired up and too soggy to stand.

My dentist had me see her boyfriend, who is a hands-on D.O. (Osteopath). After three visits where he gently placed his fingertips on my head and face, and did heck if I know what, the migraines stopped except for a monthly hormonal episode.

If that hadn't worked, I think I would have gone to a good natural health doctor for a hormone workup.

Occasionally I still get a mild one, but a cup of coffee usually knocks it out.

Hope she finds her solution soon. It's a miserable thing to suffer.

[California Girl]

I only started having migranes a few years ago, and even then I don't get them very often. But when I do, it's like your daughter. I throw up and throw up, I have to be in the dark; no noise, please. I got one at work once and had to stop 4 times on the way home to barf by the side of the road, and I only worked a mile from home! A migrane pill was useless because I'd just throw it up, but my doctor gave me Maxalt tablets that dissolve under your tongue, and they work really good. When I feel that little nagging ache turning into a full-blown migrane, I pop that Maxalt under my tongue and even if it gets worse before it gets better, at least I've got the medicine in my system. Have your daughter ask for that form of Maxalt.

As to what triggers my headaches, it's almost always a sinus headache gone bad. California is a really dry state and when we go from winter to spring, and summer to fall, my sinuses go nuts!

[mindehankins]

Big hugs to you, Jennifer's mom! It's horrible to see your child suffer. I take Maxalt MLT for my migraines, which are thankfully few and far between now. I used Imitrex injectable, before Maxalt MLT came out, because I couldn't keep the pills down during a migraine.
I got the best help from a Neurologist who specializes in headaches.
Good luck to you guys!

[IslandElle]

Wow! I am so sorry to hear this about your daughter. I can really sympathize with her.

My migraines started at age 20. They are heredity in my family. My Mom has them too. They seem to have gotten worse as I have gotten older (34) and I actually see an aura with my migraines. It starts out as a bright spot in my vision and then gets larger and moves across my line of sight. It lasts for about 15 minutes making it very difficult to see then it is gone and the migraine follows. Lucky for me Imitrex works pretty well but about 4 years ago I was starting to get about 6 of these a month and they are really bad. I have to lock myself in a dark room with no sound at all. So I started on the Topamax. It has been a god send for me. Yes it does make you feel weird, and your hands and feet tingle at first, and carbonated drinks taste funny, you lose a bit of your appetite, and you are sleepy but I would take that any day over these migraines. These symptoms do go away. If you start out like it recommends, 25 mg, then 50, then 75 until you find the right dosage you may even be able to avoid some of this. My best suggestion for your daughter would be to try the Topamax again and give it a chance. Unless she was having some sort of extreme, unbearable side effects I cant imagine this not working. I went from 6 migraines a month to 2 a year. Seeing a neurologist is a great idea too.

As far as triggers, for me it is onions, stress, and if I am on the computer too long as well as hormonal changes. I hope this helps and I wish your daughter the best. I know how difficult it can be.

[lprof]

Trying to reply in few words, I will say that I feel much sympathy for your daughter and for you and that I identify and agree with the previous posters. Your description of the ER conditions made me cringe.

After almost 50 years of migraines I have run the gamut of symptoms, tests, physicians, and treatments.
In my personal experience this is what I now know about my migraines.
Playing a role in my situation are:
strong multigenerational family history affecting both sexes
hormonal influences
systemic and metabolic influences
vasomotor factors
The time period of my most severe headaches was before today’s prescription drugs – I self treated with decongestants and antihistamines. After allergy testing years later I learned that I do not have true allergies but strong sensitivities. I am a somewhat “hyper” and “sensitive” personality who has had to learn to recognize and to attempt to control stress and social tensions.
Fortunately, I do not have migraines often now (mid-sixties) and certainly not severe ones. I am not advocating or recommending any of the following, just saying what works for me now. Withdrawing to less light and noise when possible and taking Excedrin Migraine (the caffeine effect) as soon as I feel the headache coming on usually gives me relief and stops the symptoms from magnifying.
Major triggers for me now - usually in combination - are:
too little sleep
too long between meals (or proteins)
being dehydrated (even slightly)
stress

Seeing a headache specialist in neurology would be where I would recommend your daughter look next and I wish her success in her battle with this misery.

[patr]

I recently spent a week at the Mayo clinic w/ daughter #2 who has suffered migraines since puberty( she is now in her early 30's) and started experiencing what was finally diagnosed as hemiplegic migraines. It was very frightening for her as the symptoms mimic a stroke. After thorough testing and process of elimination, consults with a nuerologist, cardiologist, endocrinogist, hemotogolist and genetics it was decided to continue with Topomax, blood thinners and trying to identify and avoid triggers. They also highly recommended meditation.

She is a pretty high strung, burn the candle at both ends, super mom. She works full time from home, often into the wee hours, with 4 kids, 2 dogs, 2 sets if ex- spouses, many social and community activities. People think she is well-rounded, put together, got it all going on. So.…

I believe many of her headaches are caused by:
1. Stress
2. Sleep deprivation
3. Hormnal flux (frequency and severity during and pre menses)
4. Caffeine and aspertame - she loves diet coke
5. Chemicals in processed foods, she is a busy mom and cooks alot out of boxes and the freezer.

She is working on life style changes, she has virtually quit drinking red wine, has switched to sea salt (some chemical in salt refining has given some much trouble)

My husband suffers from headaches as well as his mother, who said hers got much better after menopause. So I know heredity is a big factor. Her 10 yo daughter suffers also. So the legacy continues, sigh. Hopefully research and medicine will continue to work on finding a good remedy.

[California Girl]

I have a friend in her 30's who planned to have a large family... at least 5 kids. She just had #4 and has decided to stop there due to the fact that the instant she gets pregnant, she gets a migrane headache and it lasts, non stop, until the baby is born.

I'd have stopped getting pregnant after #1!

[Berlingirl]

Greyhoundmom,

I don't have any magic advice. It is horrid what you went through with her and that she continues to suffer.

You mentioned that stress appears to be her trigger. I wonder if all that could possibly be done is being done in her life to remove such stressors? I ask this because a number of years ago I had a job I loved, however was extremely stressful and I was unable to get my hours reduced. Therefore I was very ill for a number of years. I finally got the courage to quit the job. I lost a sizeable income, retirement and number of benefits, however found better health. Haven't been able to replace the job, but I feel better.

Best of luck to you and your family.

[bubblybrenda]

I have a friend who is a sufferer of migraines. She believes that a form of meditation breathing through the Yeutian points has helped to reduce the severity of her migraines (you do it 1-2 times a day). The Yeutian points are at the base of your skull on the back of your neck - in that hollow line that goes up the base of your skull. She has been on medication for years, gets regular massage of the Yeutian points which she says does offer some relief. There is a very specific breathing method for the Yeutian points which is hard to explain. Maybe there's a YouTube video out there showing the method (?).

[djmom]

I think everyone has pretty much covered it, but I also have migraines and have gone through severe periods of them.

I am really sorry your daughter is having to deal with it and no one will ever understand unless they are going through it (or is their mom ).

Mine are definitely more pronounced during that time of the month. Although at my worst I had them all times of the month.

The basic things that work for me:

Topamax- a short trial isn't enough. It takes weeks to work through the side effects. Titrate up slowly. Do not skip doses.

Sunglasses when outside at all times.

Avoiding overeating. If I eat a lot I am much more likely to get a migraine.

Taking medicine at the first inclination of the migraine. I get nauseous before the headache and that is how I know it is coming. I take Imitrex or Amerge. If you wait till it is a full blown headache, it is way too late.

Reducing stress. I quit a lot of things I was involved in because I was overextended.

I hope things get better soon.

[PA Girl]

My aunt and her sons suffer from the same type of severe migranes that completely shut one down.

Stress is definately one of her triggers. A few years back she started taking some sort of anti-anxiety drug that has helped keep the stress in check.

Also, she does a lot of work on her neck muscles with a physical therapist.

Both seem to be making a huge difference.