Living with Migraine

I have been suffering from migraines for about the past 5 years. They started simply enough and were easily treated with Imirex. Although I hated the tighness in my chest from the Imitrex it was worth taking because it would always get rid of the migraine

There was only one time that the Imitrex did not work and I saw my doctor who reccomended a demerol shot which was like as he said, “a reset button”. And he was right, it cleared up my migraine by the next morning. That was about 2 years ago. Since then I have lived happily with my imitrex pills. About 3 months ago all of that changed. I woke up with a migraine (I seem to always wake up with them when I do get them) and did as I usually do, I took my Imitrex and went back to sleep.

Once I woke up I was devistated to find out that the imitrex had again not worked and I went to the doctor again. He gave me a demerol shot and I was expecting like last time to wake up the next morning to a migraine free day. However that was not the case. Considering the demerol did not work I began to worry that maybe I had more than a migraine. I went back to my doctor where I got another demerol shot and a referral to a neurologist.

I went to see the neurologist the next day and she ordered a CT angiogram (which came back normal) and prescribed me Relpax. She had given me samples of it as well and I took one immediatly because it was now day 4 of my migraine and I wanted it gone. The Relpax was a miracle drug at that point. It managed to get rid of a 4 day migraine that demerol hardly phased. I was also prescribed Topamax as a preventative medication. I thought I was finally on track with a great way to treat my migraines and hopefully prevent them!

About 2 weeks later I got another migraine that lasted for about 5 days total. The relpax would curb the pain a bit, but only for a few hours and I could only take 2 pills in a 24 hour period. So in doin gthe math you can see where there is a problem with that. I called my doctor and she added vicodin to my prescription list and said to use that to help with the pain that was left over after taking the Relpax and if I still had the migraine after a few more days to come see her.

The migraine finally went away on day six and i was praying that I would not have another one. I was hoping that my preventative drug topamax would kick in and migraines would be part of my past. Oh how nieve I was.

Last Tuesday night I started to get a migraine and like always took my medication (Relpax) and woke up on Wednesday and it was even worse than the night before. By the time Thursday came I was done playing the relpax vicodin game and went to see my neurologist. She prescribed me Imitrex injections. I hate needles.

I don’t care how big or small they are, they are all needles and all freak me out. I have no problem with them if they are going into anyone else but the second it comes near my skin I freak out. So, I weighed the fear of needles versus the potential to get rid of my migraine and reluctantly filled the prescription. I was also given Norco instead of vicodin since the vicodin is no longer strong enough. I had taken a relpax earlier that day so I had to wait a full 24 hours before trying my new imitrex injection.

Finally at noon on Friday I was ready to use what I hoped would be my new miracle drug. I loaded the injector and preparded to give myself the shot. Before I could even count to five I started to feel the effects of the drug. But not in a good way.

My migraine was intensified by 100% and I felt tingles all over my body as well as a feeling that my throat was closing up. That all lasted for about 20 minutes. After 20 minutes my body somewhat went back to normal and my migraine was better than before the shot but still not gone. I was now in a position to either wait 12 hours and do another shot or wait 24 hours and take another relpax. considering none of them had worked it seemed like a waste to take either one. I took Norco the rest of the day Friday and Saturday and just dealt with the pain on Sunday.

It was minimal no Sunday so I figured it would be gone by Monday. I woke up Monday morning and had to go to work so although my head was killing me I struggled through. As I sat in my Monday morning meeting I started to notice that my fingers on my left hand were tingling and going numb. This continued thoughout the morning as did a complete feeling of weakness on my left side. It felt as if I had been on an excercise machine using only my left side all day long.

By lunch i started getting worried and called my neurologist who’s office is notorius for ignoring calls and taking forever to return messages. So I called my regular doctor to get a same day appointment. That was at about 11:30 am. My appointment was at 5:00 and at 4:45 my neurologist’s office called back. I told them I was on my way to my regular doctor because I was freaked out and they had never returnded my call and I was just told to have the notes faxed to them. Such a caring office…

Throughout the day the tingling, weakness and numbness continued and I developed new symptoms that included an inability to focus, dizziness confusion, slurred speech and basically feeling as if I was drunk. I could not concentrate on anything or think straight. I got to my doctor’s office and they confirmed that I was not having a emergency such as a stroke and said everything I was describing were all symptoms of my migraine. I was given a shot of demerol and sent on my way with a recomendation to follow up with my neurologist. Which I did today.

My symptoms are the same as yesterday and show no signs of improvement unless I take the Norco which basically allows me to just no care the my head hurts and allows me to get sleep. My neurologist still has few answers for me. I have to have an MRI and blood work done. And her latest and greatest theory on how to get rid of this current Migraine that is now on day 8 is to do 3 days of IV steroids. Did I mention how much I hate needles?

So That should start tomorrow or Thursday and then I ge thte MRI and blood work and if nothing is found on the MRI I have to have a spinal tap done. I am at my wit’s end on trying to deal with this. I am only 28 and should not have to fight so hard to find a doctor that cares enough about what is causing my migraines. They just want to throw narcotics at me and tell me to get over it. I want someone that can tell me why the are getting more frequent and more severe.

In the meantime I am stuck dealing with it the only way I can which is taking the narcotics to dull the pain. I am starting to stress about what the tests coudl or could not find. I am getting married in September and am terrified that if we don’t find a solution I will have to worry abotu having to deal with a migraine on my wedding day or during my honeymoon. No way to start our new life together. If anyone has ever been in any kind of similar situation or has any suggestions I would love to hear some advice on treatments or possible tests that can find the causes.