I was put on birth control, but I've since got used to it and it doesn't work anymore.

I use these things called Migraine Be Kool made by Kobayashi Healthcare, which are like jelly patches you put on your forehead instead of cold compresses. They help me more than drugs.

Good luck and so sorry about the migraines. They're awful, I know.

I have sinus related headache issues but they haven't specifically been diagnosed as migraines, though the symptoms are similiar. My dr gave me 800mg tablets of naproxen sodium which work really well. It's the equivelant of I think 2.5 aleve tablets. The naproxen sodium works so much better than tylenol or excedrin ever did. So, not exactly a prescription since you can just get regular aleve or generic naproxen sodium over the counter, but it's a lot cheaper to purchase it as a prescription for me becuase it's $5.00 for a month's worth and I only take 1-2 pills a day this way.

Sweetheart you know I suffer from migraines, mine are chronic, daily and intractable (meaning nothing makes them go away) as well as Trigeminal Nerve Pain (which is similar to a migraine) and Fibromyalgia. I take a preventative as well as 5 or 6 daily meds. It sucks, but I am in better shape than I was 15 years ago.

Often long acting pain meds can be used, even in patients who have "problems" with opiates, but it is usually the last thing the doctor tries.

Anyway, you need to see a NEUROLOGIST who specializes in migraines and chronic pain. A "preventative" something like an SSRI, a beta blocker, an anticonvulsant etc, is often given to long term pain patients.

I don't buy into the theory of "rebound headaches" this means you have the headache because you take medication. Bullshit, and it's a diagnosis for doctors who are too cowardly to take migraine and TREAT it.

That being said, sometimes a 2 week (no more) medicine vacation, after weaning off the drugs, (even Excedrin) while under the supervision of a doctor and while on a preventative may help. If after two weeks, you still have daily pain, it's the pain that is there and it's NOT from the medication. Some doctors will bullshit you and say "you will need 6 months with no pain meds before we will rule out Rebound." They are full of shit and are best stayed away from. If it doesn't get better in two weeks, while using a preventative, then they HAVE TO treat the pain.

This can be a long road. It took me 15 years to find a good doctor, and even now, after years of being treated well, I am having to fight for my meds, based on nurses (I know how they work...) not giving proper info to the doctor. So, make sure you see the doctor frequently.

Also, in my experience, MALE doctors are much more likely to not be cowards and are more likely to treat the pain. Female doctors, with a few exceptions, are usually women with really good health themselves and they see "junkies" everywhere they look. I'd go with a nice Jewish, or older man doctor.

Good luck, honey. This is treatable, but you need the best help. IMO, "Internists" are useless in treating migraine. They aren't trained to treat chronic illnesses and you need a good neuro to see you.

Taryn, I'm so sorry you are suffering also. Migraine diagnosis does NOT rely on testing. The tests are to rule out other things, like blood clots, tumors, epilepsy etc. ALL true migraine suffers usually have "clean" tests, meaning there is NO medical test which can tell if you have a migraine. There are only tests to tell you your pain is caused by something else, ruling migraine out.

IF you were to be in a CT machine at the moment a migraine starts to get bad, and they have a "baseline" test image when you don't have a migraine, the image during the migraine might show swelling in the meninges (the lining of the brain) but even this doesn't always happen and other things can cause it.

There are no tests to "prove" migraine. It is diagnosed by symptomology.

I'm glad Maxalt works for you. But, Lucille can't take Triptans and Maxalt is a triptan. If triptans work and the side effects can be tolerated, then they are great. But, lots of people can't take them. I know I can't. They don't work on my pain and I get circulatory symptoms which are very frightening. While I was taking Zomig, my doctor thought I was having a heart attack from the symptoms I was having. I have the same symptoms from Imitrex and other triptans. Once you have symptoms like this, this family of meds is not to be used.

I am glad you were able to find something to help.

I get menstrual migraines as well, and I practice "NSAID loading." (Don't do this without talking to your doctor.) What this is is to be taking large quantities of NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen Sodium, even some people can take aspirin) as soon as the menstruation starts or a few days before. You continue taking them for several days after your period ends. Some people get good results. However, stomach bleeding is a side effect, so don't do this without your doctor being OK with you doing it.

Thanks for the info, P'Gell. I've made an appointment to see my GP and see what she says and see if I can get a referral to a neurologist. But with my history and problems with opiates, I know it will be hard to find anyone to help without proverbially kicking me in the skull to see if I'm just a junkie looking for a fix. I live in a small town (everyone really knows everyone else) and the last time I had a full, blinding migraine and had to be taken to the ER, they refused to treat me for a migraine. They told me I was going through opiate withdrawals and if I did not leave the ER, they would call the police. I had been clean for over 2 years and passed every single fucking drug screen thrown my way. The attending physician tried to push Suboxone on me and call a local treatment facility. Meanwhile, I threw up on the floor about 3 times and begged for help. My dad gave me some of his prescribed meperidine just so I could get SOME relief.

I used to have all of my doctors throw painkillers at me any time I had a cramp or cyst, and now all of my pain is suspect. It's so hard to get treatment for pain, and I am afraid to go to see any doctor and TELL them I have pain because I know they'll assume I'm back on opiates again.

3 nights ago I had a cyst rupture and just lied in bed crying, taking Aleve and Klonopin to calm down. And my psychiatrist doesn't trust me with THOSE either, of course, because even though I've been CLEAN for OVER 2 YEARS, and have diagnosed severe anxiety...

I'm sorry for rambling so much.

/end rant

OMG I get HORRIBLE migraines. I heard they are hereditary and my mother gets them bad too. I feel for ya!

I heartily second this. Definitely go see a neurologist -- preferably one who specializes in migraines (there are neurologists who sub-specialize in migraine treatment, as well as pain management).

If you lived in Dallas, I could suggest a specialized neuro clinic. But, if I am correct in my recollections, you live quite far from Dallas . . . Ask around for referrals and do some research to find a good one in your area.

So sorry you are suffering so much. I had HORRIBLE migraines very, very frequently as a child and I am very glad that they have become much more infrequent as I've gotten older.

That sucks. Doctors need to understand that even people who have had issues with overuse sometimes need pain relief.

There are things that could help you. My guess is a good regimine on a preventative, like an SSRI, or an anticonvulsant will be the thing which helps the most.

Usually even people with a history of "abuse" (and I am not a huge believer that everyone who has over used opiates in the past IS and "abuser" sometimes they just have PAIN, that should be respected) can use things like long acting opiates, but they will try EVERYTHING else first.

You may find that after a month or so on an anticonvulsant or beta blocker or even a new SSRI you may get releif. For now, is the Midrin working? We know for a fact that the brand name Midrin works better than the generic. It's one of the only meds that makes a difference. My Neuro doesn't even allow his patients who take Midrin to get the generic, it's such a problem. Make sure your doctor DEMANDS the brand name.

Also, you have to have something for the vomiting. I use both Compazine and Zofran. It makes a huge difference when you aren't dry heaving or puking while having all that pain, really.

OMG. I didn't know until just now! It was JUST approved yesterday!

I am SO HAPPY! I take so much medication for these fucking migraines and we can't afford "Botox Cosmetic" (which costs about $1,000.00 a treatment) and we've been waiting for the drug to be FDA approved for pain. I see my neuro next month. I will ask him again for it.

I hope my insurance will cover it.

Hopefully your insurance covers it.
/crosses fingers

Warning: This is a loooong rant. I think it's built up rage against the medical system lol.

I can tell that our migrains are very, very different. But some basics to talk to your doctor about are long-term treatments instead of reactive pill-popping. Despite what some doctors may say, there is usually some kind of preventative measure you can take to stop them from happening or a safer, more holistic way of treating the cause.

And it's definitely a problem if you're taking that much OTC drugs. Not only can your body build an immunity to the relief the drugs are supposed to give you, but the ingredients can tear apart your digestive system giving you ulcers or heartburn. Not to mention aspirin is an anti-coagulant (aka blood thinner) and can be dangerous in high doses.

And personally, that particular drug never, ever worked for my own migraines. Mine were vascular, caused by high blood pressure and irregular heart palpitations which were all horrible, life-threatening side-effects of birth control pills (stupid doctors prescribe them like candy and have no care about family history of heart condition and I nearly died of a stroke before they cared to take me off them).

So to target the arterial constriction and general vascular system of the brain, I was told to use naproxen (naprosen) as my OTC drug if I caught the migraine early enough. Unfortunately, if I didn't catch it quick enough I HAD to use a narcotic to stop it because it was life-threatening if I didn't.

So... basically, try to figure out what the cause or trigger is, settle for a stronger drug that you only have to take one of versus hundreds of mg of another, and always talk openly to your doctor about your concerns. It's their job to ensure you're healthy and to care, so if they don't you get a new one that does. They're getting paid big bucks to do their job right.

Good luck!!! Take care of yourself.

Sorry I missed this reply until just now.

Thanks for the info! So I guess I should be thankful for these clean tests then.

I've tried so many things. I was in the ER just last week for another migraine attack. I was on Zomig as well at one time, but didn't work for me. Luckily I don't get side affects from my Maxalt. I was also diagnosed with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) and given Amitriptyline which will reduce the menstrual migraines.
I am going to be seeing a specialist and we are going to look into natural ways to control these migraines. We will also be monitoring things like my diet, activity level, sleeping patterns, etc. and their association with my migraines, if any. I do know little things such as the weather affect my migraines as well. I can always tell it's going to storm just by the pressure on my head.

I've seen my doctor and am currently taking beta-blockers as a long-term preventative measure, Zanaflex, because of the tension, and Fioricet as an abortive (though the Fioricet doesn't do a damn thing once I have a full-blown migraine). I've had an MRI and will visit my doctor again to discuss the results and continuing course of treatment.

Doc suggested a breast reduction surgery but I can't afford that for now. Nor can I afford the recommended chiropractic treatment. Thanks, insurance.

I refuse any "holistic" treatment, and quite frankly, popping pills is all I know. I still take Excedrin every day, but much less now. When I don't take at least 3 Excedrin, I get rebound headaches and caffeine withdrawals. It gets bad. For now, I'm sticking to my regimen...though the beta-blockers mess with my digestion nad I'm always bloated and gassy.

I hope they can find a preventative and abortive (a medicine you may take to try to treat the pain once it starts) that works for you. I never had ANY luck with "natural" regimens. I needed Big Guns and I damaged my body by NOT using them from the beginning.

I am glad "holistic" cures work for some people, but I know I have had migraines since I was a child, and I wasted decades of my life, suffered needlessly and wasted thousands of dollars on "holistic" cures that didn't do a fucking thing. The wasted years and wasted hope almost brought me to suicide. I should have insisted on REAL medicine from the beginning, but I thought "it wasn't good for you" and the fucking cowardly doctors, who were scared to prescribe real medication for pain agreed. So I suffered.

Yes, learning what sleep patterns trigger or help the pain is helpful, knowing which foods to stay away from is a good idea (I can't touch chocolate or corn when I have a migraine or when I have my period) regular exercise is good for SOME people (others find that even mild exertion causes migraines) as well as knowing when to drink alcohol and when to stay away from it. But, I have tried herbs (at least 40 of them) and vitamins, had chiropractic, (expensive, insurance wouldn't cover it and it didn't do a damn thing but drain my wallet) acupuncture (same as the chiro, except my insurance paid for some of it, it was still useless for me) I had Lying on of Hands. I had Faith Healing, chakra therapy, crystal therapy, psychotherapy (what cowardly doctors tell people to do when their stupid NON medical treatments don't work, it's the patient's fault then) food and enzyme treatment, and NONE of these things did a damn thing for me. That doesn't meant they won''t help anyone, but I think the worse your migraines are, the LESS there is that works.

Pills work. At least they do for me. That and a few lifestyle changes (such as watching my food and my sleep patterns) are what works for me. My migraines are considered "Severe, chronic and intractable." Which is about the worst diagnosis you can get. It means they are BAD, virtually NOTHING works for them, and they are always there. I DO NOT HAVE REBOUND PAIN!!!! I do not have my pain made WORSE by medication. I have gone as long as 18 months on "drug vacations" several times, and was in excruciating pain every fucking minute of it.

From what I have seen, as a migraine patient and a health care provider, the worse one's migraine is, the less likely "holistic" things are to work. As one person doesn't know what other people feel it is hard to say how "severe" their pain is. Some people ARE in severe pain, but they have periods of time, days, weeks or even months with NO pain. Chronic Pain Patients don't get this respite.

IMO, trying a few "holistic" cure, if you can afford if may be worth the risk, but IF if causes more pain while you are waiting for it to work, it is more damaging than any medication. My pain is so bad, in some ways, because not only did I not get proper treatment for several decades, and the pain went unchecked, but I suffered CONSTANT pain while wasting my time with "Natural" things.

I know I'm ranting, and my experience may not be average, but my doctor has said that by ALLOWING THE PAIN TO CONTINUE while I wasn't getting proper treatment neurological pain pathways in the nervous system were allowed to "burn in" to my system, making releif nearly impossible. If I had been given proper pain medication 25 years agp, it is believed that I wouldn't be Chronic and Intractable. I may have contributed to my own Chronic condition by messing around with "natural" stuff that allowed the pain to gain a foot hold in my brain and neurological and chemical pathways.

So, yes, doing the wrong thing can be as damaging as doing nothing, and can often be worse than using real medicine.

From what I have seen, non-chronic, intermittent, and shorter migraines (those which are usually less than 72 hours, with or without treatment) are probably safer to take the time with "natural" treatments. Chronic Pain, Severe unremitting pain and long lasting pain needs big guns, in nearly all cases.


Good luck, Sophie-Ann, I posted to let you know that pills and potions are the only thing that works for me, too. And, I've tried virtually EVERYTHING in the "natural" remedy book. These work for some people, but not for everyone.

As always, mileage and all that. People do need to experiment to find out what works for them, but don't waste decades on useless "cures" like I did and let the pain take years from your life. I live better with Chemistry. Not all people do, but I can't live without it.

I have a friggin' breakthrough migraine right now, (worse pain on TOP OF what I regularly suffer with) and am waiting for some relief. I think some of us are just tested differently than others. Please forgive any errors in my spelling or syntax. I can't think, can't sleep and came here to get some distraction.

I'm very thankful that some people can get relief with simple cures, herbs, crystals, chiropractic, what ever works for them. I am just not one of them, and my wanted to BE one of the ones who "natural cures" worked for actually accelerated the progress of my disease. My situation is probably not typical, but it does happen. If you have tried a half a dozen (or less) natural cures and get NO releif, please consider actual FDA approved treatment, pain meds and a good, useful preventative being the Power Tip of many chronic intractable patients regiment. Good luck, honey.