Only Choice Left for Migraines is not a Good One

Too many migraines for too many years has led me to make a choice I did not want to take - botox.

I understand it is a toxin. Also understand people have had bad experiences with it. I also know the migraines have gotten so frequent and so bad there is no other choice. Excedrin Migraine has ben the answer for years as I will take half of one with pretty good relief. But that is contradicted with low kidney function, which I have.

I've tried other migraine meds that are allowable, and none of them even touched the migraine. No difference. Only Excedrin Migraine works, and I cannot keep using it with the frequency rate the migraines are now happening at.

about 5 months ago, I had a doctor put in the "smallest amount possible" of botox in an effort to test it. For 27 days I did not have a migraine. That doesn't seem to be a coincidence. I have never gone longer than 9 days without a migraine except for when I had the botox shots. Now, the migraines are happening most every day. They do make days miserable when they happen, which is always later in the day. Diet does not change the frequency.

At this point, days are miserable because of the migraines. I've already told the doctor I want to use the smallest amount possible to help. Unless I am missing something, and I've tried for many years to find alternatives, this is a chance I have to take. Continued use of even half an Excedrin is not sustainable because of kidney situation.

Will let you know what the reaction is after I have them, which is scheduled for 11 days from now. If I could do it tomorrow, I would, but they had to order the botox and then get scheduled.

Continued use of Excedrin is a near guarantee my kidneys will get worse. Based on my first try with botox, there is a chance it will not cause problems. That led to this decision. Yes. Lyme sucks, but we all know that.

Post Edited (running wild) : 8/15/2021 4:26:42 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks fir thoughts, Girlie. Sometimes there is no good choice in all this. We take a chance in so many areas.

Can you/did you try magnesium? It’s not a cure all, but sometimes it helps me with pain. Do you know if your migraines are correlated with weather? I have a weather app that graphs the barometric pressure for me. It’s sometimes eerie how much how I’m feeling tracks with barometer changes. I ask because if it’s related to barometer changes, using oxygen and the cpap ,aching sometimes help me.

Post Edited (Bailey) : 8/15/2021 9:32:02 PM (GMT-6)

Mine stopped without Botox, but I was considering it, too. I definitely understand doing anything it takes! Do what you have to do to get some relief. If you want to keep exploring options and try something else in the future before your next Botox treatment, then maybe you'll find another solution, but why not go for reliable relief for now? Good luck!

All your ideas and thoughts are greatly appreciated. I trust those on this forum and wanted to see your points of view.

RainyCloud - Thanks for the information about your friend. I'm glad it is helping her, and knowing she has had no side effects for years helps.

Bailey - I would have tried magnesium but my magnesium count is always right at high normal (2.3) or just below that at 2.2. I guess it's the kidneys slowing down elimination. And your thoughts about other meds that we take is how I'm looking at this. Everything we do is a chance that may or may not work or cause problems. Thanks for taking the time to respond a couple of times.

Georgia Hunter - You've been through it all and built a lot of knowledge doing so. I will email you tonight. Your offer is very appreciated.

saraeli- First, thanks for the time you put in as a forum moderator. It benefits all. Same for Girlie. Your point of view on taking the botox and looking for alternatives in the meantime is a good one. As mentioned above, I'll contact Georgia Hunter for his ideas.

I've been a bit more dizzy lately or light headed. It started before I started back on Azithromax a couple of weeks ago, as did the migraines. But I'm also wondering if the Azith is causing some of this, but either way, I have to be able to treat and minimize the migraines to keep treating.