New Here...Trying to cope

A bit about me 1st. I read often, but have never posted. I'm 34 with 2 kids, daughter is almost 15 and son just turned 12. I've had a few migraines in the past couple years - the kind with aura. They just lasted a day, then the next isn't much more than a dull ache. Nothing I couldn't handle, I just said it was stress as I do have 2 kids, a DH, a job, and a house to tend to...life.

Then January 11 this year everything changed. I got a horrible headache which turned into a migraine without aura. It lasted a total of 9 days. I spent 7 of the 9 days in bed, only getting up to take kids to school, pick kids up, eat, drink, shower and use the restroom. I went to the Dr. Jan. 16, he gave me Midrin (I had been taking Exedrin Migraine), neither did anything. By Jan. 18 I was in urgent care begging for anything and everything. They gave me a shot of something-I never asked cuz I didn't care. It just helped me sleep, but did nothing for pain. Urgent care Dr. also gave me vicadin which did nothing for pain.

The headache lingered on until my next migraine, no aura, kicked in on Feb. 3, son's Bday. I went to the dr. the day after it started begging for something to keep it from getting so bad and lasting 9 days again. Dr. gave me Topamax 25mg, which I started on Feb. 7. This time I was only in bed for 5 days. Of course not drugs helped, so I just toughed it out. Now the Topamax didn't get along with me well at all. 2 days & 2 pills later I had so many side effects I thought I was going to go nuts. So I'm not going to take it.

Oh, and in the midst of all this my eyes are so swollen and sore it hurts to put on eye shadow. I do anyway just to try to hide the puffiness. When a migraine comes on quickly in between my long spells, you can watch my eyes just swell up. It seems like I have so many triggers...smells, noise, stress, reading, pressure on my temples or eyes.

So, has anyone tried using a hot tub as therapy for migraines? They're very relaxing and may help out from being so tensed up. DH and I are talking about this. I'm just afraid the sound of the water rushing will make it worse.

Anyway, I go to a Neurologist on March 17 (after begging my Dr. to refer me). Yes I'm searching for a new family Dr. now. I just had to get a bit off my chest. I know no one else who has migraines like this. The ones around me who do have migraines just say to take Excedrin Migraine - Yeah right!

Thanks for listening,

Amy

Ann, Thanks for replying!

The pain is behind both my eyes and in both my temples, more of a constant sharp stabbing pain. It lasts for several hours. Then it'll taper down to a dull headache. The dull headache has not left since this started last month. Yes my eyes swell up & water, and my upper eyelid practically lays on my eyelashes-both eyes. When the pain starts to build, even just a little (like from a smell), my eyes start to swell. Then when the pain gets worse, so does the swelling.

If there's strong smells, loud noises,  I get stressed or aggrivated, I'm on the pc or reading for more than 5-20 minutes, it starts aching again. The headache is better in the a.m., but as the day goes on it gets worse...everyday. I'm usually in bed by 7 every night.

When it reaches it's peak, it's pretty bad - I'd say 8-9. When it's over and starts to calm down I'm actually surprised I'm still here and my head didn't explode. (I have a fairfly high tollerance for pain. Had my 2nd baby with no meds. Suffered gullbladder attacks for 3-5x's wk for 8 months.)

I live in a small town and only have 2 Neuro's here. If he's not willing to try to help me, I'll start traveling for help. Oh, I went to the eye dr. yesterday and made them test everything they could. Everything was fine, they found nothing.

Hopefully I answered everything. That's all my head can take. Thanks Again.

Amy

Ann,
I'll start searching and see if there are any headache specialist around. It amazes me how many dr.'s don't care.

Oh yes, they've woke me up in the night. I've read about cluster headaches, a lot of the symptoms sound the same but a lot sound like migraine. My headaches don't just come and go. They almost build up for a few days then a hellish headache for several hours - always in the evening, then it tapers down, only to build back up again. This will go on for 4-9 days.

You say you're not a dr., but I can tell you I've been to 4 Dr's so far and you know a heck of a lot more information then any of the dr.'s.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. I really appreciate it.

Amy

Hi Sarah,

Sorry to have to say this, but there is no such thing as Cluster migraines!!!! Clusterheadache and Migraine are very different headaches!!!!

From your post it seems you may have Episodic Clusterheadache - that is why you get the attacks for two periods each year. Migraine is all year round, but can be worse at certain times of the year!

take care

Ann