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Posted 5/6/2009 9:59 AM (GMT 0)

Hey everyone,

Sorry to rant, but I'm just about at my wit's end... For the last year or so I've been getting 2-3 migraines per week. They generally start with a visual aura followed by the head and nausea (sometimes actual vomiting), and each lasts for 1-2 days, followed by a day of feeling absolutely exhausted and tearful. In December I went to my doctor (again I was at my wit's end), who said I was depressed and prescribed Citalopram. This helped my mood, but not the migraines. Then about a month ago I went back to her, and she prescribed Atenelol to try and prevent the migraines. This hasn't helped at all. I'm now just so desperate - I really can't envisage going on like this. I've also tried lots of stuff to try to relieve the pain when the migraines come on - painkillers and Sumatriptan, but nothing seems to help. Does anyone have any similar experiences? And should I go back to the doctor? I've got to the point where I  don't really want to be alive any more...

Sorry again to rant...

H

Posted 5/6/2009 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Is there any action that typically triggers the migraine? How is your diet?
Posted 5/12/2009 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hey CHS,

I have had migraines my whole life, with the aura. about 13 years ago, when i was 14, i got them every day, sometimes 2 or 3 a day. You should try to switch from atenolol to inderol--its still a beta blocker, but works way better then atenlolol. I swear by it. It takes a good 2 weeks to start. But now i get 1-2 migraines a year.

Try it
Posted 5/13/2009 12:06 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for your replies!

NurseJen1012: I went back to the doctor last week and he suggested trying Inderal, so I've been taking that since Saturday. I've had 3 quite bad migraines since then, and I'm tempted to give up taking the tablets, but I guess I have to give them a chance to work... It's so good to hear that it's helped you!

BrentD: I can't work out what my triggers are. There are certain things like not sleeping enough, getting stressed, relaxing  (I can't win there), alcohol, too much exercise, not enough exercise etc. But often I get migraines when none of these triggers are present - sometimes even just thinking to myself, 'ah, I haven't had a migraine for a couple of days' can set one off. My diet's healthy - I don't eat chocolate and very rarely eat things like sweets, biscuits or cake... So I'm struggling a bit to find out the cause!

H

Posted 5/13/2009 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, i remember it took me a good 2 weeks, but now i swear by it....ive been on it about 12 years now
Posted 5/13/2009 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
That's such a relief to know! What dose do you take? My doctor wasn't very clear about what the best dose is - at the moment I'm on 80mg per day... I really hope it's going to work...
H
Posted 5/14/2009 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
i usually take 40mg 3 times a day--but alot of the time i miss the noon dose because of work or something
Posted 5/19/2009 5:08 AM (GMT 0)

CHS-

How are things going now?! Are you still on the Inderal? Any progress?

Posted 5/19/2009 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
Odd--you say doctor, and you sound like a migraine sufferer to me. Get a neurologist hun. THey are better with migraines than "doctors"
Posted 5/19/2009 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
PERFECT ADVICE!! I will take that Desiree......I originally started with a internal med doctor....which told me that there was "nothing they could do for me" and thankfully they referred me to my neurologist. After thinking I was back "in the game" I stopped seeing my neurologist and went back to my internist.....naturally, I started too get ill again and am finding out quick that there "is nothing they WILL do for me"!! Just called my neurologist....thank you for the "reminder"!! :)
Krista
Posted 5/20/2009 9:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hey,

Thanks for all your replies! I'm still taking the Inderal. Haven't had a migraine since Friday (touch wood!), but I daren't hope too much at this stage, I think... As for the neurologist - I didn't really know that was an option. I might ask my doctor next time I see them - they might be able to refer me...

I'm wondering about cutting out various foods to see whether they might be triggering the migraines. Have any of you tried doing that? I think it's a long shot, but I'm getting to the point where I'll try almost anything!

H

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