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Daily migraines for six months

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Posted 1/5/2011 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I just found this site a couple of days ago and thought I could ask for some advice since you guys are also dealing with migraines!
So, here's the thing. My girlfriend has now been suffering from daily migraines for half a year. She was diagnosed with migraine when she was little but the situation has never been this bad. Before her migraines didn't make her pass out but these days she often passes out during the worst part of the headache and not only because of her migraines but she also often faints for no reason. She often feels dizzy and there are days when she can't even get out of bed after a migraine since if she tries to get up let alone walk she will pass out. And then when she is able to get up she can usually only walk some meters until she gets so dizzy that she has to sit down anyway. It might be because of her low blood pressure- after a migraine she is usually nauseous for the rest of the day and that affects her eating. She has lost lots of weight due to it. Besides migraines she also has a chronic headache so she is in pain all the time and because of that she is barely able to sleep and naturally she is really tired all the time. Oh and the migraines sometimes make her vomit, too.
  She has been seeing a neurologist since this started. In the last few months she has had CT Scan, MRI and some blood tests done and she has been on lots of different medications but so far nothing has really helped her. 
  She hasn't been able to study or work at all, she has mostly been spending her days in bed for a long time. The situation is really driving her crazy and she often starts crying just because she is so exhausted. That makes me feel really bad, I'm so worried about her! Is there anything I can do to help her? 
Thanks a lot!

(Sorry, English is not my native language.)

Posted 1/5/2011 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
I see some people have read this post so isn't anyone going to reply?
Posted 1/5/2011 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you L!
I will definitely keep doing research and I'm trying my best to support her but I know it doesn't take her pain away. It is horrible to see her suffer all the time so I will do everything I can to find something that might help her.
Posted 1/5/2011 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I would like some more replies!
Posted 1/5/2011 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Then could you suggest some good forums?
Posted 1/5/2011 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks!
Posted 1/6/2011 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Veikk,

I'm glad to hear that your GF's MRI's and CT's came back clean. Have you taken her to a neurologist, or better yet a migraine specialist? I would suggest you do this. Sadly neurologists are a mixed bad. Some are very knowlegable about migraines and some, not so much.

Everything that you have described sounds very much like migraine. With regards to passing out, there are certain uncommon types of migraine where this is a regular feature. I can't think of them off the top of my head, but a migraine specialist would know. I'm definitely not saying that this is the case, but it is something that you could bring up in conversation next time she has an appointment.

Best of luck!
Posted 1/6/2011 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Veikk...

You are wonderful for reaching out for ideas like this, not everyone that deals with a chronic pain condition like this has such good support. It is truely a blessing!

I agree with EF, make sure that if her current neurologist isn't a migraine specialist that you try and find one. It is a strange disease, seems like everyone responds differently to treatment. I know for me, it took a while to find the right meds too.

Also, as silly as it sounds, make sure that she's doing all the little things like staying well hydrated, getting physical activity (I know, I feel like laying down all the time too when I am going through a bad spell but sometimes it does really help to get up and even walk around a bit), and trying to avoid her lifestyle triggers. It's possible that there is something in her diet that she's eating daily (like yogurt, or cheese for example), that is a serious trigger for her. I'm not saying that this will fix her problems, but it can only help her treatment plan work better.

I hope this helps...
Posted 1/6/2011 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yes she has been seeing quite a few neurologists, some of them earlier and some in the past six months. I haven't taken her to a migraine specialist yet but I will do that as soon as I happen to find one not too far from where we live. I would take her anywhere to get some answers and help but I don't think she could deal with a very long drive in such bad shape.

And Foodnag, I don't think any food affects her migraines since she is nauseous most of the time and barely able to eat anything these days. Her doctor has decided she has to be taken to hospital for a longer time next week so she can be fed intravenously. Thanks for your reply, too.

Post Edited (veikk) : 1/6/2011 12:10:08 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/6/2011 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
How often is she using breakthrough medications (i.e triptans, narcotics, even aspirin?). If it's as often as it sounds she may be having rebound headaches. I wonder if you have any headache centers where you live?
Posted 1/6/2011 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
She only uses that kind of medications if a migraine lasts for very long. Otherwise she tries to cope without them because they usually make her chronic headache worse. Unfortunately I don't think there are any headache centers anywhere near.
Posted 1/7/2011 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Last night her migraine made her vomit all night and in the morning she was in such condition that she couldn't stand up and when she finally could she only took a few steps and then fainted. I took her to hospital and she is on IV drip now. She might stay there for some time so they can keep feeding her intravenously, she needs it for she hasn't really been able to eat lately. Also, they will probably do some tests again such as MRI, CT Scan, EEG and blood tests- it has been quite a long time since they did the tests and they need to know if anything has changed.

Posted 1/7/2011 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the update, I hope that she is able to rest a bit and have a little relief.
Let us know how she does and if they find anything.
Posted 1/7/2011 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. At least she has been able to sleep for a few hours today and that's pretty much for her.
Posted 1/7/2011 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
I guarantee your girl friend will be cured of her migraine without any medication or any cost.
From the comfort of your own home. Doing Yoga.

Do a search on 'Swami Ramdev migraine'.

After a quick search, I found a video on You Tube which is in the Hindi language. You will need to find an English version.
about 28 minutes into the video you will find the breathing exercises.

He recommends certain natural herbs for a more quicker result, but if you just stick to the simple breathing exercises, and you do enough, you will start seeing a difference within a month and your girlfriend will be totally cured.

There are also specific Ramdev yoga classes, always free. It would depend on where you live.

I have been doing this type of Yog for about 4 years and I can't recommend it enough for all ailments.

I am so confident this will work, if your girlfriend puts in the effort with belief, that I challenge you openly on this forum to prove me wrong.

I await to hear about the results over time...
Posted 1/7/2011 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Veikk,

Many large university teaching hospitals have headache centers. If you are somewhat near a medical school (or better yet several!) I would suggest googling: medical school name AND migraine center (that is if you haven't done so already of course). Many large, university affiliated, migraine centers will also do doctor to doctor consults. Your neurologist would submit your GF's medical records to the headache center, they would review it, probably have a telephone conference, etc.

For example if you lived in Boise, Idaho your neurologist could contact the Diamond Headache Clinic outside Chicago, send over the medical records and then brainstorm.

Best of Luck!
Posted 1/7/2011 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the idea Yog, but she is in too bad shape to do that. I wish she was doing better so she could give it a try.

And thanks EvilFluorescents, I will try and find out if there are any headache centers somewhere near!

Post Edited (veikk) : 1/7/2011 4:29:12 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/8/2011 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
There is no physical movement other than breathing through your nose.
start off slowly, it will change both of your lives!

You can check out the pranayam video of Ramdev Baba in English at this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_Jnra2O9Fc

practise twise a day. Particularly bhastrika, anulom vilom and brahmari pranayam. Also sheetali/sheetkari pranayam. .Migraine should be gone in 2 weeks.
Posted 1/8/2011 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
If it really was that easy to get rid of migraines then I think her doctor would be aware of those breathing exercises and he would have told my girlfriend to do them a long time ago. Thank you anyway.
Posted 1/8/2011 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Locrian.
Yes I have had people tell me about some treatments and remedies that at least to me have sounded a little weird. Some I have ignored and some I have told my girlfriend to try but now the situation is getting so desperate that no matter how strange something sounds I think we will have to give it a try. I really hope her doctor will still come up with some medication or something that she hasn't tried yet. Half a year is not a very long time but she has had migraines for 14 years and she has tried lots of different meds in the past, too.

I'm not quite sure what medications and methods she has already tried, her neuro knows better. I'm going to visit her in the hospital tomorrow and I will then ask her neuro about them.
Posted 1/9/2011 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Veikk-

I've been suffering from headaches every day for over a year and a half. I have tried just about everything to make them go away. I recently started supplementing with Magnesium (not specifically for my headaches), and a few days after taking it daily, my headaches were gone! Then there were a few days where i got lazy and didn't take the magnesium, and my headaches came back! So i took it again, and they went away! AMAZING! You have no idea how huge this discovery is for me!!! I'd highly recommend you give it a try. After getting the results that i did, i thought i'd do a little research online and found a couple websites that you might find helpful:

http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/magnesium-migraines.html

http://www.thewayup.com/newsletters/081501.htm

I wish you the best of luck, it sounds like your girlfriend's headaches are much worse than mine have been, but its worth a try.
Just FYI, I've been using "Lifetime" brand liquid magnesium blend (orange vanilla flavor).
Posted 1/9/2011 10:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your advice, Jaynabraina!
I'm not sure if she has already tried magnesium, I will ask her. Good to hear you have got some relief!
Posted 1/10/2011 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Almost 2 years ago, I started with daily headaches.  Went to the dentist, ENT and finally neurologist.  Had the MRI and everything was normal.  My neuro diagnosed me with Migranes but I didn't have the classic symptoms and he prescribed Topomax which is a seizure medication.  It helped me "break the cycle" although it took about 8 months for the headaches to stop.  Got off Topomax and about 2 months ago, the headaches, which are one-sided, returned again, this time with pain along the right side of my nose.  Started all over again with the ENT and he did a CT Scan of the sinuses today.  Just called and all is normal so I guess I'll go back to the neurologist.  I didnt have the terrible symptoms your girlfriend has but maybe she should ask her doc about Topomax.  Hope this post helps.
Posted 1/11/2011 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Meheight. I don't know if she has tried Topomax yet but if she hasn't I'll tell her to ask her doctor about it.
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