Hi everyone,
I normally post in the crohn's forum, but decided to explore further on this site to see if there was something for migraine sufferers. I was pleasantly surprised to find this.
I have been married almost 14 years to a man with chronic migrain headaches. He was in a serious car accident as a teenager where, at 90 mph, they crashed into a tree. He was the passenger, the driver was drunk. He went through his seat belt, through the windsheild, and into the tree. He died but was revived by some very good doctors who sewed a major artery to his brain back together. He has a large scar on his forhead. Had they not saved him we wouldnt be where we are today.
Ever since the accident he has had migrain headaches. The last 7 or 8 years or so have been pretty bad. He began seeing a neurologist about a year ago who put him on Topamax. That seemed to help. He would get the headaches, but they would not be as severe, almost in the background...if that makes any sense. He neurologist then added an antidepressant into the mix. Cant remember the name..starts with L. He has had alot of side effects from the Topamax that really bothered him, so he asked for something else. The neurologist put him on Depakote. That seemed to make it WORSE. He had 3 or 4 severe attacks every single day. His doctor is IMPOSSIBLE to reach, so I suggested he go back on the Topamax, despite the side effects...it's better than those horrible headaches. He went back on it and is doing ok again...but still does get some pretty bad ones. He takes Imitrex, Zomig, Axert or Excedrin ( if he doesnt have anything RX) when he gets the headaches. Sometimes it helps sometimes its totally useless. He always gets in the bath tub, screaming in pain, vomiting, begging for relief. Im tearful just thinking about it. It's really hard knowing my husband is in severe pain and there is absolutly nothing I can do to help him. I make the room dark, Im there to get whatever he needs, but stay out of sight because I know he needs his privacy. I pretty much babysit him when he has the attacks because he did try to kill himself before to escape the pain ( yes, it gets THAT bad). When I hear him starting to reflux I run and get the "puke bucket" so he doesnt have to get out of the tub or puke all over himself in the bath tub. Sometimes orange juice seems to help, and sometimes antihistamines help a little as well . Whatever the case, I am there for him 100%. It is hard sometimes because I have my own health problems ( severe crohn's disease) and am not always up to babysitting.
Are there any other drugs he can try? What about testing? Any home remedies I dont know about? He has had several CAT scans and they all come back normal ( very frustrating), but his doctor hasnt said anything about any other type of testing. Having my own health issues I know there are tons of different tests they have done on me..surely there has to be more than just CAT scans for someone with migrains like he gets.Clearly, the cause of his headaches is the severe head trauma he experienced in that car accident. We both hate his doctor but have no choice in the matter. He acts like my husband is only seeing him to try and get narcotics. Nothing could be further from the truth. Narcotics make him throw up...why would he be seeking them out? Because of his headaches he hasnt been able to work in 2 years ( he is an ex retail manager..had no escape when he had a migrain at work, and the stress from the job made it worse)...so he is on the state medical program, which isnt the best but we are glad to have something verses nothing. He can go through a month's worth of migrain medicine in a matter of days ( his health plan will cover 6 Axert a month, nothing more, if he has imitrex or zomig it's because the doc gave him some from the sample closet..and he doesnt give him more than 3 or 4 doses)
Sorry for the long post...I just dont know what to do anymore. I am concerned about the triptan drugs and what it will do to his heart, among other things. Can anyone give any advice?