HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Every single day headache...(currently on valproic acid)

Support Forums
>
Migraine Headache
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
1 2 3 4 5
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/1/2013 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Reskawannabe,

thanks for the tips! Honestly, I just don't know if I could maintain that strict of a diet. That's pretty hard core. Especially considering I LOVE most of the foods u mentioned. Lol I may try it though. Going to give it some serious consideration. I'm going to print this thread out, as a constant reminder I'm not alone. Which also ensures ill have that diet on paper, whenever I need it. Thanks a lot, my friend.
Posted 6/1/2013 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Nspeedracer,

I've read about lime disease. After reading your post, think I'll look into it some more. Thanks for your reply. Like you, I don't ever remember getting bit by a tick. Nor do I remember any red spot. But it's worth doing some more research, that's for sure. Thanks again...
Posted 6/1/2013 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Almost forgot.... I just saw my neurologist a few days ago. He basically told me to stick to the 15mg mitrazapine, and 2mg clonazepam before bed. Yay! ): and as for my random fatigue, he wanted me to up my testosterone medicine (which I eventually gave up on earlier last year). He told me he wanted me to up my dosage of testim/androgel. Said my T level should be twice the amount it is right now. Crazy, I'm only 32 and I have low T. ):

Lastly, I've decided to bite the bullet and buy a mouth guard. Not the cheap ones, the nice kind that only dentist make. My dentist has told me (on numerous occasions) that I have signs of bad grinding. So even if it does not help with the headaches, it would be wise to do it for my teeth. And who knows, maybe it WILL help my headaches. Doubtful, but you never know. Just another shot in the dark. Maybe this time I'll hit something.

That being said, these meds I'm on have helped a little. My headaches aren't as often as they used to be. Still hate the way they pop up at random times. Usually after any kind of exercising, and after waking up in the morning.

Thanks again for all the advice, my new friends.
Stay strong and keep searching for help.... PAIN sucks! Especially when you know it's coming, and there's not much you can do to prevent it.
Posted 11/7/2013 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Great replies, all. Still in pain, every darn day. This is beyond stupid. My neurologist just put me on yet ANOTHER anti depressant. (Nortriptyline) Just started it last week, he's having me start very slow. One a day for a week, then two the next week and so on. All the way to 4 a day. Sounds like a lot, but I think the mg is pretty low. I think he's doing it because I have a weak stomach. Some pills give me acid reflux.

Anyway, going to try it out for a few months. If this doesn't work, I'm giving up. I'll be applying for disability. I just can't work like this. Being in pain all day is not the way to live life. The quality of life has gone down the toilet with these never ending headaches.

Again, thanks for all the replies. They're noted, trust me. I'm trying everything!
Posted 11/26/2013 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
Gator: I very much enjoy your posts because your writing style is so ---I don't want to say "entertaining" on a serious site such as this. But we all know how much it helps to lighten the load a bit in our lives of constant pain, when we can be colorful, and find just a tad of humor through all of this madness we have to go through. There's much I'd like to comment on, concerning your ongoing saga. But really I'm in too much pain tonight to do much more on this site, having had a bad day of L sided head pain. I will say this much pronto, though: be careful with the clonazepam (Klonopin). It is highly addictive, even though you'd never know it when on it because it is so subtle in its effects. Also, it is one of the worst (if not the worst) kicks in the book, when one does decide to come off it, unless you are on a very low dose.
Posted 11/26/2013 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
PS. You have the pop-up headaches. What a privilege, you have breaks in between (just kidding of course). Sounds like you are on the merry-go-round. Have fun while it lasts.
Posted 11/26/2013 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
^^ thanks Lol

By the way, what you said about the clonoazpam had me thinking. I don't believe it's too high a dose. (1mg)

As for an update, my recent blood work says my thyroid is not working properly. I'm now on Armour. IT NEVER ENDS.... LOL Always something, it seems.

The headaches are still there; just as unpredictable as always. At least the fatigued feeling has gotten better.

Post Edited (Gator4life) : 11/25/2013 8:23:16 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/8/2014 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
I am here today to tell everyone my headaches have FINALLY subsided!!!!!!!! I thought this day would never happen. Of course, it didn't happen over night. I can't pinpoint the exact pill or reason for the improved health, but I'll give you guys a run down on what I'm taking. Maybe it will help someone, who knows. But before I begin, I want to thank everyone that chimed in to give me advice along the way. A special thanks to the poster that goes by the name of 'Jewish mother'. You, my internet friend, are an angel. It's good to know there's people out there, willing to spend their time trying to help others, knowing they'r not getting anything in return.

First off, let me say that I still do get headaches. However, they are much, much less frequent. And when I do get one, it doesn't last too long. I feel like my old self again. I sometimes go days without even a hint of pain. Sometimes I feel like its a dream. I used to wake up every single day with a headache! It just wouldn't go away.

Now to the ridiculous medicine cocktail! Lol I know marijuanna is not legal in many states, but I believe it has been a big part in my recovery. Just a little bit before bed. I NEVER smoke it any other time, ever. Next, and probably more important to the mix, is nortriptyline. I've been on it for many months, and I believe it's helping. And then there's clonazepam 1mg. All that, right before bed. It does seem like a lot to take, but it has helped me so much. Side effects are minimal, but pretty annoying. (Brain fog/memory problems) but they don't bother too much. Work can be difficult at times, but I try and motor on. So far so good....

The last component to the mix, which I don't know if it has had an effect on it or not, is the Armour thyroid medicine I'm taking. Neurologist checked my thyroid levels, as I was complaining about feeling tired all the time. He originally said I should take testosterone medicine. Said my levels were a little low. I tried it for a while, but it did nothing. He told me to try it again, but I respectfully declined. I'm obviously not a doctor, but I just had no desire to continuously lube up my shoulders, just because my levels were "a little low".

Anyway, after he found that my thyroid test indicated signs of hypothyroid, he put me on Armour. Had my second blood check recently, and he said he liked were my levels were, and I didn't need to up the dose. So I'm at the lowest dose right now. Sucks I have to take this pill every morning, but I suppose it's no different than taking the pills at night before bed.

I have no clue why/how this cocktail of medicine is working, but I'll take it. (: I was going on 2 1/2 years of constant pain/tired feeling.

I prayed so much every night, I felt like a priest. I guess God does answer prayers. In return, all I had to do was give him my life. Easy deal for me. (Sorry, mods, for bringing religion into the thread) I just feel like God had a hand in this. Going through this pain has reminded me how good we have it. (Most of the time)

Thanks again, to all the wonderful people that took time out to try and help me out.

God bless all of you. I hope all of you find a way out of the pain....
Posted 3/19/2015 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
And I'm back. I thought I was free and clear from every day headaches. Boy was I wrong! They're back and I think they're here to stay. It got good for a month or so. Good, meaning a few days out of the week with no pain. Now I'm back to every day headaches. Every morning I wake up in pain. Or sometimes I'll get one randomly through the day. I've tried so many pills I could open up a pharmacy. So sick of this. In May, I'll be seeing my third neurologist. If he can't help me, I'm giving up. (As in quitting my job and applyin for disability) I can't live like this anymore. How does one keep a job when they hate life; when their quality of life is suffering so badly?

I know most of you in here are going through close to the same thing as me. But if not, imagine waking up with a hangover every morning for four years. Is that not mind boggling? How is that even possible? And it's not just the morning. It's 11:40pm and I have a headache right now. And it's not like I'm doing anything strenuous. I'm sitting on a couch and reading my iPad!

Currently, I'm taking 1mg clonazepam, 50mg nortriptyline and a little dose of Mary Jane. (All before bed) Like I said earlier in this thread, it's an attempt to calm me down while I sleep. Because my former neurologist thinks I'm just bruxism/ clenching at night. Yeah, four straight years, I'm sure that's all it is. Ridiculous....

I've done everything you could think of, but they just keep coming back. I was wondering if anyone here tried Botox. I've heard it actually works. It's tempoary (a few months) but it works. Im pretty much throwing up a hailmarry at this point. I'm so mentally exhausted its unbelievable. You can only go on so long before you snap. And you can only complain to family and freinds for so long. Since my MRI (three years ago) was clean, nobody really worries about it. Everyone thinks ts juts stress. I swear, if I get told its stress one more time! ):

So anyone here tried Botox? This new neurologist and Botox are my last options. I pray to God one of the two works. This is absolutley maddening!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 5/2/2015 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gator,
I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I have tried Botox Injections 3X for Chronic Migraines(although I suspect I have NPDH). I think they helped the first 2 times, but the headache came back right after the third. I have tried everything, and the only thing that reduced the headache was Acupuncture. It's been a godsend!
The first time I got the headache it lasted 3 months. The second time was 6 months. And this one is just over a month.
I totally relate to your frustration and anger- some days it is so hard to do the smallest things. Especially since I also have Fibromyalgia. Anyway, best of luck and hang in there!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12345