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Trying to "block" out headaches and "live" again.....

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Migraine Headache
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Posted 5/16/2009 9:48 AM (GMT 0)
O.k...I am trying to pursue my life again...and go back to how things "used" to be.  Mentally my plan has been to "push" ahead and build my strength back to where I was before my migraines/vertigo/"what-have-you" took over my life a year and a half ago.

Physically my body is like..."good one, I don't think so!!"

As of now, I take only celexa 1xday. I have tried and gone through EVERY preventative migraine drug....triptan...EVERYTHING...(or so it seems) available.

I have honestly grown sick and tired of being "sick and tired" so I thought I would cleanse my body of all of the medications I have been putting into it and try this new route.

I feel as though my dr. has "given up on me" and my only choice now is to at least try this approach to make sure it's not all of those medications that are making me sicker with them than without them.

Well...so far....not so good. I have had a headache with nausea since Monday. On Wednesday I COULDN'T take it anymore I went in and the nurse practitioner ordered a shot of toradol and phenegren....and NOTHING....I have been pretty much nursing my "wounds" on my own and trying to just forge ahead with the pain and nausea "hoping" it would just GO AWAY!!

Last night...I finally couldn't take it...my head hurt so bad and I was so ungodly nauseated and feeling like a "rag doll" that I went to bed at 7:30....now, it's 4:45 am and am up...not nauseated, but with a you got it.....HEADACHE!!!albeit, not a migraine though!!

Anyone ever try this approach?? If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. Ever feel like NOTHING works and you have grown tired of the "let's try this.....give it a few weeks though to see if it works.....and if not, call the office and we'll try something else"!! I'm just at my wit's end and am starting to feel like the local clinic here in town thinks I'm some kind of NUT!!

Thanks...

Krista

Posted 5/17/2009 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
After trying many other options most neuros recommend a medication holiday for the same reasons that you mentioned. Like you I became very very ill for the 45 days or so that I tried it, losing dozens of pounds and vomiting all the time. Some patients benefit from the holiday but in most cases you'll get to your best somewhere i between a alot of daily meds and somewhat less. You have to find the right balance. But you shouldn't withdraw without talking to your doctor.

Also, it's been well over a year since I've tried a new treatment through my neurologist--she admits that I've exhausted my options. But tha doesn't mean that she's given up on me. We try to make my life the best it can be under the circumstances and I try to do what I can with that.
Posted 5/19/2009 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I am kinda in the same boat you are...tired of being on meds and just want to LIVE again!!!  I was diagnosed with migraines in 2004.  Its been 5 long awful years.  I have tried several meds.  Nothing seems to work.  I still get headaches.  Topamax helped a little I think.  I am currently weaning myself off of it because I wasn't too thrilled about the side effects.  I was on it for almost a year and a half.  I did lose about 15-20 lbs, but I also suffer from stress/anxiety, so it could have been from that, too.  Not sure.  Anyway, today will be my last day of the Topamax.  I am going to wait a few weeks to see how I feel.  I am hoping better!!  If not, I suppose I will go back on it.  My doctor offered for me to try something else, but that would be #4 or #5 on the list.  Not too thrilled about that.  I take 100mg off Imitrex when I do start to get one.  It works great, although I hate the sick and tired feeling I get from it...better than a headache though!!  I think I get about 1-4 bad headaches a month.  Then every other day it is like tension headaches.  I work full time, have a family, so I am always busy.  I don't know what else to do either!  But I hope being off the meds works for you and ME!!
Posted 6/18/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
I also tried this approach last summer. I was so sick and tired of being on medications that i wanted to see how my body would react to not taking daily meds. I was off the meds for a week and got a terrible migraine...had to go get the Toradol/phengrin shot at the doc. Then again.. another week later..i got another migraine..back to the doc for another shot. I was off the meds 3 weeks total before i went back on them. A normal good month for me back then was 1 migraine a month..with a "normal " headache 3-4 days a week.....crazy how i would put the word NORMAL next to headache?! For a few months after that my headaches became less frequent and the triptans would normally help what headaches i would get. However, over the past 2 months the intensity and frequency of my headaches have gotten worse. I am beginning to realize it is all just a cycle...try a new med...it works for a while....increase the dose..it works better for a while...then quits...try a new med.and that cycle starts all over. I think im at the end of the cycle with my current meds. time for new ones! If we do try a new preventative..it will be the 4th one ive tried. I've had daily headaches/migraines for almost 10 years now.
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