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Migraine Headache
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Posted 6/17/2009 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently having rebound migraines and I have had them for the past 2 months. Four years ago I was in a rebound cycle before and it lasted about 3 years. I went to many major clinics throughout the country and have had many different treatments. I have been on DHE, steroids, vitamins, had spinal taps, anti-inflammatory drugs, beta blockers, anti seizer medications and anti depression, bio feedback, and hypnosis. I even tried just being really sick for several days and no medication. Nothing really worked other then they just stopped and got better. I went from having to take relpax everyday to only having really bad migraines once a week or every other week with mild headaches in between that could be stopped with anti-inflammatory medication.

I currently am going to a migraine specialist in NYC and he is putting me on a 2nd 10-day steroid regimen. I am on day 3 but for the past two days at the same time, 10 pm all of a sudden get my migraine back strong and end up taking relpax. He tried Migranal prior but that ended up making me worse and I ended up in the ER.
Does anyone know how long the steroids take to start working? Or are they not working and should call my doctor. In addition has anyone else had difficult rebounds and found something that worked?

I am getting very frustrated and upset over this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
thank you!
Posted 6/18/2009 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome to healingwell!!!

I have to say.....taking these medications daily is just continuing your rebound cycle!!!!!

You need to stick to the steriods, follow the doctor's advice strictly and do not give up. With Rebounds it gets more difficult before it gets better.

Have you done some reseach on rebounds (aka medication overuse headaches)??? Here is a good place to start: http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/rebound-headaches

I will be glad to help you in any way I can. Research rebound/medication overuse headaches and I will be around to "talk" tomorrow!
Posted 6/18/2009 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
Not only can the medications itself be the cause but you so need to find your triggers. See an allergist, have the complete work up. Write down EVERYTHING YOU EAT AND DRINK and look for common factors. Write down when migraine comes on, what you were doing, if you were in the sun. I know some people even get migrainese because of weather.
Posted 6/18/2009 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your advice. I know the medication makes the rebound cycle continue. The problem I have is when the pain threshold gets to be 10 times 1000 and then I start throwing up...thats when I don't know between taking relpax or going to the er. I already went once this month because I just tried to bare the pain but then I could not stop throwing up and had to go into the Er.
Luckily I have a really understanding good doctor who gets migraines too! That really helps compared to some doctors I have had in the past.
Its all just very frustrating! Iv been to so many clinics and they all say that I seem to have a complicated case because my body does not respond to the things that work for most people.
Other than migraines I am in good heath, I have a good diet and I do keep a food diary, I also work out 6 days a week (of course that number has gone down this past 2 months because of the rebounds) I know that onions and MSG are a huge triggers! So I avoid those things.
Anyway I feel like I am ranting a bit! Last night the pain was minimal and I was able to get through the night with no relpax. I feel some pain this morning but Im sure that has to do with the rain. I really am hoping these steroids will do the trick!

anyway thanks for listening!
Posted 6/19/2009 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
SMP-
are you taking preventative medications or do you just have "abortives" to take when you are already in pain? I have found that it is much better to take something that keeps you from getting headaches instead of trying to fight them off when they come along.

I can very much understand what you mean by saying you feel like a complicated cause because you dont respond to traditional treatments. I have always been told the same thing. I guess maybe "traditional" treatments aren't all that great!!!

Feel better (and come to rant anytime)
Posted 6/19/2009 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi tysmyboo
I have been on a myriad of preventatives! From anti seizure to beta-blockers, currently I am on low dose Zoloft. I also am taking B2, B12, B6 and omega 3. I have yet to find a good preventative that works. My current doctor wants me to get down to 1 or 2 migraines a month. Since I started getting migraines at around 8 years old (now I'm 22) that has never been my case.
Indomethacin normally works if I take it at the first sign (like when the pain is 1-4). If I were to wake up in bad pain or the pain got above a 5 I normally could take relpax along with the Indomethacin and that prevented my migraines from rebounding. This worked for the past 3 years. I’m not exactly sure why this rebound has been so difficult to treat. I did just graduate college and I am guessing the stress of finishing my thesis finally caught up with me. Although I'm on day 3 with no use of the rebound causing drugs! Just some mild pain.
I have been reading about Petadolex and was thinking of asking my doctor what he thinks about taking that.

It does amaze me how many people get migraines and we don’t really have a cure for them! I pray that they come up with more treatment options not just for myself but also the chance that one day when I have kids they could get them too! Migraines run in both my mom and dads side of the family.
thank you!
Posted 6/22/2009 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I was terrified of passing the head pain issues on to my daughter as well!!! (still am...)

Anyway, I am with you...I can NOT wait until there are better ways to help us out. Some type of "test" to PROVE we aren't crazy would be nice too!?

ahhh, can you imagine? an x-ray sort of things that shows "MIGRAINE" and it would be a lot faster to get past that doctor denial that anything is wrong.

There are particular migraines that respond to Indomethacin, did you know that? see here http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14731379
Posted 6/22/2009 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
Sara..Sara..Sara....I second that one girl!! A test to PROVE we actually have migraines.....that indeed would put a "stop" to many of the "rolling of the eyes" I get when I tell people that I don't feel well!!

Not that I should care what people think.....BUT with not having to be able to work due to them has added a LOT more stress on me with having to deal with the more "difficult" people in my life that think I'm probably just full of "bs" (is that allowed to say on here)...?? tee hee..

Perhaps that is one of my "triggers"...."trying to deal with people that there's just NO dealing with"....ya think??

Krista
Posted 6/22/2009 6:36 AM (GMT 0)
EXACTLY...again, with this weekend, My Mom was going into DEPTH about my sister's back issues and oh, how bad it MUST be...but because there is nothing on MY x-ray/MRI (other than white matter lesions) there is NOTHING wrong with me?!!?

ug, well...I know differently. As a matter of fact I just try to keep my "issues" to myself. Its hard not saying you feel bad when you are in so much pain, but that's where I am these days. My husband knows tho- he just looks at me and he understands what I'm feeling.
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