Thank you to our Spouses

Hey Nicky, et. al....

When you were at your highest frequency of migraines, how often did you have them, and what was your magic combo of meds for getting control of them?  I am currently in the disability process, having previous problems with depression, anxiety and panic disorder, and about four different problems with my back, in addition to several migraines a week. 

I ended a really bad marriage about three years ago, and at this point, my parents are now financially supporting me. I am getting pretty good medical care through a clinic that is run like a regular doctors office, but you pay based on income.   My visits are only $5, my ER trips, and those to specialist doctors or for tests are written off, and almost all my medications I get free from the drug companies. 

I live by myself in a townhouse, about a mile from my parents.  Living with them is NOT an option.  I can't be around my mother that long.  My biggest problem right now is that my migraine abortive medication (Stadol NS) is a narcotic, which I can't get for free from the drug company.  I start to get migraines several times a week, so I can easily go through a bottle of the nasal spray in less than two weeks.  It runs around $45, but here's the thing.  My mother doesn't believe I could possibly be getting that many headaches.  I know she thinks I'm taking some just for fun.  Every time I talk to her about a headache, she doesn't ask anything about me, just how may squirts of Stadol have I taken.  Then she wants to know how many I've taken out of the bottle.  Well, in that condition, I'd be lucky to remember my address and phone number.  Now she even has my father asking, just in case she asked him.  It's crazy.  I also sometimes take Lortab as a backup if the Stadol doesn't work.  It must slow down my speech or something because then she asks how much of that I've had.  The thing is, she asks that even when I haven't had anything, so I can't win for losing.  Anyway, I end up at the ER at least once every week or two because the headache is so bad.  Mom always says she wonders what would happen if I stuck one out without getting a shot?  So inveribly, I always try to stick it out, so I suffer for hours and hours(sometimes more than a day) before giving in and getting my dad to take me for a shot.

I just don't know what to do.  I've been on Topamax for a while 100am/100pm, and this is my really bad season for migraines (Weather is my big trigger).  I want to stay on it a while longer and give it a chance, and I just got some of those Migraine supplements from Walmart that somebody was raving about last week.  I just hope the number of headaches goes down.

OK - Here is the big question.  At your worst, how many migraines did you have per week or per month?

Thanks for the input!

Leigh Ann

Hi Leigh Ann and Sara,

September is also my bad month, when the weather changes. It is so frustrating because I can't control it, no matter how much I am controlling all of my other factors.

Back to your questions Leigh Ann. At my worst I had a "Bad Migraine" 5 out of 7 days and a headache everyday. I got myself caught up in a bad cycle of rebound headaches and psychological stress.

If it helps any, I have a mother very similar to yours. I get calls filled with inuendo like "aren't your headaches gone yet?" I don't think my husband realized either how many and how bad they were either until I couldn't go on anymore and when I first went off sick I stayed in bed a lot.

Psychological counselling was where I started, with a lady that specializes in chronic pain. She has taught me about deep relaxation and I have a recorded relaxation that I use that helps me reduce the pain.

The next step was working with the neurologist to identify triggers and reduce painkillers. I have weaned off painkillers many a time. Sara talks about staying away from OTC medications and triptans and she's absolutely right. They're a nightmare. I am using Topamax and it's not working as well as my neurologist feels it should and he feels its because of the rebound headaches. I've gone from taking 20 - 30 painkillers a day to 2 Tylenol 3s and by the end of September I should be off them completely. I already see a huge reduction in my headaches.

Counselling also helped me see how much I was beating myself up for the headaches. I felt guilty when I had a headache, when I called in sick, when I took pain medication, when someone didn't believe me that I had a headache and I've learned it's not my fault. I have a sickness and it's okay to take care of myself.

I keep my mom at arm's length. I only see her when I'm strong enough to set boundaries, if not I don't need the hassle or the headache. I strive for stability and I don't let people or things knock it off. I exercise as much as possible. I set boundaries with my family, including my husband. I'm eating healthy, avoiding triggers and slowly reducing all of the medications causing rebound headaches.

I'm not there yet but I feel more optimistic than I have in a long time. I'm also taking some natural supplements that are helping, a multivitamin with extra B vitamins, melatonin to help me sleep and valerian root to calm me when I'm feeling really stressed. (I checked with my doctor on all these and he says they're okay).

I hope this helps a bit.

To answer your big question. I HAD HEADACHES EVERYDAY AND STILL DO SOMETIMES. IT IS POSSIBLE. AND ANYONE THAT SAYS ITS NOT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING about.   I HOPE THAT HELPS YOU A BIT TOO.