botox last option?

Calen

Regular Member

Joined : Aug 2014

Posts : 36

Posted 5/9/2016 2:34 AM (GMT 0)

Hi all. Here's my 'quick' story. I'm 25 yrs old and have had migraines since I was 10. Tried elavil for a while, switched to topamax which has worked perfectly (minus some minor side effects) for about 10 years. But this past year, I've had constant migraines and headaches. For the few migraines I used to get, imitrex was a magic pill, knocked it out in a couple hours. The combo triptans never worked (relpax). Now imitrex does nothing. Cambia helps bring the pain down a little but not for long. I take zofran for nausea which also seems to do little now. Phenergan did nothing.

These migraines now linger 2+ weeks and are now only breaking with a medrol pack. I've been to the ER twice since november and went to the neuro clinic once last week for an infusion of DHE to break this latest migraine up but the pain and nausea are still lingering. My neuro added magnesium, b2, and nortriptyline in February. The daily headaches seemed to be finally decreasing but then I got yet another killer migraine. So I'm trying botox in June. If this doesn't work, it seems I'm pretty well out of options. Anyone have advice on the botox or other possible treatments? I cannot take beta blockers because I have low blood pressure and have had multiple syncopal episodes.

To further complicate things, I have a collagen deficiency that frequently causes severe joint pains. But taking anything for it like NSAIDs or tramadol can trigger a migraine. So it's just been this awful cycle and I'm getting extremely frustrated. My neuro is a headache specialist but I've gotten no answers about why the migraines have suddenly increased in frequency and why I'm now having 24/7 headaches in addition. I've changed my work schedule to work days (I'm an RN and was on nights for a year) which hasn't made a difference as we hoped. I eat healthy, drink minimal caffeine, and exercise plenty. I am supposed to start full-time grad school in the fall at my dream school but now am seriously considering having to defer a year. I don't know how I could manage a course load when I already miss 1-2 days of work a month and the rest of the time I feel like I'm dragging.

So again:
any experiences with botox to share?
any other advice to offer?

BnotAfraid

Forum Moderator

Joined : Apr 2012

Posts : 8865

Posted 5/9/2016 3:15 PM (GMT 0)

Botox did not help me. I did the three month and only had 2 weeks of relief each time.

In 2008 I tried Neurontine went up to 1250. That doc, used not combo, just this med. It did nothing for my pain.

Four weeks ago, the Doc at Jefferson Univers in Phila, PA added Neurontine to my combo starting at 600mg, I noticed on my pain calender and myself that the pain was going from 6-8 and 10's down to 5-7's. So last week it as increased to 700mg. Now most of the day I have levels of 3-5 and have had NO 10,s since.

The POINT here is, if your current doctor wants to try a med that you have used before, that did not work. Stay positive and allow the doc to do their job. They are not just guessing. They know different combos of meds do different things. Have faith in the good Neuros!

Are you on a migraine diet? Look it up, it is on most migraine sites. Basically a whole for diet with out food dyes and artificial sweetners.
Most people have a noticable change in pain level.

Also, if you are on media alot, phone, pad, etc. cut your time in half.
Our eyes were not made to see that light for so long and our neck were not made to be bent for that long.

Peace
Trina

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