now this too? ... migraine

[Bikingmomof3]

East Hill,
You have had some terrible experiences with doctors and I am sorry.

I see my Neurologist in 90 minutes. *sigh*

Male Doctor--you're a girl, a hypochondriac, and we think you're coming here because you're addicted to Demerol. We're going to recommend that you have a CAT scan.

Pity they chose Demerol. Again, I am sorry for your experiences. I am glad you received at least a CT-scan.

TheMale Doctor--after having me point out that the magazine I had just read in his waiting room would seem to indicate that I was suffering from migraines--Oh, do you get really bad headaches? Are they one sided? Do you get nausea? Do you get aura?
AWHHSCATS--yes, yes, yes, no.
Male Doctor--Well, you might have migraines. Here, try this ergot and see if it works.

I was in a trial study for ergotomine years ago. It failed me, but I hear it does indeed help many.

TheOddly, the last year and a half I have started having migraine fortifications, but without getting a migraine following the phenonenom. Here's a simulation for those you who don't know what we are talking about--although the image is static, and the fortifications are moving constantly. Mine also appear more as big jagged zig zag lines (it's about 3/4 of the way down the page):

http://ohiolionseyeresearch.com/simu...n%20Phenomenon

Cool picture. My aura is completely different, but they are so many types of migraine out there.

yes, they can increase your chances for having strokes.

I am living proof of that. 2 TIAs( transient ischemic attack) in my early 30s, 1 Stroke (age 37) with partial left sided paralysis, new medication and then 2 more 2 TIAs (transient ischemic attack) (age 37), at my last appoitment the neurologist increased medication and blood thinners.

I strongly recommend anyone with severe migraines or auras, seek out a Neurologist who at the very least should do an MRI with and without contrast.
Keep a migraine journal, so when you go to your doctor, you can take the pages with your for your medical records.

Time to get ready for yet another visit to the Neurologist. Hopefully he will not order more tests.

[East Hill]

I think the funniest part of the whole experience was that I was not addicted to Demerol. I was just tired of the doctors not being able to help me. I mean, if I'm dying of a brain tumour, tell me. And then give me those pain meds, darn it.

My husband tells me that he once, and only once, had a migraine. He was very young, about 13 or so. He had the fortifications, followed by a blinding headache. He has told me that he finally went to sleep, and when he awoke, he had a feeling of euphoria, as if it was the first time he had ever woken up, because he no longer had the migraine.

He's quite empathetic about the migraines, as one might expect.

Luckily for me, Imitrex works like a charm. I couldn't use the ergotamine, as I didn't have aura. Ergot only works well if it's used before the actual onset of the migraine.

East Hill

[Bikingmomof3]

I am so glad Imitrex works well for you. Sadly, as with most migraine medications, I am allergic to it.

I keep procrastinating and my appointment time is drawing near. I am tired. Two and a half decades of this really wears me out sometimes.

Hey, maybe he will show me more pictures of my brain.

[East Hill]

Yes, I consider myself very fortunate that not only does the Imitrex work, it still works. I've been using it since it first became available in the US, around 1993. I've known people who can no longer use it because they built up a tolerance to it.

East Hill

[KnottedYet]

BMo3 - good thoughts for you at your appt!

Ergotamine didn't work for me, either. My visual goodies remind me of those stop-action films of roses blooming; only my "roses" are glowing and blooming backwards. A few times I've gotten blind spots, where it's like someone just "pinched out" part of the world. Those are creepy, because I can't see what's there, and can't tell there's anything missing unless I look around.

[Bikingmomof3]

BMo3 - good thoughts for you at your appt!

Ergotamine didn't work for me, either. My visual goodies remind me of those stop-action films of roses blooming; only my "roses" are glowing and blooming backwards. A few times I've gotten blind spots, where it's like someone just "pinched out" part of the world. Those are creepy, because I can't see what's there, and can't tell there's anything missing unless I look around.

Thanks Knot.

I see black spots which eventually make me temporarily blind.

[Duck on Wheels]

My headaches have almost always been one-sided. So maybe I've had migraines all along, but only figured it out when I got the aura thing. My aura looks kind of like a circle saw blade made of broken glass and mirror bits, turning round and round, expanding, and then opening up in the middle as normal vision returns. Pretty, in a nasty sort of way. As for the headaches -- the old ones I could generally deal with using an acupressure point (pinching hard on the sinew in the web between thumb and first finger on the opposite side hand from the headache), or pain meds, or codeine strength pain meds -- depending on intensity. This new one, though, lasted 14 hours and besides the main pain on one side also had full-surround pressure. Fortunately it was not intense. I was on my way to bed when it started and hoped it would be gone in the morning. I managed to sleep, but it was still there until around noon. Of course, by then there was no point taking anything since your stomach tends to stop functioning during a migraine. I didn't know that then (learned it from the doc later), but decided as long as I could manage without I'd better wait it out and learn what it was like. Now I know to try an ordinary pain med during the aura phase, then the nose spray stuff if that doesn't work. Can't take ibuprofen, tho. It triggers Crohns flareups.

BMo3: How did it go at the neurologist today (was it today?)? I sure hope they find some treatment that'll help!!!