still have pills, took one yesterday

I had a migraine from you know where yesterday and I took a pill.  Against all of your advice, I did not get rid of them.  I'm scared to be without them, have a migraine and not be able to take care of my 3 year old daughter.  When I get migraines, I just go into my room, cover the windows, turn off the phone, lights and any sound.  I let my daughter watch videos in the living room and come out every 10 minutes to sit with her for a few minutes, then retreat to my room again to barf and moan.  I'm desperately afraid of the pain and I did so well for 6 days, no pills.  What's wrong with me?  Do I need rehab?  I'm 12 weeks pregnant and OB knows about the pills, prescribes them.  I don't think about them until that aura and headache come on and then I feel hopeless because I don't want to start all over again with getting sober.  
I just don't know what to do and I feel like I'm a horrible person for taking the medicine yesterday...

[lonote]

Why don't you tell the doc about needing pain meds for migrains? they have special medician for migrains that work well that aren't narcotic.The pills are for more than migrains.You have a real problem sweetheart. Your 12 weeks preg, are you planning staying addicted through out your pergnancy?Your not a horrible person. You are a human woman with a problem. I think your using
the migrins as an excuse, and you don't like to be without the pills.One day you'll have to take someones advice and clean up otherwise you and your clide (children are in for a life of misery. How often do you get these headaches? I understand they are painful. One las thing, noones hopeless,
but remember everytime you take narcotics that unborn child you are caring  is helpless.  You doc that is giving you these meds, by the way, what are you taking, I'm not familiar with your story,
needs to pull his head out of his azz. I'll never understand docs giving pregnant women that are addicts narcotics. You need to be straight with the doc. Thats just my opinion and i don't mean to be harsh, but I can dance around it hon, cuz of the baby your carring. Good luck. I hope you overcome this horror of a disease.   Cathy

[Amphora]

I agree with Cathy.  I have a friend who suffers from migraine headaches.  Her physician prescribes a self-injection "pen" of a non-narcotic pain reliever specific to migraines (I forget the name of the medication).  When my friend has a bad migraine, she self-injects with the "pen" and the migraine is gone within 1/2 hour.  You might consider asking your physician(s) about non-narcotic pain relievers specific to migraine headaches.  Best of luck to you!  Mike

[jce1983]

Sorry, I'm not sure what pills you are talking about. If you could tell me i could try to guide you to something else to help. I get bad tension headaches and i am an addict so it is hard for docs to treat. Good luck!

[migsufferer]

I'm taking fioricet for the migraines.  I get them about 4 times per week and they last about 12 hours.  I've used Imitrex and Zomig in the past, but I have an adverse allergic reaction of my face swelling, which concerns the doc.  In emergencies, I go to the ER to get an injection of Tordal (sp?), but cannot do that often in pregnancy.  I've tried plain Tylenol but no help.  Aspirin helps a bit, but I'm not allowed to take that in pregnancy because of the thinning of blood.  I've used the Fioricet for about a year and during that year I went through intense physical therapy and was about to go into surgery when I got pregnant.  The plan with my OB and Neurologist is to get me through week 20, then take me off the medication completely.  I don't really have cravings when I don't have the migraine, but when I do have the migraine I can only think about making the pain go away.  I feel like I cannot handle another moment of the pain, I feel a bit insane when it happens.  I've never been addicted to anything before, never drink, smoke, do drugs before this.  I don't like being out of control.  It's just the pain that is making me crazy!

[jce1983]

I too take fioricet every now and then for tension headaches. What it is if you don't already know is 300mg of acetaminophen, 40 mg of caffine, and 50mg of butalbital ( a barbiturate) and that is what is the dangerous element in the med. Chances are if thats what helps you and the others don't, you may not have migraines, you might have tension headaches like me. Butalbital is addictive and can be harmful to your unborn fetus and acctually cause withdrawl (withdrawal) in the baby so you should taper off rather than stop abruptly, which can be dangerous for both of you. If these do help your headaches, then maybe you can start them after you have the baby as long as you are not breast feeding, cause barbs cross into breast milk. But if you do kick them, which is 110% possible, it would be best to stay away from them all together. As far as your headaches try heating pads on the back of your neck and close your eyes in a dark quiet room for a bit. It seems stupid, thats what I thought when I was told to do these things but they do help! Oh, toradol is kinda like a strong motrin, it is an nsaid (non-steroidal anti-inflammitory) which is not narcotic or addictive. You should have a CT scan after you have the baby (because of harmful radiation) to see if there is any other cause. Good luck and let me know what goes on.

[debsally]

As a Migraine victim, I totally understand your need for relief.  I would definately consult with your doc and OB doc re what is the best course of treatment for your migraines that is the safest for the baby.  I am sure that if the docs are good and care, they will help you.  If they dont, time to get new docs.  Let me know if I can be of assistance.  I was in the medical field for 12 years.  

Stay strong.

love,

Debbie

[migsufferer]

Thank you all very much for your input.  I've been feeling rather down that I took the medication the other day.  The hardest part of all of this is the withdrawls.  I'm doing all that's possible to avoid going through that again and at the same time following my doctor's advice.  I do and still am using other methods to kick the migraines as they come, that's why I've been able to taper down on the medication and go some time without it.  I'm glad I'm not feeling physically bad yesterday or today because of taking the medication the other day.