what do i have to do to make my migrains go away ?

[caro24]

I dont know what to do anymore. My pain has taken over my life. I'm 23 yrs. old, and I'm not in school and I'm not working. My migrains are so bad, I wake up with pain and go to bed with pain. I'm basicly in pain 24/7. this all started in October of 2007, right after i turned 23. So yeah, my birthday is next month. The extreme bad pain really started in may of 2008. I haven't been the same since then. And at that time I was in school. Anyways, I also been having lower back and shoulder pain. this pain has been there for almost about a year. A little after this pain started the migrains began. My doctor thinks it could be fibromyalgia. But I just saw a specialist on Aug. 6th, and he just thinks its a typical migrain. He said it cant be fibromyalgia, cause im too young. mostly older people get it. all I know is that something is wrong, and I need help.Im practically a prisoner in my own home. a tipical day for me is lying down on the sofa and taking pain killers, which at times dont help. please someone help me, im trying to get my life together again. I live in beautiful San Diego, and wasn't able to go to the beach as much as other summers. PLEASE PLEASE if anyone knows any answers for me, please respond back. THANKS VERY MUCH !!!!!!

[patsy10]

When you say pain killers, what meds are you referring to?  The only medications that work for migraines are medications that are made just for them.  A true migraine is a vascular headache caused by spasms of the blood vessel followed by dilation of the vessel.  The migraine meds stop the dilation of the vessel and then the headache is gone.  Regular pain killers will not touch a migraine.  Some foods trigger migraines.  You can google for a complete list.  Some are processed meats like lunch meat, hot dogs, bacon...anything with nitrite in it can trigger it.  Alcohol is another one.  Birth control pills can worsen migraines.  I've had them all my life.  The prescription medications work very well.  There are many treatments out there.

[missnanny]

October of 2007?

Did you have flu symptoms then?  What was going on differently then than before?  What job did you have?  Any new people show up in your life?  I suspect a chemical exposure for 'the flu' and that also causes the kinds of things you are mentioning ... and a whole lot more.

[PlateletGal]

There are only two things that will knock out one of my severe migraine headaches. The first is a medication called "Relepex". It is very expensive (over $70 for only 3 pills) and your insurance plan may not cover the expense. The other thing that worked for me was massage therapy. I would usually get tuina massage or a deep tissue massage. Often, one half hour massage would not do the trick and the following day I would need to go back for another massage.

Good luck !

[Lola_mama]

I am 24 and was diagnosed with Fibro almost 3 years ago.  Fibro affects all age groups.  I have all the EXACT same symptoms that you described.  I have also had a headache that started a little over 2 months ago with Migraines every other week or so.  My headaches are constant and run up the back of my head and cause the headaches to become more severe throughout the day.  Is this your experience also?  What kind of specialist did you see?  I was diagnosed by a Rheumatologist who put pressure on severe different parts of my body to determine if I responded to the typical fibro trigger spots.  I reacted to EVERY single one of the 18 trigger points.  They say that if you react to 11 or more, there's a strong possibility you have Fibromyalgia.  

I noticed that you said you were taking pain pills all day.  I just wanted to let you know that I have plenty of experience with opiates since I was diagnosed with this and can PROMISE you that it's not a good road to go down.  I was given Lortabs right off the bat and I hardly ever took them at first because I didn't like them, but after a while I needed them.  I am a mom and have never been into drugs or even alcohol really, but in no time at all I was completely hooked on those pills.  I got myself up to 12 pills a day after 2 years of taking them.  Now I have spent the past 7 months staying away from those things and it's damn hard!  I would not wish for anyone to have to go through the pain and addiction that I went through and had to painfully quit, all because of chronic pain!  Yes, I do have a lot of pain now, but there are many other alternatives out there to help, and even pain does not rob a person as much of there life as drug addiction will.  I promise!  

I wish you the best of luck in finding a diagnosis.  As you will see in this forum, all of us are still dealing with this and living this way.  Some have found things that help a little, but no one has completely gotten rid of all the symptoms.  Keep going and be strong!  Don't take no for an answer.  Find answers!  You know your body, and you know when things aren't right!  We are here for you and behind you all the way!  Feel free to ask me any questions if you want.  I know we are a similar age, so maybe I can let you in on what I've gone through and learned along the way, and hopefully it will help you in finding answers!

Good Luck!!

[Phtartist]

Caro - I am a migraine sufferer for over 40 years.  I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia since after 1995.  I had severe headaches with the FM associated with the EBV that triggered the FM.  Five years ago the neurological aspects of FM took a strong hold on me and my migraines have occured on the average of 4 times a week with migraine hangovers the other 3 days a week.  

Topamax put a stop to the migraine madness in its tracks !!!!  I have been migraine free until recently which has been five years.  I highly recommend you trying Topamax.  It is a preventive medacation.  

Since I have been having breakthrough symptoms lately at 150 mg. my dr. now sees fit to put me on  Cymbalta which works on neuralgia   a componant of migraines and is approved by the FDA for FM.  

I need to let you know that my stress level (my greatest trigger)  has been extremely high these past few months.  This may be the reason for this latest flare up.

I hope I Have helped.

[APE861]

HI I SYFFERED FROM MIGRAINS TO I'M 46 YEARS OLD. ITS WHAT YOU EAT STRESS AND BLOOD PRESSURE FOR ME. WHEN I GET MIGRAINS ITS ONLY ON ONE SIDE OF MY HEAD. THEN I GO IN A DARK ROOM AND PLACE A COLD PACK AND TAKE MY PILLS THE DOCTOR GIVE ME WHICH IS FIORINAL/COD 30MG AND IT HELPS VERY MUCH. I HAVE NOT GOTTON THEM IN A WHILE I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE TOO BUT ITS BEEN DOING REALLY GOOD. THAT fibromyalgia IS MAYBE BUT ITS EXPOSE TO ME 10 PARTS OF YOUR BODY THAT HURT THEY HAVE A NUMBER FOR THAT YOU CAN CALL OR EMAIL THEM. LOOK ALL THIS UP ON THE COMPUTER AND THEY WILL TELL YOU EVRY THING. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU.
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