someone please please please help me!!!!

[Buttercuppy]

I'm 20 years old and I have been suffering from frequent severe migraines since the age of 8. Normally I'll get an aura before I get one or I'll just wake up with it, and often they are accompanied by vomiting. I have tried sooo many different medicines it's ridiculous! I tried relpax, elavil, zoloft, immitrex, maxalt, and the list goes on. With all these medicines I notice they work for awhile then it's almost as if my body becomes immune to it. It's at the point where no OTC medicines help at all anymore. I have taken every pain reliever I can get my hands on and the same thing happens; they work for awhile then nothing. Sleeping used to help get rid of them but that too has gone out the window. I have had at least 20 MRI's since I started getting them and every time they come back clean. I've also tried going to the chiropractor and that doesn't work either. Is it possible there is something the doctors are missing?? I've heard so many scary things about doctors missing life threatening things in these cases. Can ANYONE suggest anything I should ask my doctors to test for or any medicines that have really really helped? I am literally crying typing this my head hurts soo bad please someone help me out!

[LifesAHeadache]

God Bless You - I know how hard it is.  You were diagnosed at 8 for migraines so I seriously don't think you have a life threatening disease.  What have they given you for pain?  You need a narcotic pain medication until they figure this out.  Obviously OTC's are not working.  Do you have health insurance.  If the headache is that severe, go to the ER.  You have to break the headache or you become just stuck in the cycle.  How much Elevil did you try, if it was like 25mg a night - no good - you have to build up to like 100mg a night.  It will knock you out and put you into a sleep that is "restorative".  I like the melatonin idea because I think the "type" of sleep can be so important.  In fact I'm going to try it.  Also, take the magnesium - even if you don't think it is working just keep taking it - it can take a while but you are only 20, you are going to have these headaches for a while.  I would also go the OB/GYN and see if you can get your hormone levels measured.  I am basically in your same situation.  Sometimes I worry when the pain gets so bad that I will have a stroke.  I too was diagnosed at 8 years old - yep throwing up all over the place.  The fact that you are crying means depression can be a factor.  Also, once my headache gets to a certain level I start crying even when I don't mean to.  I think the Serotonin goes down so low, emotions set in.  I took the maximum dose of Topamax and it did nothing for me.  But it does help a lot of people.  You have to keep trying preventatives also.  There are so many.Take Care

[needanswers54]

Your poor thing!  I empathize with you as I have had migraine for over fiftenn years and daily for over five years.

Some of the above suggestions were really good.

You say your MRIs are clean.  Did you have a spinal MRI (especially C-spine) with and without contrast; and what about your optic nerves?  There is also MRIs with higher power such as the 3Tesla which can pick-up abnormalities that the normal 1.5 tesla MRIs miss.

Have you been checked for anti-phospholipid disorder and other autoimmune disorders?  Has your thyroid function been checked?  Any diabetes?  All these things can cause ongoing migraine problems.  

I presume you are seeing a neurologist.  If not, a neuro specializing in migraine and pain management is probably in order.  I am not a doctor:  but, I have walked the road of migraine pain, also.

Best wishes for pain relief to you.  Have a good holiday season.  

[wgray]

My daughter has been on Topamax for over a year.  She is wanting to get off of it and has tried once.  It worked for months but hasn't worked much since the end of October.  The side effects are no longer worth while.  Good luck!

[Tejila]

Try melatonin right before you go to bed. Changed my sister's life.

[noops01]

Hi,

I would suggest you to try taking magnesium supplement which is readily available at the local pharmacy. Magnesium is known to benefit migraine patients whose migraine cannot be controlled by a current therapy. There are no side efffects. I suggest you give it a try! Good luck!

[Buttercuppy]

Thank you I will ask about that. I'm just afraid any other medicines I start taking will end up the same as always, working the first few times then nothing.

[wife12]

I suffer from migranes severly.  I am on Topamax and it really helps.  It is used to reduce the amount of headaches you get.  I usually suffer from 3 to 4 headaches a week and since I started Topamax I now only have maybe 2 to 3 headaches a month if that.  I strongly suggest that you try this because migranes are just something that you should not have to deal with.  Talk to your doctor, but if I were you I would really get on this and you will see a change.  There are some side affects, but they are one you can live with compared to dealing with headaches.

[wgray]

So sorry about your migraines.  Assume you have had your eyes checked.  Some med.s can change your prescription.  My daughter is getting some help with her migraines doing the biofeedback.  In the past, she has used an accupuncturist for the pain.  It was time consuming but effective.  There are also headache clinics your doctor can refer you to.  Don't know much about them.  My daughter is going to one at the end of the month.  A friend of mine had really good results with the Botox injections.  Good luck.

[Buttercuppy]

Another thing, the migraines are always behind my right eye, sometimes the left. But never in my forehead or temples or anything.