I am a 25 year old female, have two daughters, the first at age 20 and second at age 23. My migraines started shortly after I had my first child. My migraines were very severe when taking oral contraceptives, but when I stopped taking them they got less severe. Almost all episode come with nausea and about 50% of times vomiting. The migraines are throbbing, very severe and coming instantly, not gradually. I am very sensitive to light, smell and noise when I have an episode, and my eye and area of the eye hurts on the side of the migraine. After my second child was born the migraines got more frequent, about 1-2 times a week sometimes lasted 2-3 days, the longest lasted 10 days. For years the migraines where untreated due to no medical insurance, recently I got enrolled in a good health plan through my employer.... so I went to my doc. They did a CT scan without contrast, but that was negative. No MRI. Then I got referred to a Neurologist Who put me on Topamax, which got the migraines less frequent but not as expected, now I am down to about 3 times a month. It still feels a lot because they last for days and they come on suddenly. I have two young kids and I am unable to take care of anything during these episodes. I have to isolate myself from everything for hours, sometimes for all day.
The Neu doc did not send me to do an MRI which I feel she should have done that, I don't know if there is a difference in getting any results from an MRI that a CT cannot pick up... She just told me to take the Topamax 50mg 2 times a day and when I have an episode she gave me Imitrex shots (which does not help at all, and costs a lot) and gave me heavy pain pills to take. I cannot drive with these pills so I am not able to work.
I feel these migraines are effecting my work, my private life and it is very depressing...
Sometimes I feel I should look for another doctor, who may be able to help me get rid of my migraines, or at least help me have fewer... I have tried everything.. eating right, getting in a little exercise in my life... I do not drink or smoke at all and no caffeine at all!!!
I did not mention earlier that I do have fainting spells here and there, and before my episodes my hands and feet swell up so I can't wear my wedding ring at all...
do you think I should consult with another doc and get and MRI? I got blood work done too before they said that was fine...