1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Migraines Suck

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Chat' started by Lhammer28, Jun 27, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Lhammer28

    Lhammer28 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    747
    Location:
    Milwaukee
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Does anyone here get migraines? Ive been getting them for 11 years and they are not getting any better... I have tried everything and nothing helps. I get them almost daily, and the Topamax worked best for me, but for certain reasons, I had to get off of it. Now in stuck with Imatrex, Compazine and Naproxen. Oxycodone when its real bad. I have tried changing the way I eat (Cut out sugar, cheese, wine, all the fun stuff) Ive tried acupuncture &had a consultation at the Chiropractor, Im just a little scared to actually try it, eventho he said he could help....
    Any thing off the beaten path I could try??
     
  2. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    10,096
    Location:
    At the tables
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    in order to fix it you have to figure out what's causing them. it could be as simple as one item in your diet or your laundry detergent, etc. my wife had all kinds of issues including migraines until she found out it was gluten causing it all. she cut that out of her diet and all those issues went away in a few weeks. from what we've figured out, most of these types of chronic issues are caused by some kind of allergy.
     
  3. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2009
    Messages:
    16,023
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    175
    I had my first and only one about 6 months ago and really didn't know what it was. Took some aspirin, went and laid down. Later on, I'm praying to the porcelain bowl. Very nasty! My sil was staying with us at the time and she apparently gets them all the time.

    If she didn't say what is it is, I would call it a very bad hangover, except I wasn't drinking.

    Best of luck to you!
     
  4. FXT

    FXT VIP Whale

    Joined:
    May 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,033
    Location:
    San Jose, California
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    I would get them a few days a month and we narrowed it to a medicine called Sulfasalazine I was on. Only thing that semi helped were a few motrins and keeping my eyes closed in a quiet dark room (sunlight/sound would make me want me want to put holes in my head to relieve the pressure). I eventually switched meds and they went away for the most part.

    If you have periods of a few days when you dont get them, I would log everything in a journal and then compare with the days you do.
     
  5. MangoPort

    MangoPort High-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2011
    Messages:
    764
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    I get migraines AND tension headaches (bad posture, sitting at a desk all day) so as soon as I have a headache I have to stop and figure out what type of headache it is and treat it accordingly.

    Tension headache - advil and a massage.
    Migraine - lie down in a dark room.

    I have yet to really identify what causes mine but my mom and aunt get them very badly so genetics are definitely a part of it.
     
  6. MNVegasgal

    MNVegasgal Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2003
    Messages:
    416
    Location:
    Twin Cities, MN
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Ask you Dr. About Maxalt.. (it is now in Generic form). It has been my saving grace... if I feel a migraine coming on.. I take it an can usually get it stopped before it gets bad. Sulfites, Smoke and Barametric pressure changes are my triggers. I have to have the AC on all summer.. but it helps.
     
  7. Keyser Soze

    Keyser Soze Low-Roller

    Joined:
    May 2, 2013
    Messages:
    484
    Location:
    right behind you
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    ljwham73-

    I know exactly what you are going through. Sorry, I have no answer. For some of us, I don't think there is an answer.

    I quit looking for one. I just take it.
     
  8. Lhammer28

    Lhammer28 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    747
    Location:
    Milwaukee
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    I think my Dr told offered me to try Maxalt, I just looked it up to see if there was something preventing me from taking it, doesn't seem like it, but I am going to ask my Dr on my next apt to see what she says.

    I still, after 11 years, cannot figure out what triggers them. When I feel like I have narrowed it down, something else comes along that could be it. Ibe had spinal taps and a couple MRI's so I know its nothing serious. I just heard recently, that they are making connections with Peanut Butter and migraines, I was a HUGE PB eater, stopped that and I am still having them, not as often, seeing as I was eating toast and PB daily for a month or so, but I cut that out, unfortunately.

    And yes, I feel like just taking a pain pill and pushing thru it. But I really wish there was something else.....maybe I will try the gluten free diet for a little bit and see if that changes anything.....
     
  9. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2011
    Messages:
    4,201
    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    36
    Have you been to the Comprehensive Headache Center at the Wheaton Franciscan on 27th & Oakwood (in Franklin)?

    My wife developed migraines suddenly and often about six years ago. She was referred to Dr. Traci Purath, and now gets migraines once every couple of months. She is on Gabapentin and Tizanidine daily, and her rescue med is a needleless, injectable Sumavel. Botox injections were also part of the solution until my wife was weaned off of them about a year ago.

    Dr. Purath started the Comprehensive Headache Clinic, which not only focused on the medicine, but there are specialists in nutrition, massage and there is a psychologist on staff, too (but he is useless). My wife is very happy there.

    However, Dr. Purath has moved on and is starting something new. The Comprehensive Headache Clinic is still going strong, and Dr. Purath's website is very vague, with the quote "I always told myself that if there came a time when the “business” of medicine got in the way of my ability to care for patients, I would do something about it." To me, it reads like she is tired of insurance hassles. However once her new venture is set up, I am sure my wife will give her a call.
     
    USBC Nationals are back in Vegas
  10. mjames1229

    mjames1229 # of visits includes only trips w/ hotel stays

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2011
    Messages:
    4,201
    Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    36
    I get migraines very infrequently. Last one was right after Thanksgiving. But when I do get them (I've repurposed my wife's Sumavel, too) throwing up is almost like my body climaxing... I am miserable until I get sick, then my body calms down and allows me to sleep it off. Sometimes I wake up and that cycle repeats, but not too often.
     
    USBC Nationals are back in Vegas
  11. LolaDoggie

    LolaDoggie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2009
    Messages:
    4,299
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    6
    I've got other health issues, thank God migraines aren't one of them. Those things truly suck. I've only had a few genuine migraines and my heart goes out to anybody who gets them regularly.

    Based on my experience with other health issues though, I can second the idea of keeping a journal and doing an elimination diet to try to find out what your triggers are. You might have to think way out of the box and consider things you wouldn't think would bother you. It's a long, boring process and you feel like an ocd weirdo with your log notes.

    I'll give you an example from my experience. I have irritable bowel. I tried every kind of diet out there. I had heard about gluten as a possible trigger but couldn't wrap my head around the idea. Don't people tell you to eat toast when you're sick? Anyway, after finally exhausting myself with a bad spell of ibs, I did a 2 week no gluten trial. My stomach cleared right up. So, I kept going with it. Eventually, I added back in the things I had suspected of being ibs triggers for me, one at a time, and none of them bothered me. It was the gluten all along. It's been about 18 months now and my system has healed enough that I can tolerate small amounts of gluten about twice a month. But, I'll never go back to my old regular diet.

    My other question is, how is your blood pressure? High blood pressure or fluctuating blood pressure will give you a nasty headache.

    I was getting headaches that started at exactly 4am almost every day. I have allergies, sinus trouble and I'm sensitive to air pressure, so that's how I explained away the headaches. My blood pressure had been a bit up but fairly steady the times it was checked at my family doc. The times it was higher than that, they said it was "white coat" or I was under stress and dismissed it. During our last trip to Vegas I was miserable. I had swelled up pretty bad on the plane and stayed swollen most of the trip. And the headaches put a damper on the trip. I went back to the family doc after that and said I think something's wrong with my blood pressure. We started monitoring it twice a week and within a few weeks we saw that it was taking wild up and down swings. He got me on blood pressure medication and it's back to normal and steady. The best part is, no more headaches.

    I wish you luck with it.
     
  12. Joe Strummer

    Joe Strummer VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2006
    Messages:
    5,109
    I've only had two migraines ---
    many years apart
    and that was PLENTY enough for me.
    I can't imagine having them daily !
    .
    I don't have any answer -
    but mine was caused by
    an incident --
    and it was a "post stress trauma" reaction.
     
  13. Lhammer28

    Lhammer28 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    747
    Location:
    Milwaukee
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    Lola- My BP is always pretty normal, there was one time that it was high, but other than that, its been pretty average.

    I have logged what I was eating, wearing, using....I know that certain smells are the worst, working in a casino isn't the best place for a migraine sufferer, but I like my job and only work 3-4 days a week....so its not too bad, I just kinda suffer thru.

    and I have not heard of the clinic in Franklin, its right down the street from me, actually, I have heard of Botox being used for treatment and saw a Neurologist who specialized in that, but never even mentioned it to me, he just took me off all of my pills that I was on bc he thought I was getting more rebound headaches than migraines since I was on so much. Well, after 6 months of NOTHING for the migraines, not even Excedrin :( I was still getting them.
    But I was irritated with that DR I didn't want to go back to him. So that clinic seems like something I will look in to. Thank You so much....
     
  14. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2010
    Messages:
    9,414
    Location:
    Florida
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    32
    For Migraines 2 Excedrin and a coke. That usually kicks it out.

    My wife had a headache for 20+ days straight and found out it was hormones.
    Not sure of your age but as one gets older hormones can become more off balance and more critical.

    Best of luck.
     
  15. CaliMike

    CaliMike “My home away from home”

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2010
    Messages:
    436
    Location:
    Central Cali
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    34
    I have had migraines for over 10 years now. I don't get them every day like you do, but about once or twice a month average. My Neurologist told me not
    to take Excedrin because of rebound headaces. That was no problem for me because they would work for some headaches but not my migraines.

    He ended up prescribing me Treximet. They have worked for me. When I feel a migraine coming on (sensitivity to light, aura, dizziness etc.) I take one as soon as possible and take a nap in a dark cool room. When I wake up it is gone. I will still have the after affects of the migraine (my head feels a little cloudy) but not be in any pain anymore.

    I am glad I found Treximet, because nothing else has helped me as much as that.
     
  16. Keyser Soze

    Keyser Soze Low-Roller

    Joined:
    May 2, 2013
    Messages:
    484
    Location:
    right behind you
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    999
    2 Excedrin and a Coke???

    That's like trying to kill a freaking grizzly bear with a squirt gun.

    You don't know what a migraine is. Consider yourself lucky.
     
  17. BlondWidow

    BlondWidow Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    459
    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    14
    Actually, that's what a doctor told one of my friends to try who ended up in the hospital with a migraine. So it does work for some. It's worked for me too. I haven't had one in years thankfully.
     
  18. Lhammer28

    Lhammer28 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    747
    Location:
    Milwaukee
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    10
    my cousin swears my Excedrin & Mt. Dew, when her Imatrex doesn't work, or she doesn't feel like injecting herself... Oddly enough I just went and bought some Bayer Migraine and a Dt. Dew.. 45 mins or so later, its finally gone after 3 days of HELL! I took two oxycodone yesterday and that didn't even work, I know that just masks the pain, and within 3 hrs it was back....

    Lets just hope tis episode is gone for a while....
     
  19. floridavegas

    floridavegas Low-Roller

    Joined:
    May 9, 2012
    Messages:
    263
    Location:
    Clearwater Beach, Fl
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    12
    Lots of very good advice.. I've suffered migraines for many years and take propranolol, topamax daily. I've never had high BP, but 20 years ago that is what was given for migraines. Since a hysterectomy my migraines are few and far between.
    It can be: birth control, food triggers, strong perfume/odors, diet.

    You apparently had your "pressure" tested with spinal taps?? if it indeed is pressure, it would be noticeable in your eye pressure.

    Something that works like a charm when I have one coming, or in full blow is compazine. Yes, it sounds odd as it is a anti-nausea medication, however just a compazine will make that awful nauseated feeling go away, and knock that migraine out!

    You can get "tested" for gluten allergies. A celiac panel, a colonoscopy (which is simple), can all help in determining if it is in-fact a gastrointestinal issue.

    Good luck with your meds - hope you feel better soon!
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2013
  20. LolaDoggie

    LolaDoggie VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2009
    Messages:
    4,299
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    6
    You can be sensitive to gluten even if you don't have celiac. I'm not celiac but I'm sensitive to gluten. It's worth getting tested. Gluten never triggered headaches with me though.

    I agree with people mentioning hormones. That can do it as well. A log will let you see if it's following any kind of pattern or cycle.
     
Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.