Migraine

Hi!

My name is Lindsay. I don't suffer from migraines but my boyfriend does. However, his are far more serious than I though a migraine could be. Let me explain.

When he was only 18 months old, he had to have surgery to remove a brain tumor. So, he has a shunt and this tube that runs behind his right ear and down to his mid stomach area. He's suffered migraines his whole life (he's now sixteen) but recently, his migraines are becoming more serious. He throws up constantly (usually on the first day) so, he can't really eat food. I've seen him cry just because he's in so much pain and he becomes very sensitive. I love to joke around but he'll take every joke I make seriously. By the third or fourth day, he's feeling better although a bit out of it from the migraine.

Last Wednesday (April 2), he got another migraine. It started out differently, mostly pressure around the eyes and didn't get bad until that night. He wasn't able to go to school the next day because he didn't get any sleep. He fought the migraine like he usually does, however it never went away. In fact, at times the migraine got a lot worse. His mother (having a broken ankle) has been feeding him percosets so he can fall asleep. Yet, when he wakes up in the mornings he's throwing up and back to square one. But, if he doesn't take the percs, he can't sleep. He is on Topamax for the migraines, along with an anti-depressant (i'm not sure what it is). He also tells me at times he feels like he's having a seizure because he's in so much pain.

Are the percosets having any long lasting effect on him? Or, could there be something seriously wrong? He's going to a doctor tomorrow but I'm terrified. He is still suffering from that migraine. I saw him yesterday and for awhile he was fine. Then, after he ate he started feeling it come back. Last night he called me and told me he was back to day one and his mom just gave him more percs. I talked to his brother later that night and found out he was still throwing up.

So please! If there's anything you know that can help him, that would be wonderful. I'm scared and I hate seeing him like this. This migraine has lasted a whole week, I know that's not normal.

Lindsay,
Your boyfriend is seeing the doctor tomorrow. That's good. See if you can work with your boyfriend tonight to put together one of these Migraine Diary tonight to take with him.

Also please have he and his mom read about Medication Overuse Headaches. At 16 he should be actively participating in his medical care also.

Hope this helps.

Cindy

Cindy gave you a good link about the medication overuse. The percosets can actually be making his headaches/migraines worse. I am glad he is seeing his doctor tomorrow. Is his dr a PCP, neurologest or migraine specialest? With his history, and the trouble your describing it may be best for him to see a Migraine specialest.

Your name doesnt list where you live but HERE is a state by state list of recommended migraine specialests.

Keep us posted!

Tawsha

Hi Lindsay, it looks like Cindy and Tawsha gave you some good information for you and your boyfriend. I'm sorry to hear he's suffering. Migraines really can be awful. You're right that they shouldn't last so long, but he's doing the right thing by seeing his doctor tomorrow.

I wanted to give you some information about migraines so you can learn more about what's going on when your boyfriend is having them.

Learning About Migraines and Headaches - Where To Start

We'll be thinking of you both tomorrow. Let us know how it goes, and let us know how else we can help, ok? We're here for you both.

I'm a day late. I hope your DBF's appointment went well. A migraine diary is a very useful tool to figure out triggers and look at patterns. My specialist has me keep track of my pain and the meds I take on a calendar. I note things that might have been triggers, like a cousin's funeral or a bad set of storms. She studies it very carefully, looking for patterns. She especially looks at whether I'm overusing my meds. She's the first doctor I've had who really studies my diaries. They're very easy to keep.

I hope your DBF and his mom will read the article about rebound headaches (MOH). I've been in a rebound cycle, and it's miserable to be in. It may take awhile to get out of, but the only way out is to stop the offending med. If he can't sleep, there are better meds than Percocet. I take a combination of Ambien and Moban at night.

Topamax isn't the only preventive out there: there are more than 100, and endless combinations. And many antidepressants can be excellent preventives. I'm currently taking Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. I recently switched from Effexor to Cymbalta, and I'm seeing some improvement. I had success with Pamelor but had to stop because of weight gain.

Has your DBF tried any of the triptans? They're migraine-specific drugs designed to abort a migraine attack that has already started. There are 7: Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Amerge, Relpax, Axert, and Frova. My drug of choice these days is Imitrex, and it does a pretty good job. It doesn't always get rid of all the pain, but it does knock it down a great bit. The triptans are expensive, and insurance usually limits the number of doses they'll pay for, but there are ways around that. Imitrex is a Preferred Drug under my Blue Cross policy, which means that the co-pay is $25. Some of the others have a co-pay of $50.

Imitrex is available in a nasal spray and an injection, so he can take it even if he's throwing up. The injection is very easy to use; it comes with an injector that lets you make a couple of turns, a push, and a button press. You don't even see the needle until after the injection. The needle is small. The Imitrex stings, but not for long and not very intensely.

Zomig is also available in a nasal spray.

Does he have anything to take for his nausea? Phenergan is available in a suppository, which can get into his system even if he's throwing up. Some of the other nausea drugs might be available in suppository form.

It's so sad to see someone so young having such horrible migraine attacks. If his neurologist isn't helping, he might benefit from seeing a specialist. It's worth it to even go out of town. For several years, I flew from central Mississippi to Chicago. I had to spend the night because of the airline schedules, but that wasn't hard, because I had a chance to shop Michigan Avenue -- the Marvelous Mile!

My current specialist is in Nashville. It's a hard 8 hour drive, so I fly. I end up spending two nights, but it's worth it. I'm seeing improvement. Teri flies from West Virginia to Dallas to see her specialist. So does a member in Birmingham.

This is a lot of information. Sometimes I go on and on.

You're a wonderful DGF for trying to help. Try to get him to post here. There are a lot of people who already care about him. And about you.

Gretchen in Mississippi

Hi Lindsey,

I'm sorry you are going through this with your boyfriend. At sixteen it is a bit much with school and at isn't it? How did his doctor's appointment go?

If you'd like to email me privately, please do. I'll see what I can do to help.

Lindsay, you are such a sweetheart. No matter the outcome, he is so lucky to have someone like you in his life.

Good on you chicky-dee!

Hi Lindsey and welcome to the forum!! I'm so glad you found us!

I hope your boyfriend is doing better now. How did his appointment go? I'm going to give you a couple of links for you to take a look at:

Status Migrainous-The Basics a Migraine attack lasting for more than 72 hours without a four hour waking break in pain.

Types of Migraines and Headaches

Anatomy of a Migraine

Again, a warm welcome and please let us know how your boyfriend is doing when you get a chance, k?