Migraine

Hello All!

I have held off posting in here for several months because I really wanted to see if my current success would “hold,” but now I feel pretty confident that the preventive and maintenance regime I am now on is really working for me.

Like so many others, my migraines started in childhood and gradually got worse as I got older, to the point where two years ago (at the age of 45) I was experiencing chronic daily headache with migraine up to 16 days a month. I had given up hope of ever having a completely pain free day, and settled for the few hours of relief I could get by taking my meds daily, which no doubt were contributing to my overall pain levels because of rebound.

This was the point at which I finally decided something had to change. The process I went through over the next two years included a huge amount of reading and research on my own part, lifestyle and dietary changes, hiring and firing a number of doctors of various specialties, and methodically trying a substantial number of medications and supplements before I finally found what worked for me. Since I couldn’t work a “real” job anymore, my job became finding a way to control my migraine pain.

Well, guess what? It's two years later and after all that, I still have migraines! Yes, I’m still pretty much guaranteed three migraines a month, but now I regularly go as many as 14 days between attacks and the ones I do get aren’t nearly as severe as they used to be--think bump in the road rather than landmine. My migraines respond readily to the Triptans now and only last a day or two, not a week or more. I no longer have chronic head pain and my monthly pain scores are a quarter of what they used to be. I’m actually working a part-time job again, and I just started ballroom dance lessons. For me this is equates to getting my life back.

I'm so grateful to the competent doctors I finally discovered and to the people on this site who tirelessly share support, personal insights and accurate information. I think it does take being willing to accept full responsibility for your own treatment to make real progress, but it can be done and it is worth it!

MJ!!


I'm tuning up the Oompa band for a grand celebration of your victory!!!!

What a wonderful thing to share!! I'm so glad to hear that you feel that you've taken charge of your healthcare and that it is paying off so well!!!

Hearing another person's success is like giving everyone else a fresh deep breathe of hope! Thanks for sharing!

Hoep things continue going so well for you!!

Cyn

Whoops - got carried away in my excitement!

The word is HOPE - not hoep!

MJ,
I too echo Cyn's excitement and joy!!! for your success!!!

You and I have talked about the Keeler Clinic in the past. So, I know they have been instrumental in helping you get to this point. Along with your own study and application. It does take finding the right doctor. That is half of the journey as you need one to write prescriptions and direct your treatment program.

I too have had to "fire" several. I believe I have found the right doctor now. My question is why are so many neurologists this way, as I hear the complaints from so many. It seems like many of them aren't willing to help migraineurs. Or just don't know how. It really puzzles me!

Thanks for posting your success story as it gives the rest of us hope! And continued luck with your journey. May you just get better and better!!!!
Pam

There is nothing at all like that high you get when all the hard work pays off, is there? I am just utterly thrilled for you!

I'm absolutely elated for you MJ!! You've given us all so many words of encouragement for so long, it's high time you've finally gotten the break you deserved so very much.

I'm doing my happy dance for you!

Thank you all, Cyn, Pam, Dragondrool and Laura, for your warm responses and congratulations. Your expressions of excitement are rubbing back off on me(!) and making me realize it has been a long time since I've allowed myself to feel so excited about anything; it's a nice feeling!

My best to everyone. May your pain free times increase by leaps and bounds.

Melanie

parisbabe/Pam,

I second your observations and frustrations about neurologists (or any doctor) consulted for migraine. It seems like it's such a prevalent disorder there should be a whole army of well-trained specialists out there to meet the need. And yet there still seems to be a frightening amount of confusion about what migraine is, and is not, and how to treat it among the medical professionals themselves.

This website plays an important role by stressing how vital it is to find a competent migraine specialist to guide one's treatment, and I'm glad you feel you've finally found the right doctor at last. It IS half the battle when you no longer have to fight the doctor on top of the disease (we'll leave out the role insurance companies play for now!)


Good luck to you; keep us posted on your progress!

Melanie

MJ,

YAHOOO!!!! Happy Dances all around!!!!!!

Dar

Thanks for posting this Melanie.

First off YYYYYAAAAAYYY!!! Congrats on making so much progress! That is so wonderful to hear.

Second, It's nice to read these stories because it provides hope for the rest of us that we WILL find the right doctor/med/treatment to get our heads in control.

Wishing you continued good luck and more progress