Migraine

On 2/29 I saw my neurologist feeling absolutely horrible. I had barely enough energy to walk 2-3 blocks at a very slow pace. My arms and legs felt like lead weights. My mind was mush. I had started on Zonegran on 1/19 and had titrated up to 200 mg each night. I had been on the 200 mg for almost 2 weeks when I saw her. Well we talked and we figured out that I had probably been having a migraine most of that time. I know, you’d think after years of having migraines I would recognize having one, but the presentation was so different, I truly didn’t know I was having one. Clearly the Zonegran wasn’t working. So she stopped and started me on Depakote ER 250 mg at night. I could start that after I had titrated down the Zonegran for 3 days.

Fast forward only 3-4 days after starting the Depakote on 3/3 and I have had 2 migraines with pain of 3 or less. I am no longer fatigued. My brain isn’t mush. I can carry on a pretty normal conversation and I can think again. I’m still on Topamax 75 mg for the off label use of countering the weight gain usually associated with the Depakote.

I am currently returning from a business trip. Spent two days with very sharp clients. I can’t begin to explain how wonderful it was to be able to think and act quickly and not be worried about pain.

I am so grateful. DBF and I were having a rather spirited conversation over the weekend and he paused at one point and just said it was nice to have me back. I really can’t think of a nicer complement that I’ve had.

You have all been so wonderful and supportive through so much of this I wanted to share with you this success. Thank you for all your kind words and thoughts. You have helped me so much.

Cindy

Hooray! It IS good to be able to think clearly and not be in pain. Congratulations.

Cindy,

YAHOO!!!! This a success story if I ever heard one!! This is truly great news that the preventative is working and you are not only having less migraines, but also clear again!! I am so happy for you Thank you for sharing with us, it gives me hope!!!

Dar

What great news! Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

It's a good idea to take the Topamax with the Depakote, if you can tolerate it. I gained 30 or 40 pounds in the two years I was on Depakote. Also, watch your mood. I got very depressed while I was taking Depakote.

I hope you don't have those problems and that Depakote is your Silver Bullet!

Gretchen in Mississippi
Hish is the 60s and 70s and sunny for the rest of the week.

Cindy thanks so much for sharing - it really does give us hope. I can tell the difference just in your writing - you are much clearer than you were a few weeks ago.

- megs

Cindy

That is great news!!!!!! I'm so happy for you.

Jean Ann

Cindy, this is such wonderful news!! I am so happy for you and this gives me such great hope!! If you can do it, so can the rest of us!!

OH YAY!

That is stupendous news!

And....it gets me to thinking. I took Depakote by itself many years ago. It didn't help by itself and only made my hair fall out.

I wonder though if taking it along with the Topamax I'm taking now would boost things up? I am not happy with either the level of prevention I'm getting or the side-effects problems I'm having with Topamax (as the only anti-seizure med in my prevention cocktail). Maybe if I added Depakote back now I could get better prevention as well as reduce the Topamax and get some relief from the side effects??

Wonder, wonder, wonder...?

Thanks for sharing and yipeee again!!

Cindy,

Better late then never right? You sound fantastic! I'm so happy for you

Cindy,

Glad to hears the new med seem to be works for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hopes wit all min hope that it continues!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs,

Solveig

: ThumbsUp:
YAY!!! I am so happy to hear that is working out for you!!! Isn't it nice to be able to think straight?

Here is hoping things keep going so well. Keep us posted!!!

Thanks for sharing your good news.