Migraine

Hello all,

I have joined this forum on behalf of my wife, Ingrid. She would have joined herself but her situation has gotten so bad she cannot look at a computer monitor for more than a few minutes. Shortly after menopause, about 12 years ago, Ingrid started getting what every doctor thinks are migraines. After reading varius forums on the internet it is apparent that doctors really don't know and it's all a big guessing game. I will detail everything as best I can and would greatly appreciate any and all feedback ..........

She rarely gets the severe headaches so commonly associated with migraine, but instead becomes debilitatingly nauseaus. During these episodes she is extremely sensitive to light and sound. She has tried most of the drugs mentioned on this forum (including Topamax)and nothing offers more than slight relief. The ONLY thing that helps is taking something strong enough to knock her out, go to bed in a dark bedroom and try to sleep it off.

She has identified two "triggers" as being weather changes and the smell of perfume and cologne. The first few years she would have attacks maybe every one to two weeks. Over time that increased to several a week.

Now she is at a point where it is really getting to her mentally and emotionally because she can no longer READ. My wife has always been an avid reader going through 5 or 6 novels a week. Loved to read and several years ago got into sewing. Now if she reads a single page it brings on an attack. She can no longer sew for more than maybe 5 minutes before she feels one starting to come on. She has been to neurologists, optimologists, every type of doctor imaginable. Had MRIs and even tried acupunture. Nothing is working and she has not felt physically good for several months now. We are kind of getting desperate!

Two questions please:
1. Do you think migraine is the correct diagnosis?
2. The MRIs were clean and the two different opthimologists both said her eyes could not possibly be causing nauseau migraines. Are any of you out there in the same situation where reading or vocusing your eyes on anything (like sewing) will bring on an attack?

Sorry for this being so long and thank you in advance for any replies.

Desperate in North Carolina .......

Hi, Larry, and a warm welcome to both you and your wife. Glad that you found us, but so sorry that you have a need to be here.

I can absolutely relate to your wife's plight. I usually suffer from severe nausea with my migraines, even when the pain is low. It is absolutely possible to have a migraine without the headache. Take a look at this article: Anatomy of a Migraine.

This article may also be of help: Acephalgic or Silent Migraine

I really do feel for your wife. I am also an avid reader, but find it exceedingly difficult to read once my migraine reaches a certain level. I also embroider, knit and crochet, but again, if the migraine is too severe I can't do any of those. It's really an awful situation.

Have you consulted a headache or migraine specialist? Neurologists can be excellent doctors, but they need to be familiar with many diseases. Headache/migraine specialists dedicate their practices specifically to head pain, so they are much more familiar with the diseases and treatments. We have an excellent list of specialists on this site: Patient Recommended Headache and Migraine Specialists. Especially since you've been to so many doctors already, I think it would really be in your best interest to seek out a good specialist.

Please let us know how else we can help you. In the meantime, some hugs for both you and your wife.

Hi Larry!

Welcome to the family!

Sorry to hear Ingrid is going through all of this, along with yourself too! Looks like MJ gave you some really good links already, but I'd also like to add that there are over 100 preventive medications for migraine and sometimes it takes time to find the right one, or the right combinations that work for a person.

Now onto your questions:

Does it sound like migraine disease? It does, but we are not doctors here, so it would be wrong for us to say 100% for sure it is.

As far as clean MRI's and CT's - that is very common with migrainuers. Most of the time, MRI's and CT's are done to rule out other issues to make sure it's not something else. I have very seldomly heard of a migainuer having something show up on a film.

And as far as the eye exam - I have never in my life heard of someones eyes not being able to cause nausea in migraines. I get migraines with nausea and I just had my eyes checked - how can your optimologist tell by looking at your eyes if you get nausea??? I've never heard of such a thing.

I can tell you that I can't read if I am having a migraine and already nauseas, but reading itself, for me, does not bring on a migraine, UNLESS I am not wearing my glasses, the print is small and I'm squinting, something of that nature, which would mean I am straining my eyes. In that case it's the eye strain that is the trigger, not the actual reading.

We welcome you to the forum! We have lots of sufferers here, and also spouses and loved ones of sufferers. You will definatly find the support and love you guys need here.

We look forward to getting to know you and Ingrid!!!

Larry, I also forgot to mention that there are a number of drugs used to help with nausea - Phenergan, Reglan, Compazine to name a few - has Ingrid ever tried any of these? If not, it may be worth asking her docs about.

Hi Larry -

I just wanted to add my welcome for you and Ingrid. MJ gave you the very links I was thinking of. And Eileen's advice was right on - it seems like many doctors know very little about migraine, and there are so many different triggers! Reading or close work in itself doesn't trigger migraines for me, but eye strain does, just as Eileen says. Some of my worst migraines were when trying to adjust to bifocal contact lenses - I gave up and stuck with my glasses. But a new prescription for the glasses can give me a migraine, too!

Anyway I hope you find lots of good info and support here - I know I have. See you around the forum!

- Megs

Hi Larry and Ingrid and welcome to our forum family.

You truly have found the best place on the internet for information and for support. I see everyone has gotten you started so if you have any other questions, please let us know!

Welcome to MyMigraineConnection, Larry.

We are glad you and Ingrid found us.


It really sounds like she needs to see an expert in Migraine disease and headache disorders. These doctors devote their entire practice to helping patients get the proper diagnosis and treatment plan so their Migraines can be reduced. I think MJ gave you a link for our patient recommended specialists.

You mentioned triggers, has your wife kept a Migraine diary? Click HERE. This is really an excellent way to track what is going on.

After you've had a chance to read over our information, let us know what questions you may have, and let us know how we can help you two further.

Hello, Larry, welcome to the forum.

Hi, Larry and Ingrid. Welcome to the forum family!

Hi there,

I suffer from low level pain migraines with a lot of nausea. Every once in a while I get a whopper (actually I get them more often now), but there hasn't been a time in my life that I did not have low level migraines quite frequently. Sometimes the confusion and mental blocks are a lot worse for me than the pain is. I echo what everyone else here has said.

Welcome to the forums, and I hope you are able to find a doctor who can give your wife the care and attention she deserves for this condition! Take care and keep us updated if you can!

Hi Larry and Ingrid, welcome to the forum

Larry and Ingrid, Welcome to the family!

You've come to a great place for information and support. We're here for you. You've gotten some great information already. Let us know how else we can be of help.

Kelly

Larry and Ingrid Welcome,
I do not have much to add only to add my 2 cents that a migraine specialist makes all the difference in the world. Many members of the forums have to travel significant distances to see their doctors, but it gives us our lives back. Finding the correct medication combination for each individual can be time consuming, but well worth the effort.
Take care. We are glad you found us.
Cindy

Hi, Larry and Ingrid, welcome to the forum, and to our supportive family. It looks like you've gotten some good welcomes already, packed with info, so I'm just stopping by to say "hi." As always, if I can be of any service to y'all, just let me know!

Hi Larry and Ingrid!!!

Just wanted to add my Welcome to the forum I look forward to your future posts

Dar