Migraine

Well, I am in Status. My toradol/DHE combo failed this morning. I came home from a bad day at work and had a vicodin. Later I took a zanaflex which took the edge off but now I am beginning to suffer again. It's the 2nd night in a row I've had to cancel movie plans with my husband.

A couple of weeks ago I had to go on Decadron to break a bad cycle. I had ONE DAY free of migraine pain. Since I have had the Decadron once already this year my doc only gave me 3 pills (one a day for 3 days) to take. No tapers. I was in terrible pain going off of them, I usually am, but this was severe muscle pain.

My docs and I talked about the possibility of going into an inpatient treatment program someplace. I believe we agreed Jefferson was the best option? I can't remember.

I cannot quit work for the time it will take to lay in the hospital. We are already behind in house payments and things which we are trying to get sorted out. Frankly, I am very stressed.

I should go to the ER but I have had so many medications. I know I am in rebound. I don't want more medications that will cut the pain for 12 hours just to trigger again the next day. I just want some peace, though.

Do I go for the inpatient treatment, which may not work, or do I keep going on in MOH because I have to work and I can't work if I am in pain? I will lose money in more ways than one if I go to Jefferson and I feel very stuck.

My allergies are making this harder on me right now too. My sinuses are swollen and I'm stuffy. Walking outside is a sneezing disaster. I am only taking Zyrtec for this and I know steroids will help my sinuses too but I'm not sure the doc will put me back on another round.

I'm desperate. I am confused. I'm not thinking straight because I am doped up all the time and I feel like there is no way out, except for one. Gee, I just started Abilify too...

Any thoughts?

Hi Leeloo,

First and foremost, many gentle 's coming your way. I'm sorry this Migraine cycle won't break. Hang in there, sweetie, you know we're here for you!

I'm glad you're aware of MOH and Status. Neither one is good to be in, and I know you already know this, but you can't continue this way, it's not good for you at all. I also understand about not being able to make ends meet. My family is going through the same thing and it's a tough road to travel.

Are there other options you can try at the ER before going inpatient? I usually go for Magnesium and Steroids myself and when that failed Dr. K had me try DHE which worked like a charm. Can you call your doctor and see if you can do some med adjusting too?

One last thing I want to address, I know that you're feeling desperate and you've got many thoughts running through your head, so I'd like to leave you with this one article to read, okay?

If You're Having a Crisis

Leeloo, please come back and let us know how you're feeling and what your doctor has to say, okay?

Always know that you have us to turn to in your time of need. Hang in there

As soon as you see this, you need to pick up the phone and call your doctor about the Abilify. You're taking an antidepressant, right? Call your doctor NOW. There's a warning about Abilify and antidepressants. Your doctor needs to know how you're feeling.

I've lost track of who your doctor is, but I'm not sure why you'd travel so far for inpatient treatment. If you're not making progress with your current doctor, and you've been with him for a while, maybe you should consider a second opinion?

Call your doctor and get back to us. You need to do that before we discuss anything else.

teri,

I am on Zoloft. He added the Abilify to keep my head above the water, so to speak. I tried Pristiq before the Abilify and it made me extremely aggressive, depressed, and angry. So I stopped that on my own. So far the Abilify seems OK, I don't think this depression is any worse than what I go through with an extended migraine pattern. My doc says they do not do inpatient here so I'd have to go elsewhere but that he'd act as an intermediate for me. So far he has been excellent about the PFO mess and he is working hard on my behalf to get St. Jude's to help me with this problem.

I did talk to the office this morning and they had me take Relpax and 2 Zanaflex, so I slept, but the migraine is there. They called in some Medrol for me but I am currently waiting on my husband to either pick it up or take me to get it.

Laura, I cannot take mag. It makes me very sick. I have been using DHE for the past 2 years and it does not work unless I have an NSAID with it. I usually reserve its use anymore for the toradol injections. thank you for the hugs and the love, I'll get to the article too.

Teri, do you think having the Abilify, Zoloft, and Relpax together may be contributing to severe ataxia? I know you can't diagnose but I'd appreciate your input. I was having problems yesterday moving about, and still had them this morning when I got up. I'll drop the Abilify if I have to, I have no qualms about that, but I have a psych appointment next week and my migraine doc wants me to start B2.

I am also having chest pain and muscle pain, so this is an unusual migraine for me, or it's just medication side effects. Either way it's not just the mig that is making me miserable.

Leeloo dear.

We seem to be pretty similar. I believe you also know that I have been hospitalized for migraines. Not just cuz I have been through it, but knowing that it can help, I strongly recommend that you try to find somewhere to go. I go to the Diamond headache clinic in chicago. I also know that there is a clinic in AnnArbor MI that also has an inpatient treatment. MHNI please do look into your options.

I know what you mean about missing work. I had to miss 9 days for the hospital and then couldn't even get back until the following week. the option I was able to take was FMLA. Have you considered that?

Please find some help for this dear. It just gets to be too much to deal with.

I also think that in the meantime of finding this info out, maybe you should go to the ER. If you have an idea of what to suggest or see what they have to offer, they may break it, while you figure out what else you can do for treatment.

Hang in there! And do let us know....

Hi all,

I have got this beast knocked down for the moment. Storms rolled in overnight and just squashed whatever the medrol was attempting to do. Hopefully it kicks in soon.

I don't even want to talk about what I had to do to get this sucker down to even a 5-level. I was at a 9 this morning and cranking back up to an 8 this evening.

Alaura, thanks for your reply. If this isn't gone tomorrow I will phone my doc again. I am not vomiting (and I don't but I do get nauseous), so they seem to be less inclined to do anything since I am not dehydrated.

I did consider FMLA once, maybe I should nab it anyway. My sister suggested the ER too but they don't have anything there I don't have at home. Well, maybe demerol or morphine, but at that point I might as well stay home and try what I have because I am going to rebound either way. But maybe I am just being stubborn too. That's likely.

Diamond would certainly be closer, but I think my docs and I agreed on Jefferson. At least that is how our last discussion on it went. I guess they prefer the docs there, I don't know.

Leelo-
Status stinks. Constant cycles stink. And boy do I know about not being able to afford to take off work! I surely commiserate, not that that helps you one iota. We are so similar in the whole status/bad cycle/work thing. I hope you can at least plan to go inpatient wherever it is felt you might best find hope and then look toward it as a goal. It is what i am trying to do with Mayo...

I also understand the whole depression that accompanies this, the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that engulfs during these almost constant battles. I know also that medication for it is not a magic bullet. Speaking with my therapist helped simply by dint of verbally expressing my pain and my fears- but it certainly didn't magically go away with that either. I am trying really hard to improve my thinking, giving positive self talk and trying my imaging and I am sure you do the same.

I dig deeper into my soul and find another tiny bit of strength or endurance and carry on with that. I am happy to offer you a bit of mine if it helps!

You are in my thoughts and prayers and have my virtual hugs.

be blessed!
Dawn

Hi Leeloo,

I just wanted to stop in again and see how you're doing?

Many hugs headed your way.

I don't always have answers, no matter how much I want to be able to have them for you. But I do always have smooshes. Unending ones.

Leeloo,

Bless your heart! I wish my magic wand was in working order and I'd rid the world of migraines!

When I was in a similar place as you, the question I finally asked myself was whether or not I couldn afford not to get help for my migraines. It's the old penny wise, pound foolish debate. While I really couldn't afford not to work (I'm my only source of income), I also knew that if I didn't get help I'd have little hope for being productive in the future. It was VERY difficult financially, I'm so glad that I went and saw Dr. K when I couldn't get help here. I really believe that it's going to help me be more productive in my work in the future.

Whatever, you decide to do - please be kind to yourself! Remember that you are a valuable person and deserve to feel better!

You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Cyn

Hi all,

Thanks for your kind replies...I'll update.

Thursday I couldn't take it anymore. With the storms still rolling in I just broke down. I got in to see my doc on Friday who gave me an IV with DHE, Zofran, and Valproate. It broke the migraine and I was able to go home and take Seroquel and sleep.

He's got me on round the clock Seroquel. Basically he wanted me out for the entire weekend but sleep triggers me, too much or too little or broken sleep. He wanted my dose at 50mg every 6 hours. I am only taking 25...it's enough to keep me asleep long enough to get up and have another dose. I am just not comfortable taking that many meds. Plus I triggered tonight because of the sleeping. I took a Relpax and I feel fine now.

I have some news about my PFO situation that I cannot disclose at this time. When I get a chance I will update because it is strange and devastating at the same time. But it looks like in 3 weeks or so I will be having a more complicated surgery. I wish I could spill the beans, but right now I can't. At least it's fixable.

Thanks again for all the replies. I'd be lost without all of you.

Wishing you all free from pain,
Heather

Leeloo,
Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you. I'm glad you were able to break your original migraine even though you've had one since. Please keep us informed, when you can.

Meli

Hi there,

Thinking of you and keeping my fingers crossed that you are feeling better all the time.......