Migraine

I feel like a broken record. I wasn't able to totally break the migraine cycle this weekend. The pain wasn't too bad yesterday. I just had a dull headache.

This morning the migraine is back along with the depression. I don't know which is worse. The migraine makes my head and my whole body hurt but the depression makes me feel worthless.

I plan on talking to my neurologist about the depression during my migraines. I'm hoping he can help me out. I'm on an anti-depressant already. My appointment is only a week away.

It just seems like a struggle to make it through each day. I'm tired of being in pain. I thought I was making some progress with the new preventative. I'm scared and frustrated. And crying doesn't help.

Big, huge (but gentle) 's Heather!

I'm so sorry you're not feeling well. Being in pain can be so frustrating. How long has this migraine lasted? If it has lasted more than 72 hours without a break in pain for at least four hours while you're awake, you may be in Status Migrainous and you need to get that migraine cycle broken. Have you talked to your doctor to let he/she know what's going on?

One of the symptoms of migraine can be depression. See this article:

Anatomy of a Migraine

Hang in there sweetie, we're here for you! I'm sending feel better vibes your way! Please keep us posted, k?

Heather--

I took me years, but one of the best things I ever did for myself was get so desperate I ended up getting psychiatric help. I LOVE my psychiatrist!!!(Repeat that 3 times). A psychiatrist is better than a psychologist because they can prescribe drugs. She worked with my neurologist to get me on a good combination of antidepressants and antimigraine drugs. But best of all, she has helped me separate the migraine-me from the real-me, and has given me so many extra coping skills.

Best of all, I never feel desperate anymore. I always feel that I CAN control the beast, thanks to her, my PCP, and my migraine plan.

Tracie

Laura,
I'm familiar with status migraines. I was hospitalized in February for one. I don't think constitutes as one becasue I felt half OK yesterday.

Tracie, I'm seeing a therapist. She is great. We talk about how my migraines affect my life, etc.

I do plan on discussing with my neurologist, who also trained as a pschiatrist, my depression. I'm going to see if he might recommend putting me on something else for my depression. My pschiatrist told me to ask him about having my neurologist start prescribing my antidepressant medication from now on.

I'm going in for more injections this afternoon. Hopefully, this will help break the cycle of this migraine. I sure hope so. I'm just so worn out.

Heather,
I was at work all day and could not concentrate to write what I wished as I can now.

Your day has progressed and I do hope you found relief with your doctor. I can completely understand how you feel these days when it all catches up with you. You would just like some control back over your life. No mater how much you learn to enjoy and appreciate each moment in time and take things as they come, you'd like to be able to plan out tomorrow or the next day and not have to be concerned about what this disease will do or if it will stop you from enjoying those plans

You do have a great plan and support system in place. But frustration comes up from time to time. Don't be afraid to let it show, especially to those of us who truly understand.

Take care Heather,

Cindy

Hi Heather,

Since you're already seeing a therapist, antidepressants shouldn't be a problem for your medical team. Sometimes "they" like to have talk therapy combined with medication. Clearly, you are feeling yucky enough with therapy to warrant antidepressants. Been there, doing that!!

Chronic illness stinks......pain is exhausting, frustrating, at times endless and feels futile. There is light in the tunnel, we will help you get there......

I'm feeling a little bit better today. I believe the injections are working. I just hope it doesn't become a weekly thing. I think the depression hits me two-fold. The migraine zaps all the serotonin plus just being in pain for so long is depressiing enough.

The logical side of me tells me its going to pass but the emotional side tells me that I'm just plain miserable. I know that there are many people that have been dealing with this much longer than I have. I just wonder how they deal with it.

I know I need another abortive medication. That will be where I start with my neurologist. And maybe another antidepressant or an increase in my dosage. There is so much medication for migraines that I haven't tried.

Thanks for listening. Just being able to put my feelings into words helps me out.

I have Major Depression, along with my migraine disease. As you've realized, they feed off each other. Chronic pain causes depression, and depression makes the pain harder to bear.

If you don't mind my asking, which antidepressant are you taking? I'm currently on Cymbalta and Wellbutrin. I've been on the Wellbutrin for 6 or 7 years, but my new specialist switched my Effexor (which I'd been on for 5 or 6 years) to Cymbalta in November. I'm not sure how much it's contributing to the progress I'm seeing, but my depression hasn't worsened. I saw great improvement in my head when I started the Effexor, but it didn't last, unfortunately.

Good for you for having a therapist. I saw one for many years, but then she moved away. I'm thinking of finding another. My psychiatrist is great to talk to, but at $400.00 an hour, out-of-network, it's just too expensive.

I think it will be worth trying having your neurologist prescribe your antidepressants.

Let us know how it goes.

Gretchen in Mississippi

Hi Heather,

I don't think it really matters how long anyone has dealt with migraines or depression, it still stinks !! We all logical know it will get better, but we all understand when you are in the mist of such pain, that sometimes emotions do take over, that is normal. And to have to deal with depression to can be overwhelming.
But know we are here for you.

I am so sorry you are feeling this way. I am glad you are a little better today. I am glad that you are going to talk to your doctor about maybe getting a new antideppressent. I have a dear friend of mine who suffers from depression and after trying a couple different types of medication, she found something that work for her. It is like finding the right abortive and preventive for our migraines.

Just know that I am thinking of you

Hang in there!!

Dar

Gretchen,
I'm currently taking Cymbalta for my depression and anxiety. I just read an article online that said people with Migraine disease are three times more likely to suffer from depression. It also said that migraineurs are 6-8 times more likely to have anxiety or panic attacks. I thought that was interesting.

$400 an hour for out-of-network, that is expensive.

Thanks for everyones support.

Heather,

Just catching up on you here....I'm going to say the obvious here....I am glad that you can recognize the depression at the get go, and know that something needs to be done, before it gets worse. for that girl!

I know sometimes it just seems easier to shut the world off and go hid in your room!

We are here for you!

It sounds like you have a good plan in place. Talk to your migraine doctor (not sure if it's neuro or specialist) and see what he/she thinks first, or since you already have a therapist, go ahead and call them!

Even though depression is a chemical thing, sometimes just having someone listen and get where you are coming from can be very comforting. Heck, sometimes a good cry can do the same for me!!! LOL

Keep us posted, ok?

Heather--

Sounds like you are doing exactly what you need to be doing. Don't shirk on this. I was on a large dose of Effexor XR when I hit Rock Bottom, and I DO mean rock bottom (you can imagine what's between the lines--think of the worst), they changed me to Welbutrin XL and Cymbalta. I've since had to change the Cymbalta to Citalopram due to side effects from the Cymbalta, but those changes quite literally saved my life.

Tracie

Heather,

I also suffer from clinical depression. Mine is in remission, very happily. I have found a medication combo that works for me- through very careful work with my psychiatrist.

I know how tempting it is to follow advice given over the internet...it seems like everyone has an answer. The true answer for you may be talk therapy, it may be more meds. The good thing is that there are loads of qualified persons who can see you in person and follow up with you as you see fit. Meds aren't the answer for everyone- but neither is an aversion to taking more meds...

If you're feeling that crummy, perhaps you should schedule an appointment with your therapist. Y'all could talk about the role that migraine plays in your depression, and together, come up with follow up treatment plan.

I know that depression is the pits- and with migraines, it's even more of a bummer. One good thing is that some of the preventative meds used for migraine are actually antidepressants- so there's the possibility of killing two birds with one stone

Big Hugs,

I think all of us suffering from migraine disease can relate to this topic. It gets so depressing being in pain so frequently. I also know everyone is full of advice and only you can decide what's best for you to do. I find reading what others do when they feel depressed helps though.

I'll throw my two cents in. I find that when I try to resist my depression, it feels so much worse. I am better off if I accept it and just allow myself to feel depressed. I allow myself to feel NOT like doing anything and I don't! I lay around and watch TV, sleep, and just become antisocial. I don't fight the feelings. I know this doesn't work for everyone but for me I think sometimes I just need to "veg out" when I feel depressed. After a few days, I usually feel better.

I know antidepressents are really helpful for most people but for me they made me drugged and I had major side effects. Everyone is different and you have to do what you think if best for you.

Take care. We're all here for each other.