Migraine

I can't seem to get over an attack before another one starts.

I had a 12-day attack--I know, I know, I shouldn't have let it go that long but I didn't have pain that entire time. I had continuous aura, nausea, light and sound sensitivity, vertigo and pain about 2/3rds of the time. It stopped for about a day and half, completely stopped and I mean all aura and everything stopped.

Now the aura has started again. I'm barely cognizant enough to type. My vision is so blurry I can barely see. I've got rls pains in both legs. I'm having to hold my head very still to keep the pain from pounding too hard to bear. I just want to close my eyes and remove myself from this place of migraine.

WHY isn't the Topamax, Effexor, and verapamil working even though I am being PERFECTLY COMPLIANT in dosing?

WHY am I complaining that I have no life and have barely been able to keep myself decently clean because migraine makes my skin hurt to the touch and movement sensitivity has kept me nearly flat on my back most of the last two weeks so I wouldn't vomit?

WHY do I fail at life?

Teri and the AHDA, if the Congressional Contact Alert comes out today it'll be tomorrow before I can look at it. Or maybe the next day. Or the next.

I can't even read Teri's book (which came in) because I now, I'm typing by touch. I can'tmake my eyes focus on the screen.

I'm a loser. A total loser.

MW- You are NOT a loser!! You are letting it all get to you, please know that you have soo much love and support here!

Have you contacted you Doctors regarding your pain level and your meds? 12 days is way too long.

and are out you sweetie. Please get some medical attention NOW.

Stay in touch and know you are very much cared about!!

Lori

MW,
You need to contact your doctor. Something has changed and you need to be seen and seen soon. Please, please contact your doctor.

You are not by any stretch of the imagination a loser. You are a loving, caring compasionate person who has is dealing with a neurlogical disorder that is currently out of control.

Have your assistant call if necessary, but please call and get help today.

Cindy

Girl you know what you have to do!

NO I will not hear that loser talk from you! You are a STRONG woman! Are you kidding!

I know, the last place you want to go is to a doctor or ER, or MOVE for that matter, but it may get you better.

12 days is WAAAYYY to long to feel that bad - please - I'm telling you what you would tell any one of us - get you butt up and get some help.

I know it's going to stink getting there - but just think of that light (hopefully not a bright light!) at the end of this really dark 12 day long tunnel - you can do this.

Please keep us posted.

We are here if you need us! Love you girl!

MW,

I won't take any of that loser talk either. Last time I checked I don't think any of us ask for this disease.

You are doing everything in your power to fight, so how could you possibly be even close to a loser. NOPE, Not in my book!!!

This disease stinks!!! That's it. Blame the disease, not you Girl!! YOU ROCK!!!



Now I know you can not fathom to think about going to the ER, but it may be the time to go!!

Let us know how you are doing, We are here for you!!

Dar

YOU ARE NOT A LOSER- You are a gift from God who is physically sick right now- take care and let us know you're OK

You are in my prayers tonight,MW

Lori

HI MW- I hope you are doing better this morning- please let us know how you are doing- I've been thinking of you!
Valerie

Dear heart -

The loser talk is out the window! Still in the room is Suzie, a brilliant, creative, compassionate, passionate, funny, wonderful human being.

You are not this disease! You're not!!!! You are a suffering person who deserves your compassion. You would give that compassion to any of us going through something like this so don't you dare hold it back from You!

And thank you for trusting us with your pain, for letting us see you as you are right now. We love you. Now get on the phone to the doctor, or get someone to do it for you, and see what they can do to break this nasty cycle! I'm counting on you, woman!

- Megs

Thanks everybody. I'm feeling better right this minute. Last night's attack is over completely, no pain, no aura, no sensitivity at all right now. What would I do without all of you? I felt your prayers and hugs like arms around me.

I went outside for a while last evening once I could get enough medicine in me to hold my head upright. The lightning bugs have emerged! Elder Assistant Offspring came with me and I was glad. I couldn't keep my balance and fell backwards against the door even though I had my cane. My daughters don't let me go out the door without one or the other of them with me. Not much of a life, is it? My mother told me I should consider getting a walker.

I've got an appointment tomorrow with my neurotologist (ENT with a specialty in auditory nerve surgery--he manages my Meniere's). He can't help my migraine but he's got to do something about this vertigo and disequilibrium.

I've found that Neurontin and Topamax seem to work together well to stop the 'electrical storm' in my brain, for the three times I've tried them (last night being the third try). My migraine attacks really seem to have more of a strong-electrical-storm-type component than inflammation and serotonin components (they do have those features but BY FAR the electrical storm is the worst).

Now, I haven't investigated to see whether those two anti-seizure meds are ok to take together. I figure I've got sufficient body mass to accommodate nearly 'bout anything I consume provided I don't consume too much of it. But I will check it out today. If I can't find what I need on the internet my pharmacist is a PhD and he'll tell me. I've found that doctors do well when I call them with a suggestion for a switch in treatments. If I call Dr. Breathtakingly Arrogant to discuss the how-to-get-to-heaven-without-dying thought that time and these several very, very stubborn back-to-back attacks then I want to have a plan. Maybe he will already have one, but I want to have one in case he doesn't.

What I'd like to do is add Neurontin at a lower dosage as an adjunct and maybe drop the verapamil. What I've got now, which was leftover from where it was prescribed when we were trying it for rls, is 900mg caplets. That's a lot of Neurontin. I'll see what he says. I want to give it one more try as an attack-buster before I call him.

I know--I'm not being very good. I guess I've dealt with this for so many years that I'd rather tough it out than contend with one more ER room again. And I've got my rather hysterical parents to consider right now too. I mustn't do anything with a doctor or a hospital that I don't absolutely have to. My mother is on the verge of calling for the home hospice to help with my father. Of all things they don't need, they don't need to see me taking care of something they don't really believe in anyhow. Nope, they're not on-board with the reality of migraine disease.


Edit: HA! Found this on rxlist.com when looking up Neurontin:

"It is not necessary to monitor gabapentin plasma concentrations to optimize Neurontin therapy. Further, because there are no significant pharmacokinetic interactions among Neurontin and other commonly used antiepileptic drugs, the addition of Neurontin does not alter the plasma levels of these drugs appreciably."

Yay. I feel like I'm good with it and Topamax. I'm gonna let my PhD pharmacist use his schoolin' anyhow and tell me his opinion, but it's a nice relief to find this. MW.

If you're a loser, then we are all losers. So that's just crazy talk!

In fact, we are all winners. I think of any day we all get out of bed and function as a triumph of will and endurance....


I hope things go well with your doctor, and that you have some luck with your med cocktails soon....

In the meantime....

You are so not a loser. Never. Uh uh. Nada. Nope.

So there!

Glad you're feeling better today!

I'm glad to see you're doing better today. This goes without saying - you are so not a loser. Nope. No way. You give all of us here strength when we need it, and if you were a loser there's no way you would give us that. Just last week you held me up when I felt I couldn't possibly keep going. And I have. That means you have to, too. So there.

You know we are always here for you. Hope you're feeling even better tomorrow.