Here are some basics about Migraine Disease that you should know:

• Based on the most recent U.S. census statistics, Migraine disease affects more than 36 million people in the United States alone.
• Migraines are NOT headaches. Migraine is a genetic neurological disease, similar in some ways to Epilepsy. The head pain of a Migraine attack is only one symptom of an episode of Migraine disease, just as a seizure is only one symptom of an episode of Epilepsy.
• Migraine disease is NOT a psychological disorder. The disease and all it’s symptoms are neurological in origin and very, very real. Migraineurs are not neurotic, lazy, “high-strung,” overly emotional, or faking. They are in very real pain and physical distress.
• Not all doctors have the experience and knowledge to properly treat Migraine. Finding a doctor to properly treat Migraine is one of the most important, and sometimes most difficult, steps in treatment.
• There is NO CURE for Migraine. Most Migraineurs, with the help of a qualified doctor, can find preventive regimens that will prevent many, but not all, Migraine attacks.
• Migraine abortive medications such as Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Amerge, Axert, DHE, and Migranal, do not work for all Migraineurs. It is sometimes very difficult to find medications that will relieve the pain and other symptoms of a Migraine attack.
• Migraine attacks can be dangerous. If the pain of an attack lasts more than 72 hours with less than four pain-free hours while awake, it is termed Status Migrainousus, and puts the sufferer at increased risk for stroke. A Migraineur in Status Migrainousus needs immediate medical attention.
• A Migraine attack can, in rare cases, actually be fatal. An otherwise healthy 21-year-old member of our community died of a Migrainous Stroke in November, 2001.
• Migraine disease can be disabling for some Migraineurs to the extent that they qualify for disability income or qualify for the Americans with Disability Act provisions. There are many whose disease is so severe that doctors are unable to control the attacks, and the Migraineur is unable to work or participate in “normal” daily activities. When a Migraine attack strikes, most Migraineurs desperately need a dark, quiet place to lie down.
• Migraine attacks can be triggered by many things:
  • Perfumes and fragrances from other sources are a very common Migraine trigger. If you live or work with a Migraineur, please refrain from wearing fragrances around them.
  • Bright and/or flickering lights, especially fluorescent lighting — some Migraineurs need to wear sunglasses, even inside.
  • Many foods can be triggers, especially foods prepared with MSG.
  • Loud noises and crowded places can also be triggers.
  • Changes in weather are triggers for many Migraineurs.
  • Cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes
  • Each Migraineur’s triggers vary. There are many other potential triggers. This list is just a beginning.
  • Stress is NOT a Migraine trigger. It is what is called an exacerbating factor that makes Migraineurs more susceptible to their triggers just as stress makes anyone more susceptible to the virus that brings on the common cold.

The Migraineur(s) in your life need your help and understanding. They need you to realize that they cannot help being ill, they are not “having headaches for attention,” and they are sometimes unable to care for themselves. If they need medical attention, they need someone to take them and be with them. As well as being extremely painful physically, Migraine can be devastating emotionally and to relationships and careers. Since the disease is so misunderstood, Migraineurs often feel alone, isolated, and desolate. They also often feel guilty because they are not able to “be there” for their family and friends as much as they want to be and because they may have to miss days of work. The Migraineur(s) you know need not only your help with getting their medicines and any medical care they may need; they need your moral support every bit as badly. A good, solid support system is as important to Migraineurs as their health care teams. YOU are very important to them. That’s why it’s important that you understand Migraine.

So I’ve been having a rough time with school and I think a lot of it is because of my headaches, but I don’t like to admit that. I was driving home after talking to my high school tutor, who I now see as a mentor – he doesn’t know that. We were discussing my past quarter in college and what advice he had to offer. He asked me the same question my math professor asked me the other day, “what problem are you having?” Both times I was asked the question, I blurted out whatever answer I could formulate at that time.

As I was driving home, I was thinking about my answers to that question and why I don’t ever mention my headaches. Many peers have suggested that I tell my professors about my headaches hindering my performance in school. It sounds great, it looks good on paper, but I can never get myself to do it. Why? I don”t know. I don’t know if it’s that I’m embarrassed to make excuses for myself in front of established individuals or I don’t want to make excuses for myself TO myself or I just get too shy to say anything.

If I had to answer the question, I would probably say that I simply don’t want want to make any excuses. I think there are a number of reasons for this. To start, I don’t like to make excuses for any of the problems I have whether that is not doing well in school, not being able to hang out with my friends, not being able to work out, or basically not living my life to the fullest. Next, I’m the type of person where it takes a lot for me to open up to someone. I usually don’t go ahead and

And it ends abruptly there.

Since Friday the 24th my headaches have been especially bad. I’m not sure what’s going on, I wasn’t able to find any triggers, but I just keep on chugging. Needless to say, the past week has been very rough in school and I’m not looking forward to what’s coming academically.

I saw a new neurologist in my area and it was probably the best neuro visit I’ve had YET. Whether it was an act or not, she seemed very concerned about my condition, she spelled out every option, she explained to me every detail that was going into her notes…it’s like she put me inside of her head, but dumbed it down. After asking if I had tried Topomax and Verapamil, she suggested that I try Namenda. She said that these three drugs seem to have the best…(I can’t think of the word that goes here – this is something I’ve noticed with these headaches. I’m losing my ability with words)…she was trying to say that these three work the best. So I started Namenda today (5mg once a day) and I’m hoping that it can really put an end to, or at least control, these headaches. I’m working up to 10mg twice a day of Namenda.

So if Anyone still looks at this site, you may know that I have mentioned TheDailyHeadache in the past. Unfortunately the Webmaster of that site is a migraine sufferer herself so she had to shut down the forum. As a result, I came across http://www.migrainepage.com . If you click on “Discussion” you’ll see a forum that’s heavily used and you’re sure to get comments on whatever you post. I haven’t been on it much, but it feels very welcoming from what I’ve encountered.

As I’m bringing this post to a close, I wanted to say that I’m becoming more and more private with this headache matter. I don’t seem to tell anyone unless it’s absolutely necessary (and I can rarely find a reason for that), and I don’t know how this is affecting me. Some people ask my why I disappear sometimes or how I act strange, etc. etc. That’s all stopped bothering me, I just like to keep it to myself. I don’t want anyone’s pity.

Lastly, I’m not sure how many people check this site out (probably very few, if any) but I thought I’d open the floor for some other people. Reading stories from other people makes me feel a little better about everything that’s going on – not in a mean way, but just knowing that there are others out there who can relate.

Go!

-ETH

I saw this, thought I’d share it. I agree withpretty much all of what it says

Letter to people without chronic pain:

Having chronic pain means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike having cancer or being hurt in an accident, most people do not understand even a little about chronic pain and its affects, and of those that think they know, many are actually misinformed.

In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand:

These are the things that I would like you to understand about me before you judge me.

Please understand that being sick doesn’t mean I’m not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day in considerable pain and exhaustion, and if you visit, sometimes I’m not much fun to be with, but I’m still me– stuck inside this body. I still worry about school, my family, my friends, and most of the time, I’d like to hear you talk about yours too.

Please understand the difference between “happy” and “healthy.” When you’ve got the flu, you probably feel miserable with it, but, I’ve been sick for years. I can’t be miserable all the time. In fact, I work hard not being miserable. So, if your talking to me and I sound happy, it means I’m happy. That’s all. It doesn’t mean that I’m not in a lot of pain, or extremely tired, or that I’m getting better, or, any of those things. Please don’t say, “Oh, you’re sounding better!” or “But, you look so healthy!” I am merely coping. I am sounding happy and trying to look “normal.” If you want to comment on that, you’re welcome.

Please understand that being able to stand up for ten minutes doesn’t necessarily mean that I can stand up for twenty minutes or an hour. Just because I managed to stand up for thirty minutes yesterday doesn’t mean that I can do the same today. With a lot of diseases you’re paralyzed and can’t move. With this one, it gets more confusing everyday. It can be like a yo yo. I never know from day to day how I am going to feel when I wake up. In most cases, I never know from minute to minute. This is one of the hardest and most frustrating components of chronic pain.

Thats what chronic pain does to you.

Please understand that chronic pain is variable. It’s quite possible (for many, it’s common) that one day I am able to walk to the park and back, while the next day I’ll have trouble getting to the next room. Please don’t attack me when I’m ill by saying ” You did it before” or “oh I know you can do this!” If you want me to do something, ask if I can. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel a previous commitment at the last minute. If this happens, please do not take it personally. If you are able, please try to always remember how very lucky you are to be physically able to do all of the things that you can do.

Please understand that the “getting out and doing things” does not make me feel better, and can often make me seriously worse. You don’t know what I go through or how I suffer in my own private time. Telling me that I need exercise, or do some things to “get my mind off of it” may frustrate me to tears and is not correct. If I was capable of doing some things any or all of the time, don’t you think I would?

I am working with my doctor and I am doing what I am supposed to do.

Another statement that hurts is: “You just need to push yourself more, try harder.” Chronic pain can affect the whole body or be localized to specific areas. Sometimes participating in a single activity for a short or a long period of time can cause more damage and physical pain than you could ever imagine. Not to mention the recovery time, which can be intense. You can’t always read it on my face or in my body language. Also, chronic pain may cause secondary depression (wouldn’t you get depressed and down if you were hurting constantly for months or years?), but it is not created by depression.

Please understand that if I have to sit down, lie down, stay in bed, or take these pills now, that probably means that I do have to do it right now. It can’t be put off of forgotten just because I’m somewhere or I in the middle of doing something. Chronic pain does not forgive, nor does it wait for anyone.

If you want to suggest a cure to me, please don’t. It’s not because I don’t appreciate the thought, and it’s not because I don’t want to get well. Lord knows that isn’t true. In all likelihood if you’ve heard of it or tried it, so have I. In some cases, I have been made sicker, not better. This can involve side effects or allergic reactions. It also has includes failure, which in and of itself can make me feel even lower. If there was something that cured, or even helped people with my form of chronic pain, then we’d know about it. There is worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with chronic pain. If something worked, we would KNOW. Its definitely not for lack of trying. If, after reading this, you still feel the need to suggest a cure, then so be it. I may take what you said and discuss it with my doctor.

If I seem touchy, its probably because I am. It’s not how I try to be. As a matter of fact, I try very hard to be “normal.” I hope you will try to understand my situation unless you have been in my shoes, but as much as possible, I am asking you to try to be understanding in general.

In many ways I depend on you — people who are not sick. I need you to visit me when I am too sick to go out. Sometimes I need you to help me with the shopping, cooking or cleaning. I may need you to take me to the doctor or to the store. You are my link to normalcy. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of my life that I miss and fully intend to undertake again, just as soon as I am able.

I know that I ask a lot from you, and I thank you for listening. It really does mean a lot.

Anyways, that is that. I wish I could show it to everyone I know, but I like to keep my headaches pretty private. I hate when people are more concerned than I am…or than what I show.

I don’t think anyone follows this regularly, but I took a hiatus from writing here because I got concerned that someone from my family may have found it and began to read it. If you were really inside my head, you’d know that I hate how people in my family don’t stop bugging me about this headache.

If I were legitimately crazy, I’d talk to an invisible friend everyday about my headache. It would be perfect because they couldn’t bother me back. My social life has really toned down lately because of my headaches…I have to keep canceling plans on people and don’t ever make commitments at night. I hate it.

I’m moving soon and everyone is really worried about how I’m going to do with the move. I’ve never admitted it to anyone, but I hope I do well. I’ll be starting over as far as making friends goes, so I hope I can go out and make friends fine, and hopefully a few really good ones who I can talk to about my headaches in case there’s ever an emergency.

I’ll be starting Depakote soon (tomorrow? the day after?) so hopefully that helps. I’ll also be seeing a pain doctor soon. I’m counting on a lot of things.

I’m sick of headaches, but I’m even more sick of people going out of there way to treat me differently because of them. I HATE that. Anyways, thanks for reading.

-ETH

So today just hasn’t been good. Well, actually, I take that back. The morning was clear. I woke up and thought, “Hey, maybe I’m headache free!” D’oh! I probably jinxed it. From late morning/early afternoon on, I’ve been plagued by a TERRIBLE headache and I’ve just lived through it. I don’t even have the patience to write this right now.

Adios,

-ETH

I missed another day, that was my mistake!

So my headaches have really fallen out of a pattern. Some days, they’re far worse in the mornings and they ease up in the evenings, sometimes they peak in the middle of the day, and sometimes I just have to cut my days short because the evenings are most brutal.

Unlike the first two or three days days of the 200mg/day on Topamax when I had really bad headaches, the intensity has seemed to drop to what I was experiencing before, but still no better.

I’m on 60mg of Cymbalta a day now, and although that’s a low dosage (or so I think), I’m feeling the effects of that on my stomach. Maybe I’m not eating enough in the mornings (I like to think I do?), but my stomach hasn’t been the same the past few days.

Anyways, that’s what my case has been. I have an MRA and an MRV scheduled on Monday. I’m fairly positive that they’ll show up normal, I’m not sure why I’m even getting it done…I guess it’s just to be safe.

Until next time,

-ETH

So I’m just finishing up the last post. It’s the end of the day and my headache seemed to peak just before 5pm. I just had to shut out everything and put my head down it was really bad. My headache is pretty bad right now, I don’t even want to write this.

So, I’m out for now. Thanks for reading if anyone is.

-ETH

So it looks like I forgot to update yesterday. One of my neurologists (the one who said she believes I have cluster headaches) saw me and prescribed Cymbalta to take along with the Topamax, she wants me to take it, and slowly increase my dosage. I believe I’ll be taking 60mg for a month and then increase my dosage, I’m not sure to what. She seems to have changed her diagnosis to me having transformed migraines. I don’t know, I was out of it when she was speaking.

Anyways, as far as my headaches go yesterday, I felt the bulk of it in the latter half of the day… at night, I was just done for. I actually golfed in the late afternoon and at night my head was POUNDING and I just called it an early night and went to sleep. It wasn’t a fun night. Today, I have a bio-feedback appointment..I’m not sure how effective it is, but I just keep going.

Anyways, I should be updating later today.

-ETH

So I woke up this morning trying to think of what day I’m on. I remembered Friday was #84, then I counted: 85, 86, 87, 88. I couldn’t believe I’m almost at 90. 90 days! Prior to this my longest was 63 days. Kinda strange because looking back, it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. Everyone else probably would think I see it otherwise. Heh.

Anyways, I saw another terrible headache, but it wasn’t *as bad* as the previous two days, but still pretty bad. It was worse in the morning that in the evening, so the pattern seems to be shifting again. Nothing is really making sense anymore. I’m proud of myself for not relying on my pain killers (oxycodone and meperidine) for the pain anymore.

My family got me some homeopathic medicine to try because they’ve been pestering me about trying hundreds of other things…Well, the homeopathic medicine isn’t supposed to have any side effects, but something I’m taking definitely has a side effect of SEVERE dry mouth. I know of this through first hand experience today, I wish I had something better than water and milk to drink today.

Also, since I tapered up on the Topamax, I’ve noticed that I’ve had a weird taste in my mouth. I wonder if anybody else has any experience with this? It’s odd, it’s kind of fresh, but sometimes i think it’s kind of metallic or something? I’m not sure what it is.

Anyways, until next time…

-ETH

Well, I had and have a terrible headache.

-ETH