A New Subtitle

You may have noticed 2 things: 1.) I'm actually writing a post. 2.) I changed the subtitle to include "all while living with chronic migraines."  I did this because migraines are a huge part of my life right now and they affect every aspect of my life. 

I started seeing a neurologist in May, 2010.  At that point, I began my never-ending search for a migraine preventative, a medication taken every day to decrease or eliminate migraines.  The first medication I tried was Topamax.  I had such high hopes that it was going to work.  It didn't.  The second medication I tried was nortriptyline.  At first, I thought it was working.  My migraines seemed to be less frequent, but then they started right back up as usual.  Then it was time to try a beta-blocker, normally used for high blood pressure.  My blood pressure runs low at baseline, so I was a little nervous that taking this medication, called propranolol, was going to cause me to pass out! I didn't pass out, but it didn't help my migraines either.  Apparently, this drug is used for stage-fright or public speaking anxiety, so if anyone is in a talent show in the near future, get in touch with me...I have a left-over supply.  Next on the list was a calcium-channel blocker called verapamil.  Again, I thought maybe this was "the one."  It seemed to help at first, but again, the migraines came back with the same frequency.  That was a few weeks ago, when I decided to switch doctors.

Last Friday, I saw a new neurologist through Wheaton Franciscan Comprehensive Headache Center.  From my own research, I discovered that there is a difference between a regular neurologist and a migraine specialist.  Not only did I see the migraine specialist, but I also saw a physical therapist, a dietician, and a psychologist.  The neurologist, Dr. Purath, scheduled me to get an MRI this Monday, the 12th, started me on yet another preventative, this time gabapentin, and gave me samples of a needle-less injection called Sumavel.  Check out this crazy contraption!

Somehow the medication gets pushed through the skin by forced air.  It still hurts, and I was still freaked out to administer it to myself.  And for 3 of these puppies, I'll have to shell out over $500.  And guess what?  It didn't work any better than any of the other abortive medications I've tried.  To stop a migraine, you normally take some form of a triptan.  That's what Sumavel is.  But, there are 2 triptans that have a generic form.  Generic=less expensive. Notice I didn't write generic=cheap, as in other types of medications.  For some reason, triptans just cost a lot of money.

I do not get an aura with my migraines.  I usually feel nauseous, I am bothered by loud noises and bright lights, and it feels like someone is stabbing me with a hot poker behind my right eye.  Normally, one dose of a triptan does the trick.  Sometimes an ice-pack and a dark room, plus a little sleep, helps in addition to the triptan.  Other times, like the past two migraines, even two doses of the triptan hasn't knocked it out completely.  So, starting last night, to try and break the migraine cycle, the office called in a prescription of ketorolac, which is an NSAID, like Tylenol, but much stronger, and also prochlorperazine, an anti-nausea medication.  The combination of the two is supposed to break a migaine cycle, or otherwise known as "status migrainosus."

At this present moment, I feel like I have a dull ache where my migraines usually are.  I have one more dose of the combo med, and I really hope I can be pain free...because for those of you who know my children, they haven't changed one bit!  They are still super active, seem to have lost their listening ears, and have a really bad case of sibling rivalry!