I've been on Topamax a while now, maybe 3 months, and only had 1 week of "shadows" during the extreme temperature change, manageable with Monster in the early afternoon. I lost 22 pounds on the medicine, which helped me exercise more, which helped the headaches. I'm done with the side effects and do need to get off the medicine for a while, though, to avoid the serious side effects of long term use.

My "time" seems to be season changes (fall and spring), so I'm starting a taper tonight (75 mg for 5 days, then 50, 25). I'm looking forward to not feeling groggy as much. I hope the headaches don't start again. It definitely scares me a little to think I've been essentially pain free for almost 3 months. No screaming pain like before, no running for the O2 or the shot in the middle of the night.
My Health Savings Account will start building up again, after paying for my Neuro and MRI after this month, so I can afford my shots and O2 again  :D maybe I won't need them for a while.
Hope you are all experiencing PF days like I have been, at least for a little while. Try and enjoy them if you can.

Congrats on the pain free time. The same argument we always have came up at the convention. Is it better to be chronic or episodic. I'm episodic and prefer that over chronic cuz I know I'll have my pain free times. The chronics say they couldn't imagine bing episodic and wondering when the next cycle would strike!

Just winding a cycle down myself so I'll be joining you in your pain free time......but always keep the powder dry ready to kick some beast arse when he rears his ugly head again!

Joe

Now that I'm 22 pounds lighter and in better physical shape, I plan on using the method that helped lead me to this diagnosis, which is exercise, to manage it. I have no problem getting up and running or hopping on the spin bike or the road or mountain bike when the beast hits. When I'm off all meds, I can sleep well. I started taking Melatonin, too, which helps me sleep, though with Topamax, it's deadly, so I stopped it for now, but will start again in about 2 weeks once I'm "weened".

Hope your pf time lasts a good long while!  You too Joe.

Take care,

Kate