Posted by lisa m (208.16.41.38) on August 11, 1999 at 21:43:35:
In Reply to: amatryptaline posted by judi Mosley on August 11, 1999 at 06:45:34:
Hey Judy & all of the others that made me feel immediately welcome on this site - thank you so much!! I was up until 2:00 am just reading everyone's stories, I couldn't stop. I'm 29 years old and have had headaches & migraines since I was in jr high. The demon hit me in college. I would spend days on end in bed taking meds that would just let me sleep because my prescription wasn't working. I wasn't educated at all back then and continued to do my fair share of partying which would trigger the attacks even more. When I got out of college I got a job with kick ass insurance so I was referred to a neurologist who put me on several different meds, all of which would work for a while but then it wore off. That's when I did the imitrex injections but then switched to tablets. He directed me to an allergist, physical therapist, massage therapy, a psychologist and finally a psychiatrist. I was spending every pain free moment I had buying prescriptions or seeing a doctor. He continued to lean toward the
problem being stress which made me feel like a crazy person. Finally I decided that maybe he was the one who was crazy loading my body up with all of this medication so I told all of them to f--k off. I asked him to refer me to the headache clinic at a town nearby and he basically eluded to the fact that it was my fault nothing was working because I wasn't a devoted enough patient. This from a person who would prescribe something and schedule me again in a year. I didn't know how to be assertive back then (still learning now but would never take that shit again) so I followed his lead. The headache clinic was better but was so big that it was the same type of deal - really impersonal & their communication sucked. When I started they wanted me to see the head doctor along with going through neuropsychology. When I did the group would get together and evalute my treatment. Plus I was supposed to work 40 hours a week & have some kind of life. Whatever. I also wasn't ready to accept the fact that I woul have to make a commitment to take care of myself. I just wanted to get medicine to make it go away & live the life of a 26 year old. I'm totally getting off the subject now so I apologize. The headache clinic put me on depakote which I have been taking for two years now but changing the abortive meds when needed since nothing works for a long period of time, I currently have maxalt. The demon came back the worst I ever had this spring so I got a hold of this headache clinic. I talked to a doctor who had no idea who I was because the other doctor had left. I explained to her what had been going on & she put me on indomethacin which didn't work either. After not returning my call from an ER trip I went ballistic on an on-call resident & demanded he do something. That's when he said he really didn't know what to do & gave me ultram. I then had to take all four meds but that worked for about a week. I stopped the indomethacin after three weeks & it started to subside. I have been trying to do a
headache diary but it has all blurred together & I can't tell what kind of headache it is or how to describe any of it because it is constant. My mom & I road tripped to Mayo Clinic only to be told the story of the 9-12 waiting list & 2 week wait on being a walk in patient. After reading Susan D's account with her doctor & everyone's support I got off this website with a new inner strength that I haven't ever felt because I know that I can get someone to listen & if then won't screw 'em - I'll find someone else. It will be hard to remember when the demon comes back but I'll do my best. Here's what I did - I called the headache clinic & wanted to know what the scoop was. They informed me there has been no replacement for my doctor which is why I get a different answer every time I talk to someone. He suggested amitryptyline & then go to a psychiatrist for the depression I have been experiencing - again, another series of doctors who are not connected in any way, shape or form. I then decided to track
down my old doctor & found her in the same city, different hospital. Described what had been going on & she put me on verapamil, w/maxalt & hydroxyzine for an attack. It's exhausting to think of starting a whole new regime but I have to. There are so many other in much worse condition than me so I'm lucky in a way but you know what I mean. Well, this was probably more than you wanted to know but that's my history. I can't tell you how grateful I am to feel like someone is listening. Any feedback on verapamil would be great - I forgot to tell you the kicker. This doctor doesn't think it sounds like clusters to her! This makes me leary but I will go forth with an open & strong mind not to let her make me feel like I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm obviously talking big right now because I took a first step. After this I'll probably be whining again how I can't get anyone to listen to me. Don't anyone trip on my soap box on the way out of this message - sorry I took so much time!