Hey all you fellow migraine sufferers !

[hippiechick]

... ever have one so bad you got a Morhpine IV ? I did, on Saturday.
Fluids, Toradol and Morphine combined. Wheeee !

But now, 36 hours later, I'm nauseous, spacy, and my tummy hurts like hell from vomiting (regular and dry heave) with incredible force for about 10 hours until I got to the ER.

Question: I'm assuming it's completely thru my system by now, so how much longer will I feel crappy ??


:shrug: :puke: :(

[FuzzySlippers]

1. I get migraines, but never that bad.

I rarely vomit with them. I'm so sorry you've had such a terrible ordeal. :-( I hope you feel better really soon. :hug:

[alarimer]

4. Only once have I thought about going to the ER

because the pain was too bad. Mine sometimes cause nausea but that't usually as bad as it gets.

Sorry to hear you are suffering.

[Mz Pip]

2. I had a bad reaction

to morphine and will never take it again. Had a similar reaction like you did, but mine included shaking and cold sweats. Thought I was going to die. Have it in my medical file : DO NOT GIVE MORPHINE.

Had a shot of Demerol for a migraine once and was ok with it.

Drink a lot of water to flush out your system. It sounds like you're dehydrated from the vomiting. Hang in there it will pass.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Pithlet]

3. I had one like that when I was pregnant.

They didn't put me on a drip, but they gave me a shot of something powerful that helped a lot. I thought I was dying, I was in so much pain. I hope you feel better, soon :hug:

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Just saw an ad for Topamax to be used as a migraine preventative.

You start out taking 25mg once a day for a week - in the AM.
Week 2 - 25mg in the AM and 25 mg in the PM
Week 3 - 50 mg in the AM and 25 mg in the PM
Week 4 and thereafter 50 mg AM and 50 mg PM

The weekend paper had a coupon for 42 free 25 mg pills if you can get a doctor to write a prescription for them.

In larger doses Topamax is an antiseizure med. It is supposed to "calm" the nerves that cause migraines.

TOPAMAX works differently than migraine pain relievers. Instead of trying to relieve pain after a migraine is underway, TOPAMAX is believed to "calm" the process that leads to migraines. By interrupting the process that leads to migraines, TOPAMAX for migraine prevention may help you have fewer migraines.

http://www.topamax.com/

http://www.topamax.com/migraine_prevention/index.jsp

You can download a voucher for the 42 free pills
http://www.topamax.com/voucher/pdf/voucher.pdf

[flamingyouth]

16. I'm on that and it's working pretty well for me

I still get migraines, but far fewer of them. Apparently it doesn't work for everyone, but I'm grateful it's working for me. I still have my Maxalt and Frova abortives for when I do get my migraines, but instead of 15-20 per month, I get maybe 5-6 bad ones now.

Thanks for that voucher. I pay about $100 a month for it.

[PassingFair]

6. I took something called "Migrainol" once.

Wound up in a fetal position, shaking for about 5 hours.
But it BEAT THE HEADACHE!

It was an ergotamine based med, that was taken as
a nasal mist. I had to break a glass ampule to
use it.

My migraines lasted for about 4 years. From the time
my 2nd child was born until I was almost 40.

Then they spontaneously went away. I still get bad
headaches, mostly hormonal/stress/atmospheric pressure
related, but not every month and not for days at a
time.

Sorry you are having them. It can be a living hell.

:cry:

[REP]

7. I Can't Drive During a Bad Migraine

I lose the vision in my left eye. Probably a good thing, since Toradol could kill me (I'm nephrotic). I do have my own injectible meds on hand, though, and I've been on Topamax for a while now, so (knock wood) I don't get them like I used to.

[NMMNG]

8. It varies from person to person

You may be better in a few hours or it could be days before you're fully back to normal. Drink plenty of fluids and rest as much as possible. Best wishes. :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. I used to have to go in for that all the time.

And then for days afterward I would feel slightly odd, but the headache was gone.

Ever since I've been on blood pressure meds it hasn't been that bad. a couple of Vicodin and I can at least get through the day. :hi: Feel better.

[NorthernSpy]

10. you were in status migrainosus!

I dread the thought of that. It might be a couple of days yet before you're completely over it. Hope you feel better sooner than that, tho.

:scared:


I can't take migraine abortives, because they're contraindicated for my migraine subtype. When the aura hits, I take whatever painkillers are available and try to terminate the process with sleep.

[NewWaveChick1981]

11. I had moderate to severe migraines most of my life until

my doctor finally diagnosed a mild hormone imbalance and put me on medication for it. Not only did it clear up other problems related to the imbalance (i.e. acne, among others), but it prevented me from getting migraines. It has been three years since I have had a migraine! :woohoo: After having them since I was seven years old, it's been a great relief not to have them for such a long time. I still get occasional tension headaches, but they are nothing compared to those killer migraines. I would be sensitive to bright lights, smells, and sounds, and I got very, very nauseated to the point of tossing my cookies a few times. :yoiks: They would last for several hours and didn't respond too well to medication.

I feel your pain, Hippiechick and all of you DU migraine sufferers. :hug: I hope you feel better.

[livetohike]

12. Been there many, many times hippiechick

until Imitrex saved my life back in 1995. Now I just do a shot of Imitrex as soon as I know I have a migraine. Half an hour later and I am much better.

Hope you feel 100% soon. Keep drinking fluids. When you become dehydrated through all that vomiting, it really wreaks havoc on your system.

[BrklynLiberal]

18. I used the injection when it first came out. Switched to the pills when

they came out. There is now a nasal spray that is faster acting, but leaves a terrible taste in the back of the throat... But it is a hell of alot better than the migraine!!!

Since I have been using the topamax, I have not had to use the Imitrex. The irony is that I was put on the Topamax for anxiety, and the side effect was the migraine relief. I did not even know it was an "off label" usage until I just saw the ad for it this week!
I guess they found out that this was a common side effect so they decided to market it as such.

[livetohike]

20. My doctor recently wanted me to switch to the nasal spray

I can't do the pills because I always wake up with my migraines and instantly have to vomit. Pills wouldn't stay down long enough :-(. I don't mind giving myself a shot. My migraines have become less frequent the older I get. I will be 54 in July.

[BrklynLiberal]

21. I found the same thing.

I think because the migraines were related to my period cycles. As I stopped getting my period, the frequency of the migraines slowed down. I find that the most relevant factor now is the weather. Any bounce in the barometric pressure seems to give me a headache. I still avoid red wine, aged cheeses and some of the other foods that are supposed to trigger the migraines. I do cheat every now and then and have some bittersweet chocolate. I LOVE that stuff.

I preferred the pills only because of the irritating taste that the nasal spray left at the back of my throat...but it was defintely faster acting.

The first time I took Imitrex I felt like I had experienced an actual miracle!! I could not believe it!!!!

[livetohike]

23. My migraines were always linked to my period too

Like you, I avoid red wine and hard cheeses, but I have to have chocolate occasionally :-).

Yes, I felt like it was a miracle (Imitrex). Before that, I was in the emergency room with every single migraine I had. I even wrote the company a letter thanking them for discovering this wonder drug.

[hippiechick]

13. Thanks everyone ...

I was able to keep some white rice and Sprite down last evening and actually got some restful sleep this morning (as opposed to being in a woozy fog)... I still feel weak/ a little dizzy and have an appt with my doc tomorrow.

I'm on Vivelle dot5 (patch) for estrogen withdrawl and I think a combination of stress, the intense heat this weekend and not putting the patch on in time, brought on the migraine.

This was just THE WORST one I've ever had, in 15 years of fighting them. :(


O8)

[auntAgonist]

14. I hope you feel much better soon!

I've had migraine for years, never ever that bad though. I hope you can have a rest filled day.

:hug:

aA

[dysfunctional press]

15. vicoprofen is currently my prefered treatment

over the past three months, i've had more days with migraines than without.

[flamingyouth]

17. Ugh

Poor you. Morphine can make you feel really sick for a while. That, combined with that hellacious migraine, has probably really done a number on your tummy. I hope you feel better soon. I'm a migraine sufferer too. :(

[pink-o]

19. I too get migraines

from hormonal imbalance, but also because I had a childhood condition called "Basillar Artery Migraine" or "Syncopal Migraine" which mimicked petit mal seizures. When I reached puberty, the episodes disappeared, but now that I'm menopausal, it's back with a vengence and a like-clockwork monthly migraine. Ugh!

Anyway, I'm with ya re the morphine or any other opiate. Absolutely disgusting, I don't understand how anyone can be a heroin addict! So tell 'em know if they try to give you percoset or codeine or any opium derivative. Some of us just can't cope with the side effects.

If your migraines are hormonal like mine, estrogen replacement works at getting rid of them, but talk about side effects! I bought some wild yam cream at the health food store, I don't eat any processed food and I make sure I'm always regular and exercise. Guess what? When I keep up that regime, no migraines! But it's hard to be good all the time.

[BrklynLiberal]

22. Sounds like the topamax might be something for you to look into.

I got my free 42 pills today, just to supplement my usual prescription.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5212999&mesg_id=5214732

heh heh Google even put ads for this at the top of the page.

[pink-o]

24. Wow..sounds promising!

Thanx for the tip!