What medication do you use?

Sorry I don't know your medical background / history...what kind of doctors have you been to?  I recommend a neurologist immediately to rule-out anything in the brain!!!  Then check your hormone levels and track the foods that you eat...MSG, red wine are just a few.  My doctor gave me a huge list of potential foods that can trigger migraines. I also suffered from pre-menstrual migraines.  There are soooo many things that can cause migraines. Imitrex helps me. I'm also looking into Bio-Identical Hormones due to menopause. You might consider looking into acupuncture as an alternative. But if you haven't been to a neurologist or if you haven't had ruled out the possibility of a problem, please consider it.  Best of luck. 

I can no longer afford my meds since the insurance I have now does not cover it, but if your doc can give you MAX ALT MLT...it works!

I have started watching what I eat and drink to find my "triggers" and red wine is a definant one to set them off.  Something about the fermented red grapes I guess!

Good luck.

Linda

I'm all for medications for pain but I've actually done chiropractic AND massage therapy and it's helped.  Also I've cut down on cheese, red wine (THAT was a tough one) and chocolate.  Those seemed to be triggers for me especially if I was menstruating.  That is the only time now that I will start to see a return of migraines and I'm able to stop it with Advil.  I don't know if any of this helped and I'm by no means a doctor but if nothing is helping, I would see about maybe getting a second opinion from someone else?

Hope some of my suggestions help.

I don't want to scare you but have you had a CAT scan done?  You might want to get a full physical done because your headaches can be something different than migraines.  I would get all bases covered for your own peace if mind.

Do all of your migraines occur either during the night or in the morning for the most part?

Michele

Wow, I just read your profile and see that there is more to your story than just this blog post. People who experience migraines don't just wake up one morning with an excruciating headache typically at your age. Most migraines do occur in the middle of the night or early in the morning, but I'm concerned that there's more going on here. If you haven't seen a Neurologist, find one. If you've already seen one, get a SECOND opinion. I see that you've found no relieve with meds. If you've tried every med and nothing has helped, that's a red flag. Migraines don't last ALL day long. That's another red flag. Find a Neurologist who will perform a Magnetic Resonance Angiography WITH contrast of the brain. An MRA is like an MRI but better when studying blood vessels. If nothing is found or you've already had one, get an Angiogram. An Angiogram is performed by placing a catheter into the Femoral Artery, the groin/hip area and the catheter is "fished" up to the Coratid Artery and dye is "spit out" through the catheter and the dye is carried with the blood flow through the brain. This is great for visualization. Continue.....

Aneurysms can cause the symptoms you are experiencing. Aneurysms are an area of a blood vessel that bulges out. A brain aneurysm can put pressure on nerves and cause one-sided weakness, one eye drooping, one sided facial drooping, the inability to talk or understand words for a short period of time, brain foggyness, and a terrible headache that will not go away. Many medications marketed for Migraine therapy constrict blood vessels because the main cause of Migraines are due to blood vessel dilation. I hope you are not on one of these meds because it is a Big NO-NO and contraindicated in people who have aneurysms as well as other vascular disorders. Please get back to us!

I know exactly how you feel. I suffered with migraines for years and the doctors just didn't know what to do with me. I've suffered since I was a child and in those days they called it the sick headache. In my early 20's they became debilitating. I was back and forth to the doc and the er. I was eventually referred to the head clinic in our town. This particular doc  said he had given me all the meds he knows to try and that I needed to see a special specialist, so off to Michigan I went, it was the best thing for me. I learned that chocolate and sulfites trigger my migraines. I still have headaches but, they are not nearly as bad as they use to be. I was also taking a lot of meds and the meds were causing  rebound headaches. I'm always going to have problems with my head because of the aneurysms, but it is a blessing to suffer with less pain than before. You need to find out what your trigger is and if it really is a true migraine or another type of headache.

I know why I woke with that massive headache! I also get bad headaches about 3-4 days before my monthly, during my monthly is wicked and then 3-4 days after.  Well, Good Morning!!! Yeah, woke with the massive monthly headache! I saw my primary yesterday and I told her what has been happening and she said most women do get them worse at this time of the month but my case is a little different because I am not only getting them during that time, I have headaches most of the time.  Does that mean they will never go away???  I so want to feel normal again! I wouldn't mind it if I had a headache one day and had three good days but it's the complete opposite! I have very few good days and alot of bad days. I watch what I eat...I don't eat chocolate, I don't drink at all, I eat heathy because I have my husband on a strick diet...he has high cholesterol and a high heart rate.  So, I really do watch what I eat.  I know the weight gain is from the medication because most of them say "Weight Gain" plus I am getting older. As far a caffine, I may have a cup of coffee but mostly I drink water, flavored water, juice or some soft drinks.  I try not to drink too much soda unless caffine free but mostly the flavored water. 

I have been seeing a Neurologist...this is my second one...since 2006. My primary physician recommended my first MRI.  My primary only gave me pain medication and never suggested seeing a neurologist & I didn't like the foggy feelings from the pain meds so it was time to find a new primary.  This primary that I am seeing now recommened a neurologist and she gave me Imitrex which I had an allergic reaction to. The neurologist, she tried...but I ended finding another neurologist because I felt she wasn't listening to ME, she would just tell me to try this medication and I'll see you in a month or 2.  But I found a neurologist that also suffers from Chronic Daily Headaches so I thought...GREAT someone that knows what I am going thru and can help me! But he hasn't yet! I have had 4 MRI's and EEG, blood work, I have been on all kinds of meds from high blood pressure medications (I don't have high blood pressure) for the beta blockers, I take Topamax (this is for the headaches), I am on anti-depressants and a calcium channel blocker (for the migraines), I have medications for the nausea when I have the headaches....I carry a list on the outside of my purse just incase someone asks what medications do you take. I have pain medication but unless the headaches are severe I try not to take the because I do know about rebound headaches, I usually rest first.  I'm also seeing an eye speciallist this week.  I want to know why my eye droops....I also see my neurologist again in 3 weeks. I only see him every 3 months