oh, my aching head

My migraines have gotten out of control again.  I went on Neurontin a year and a half ago as a prophylactic, and it worked initially, reducing the frequency and severity of my headaches just like it's supposed to do.  The big thing I noticed with Neurontin is that my Relpax (the med I take when I get a headache) seemed to work better.

But the honeymoon has been over for about three months, with the headaches again increasing in frequency.  I went back and counted and I had been taking two scripts of the Relpax a month for the last three months.  That's 12 migraines a month.  Way too many.

So Brad decided that, since I had a good response to the Neurontin initially, and that I was kind of on a baby dose -- we'll double it and see what that does.  Trial that for 4-6 weeks, and if that doesn't work we'll try something else.  It's also time for my yearly labs (no CT this time, thankfully) so maybe something's up there that needs tweaking.

I'm all for staying on the Neurontin, but it was a bitch for me getting on it -- spaced out, dizzy, forgetful.  Honestly, I didn't drive for 5 days, I was too dizzy.  Brad said to expect the same neuro effects as before and to increase my doses over 5-7 days.  I don't fly again until Wednesday so this seems like a good time to do it.   

I hope this works.  I try not to throw myself a pity party...you know "why me?  why have I had these stupid headaches since I was 15 years old?"  I didn't really think of how much they affected my life until my Mom came to live with us over the winter and noticed my diet.  So many things I can't eat because they are a trigger.  The fact that any time I went to a class, took someone to the doctor or for whatever reason spent time under fluorescent lights I came home with a pounding migraine that Relpax never fixed.  I have just lived like this for so long I don't think of it.  Or I try not to think of it.

So rather than the tense, crabby person I've been for the last three months my family will be treated to the dizzy space cadet for a few days.  I'm sure it will be a welcomed change. 

If anyone out there gets migraines (and there are a lot of us out there) here are some great resources:

The National Headache Foundation
The Daily Headache
MAGNUM

Comments

[Kerrie Smyres]

Thanks for the link! I hope your migraines ease up soon.

Kerrie

[Brenda W. Quinn (your sis)]

I'm so sorry to hear that your headaches have not relented. I will commence prayers to St. Teresa of Avila, patron saint of headache sufferers. (She also suffered from migraines and other health problems, but lived to be 68, which was a ripe old age for a woman at that time.)

My dictionary of saints describes her as a woman who was "intelligent, hardheaded, charming, deeply spiritual, and successfully blended a highly active life with a life of deep contemplation." Sounds like...my sister, Donna.