Hi Everyone,

For those that don't know me.  My daughter Holly (15 yrs old) had surgery in 2004.  She never had migraines and/or a stroke prior to surgery.  She is 6 yrs post op and in late march of this year had several migraine type headaches.  We went to the neurologist and he prescribed 3 different meds.  The first was Naproxen to be taken 2 x daily for one week and then every 12 hrs when needed for headache.  The second was phenogren to be taken every 6 hrs as needed and then also vistaril to be taken every 6 hrs both for headaches.  So the next time she had a headache I gave her the 3 meds like I was suppose to and it knocked her out for over 10 hrs.  I could barely wake her up.

After that she had several more smaller migraine type headaches and before we could go back to the neurologist she ended up in the hospital for 10 days with a really bad headache and dehydration.

Since that stay she also takes Topomax (migraines) along with her aspirin.  She takes prilosec for her stomach, clarinex for allergies, she also was told she can take 800 mg of advil at the onset of a migraine or she can use Ultram(Tramadol).  Last week she was in the hospital again for a really bad TIA and after that stay she now takes verapamil as well.

I would really love to talk to some other people about this..but prefer to do so on the phone...anyone interested?

Thanks, I will check into the clarinex today.  That is concerning because the vistaril is an antihistimine (sp) as well. 

I have thought about taking her off of everything except the aspirin and seeing where things go from there.  I hate all the meds.

I have really been thinking about taking her off of everything except the aspirin and see how things go.

I have not been on here in a while. I still get migraines and paralysis. My neuro prescribes Amitriptyline and Topamax. My headaches got worse and tries to increase the Topamax and could not because the side affects of the Topamax were too much for me. I am just learning to live with the symptoms. These medicines dod work. I hope I have helped you. Good luck

Lara =)

My son, Robert takes CO-Q10 for migraines.  He had surgery in oct 2006.  After his operations he still had migraines.  He specialist put him on 200mg, twice a day and there is not side effects. It made a specialty drug store for him. He gets little headaches maybe 1 once a month now.  Hope this helps

My wife experiences Migraines frequently and takes all the above meds listed in all these posts.  Nothing really helps, Topamax seems to lessen the overall intensity of migraines.  On an average week, she has at times one day of relief.  We have tried pure O2 and it did seem to help for awhile.  Worth a shot!!

Oxygen
The inhalation of 100 percent oxygen, via a tight-fitting mask at a flow rate of 8 to 10 liters/min for 10 to 15 minutes is dramatically effective for about 80 percent of those patients for whom this approach is feasible; oxygen is particularly effective for nocturnal attacks.  This mode of therapy, although recommended by Horton (1952) over 35 years ago, has only recently been substantiated by controlled trials (Kudrow, 1981; Fogan, 1985).  Oxygen inhalations may be repeated up to five times per day.  Sakai and Meyer (1979) have shown that marked cerebral vasoconstriction results from the administration of 100 percent oxygen during cluster headache attacks.   Whether this effect is direct or is mediated centrally has not been studied.   Oxygen also stimulates the synthesis of serotonin in the central nervous system (CNS) (Costa and Meek, 1974).

Kyle has had migraines (~ 1-2 every 3 mo's) since 4 mo's B4 his stroke that led us to the dx of MM.  Yrs ago, his Neurologist prescribed Periactin 8mg (an antihistamine) and it helped a bit.  Due to the aspirin therapy, they told us to use only Tylenol for pain (like using a squirt gun on a forest fire...).  The only thing that helped was 2-3 hr of sleep (he wakes up w/ the migraines).
A few yrs ago (he's 17 now), he revealed that he has mild headaches EVERY day so we went to a headache specialist at TX Children's Blue Bird Clinic.  They prescribed Topamax, but the side effect of difficulty expressing thoughts (very common) was much too hard to deal with since school is a struggle anyway.  Last Jan, his neurologist switched him to Depakote.  He has had only one incidence of migraine since.  Still has the everyday headaches, though.  The headache specialist sent us to a Physical Therapist due to the fact that she noticed his neck/shoulders were somewhat out of line - most likely due to the effects of the stroke/paralysis.  The PT rx'd stretching exercises for him to do 2 X day, but Kyle would never try them, so we don't know if it would help.  But it makes since to me.  Maybe someday, when he's not a teenager anymore and us adults become smart again, he will try it.
Kyle was also Rxd Tramadol, but it just made him sleep so we figure that didn't offer any change to the previous method and no longer use it. (we also beleive the fewer meds, the better).  He also takes Strattera for ADD, and Cozaar for BP regulation.
One thing to note w/ Depakote is that you'll need to have blood tests B4 you start and every 6 mo after to ensure the liver is not being damaged.
We also encourage him to stay very hydrated.  Lots of water, juice, very little soda, etc.
Hope this helps.  Migraines are awful!

I too suffer from daily headaches 24/7! I had them prior to my rt/left bypass's in 2006 and post surgery. Pleased to say they are less severe post surgery, but alas, still present! I take 100mg topamax daily. 2 in the morning and 2 prior to bedtime. Of course, a daily adult aspirin for my MM and synthroid for an under-active thyroid.
I am in a constant state of feeling lightheaded, but it takes the edge off the headaches. Occasionally...I will have an off the chart migraine and I will hibernate for a day or so until it passes! Nothing really works... I don't even know what it is like to be headache free....??? Ya just learn to live and cope with what is "your" norm!