Status migraine for 6 days
I dont typically post on forums, social media, etc but I am so worn down. I'm 28 and the manager of a vet clinic. I've suffered from chronic migraines since 2012.
Anyway, I suffer from migraines weekly, sometimes every other day depending on weather, etc. For the last 6 days, I've been dealing with a monster migraine. It finally took me down last Thursday and I've been off work since.
Been taking LARGE doses of Benadryl, up to 150mg twice daily. Magnesium 1000mg, Inderal 40mg as preventative and Prozac 20mg daily for GAD & depression. Finally got my Neuro to fill a Medrol dose pack this morning.
I honestly attempted to goto work today but am suffering from such severe cognitive dysfunction and nausea, I cannot fathom getting behind the wheel of my truck, driving to work, and running an entire clinic. I've only been with my current employer for 9 months, and my boss is incredibly understanding but as an employer, I know he can only tolerate so much and I am petrified about losing my job.
I've talked to my boss and he said terminating me never came across his mind. Still, I am so nervous and scared. I am ashamed that my migraine has impacted my work, productivity, and coworkers to this point. I can grit & bear thru 95% of my migraines but this one has brought me to my knees.
I feel like the pain and wide range of symptoms has gone uncontrolled for so long, I cannot think straight and feel so alone. My fiance and his mum both think I should be able to grit thru and bear it. The only other time I've had a status migraine was last June and I was hospitalized for 4 days to get DHE infusions. I don't have insurance but am considering inpatient infusions if the Medrol doesn't help. There are so many worries and thoughts going thru my head. It's even more frustrating that I can't communicate them because of brain fog.
If I could let the whole world know one thing about migraines, it would be that migraines aren't by choice. I just want this to end.
Hi absentminded,
Thank you for sharing your story with us and being part of the Migraine.com discussion forum! We're glad you found us!!
I hear you and understand how debilitating, exhausting and frustrating migraine disease can be - I'm sorry you are dealing with this. Trying to keep a full time job can be very difficult when living with chronic illness 🙁.
When I'm in a nasty migraine cycle, my doctor will give me an infusion to help break it. The infusion can include magnesium sulfate, a steroid, something for nausea and pain. Some other options include;
Brand name Decadron, or dexamethasone
Brand name Depacon, valproate sodium
Brand name Inapsine, or droperidol
Brand name DHE-45 or dihydroergotamine
Brand name Keppra or levetiracetam
ketamine
lidocaine
Brand name Phenegran or promethazine
Brand name Regaln, or metochlopramide
propofol
Brand name Ultram or tramadol
Is this something your doctor can do for you, or is DHE in patient the only option? You may want to talk with him and see if he can offer any of these.I'm sorry your fiance and his mom think migraine disease is something to grin and bear, nothing could be farther from the truth! I wonder if they would be interested in reading some information here about how difficult it really is? If so, you can start them off with this; https://migraine.com/blog/migraine-empathy-why-its-hard-for-people-to-get-it-and-how-to-help/.
Please let me know how you are doing,
Nancy
Dear absentminded,
I can relate to your plight. I used to suffer from such excruciating pain that even the slightest movement was unbearable. I can certainly understand why loved ones think migraine sufferers need to toughen up when the going gets tough. They don't know and can't imagine the degree of pain and the whole lot of symptoms that accompany the pain, that we migraine sufferers go through! I've had friends and family members commenting "You've had migraine almost your entire life; surely you have learned how to deal with it if medication doesn't work".
I am from Singapore and a teacher by profession (I teach chemistry to 13 to 17 yr old). My bosses are not that understanding and forgiving. So do some colleagues. The worst episodes occurred last year, towards the end of the 6th yr of my perimenopause phase when I collapsed from exhaustion, insomnia and excruciating pain.
I don't know if you would believe this. I have found relief from migraine with blood type diet. The effect is better with regular physical exercise. Meditation exercise such as yoga has worked for me as well. However, all my doctors (neurologist, gynaecologist, orthopaedic, gastroentrologist and general practitioner) brushed off this diet as utter rubbish with no scientific reasoning. My take is, blood type diet provides my body with all the essential nutrients if I include all the various food group in every meal. You eat the recommended food according to your blood type, abstaining from all that's forbidden (reason being they harm your body in certain ways). You may want to read up on this diet for details. By the way, I'm 52 yrs old and still employed in the teaching profession. Pain-free, with high spirit and boundless energy, I am better equipped to deal with insensitive people who think migraine is just a normal headache that will go away each time you swallow paracetamol, hence there is no reason to miss work!
I sincerely hope you'll find relief from your suffering.
Lots of Luv,
NorHi Nor,
Thank you for sharing that with us. I've heard of the diet you mentioned and happy to hear you're finding it helpful.
Keep us posted!
Nancy
Hi absentminded,
Hope you finally got some relief. I've had a migraine for just shy of 5 weeks now and can definitely relate. No abortive medications work. On day 2, it was severe enough to send me to the ER in the worst pain I've ever experienced but the hospital was only able to bring the pain from a 10 to a 3 and since then, it has waxed and waned, never quite going away. I live every day wondering if this is just going to be my life now. I used to be a competitive athlete, now, I barely have the energy to get through the work day. I don't know what brought this migraine on or why it just won't break. It's a horrible, powerless feeling that no one really understands. Even other migraine sufferers don't get it since most haven't had the sort of headache that lasts longer than a couple of days. Anyway...you're not alone, if that helps any.
Hi migrainesaretheworst,
I'm so sorry to hear you've been dealing with migraine pain for so long. Chronic pain is exhausting and frustrating.
It sounds like it's time for the doctor to come up with a new plan to break it! When I’m in a nasty migraine cycle, my doctor will give me an infusion to help break it. The infusion can include magnesium sulfate, a steroid, something for nausea and pain. You may want to talk with him and see if he can offer any of these. Some other options include;
Brand name Decadron, or dexamethasone
Brand name Depacon, valproate sodium
Brand name Inapsine, or droperidol
Brand name DHE-45 or dihydroergotamine
Brand name Keppra or levetiracetam
ketamine
lidocaine
Brand name Phenegran or promethazine
Brand name Regaln, or metochlopramide
propofol
Brand name Ultram or tramadolPlease keep me posted on how you are feeling,
Nancy
