Update
Hi, everyone! It's been a while. My pain doctor keeps giving me beta blockers and they don't work. I had actually believed that I found the answer to my migraines. It happened when I was in my 20s. I went waterskiing, fell back and the water hit my neck. Anyway, now I remember that I went to see a doctor who gave me cortisone for three weeks. I never had another until I turned 70. I just woke up with excruciating pain and aura which lasted 24/7 for a year and a half. I thought my life was over. I had a doctor who gave me expensive meds that made me sicker. Finally, she gave me amitriptyline, which got me out of the hospital bed in my apartment.
I'm sure most of you know my story but what I'm getting at is I told the pain doctor where to put the needles in my back. I thought it worked, but it was not cortisone, it was beta blockers. So now I have been getting migraines every second day with a new addition: anxiety attacks. I believe that I have to accept the fact my migraines will be with me until I pass away!
I will deal the best that I can and take the good days and do something that I can't do when it hits again. I started reading again, listening to music, puzzles, therapy, and colouring. So I will not let this control my life anymore, one day at a time. It is not easy for any one of us but give ourselves credit! We are here talking and taking all the good from what everyone says. You never know when you read and find, "oh yes thanks so much, I needed that!" So I'm hoping all this makes sense. I am always here for anyone as you are for me! God bless... Susan
Hi Susan - Thanks so much for posting an update on how things have been going with your migraines.
Just to clarify - it sounds like amitriptyline has lead to the best results in your treatment? Being able to finally get out of bed, even if you are in still some pain, is huge! What have you been reading and listening to? We're always on the lookout for recommendations.
I'm also curious - do you feel like being able to read, color, listen to music, and attend therapy helps make coping with migraine easier? I know for me, sometimes things like that are a welcome distraction and ability to take space from my pain. Hope to hear more from you if you're willing to share.
Best, - Cody (Team Member)
hi there. I do not know if I have heard your whole story, but thank you for the update. You were getting beta blockers? That is something that is commonly used for migraine treatment. I am sorry that they did not work well for you. What beta blocker were you on? I started with a calcium channel blocker, Verapamil. Then switched to a beta blocker, Atenolol that worked better.
I too was on Elavil, Amitryptiline for many years. This is an older article, but in 2015, 44% of the people who took the survey said it was helpful: https://migraine.com/clinical/elavil-amitriptyline. Even though you still have migraines, I hope that they continue to be managed. Hang in there and do what you can on those good days. (Tonya, team member).
