My Headache Story. I'm Exhausted by It All!
I am a 49-year-old female and I have a headache or migraine ALL the time. This has been going on for years and getting progressively worse. I have seen countless neurologists including a 4-day work-up at the Mayo Headache Clinic only to be told, “You have migraines. What drug do you want to try next?”
I classify my head pain in 2 different ways (though the Mayo Clinic classified them all as “migraine”): migraines always happen on the left side temple or behind my left eye and are only relieved by Imitrex injection (pills no longer work).
Cluster Headache
The other type is a chronic daily headache which is always “on” but is made worse by any type of exertion (and I mean any). This pain is almost always on the right and is pulsating and pounding. The only thing that relieves this pain is Indomethacin 150mg+. These headaches have all the signs of low CSF and I have had my CSF pressure tested twice (which was perfect) and I had a blood patch just in case I had a leak somewhere. No change.
I have tried it all: botox, massage, acupuncture, orthobiotomy, Alpha-Stim, Imitrex, Maxalt, other triptans, propranolol, amitriptyline, gabapentin, Topomax, Aimovig. And probably a bunch I can’t remember.
I had a full hysterectomy because my cycle affected my head so badly. HRT helps with the migraine even though I can’t get my doses completely right. I tried to go without HRT. Not good.
MRI, MRA, MRV, CT of head including sinuses. Nothing. Completely healthy. I’ve never even had a “bad” vital sign.
Another factor is that Imitrex injection is the only thing that I can use for the migraine, but it gives me a HORRIFIC rebound headache that only Indomethacin relieves. I think I’m in a constant state of rebound and I always try to not take any medicine but it’s nearly impossible.
I feel I can control the migraine but it’s the daily pressure headache I CANNOT figure out. It’s exhausting.
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