Nichole's Migraine Story

I began experiencing migraines when I was 14 years old. I would get around 6 a year. As time went on, they came more frequently. My pediatrician prescribed me Migrin A and Maxalt. A lot of the time I would end up in my clinic's Urgent Care for a shot a Toradol, because the pain and vomiting would be so bad, and the pain would last at least 2 days. This happened on and off until I was 18.

Fast forward to summer of 2010. I was 22 at the time. I noticed I was getting "the flu" a lot. I would get chills, sweating, nausea/vomiting, and an intense headache. I would get "the flu" at least 5 times a month. Not until now that I realize I was having migraines.

As of September 2010 I had a full blow migraine every single day. I would vomit and have severe nausea, chills and sweating. In October (still having a migraine every day), I finally seen my GP. She prescribed me tramadol and imitrex. At frist the tramadol did wonders, I would feel a migraine come on and I would take the tramadol and I would be ok. The Imitrex however did not work. It made me feel like my skin was ripping, and I felt like I could not breathe, like something heavy was on my chest and throat. My GP referred me to my first neurologist, a bad one at that.

During my short time with this neurologist, they ordered tests for a MRI and a spinal tap. The MRI came back beautifully, but the spinal tap was another story. When I had my spinal tap, they punctured my spinal column. I was hospitalized for over 1 week with such excruciating pain, I thought I was going to just die. I was finally repaired with an epidural blood patch. But it did not cure. I was sent home, hardly able to sit and stand, from the pain in my head and back and legs. Eventually after a month I was fully healed.

My neurologist was not concerned about my migraines or my quality of life at all. I would tell how bad of pain I would be in and she looked at me like "well what do you want me to do?" In the times I was her patient I visited my Urgent Care at least 15 times.

Now journeying into the present 2011. In May I finally received a new neurologist and she has been wonderful! She has been helping as much as she can and I am very grateful for that. But I have had severe full blown migraines every single day. I have severe nausea and vomiting. I also get horrible ear pain ( like I have a ear infection), chills, sweating, violent shaking, sensitivity to smell, among other symptoms.

I have no quality of life. I seem to be resistant to everything they prescribe me. I have tried Topamax, Elavil, Verapamil, Norco, Forinial with codiene, Vicodin, Compro, Toradol, Tramadol. At this point in my life I don't know what to do. I am receiving Botox injections next week, and I am hopeful that it will work.

I hope my story helps some of you out there.