Request : Tell me about your migraine

Hi

My name is Angela Glad and I am a member of the board for the Swedish Migraine Association and
we publish a newsletter called Migränbladet 4 times a year.

I thought it would be nice for our Swedish readers to share experiences from different countries. We can all learn from each other.

Risa has kindly agreed to write about her migraine history, which I very much appreciate.

Do I have any other willing volunteers from outside of Canada who would like to tell me
about their migraines /treatment/ including Cluster headaches ?

Ok ! Canada is first on the list can I have more offers ?

My email address is migran@glaho.com

Regards
Angela

Hi All !

First I want to thankyou Steph for sharing on how you cope in "your" migraine world.
Sweetheart ...you wrote it SO well and I thankyou very much.
I have received two other offers from ladies here, so I am hoping to hear from them soon.

Anymore kind offers ?? please write to me about your migraine world ? my email address is;

migran@glaho.com sharing your stories WILL hopefully help other migraineurs here in Sweden.

Thankyou
Angela

The Swedish Migraine Association
Banergatan 55
11553 Stockholm
country number then ( 6605535
fax ( 6600177
Kansliet@migran.org
www.migran.org

You are more than welcome!!!

Angela, are you interested in how they affect us now, or the history, what meds we've taken? Depending on what you want mine could go on for pages.

Hi Charlotte !

Yes, I am interested in how they effect your daily living (past and present) and what meds have helped.
The history would be a good idea too !
I welcome any reply, be it long or short
Looking forward to hearing from you.

--
Angela

Paradox wrote:Angela, are you interested in how they affect us now, or the history, what meds we've taken? Depending on what you want mine could go on for pages.

Angela, I replied in the other thread - about M newsletter - I apologize for not having my story written yet,
but I will, I will!

Risa

Ok here goes

When I came to Canada in 1983, after three or so months living here all of sudden the meds that always helped me-
a combo of aspirin or acetaminophen, caffeine and phenacetin stopped working.

So I went to my family doctor who diagnosed me with common migraine (back then, it was still classic and common)
and sent o my first neuro.
My first neuro confirmed the dx, and calmly stated there is nothing to be done about it, which devastated me
and frankly I disbelieved me. I never ever experienced something like that in my life so I was convinced there must be
a reason for such a mysterious, severe pain episodes.

Little did I know what i was in for...

The neurologist offered preventative medication " for the rest of my life".
But for me, a person who went from occasional episodes helped with humble OTC to "the rest of your life" was such an
incomprehensible step, I simply rejected it.
I firmly believed the both my GP and the neuro are wrong, and went for years long quest to find a "reason for my migraines".
(lol - we all know how it ends... )

At first, I was given T3 and Fiorinal C1/2 as an abortive but I tried not to take it as I was afraid of getting addicted to it,
and offered Sandomigran (pizotifen) and amitriptyline as migraine prevention, which I also refused as I didn't believed
the real reason for my M was even investigated properly.
Altough from neurogical standpoint, I was given trough tests back then - eeg, x-rays of the head, even a special scan
where I was injected with some toxic dye or something like that. All good and dandy.

But, after a while, I can't recall how long, I gave in and started taking Sandomigran.

I was told once the medication will take hold my migraines will disappear just like that


needless to say.....
pffft..

Amitriptyline only worsened my headaches, and so did Luvox.
In the course of the next few years I tried numerous different M preventives but none were working for me.
I also tried Selenium, Feverfew, and other herbal stuff I don't even remember the names of. pft!

As these were the years before the triptans, and before the MRI and cat scans, I was many times told
"it's in your head", "you need to relax", "you try to hard", "don't stress so much", "it's psychosomatic".
I was all the more easier to blame for all this pain since I was a fresh immigrant, hardly speaking English,
so it was very convenient to put all this on my daily struggles.

Nobody listened when I said at the same time I am happy and respected at work, have lost of friends,
proud of my achievements, in facts probably happiest in my life. who cares - I am stressed out and that triggers all that
M pain, period.
It's not the nature of the disease, it's the doctors inefficacy, it's ME.

Then I moved from Manitoba to BC. Hoping the warmer climate will improve my M.
Little did I know BC was actually called The M capital of Canada!


The journey from family dr to family dr, from new neuro to neuro has begun again.
Again I underwent various tests, this time the MRI was added to the battery so at least I was finally spared the crap
about "it's in your head" and "psychosomatic".

Although I had really bad experience with the first BC fam dr who treated me like a drug addict,
and another one who was misguided in that he thought he could be a neuro and wanted to restrict me to 3 Imitrex
tablets per MONTH,
I had rather positive in general.

After 30 years, I am still suffering with M although 125mg Topamax daily helps to reduce the pain from severe to bearable.

that's my story.

Risa

Hello Angela

I'd like to send you something this week.

Hi !

Please do !
Look forward to hearing from you :-)

Regards

Angela

THANKYOU very much for your sending me your
" migraine history". Very interesting indeed

Lets fight on !

Angela

angelapet wrote:
THANKYOU very much for your sending me your
" migraine history". Very interesting indeed

Lets fight on !

Angela

Hi Risa

Has my migraine newsletter arrived at your doorstep ? :-)

Hugs
Angela

Angela, I was unaware that there was the postal workers strike which lasted about a month and has ended only
a few days ago,
so I should be getting your letter any day now.

I'll let you know right away when I receive it, you can be sure :]

Risa

Cluelesskitty wrote:Angela, I was unaware that there was the postal workers strike which lasted about a month and has ended only
a few days ago,
so I should be getting your letter any day now.

I'll let you know right away when I receive it, you can be sure :]

Risa

ALRIGHT SWEET HEART

Angela, it's here !!!



And I saw you on page 11 just as you indicated!!
Thank you sweetheart, and how I envy you guys your own magazine! I wish we could have something like that here!

Anybody with experience in journalism, guys?
It's great to have your own migraine magazine!

Risa

Thankyou Risa for letting me know the migraine newsletter
has arrived and pleased you liked it

I welcome anymore "migraine stories" so, pen to paper if you
feel inclined. Your stories HELP people who have migraines
and you educate those who don't

Thankyou !

Angela

I was so excited I forgot to thank you, Angela, so sorry!

Thank you for sending me this magazine, even if I couldn't understand a word,
it had this special common migraine vibe that was getting thru to me.

If I will have some good M story to tell I will let you know :]

Risa

Cluelesskitty wrote:I was so excited I forgot to thank you, Angela, so sorry!

Thank you for sending me this magazine, even if I couldn't understand a word,
it had this special common migraine vibe that was getting thru to me.

If I will have some good M story to tell I will let you know :]

Risa

ThankYOU Risa for helping me ! When it comes to migraines
we can all learn from each other, no matter where we live in this world
Angela