Migraine Headaches Support Group
Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.
I had to go in to the ER yesterday for treatment of my migraine. I had been in to the base hospital (I am still in the military so Monday to Friday I still have to report to hospital during those times) twice already last week and was given copious amounts of demerol, (sometimes up to 450mg, usually the average dose would be 300mg-350) which in the past had eventually worked. However it was sooooo much of the drug...scary actually. My doctor had told me that she was planning on ordering Dilaudid for treatments but that was six months ago and it still wasn't in to the base pharmacy. I was getting very sick of demerol and finding that it had never really brought my pain down much past a 5/10. Also the next day I felt that terrible demerol hangover....YUCK!!! On top of that the doctors always give lectures on how bad demerol is yadda, yadda, toxic, yadda, yadda but not provide any alternatives...not helpful to someone that has had an intractable migraine for over a week but I digress....
Anyway, I went to an ER and they gave me Dilaudid. What an improvement. It didn't make me feel as "out of it" and crappy as demerol does and it took my pain level down from almost a 10 to a 7 after only 2 mg! Where as demerol was taking nearly 150 mg to even begin to touch the headache. After about another hour I had 2 more mg with toradol, then I had another 2 mg with dexamethasone. I had in the end 6 mg of dilaudid. With the combination of the dilaudid and the dex and toradol I had finally been able to get rid of my migraine. I was very thankful and happy that I was no longer tied to demerol! Now if only the base will get the treatment in....
BTW, I figured out the conversion equivalent between Dilaudid and Demerol and the amount of dilaudid that I had would have equaled about 240mg of demerol....way less then I usually have needed. Plus Dilaudid is NOT associated with toxicity build up that demerol is so in essence it is much safer.
I hope that for those of you that have to occasionally end up in the ER for treatment when NOTHING else is working for your migraine are able to access dilaudid. It really did finally get rid of one of the worst episodes of migraine I have had in long, long time. It had been going on for 9 days with pain no less than 8/10. Remember to also get some other strong anti-inflammatory to help bring down the pain and reduce the likely hood of rebound!
Anyway, I went to an ER and they gave me Dilaudid. What an improvement. It didn't make me feel as "out of it" and crappy as demerol does and it took my pain level down from almost a 10 to a 7 after only 2 mg! Where as demerol was taking nearly 150 mg to even begin to touch the headache. After about another hour I had 2 more mg with toradol, then I had another 2 mg with dexamethasone. I had in the end 6 mg of dilaudid. With the combination of the dilaudid and the dex and toradol I had finally been able to get rid of my migraine. I was very thankful and happy that I was no longer tied to demerol! Now if only the base will get the treatment in....
BTW, I figured out the conversion equivalent between Dilaudid and Demerol and the amount of dilaudid that I had would have equaled about 240mg of demerol....way less then I usually have needed. Plus Dilaudid is NOT associated with toxicity build up that demerol is so in essence it is much safer.
I hope that for those of you that have to occasionally end up in the ER for treatment when NOTHING else is working for your migraine are able to access dilaudid. It really did finally get rid of one of the worst episodes of migraine I have had in long, long time. It had been going on for 9 days with pain no less than 8/10. Remember to also get some other strong anti-inflammatory to help bring down the pain and reduce the likely hood of rebound!
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
Sandi
Of course as happy as I am to share this I feel I should add a disclaimer.... I know this should go without saying, make sure dilaudid is SAFE for you. It did the trick for me.
I also suffer from Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome which can set off headaches and also make headaches worse, it can also lengthen the headache cycle. I also have Chronic Daily Headaches that are debated to be possible Transformed Migraines. I have prescriptions for daily pain meds for my other chronic pain. So sometimes for me ER I.V. narcotic intervention is necessary....it may not be for everybody.