So sorry you are going through this. I do know how you feel. I have chronic migraine. Every day. I'm finally on a drug that gives me 5 or 6 hours a day of no pain...but eventually it comes. But that's a lot better than no hours of pain.

But before anything else, I just want to ask, who are you seeing for your migraines, and do they have you on any medications for them?

Sorry, I looked back and saw a post you wrote back in March. So it seems like you are seeing some doctors, but I don't think you are seeing the right doctors. Let me just say this about medications used to treat migraines: there are so many out there, most people don't even realize the scope of how many there are. Primary care doctors do not even know the full scope of how many drug can be used to treat migraines, and even neurologists do not know all of the drugs. I know many patients who say "I've bee on everything". No, they have not. Only headache specialist know the range of drugs that can be used and can really help the chronic cases of migraine.

I've been with the same headache specialist for the past 12 years, and it's only been in the last 3 years that I was put on a heart medication and an alzheimer's medication to prevent my migraines, and I'm finally starting to get SOME pain free periods.

Please do look for a specialist. You are only 24, and it may not get better for awhile. You deserve the best shot you can get.

I second Yvette's statement. I found out in November 2017 after 16 months of pure hell and 25 years of trying to manage this that I have chronic daily migraine. My symptoms that had been slammed on fibromyalgia are likely due to the headache. I worked FT and received a Master's at 30. But after that my symptoms got so very bad it has been difficult to maintain employ. I have been so sick at work I have been sent home several times and once my boss drove me home.Then came July 2016 and all of these horrible problems. I went through 11 different doctors, 8 specialists and 3 P CPs. When I got to my current neuros office and she saw I was diagnosed as a child with severe migraine she could not believe that no one, including the neuro I saw a year previously did not make the DX nor that no one had tried to treat me. Please continue to seek care. I am advised not to even go through my PCP unless I know that the problem is something like bronchitis.

Thank you for your responses. I have been seeing a specialist for the past month and we have been trying trokendi xr but the side effects are causing more problems for me and I'm not seeing any positive results. I have tried different types of medications in the past in the past too, like high blood pressure medications, seizure, MS, and muscle relaxer medications. I'm interested in hearing what fellow migraine sufferers do for income/insurance? If you don't mind sharing. Right now I'm still on my parent's insurance and it covers some of my medical costs and I'm not able to work because of the migraines and I'm just at a loss at what I should do for income and insurance.

What other medications have they tried? Have you been on any anti-depressants? Anything considered a psych med? Any anti-alzhimer meds? Tried botox yet? The truth is, sometimes being on just one med at a time will not work. I'm on 5 preventatives right now, and the combo seems pretty ok right now. Sometimes it takes a while to find the correct "cocktail" until you find some relief, so your doc should work with you till you find that cocktail....and should be going through ALL the medications out there.

Currently, I am on disability because of my migraines. I can no longer work. My migraines are daily, and I can barely get out of day everyday. Along with disability, you get medicare insurance. Because I worked until I was 30, I was eligible for that. Even though you haven't worked, you are still eligible for some for of disability. But here is why it will be difficult for you. Social Security will make you see one of their doctors first who will look over your records, then they will look over your records. If they don't see that you have been through every conceivable medication, especially BOTOX...and that botox has failed you, you would not be approved.

There is a new group of drugs that was just approved for use, CGRPs. I would ask your specialist if he would write you a script for that, and if he won't...seriously ask him about getting botox injections. They have helped so many people.

I managed to finish school, both undergrad and graduate having as many as 2 migraines a week. They did not become chronic until I was older. But had I known that was a serious possibility, I would have chosen a different major and skipped the grad degree. I work with the public and definitely would not do this had I possessed more info early on. Right now I work part-time. I am married and my spouse carries our insurance as I am ineligible through my employer. I have been advised by my specialist to quit working and file for disability. Based upon the criteria we have seen we doubt I would be awarded disability if I were to file. We are working on adjusting our lifestyle to live from only his income as I have such severe symptoms (slurred speech, vision problems, coordination problems) that it seems unlikely I will be able to continue working long term.

I should add that I did have to take a hiatus from grad school because I had as many as 4 migraines a week at one point.

Yeah I had to take time off from my Grad school too when this all started. I'm just struggling with the thought that I won't be able to be productive in my life. Right now I'm speaking with my specialist about trying new medications. I have tried anti- depressants and I take some daily. I also take b-2, b-12, and magnesium. I'm just nervous about investing in Botox since the nerve blockers I have gotten (three of them) have not given me any relief. My insurance will not cover Botox treatments so I don't know if thats a viable option for me right now. I am getting reffered to a CSF specialist to see if my spinal fluid is normal. My specialist was concerned about that since my neck is hurting and my headaches are positional. Have anyone of you had CSF problems?

Thank you for your feedback and support

First off, you are wrong about botox. Your insurance WILL cover it as long as your doctor is considered a specialist who can give you injections, contacts your insurance company and tells them you are a chronic headache patient who has failed other treatment. You don't just get injections in your face. They inject your face, neck, and it can go into your shoulders if need be. They are also not the same as nerve blocks, so you really can't compare how they would work.

Just personally I'm not sure about all this CSF stuff. I know so many people who grew up with migraines and never had a spinal tap. It was just old-fashioned migraines. And I know for some people, it can take months to get over the headache a spinal tap will give you.

But when all your testing is done, please talk to your doctor about getting botox. You talk about not having a productive life. Botox was one of those game changers that gave many people their life back. There is a new groundbreaking injectible medication that just came out...but if you haven't tried enough other medications beforehand, you won't be considered for this new one, and botox is one of those drugs. You need to consider every option available to you.

Good luck.

50 yo now who has had migraines for 30 plus years. The last 2 years have been pure h&#$! I am on my 3rd headache specialist. I am a person in the medical field who has worked hard for my degree. I’m coming to grips that I may never work in this capacity again.

I went to my Headache Specialist the other day. He suggested taking Lyrica. I’m on 150mg twice a day. No migraines sine so far. He mentioned if this doesn’t work We can try Aimovig. At least I feel I have some ideas in my pocket. This may help someone else.

Have a nice weekend.

thelmanlouise- did your headache specialist NOT have you fill out a form for 2 free months of Aimovig? It is my understanding that headache clinics were filling out those forms for their chronic migraine patients to get 2 free months of the medication. I know at the Jefferson Headache Center where I go, all chronic migraine patients are getting it.

There is no reason you can't try it. It's even been written about in articles about how to get the drug, that your headache specialist just fills out a form to get you two free months of it. You should not have to wait. It's no money coming out of your pocket, and I believe my doctor told me it comes about 2-3 weeks after your doctor fills out the form.

If the lyrica stops working for you, I would hop on that so fast. Either way, good luck!

My suggestion for you is to document every migraine, every headache, every doctor visit and every pill you try. You will need proof of this if you try to apply for disability. And when you apply for disability, get forms for every ailment.

Although I managed to work through 30 years of Fibromyalgia, back and neck injuries pain, knee pain, IBS PTSD, and frequent migraines, I was forced out of my job when these new perfumes and strong fragrances started 5 years ago. Weekly migraines became daily migraines. But when I applied for SSDI, I applied with all of those ailments listed above, and I could supply dates too. Of course, then the syncope migraines started and that sort of synched disability for me. I was approved for SSDI with my first application in 3 months.

I personally have not found a medication that works for me. So good luck on that!!

Hi Yvettek.
Lyrica side effects came on within 4 days. That med got stopped. The Aimovig has been ordered by my headache specialist and I’m waiting for insurance to approve it.
I will be there tomorrow for Botox so I will ask about the 2 free months of Aimovig.
Today being a holiday, tomorrow I will call my insurance to get them to approve it. I got a bad migraine Sunday. Tried ice/ nausea med. cold dark room. Up all night.
I was at the ER Monday for steroids IV , magnesium, cocktails etc. Tried the walk in clinic first but they couldn’t get a IV in me. I was so dehydrated so fast. Nausea/vomiting is the precursor to my migraines