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.
Hello. I am new to this group and I am really looking forward to talking to people who understand. I went to a Neurologist for the first time and despite the fact that though my headaches are daily, they are most often mild (I do have severe ones several times monthly, though without sensitivity to light and sound) she diagnosed me with Chronic Migraine and Medication Overuse.
Its my first week on a preventative (Topamax) and she said not to expect relief for a month...she prescribed Maxol and Cambia for rescue and said to only use them if I get a 4 or higher on the pain scale, but also to catch it early. Here's the thing...I hate the pain scale, because to me, a 10 means I'm running into the ER screaming and clutching my skull. So...to wait for a 4 to medicate is not catching anything early for me.
I see her in two months and have a decent amount of refills but she wants me to keep a detailed headache diary with iheadache and wants to know how much I take...I already feel judged by the whole "Medication Overuse" thing. The medication I was overusing, BTW, was plain old aspirin and IB profin.
Any advice...?
Its my first week on a preventative (Topamax) and she said not to expect relief for a month...she prescribed Maxol and Cambia for rescue and said to only use them if I get a 4 or higher on the pain scale, but also to catch it early. Here's the thing...I hate the pain scale, because to me, a 10 means I'm running into the ER screaming and clutching my skull. So...to wait for a 4 to medicate is not catching anything early for me.
I see her in two months and have a decent amount of refills but she wants me to keep a detailed headache diary with iheadache and wants to know how much I take...I already feel judged by the whole "Medication Overuse" thing. The medication I was overusing, BTW, was plain old aspirin and IB profin.
Any advice...?
As for the pain scale...you may have your own idea of a pain scale. My average pain is about a 6. But for me, a 6 doesn't warrant medication. Once I hit about a 7-8 is when I need a medication. If a 4 is too painful for you, then take it before that. Take it as soon as you know it's going to be a bad migraine.
Also, sometimes people need more than just preventative. I'm on topamax, but I'm also on 2 other preventatives. So you may just have to do a trial and error to find the right cocktail that works for you. Talk to your neurologist next time you see her.
Good luck
Usually it happens when you take the medicine 15 times a month or more. Or something similar. That can give you migraines/headaches daily (so you need to take meds everyday). Just focus on getting of the meds you were taking a lot and that will help.
YvetteK is absolutely correct though. you need to decide what is a good point for you to detect early as a "whoa, this is going to be bad."
I have shared my pain scale with my doctors to help them understand what I say when i say I spend most days at a 5-6. For me, an 8 is the highest i will ever get and at that point I'm already in the ER begging for anything to help - I use 8 because they say 10 is the worst pain imaginable and even when I'm in the ER, I can always imagine worse - Having a full brass band playing in the room with me for instance. I explain that at a 7, I am in bed, in the dark, wishing I was dead. At a 6, I am out of bed, but barely functional. So on and so forth.
Perhaps if you don't have a fixed pain scale for yourself yet, or as detailed of one as someone like myself does, you can ask your doctor to describe what they feel each level would represent. At least that way you would both be on the same page.