cactus
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posted
Does anyone else get once monthly migraines that stretch on for days and days? This is the incapacitating migraine type - that can last up to 4 days.
Prior to this month, I thought it was part of my herx cycle, because the headaches came with such regularity.
However, I'm off abx and babs meds (have been off a little over 2 weeks while my GI issues are healing) and the headache has arrived.
Maybe it's not a herx after all, but a symptom?
Anyone else get this?
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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ByronSBell 2007
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posted
You male or female?
Has it been diagnosed as a Migrain or is it another type?
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cactus
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posted
Hey Byron, I'm female. I believe it's been designated migraine - I know it's in my medical history as such.
Seems like the headaches used to be relieved with sleep, and not stretch on quite so long, so maybe this is something I need to revisit with my LLMD.
Editing to say that none of the migraine meds I've tried have helped.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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savebabe
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posted
I always know when my babs is getting worse because my head starts to pound. Since I started septra, clarithromycin, mepron, art and IM bicillin my headaches are almost gone. YEA!!! I have been on these meds for months and it took about 5 months for the headahces to break.
Good luck and I hope you find the combo that works for you.
Posts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
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Aniek
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posted
Migraines are often triggered by food. A good headache doctor will work with you on an elimination diet. But, if you get them once a month, it could take months to figure out the trigger.
With migraines, a food may not always trigger a migraine, but sometimes may or if you eat enough may. There are also environmental factors.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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cactus
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posted
Could be the babs - it's definitely acting up again. I'm glad to hear you've kicked it, savebabe.
Aniek, my LLMD mentioned trying an elimination diet at my next visit - so that's in the near future. Hopefully that will help.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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Carol in PA
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posted
Cactus, For many years I've gotten headaches when my hormones shift, at ovulation and at menses. They are persistent, and do not respond well to migraine meds.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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trueblue
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Cactus, I was going to say similar to what Carol said. I have gotten hormonal migraines for years. They don't respond to much but correspond with the cramps from hell. (I wasn;t getting them at ovulation)
I didn't miss them for the year they were gone. Bah humbug!
Those are the only migraines that came regularly for me. The others have always been either excersize or medication induced.
'
Also, as an after-thought... I have been off meds for just over 3 weeks. It took 2 weeks until I started to lose some of the sx I had on the meds. I actually was worse the first week after stopping and thought... oh, crap, this is a terrible idea. (I was wrong and, apparently, terribly toxic.)
so... I was thinking you may still be cycling from the Babs meds 2 weeks later. I do hope it stops soon.
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I sure feel for you! I have the same exact problem, and it's quite common with many women I know. I was just at my pain dr. this morning, crying about the intensity and length of the headache I had this menstrual cycle. Many things help to ramp the pain down, but I still have not found a magic bullet.
Cheese and chocolate make it worse. Anti-inflammatories, opiods, rest, exercise, magnesium, flexeril, and baclofen all help. I do notice if i dose up on calcium and magnesium before the period it helps a little too.
Chronic headache has been the central part of my Lyme symptoms, aside from neuro issues and fatigue. I'm going to try trigger point injections next week. I've heard Botox shots for chronic headache/migraine are helping many people, but they are usually not paid for by insurance.
Physical therapy and massage have helped me, but the effect is very temporary.
Best wishes, Anneke
Posts: 364 | From California | Registered: Sep 2005
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cactus
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posted
Hi Carol, True, and Anneke! You could be onto something - it *could* be hormonal. I have a tendency to forget about that option, because I've had a partial hyst for endo in 2000.
But my little ovaries could still be wreaking hormonal havoc. Hmmmm... I will take that option to the doc next week, too! Many thanks!
Pre-hyst, I had daily 4 pm migraines that lasted into the night, but that stopped post-hyst, thankfully. This headache is a bit different - it is only right-sided, and extends from my right temple, above the ear to the back right side of the base of the skull and down my neck. And of course, it's for 3 - 4 days each month.
Feels like I've been whacked with a sledgehammer, ouch. The only relief I've found thus far is lying with the right side of my head pressed onto an ice pack.
Hmmm, 3 - 4 days a month, ice pack... It's like having endo in my head!!
Anneke, please let me know how it goes with the injections next week - I hope it gets you some relief. This has been one of my worst symptoms, too. It does seem to flare up more when babs is active, for me, so maybe getting back on babs meds will help.
True, I forgot that you're on a little break, too - how's it going?
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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trueblue
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Hi Cactus, The break thing is working out pretty good, so far. I can now see some symptoms resolved which I couldn't see from toxicland. Phew!
I am far from doing good but better than I've been for 2 years, I think. I am getting a little done now that the chiro fixed my back. Ugh.
I'm also having ovaries gone crazy so don't know what will happen there. I'm hoping that dies down, too.
Okie dokie, back to headaches... The thing that helps me the most when a migraine is coming on is an ice pack and Advil. It doesn't take it away but I think if I catch it early enough it lessens the severity a bit.
Years ago I had a pain management TMJ dentist who used to do trigger point injections on me (amongst other things). He was curious and asked me to come in when a migraine was coming on. He gave me shots of lidocaine into the muscles in the back of my head... sounds freaky... I think it did work though.
Oh and one other thing I've noticed, while I'm rambling. After I had the D and C and hydroablation a year and a half ago, my periods stopped (until this March, boo!). While I had no periods I also had no monthly migraines. I am 50, I want menopause back again, big time. I know for me they're attached to the stubborn ovaries with minds of their own.
I know that exact headache, the one you described, ugh, sorry.
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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Vanilla
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posted
Babs for sure creates migraines and if you get them before your period try magnesium and if that does not work try calcium.
Lately I no longer get them unless I over do like moving and lifting heavy things or over exercising. Then again I no longer get my period either do to age.
Can you buy some cell salts by Hylands and try the mag phos 6 x when you feel a migraine starting and if that does not work move on to the cal phos 6 x.
I hope your migraines go away like most of mine have.
posted
Cactus, I have severe hormonal hormones aggravated by Lyme and probably Babs. I have had migraines since I was 13 and tried every prevenative med and treatment around.
Today I am seeing Neuro. about trying Botox.My insurance company (Optimum Choice HMO) has agreed to pay for it.
I have heard it is important to go to a Dr. that hasa lot of experience. So I am going out of plan to a good Dr. and getting the med itself paid for.
I will try to get reimbursed later. I will let you know how it goes. Cindy
-------------------- Cindy Posts: 227 | From VA | Registered: Sep 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
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posted
Migraines for me and many people I know were Babs- I also got horrible PMS with Lyme and Babs and would have horrible headaches- and thhose went away with Babs tx!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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cactus
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posted
Don't know how I missed the latest from all of you on this evil headache... didn't see it... Thanks for all the headache help!
Ok, so most of all of you are thinking this could be some kind of combination of hormones and Lyme and babs... ouch. The headaches were gone for awhile, when my babs symptoms were under control - before the raging relapse.
I don't have the slightest idea how to tell when I'm cycling, or even if I am... my little ovaries are anything but predictable and without a uterus, well, I don't know what they're up to.
Prior to my hyst, I had not had a period that was not drug-induced for years and years. I wonder if it's possible that in hitting the Lyme I've gotten healthy enough that my ovaries are now functioning again, thus the headaches? That's something to ponder.
Ice packs and advil are my friends, too, True... Lidocaine - wow. Glad you're feeling less toxic. I re-started some of my meds tonight, but that's another story.
Vanilla, thanks for the supplement suggestions - hopefully I can find them online & order them quickly. Till then, I've got some mag supplements to try if it starts up again. (started to subside this afternoon - woo hoo!).
Cindy, please do keep me updated on the botox - I hope it helps!
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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I have been on these meds for months and it took about 5 months for the headahces to break. 
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