Book Review: Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches

I'll be completely honest...a lot of people recommended I read Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches by patient advocate Teri Robert, but I was hesitant because of the title. I don't want to "live well" with pain - I want it to go away!

After reading the book though, I too am joining the fans who recommend it. It's different from other books I've read by doctors who simply go through the types of headaches and a few drug treatment options. This book includes that information but also gives personal stories, including Teri's, and educates you on terminology and our legal rights as patients. Some of the personal stories are extremely sad, but you need to read them to know that the worse thing that can happen - stroke for example - can and has happened, so it's important to have that knowledge and be aware of what's going on with your own body.

Everyone who suffers from chronic headaches and migraines, or "Migraine disease" as Teri calls it, should read this book.

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A quick update: My MRI was canceled because the MRI office couldn't get in touch with my neurologist for a signature which was required by insurance. I spoke with my neuro's assistant and she said that wasn't the case; my neuro had to speak with a doctor on my insurance's medical board and wasn't able to get in touch with them in time. I'm going to guess that my insurance is holding things up so that I'll have to wait until January for my MRI, which means I pay my full $500 deductible because it starts over in 2010. Ugh.

I'm starting my rice and water diet January 1 (please don't try to convince me not to do it, unless you're a nutritionist), so I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes. I'm also headed to the library to pick up another book to help me do the elimination diet, so I'll have another book review coming soon.

Happy New Year, everybody!

Webinar Notes - Avoiding Holiday Headaches

I attended the holiday headaches webinar by the National Headache Foundation and I wanted to share my notes. A big thank you to Dr. Sylvia Lucas, the NHF and Merck & Co. (for sponsoring).

How to manage holiday headaches/migraines:

• Identify your triggers (environmental, diet, stress, sleep, etc.) using a headache diary.

• Avoid triggers you know, plus common triggers (sometimes it takes a combination of triggers to bring on a migraine).

• Avoid disrupting normal sleeping and waking patterns – make sleep your #1 priority.

• Social engagements expose you to smoke and perfume – get fresh air or try to move to an area that’s relatively clear. If you can’t get away, try breathing through a scarf (during a play for example).

• If you must drink alcohol, alternate between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, mix drinks with other fruit/vegetable juices, drink slowly, and avoid red wine.

• Don’t skip meals; if unable to follow a normal eating schedule, at least have snacks – always keep snacks on hand (not salty though because they can lead to dehydration). Good options are fruit, peanut butter for protein, crackers, and nutrition bars (Kashi, Luna, etc.). For bars, check for those with the lowest sugar and highest protein.

• Avoid ripe cheeses, processed meats and chocolate.

• Schedule personal time to give yourself a break.

• Traveling tips: plan in advance, be prepared for lines/long waits/traffic, and pack migraine meds.

• Rest, exercise, ice/heat, massage, biofeedback.

From the Q&A session:

- Are there programs to help cover cost of migraine medications? See drug company Web sites for programs, coupons.
- What are ergotamine derivates? Cafergot, DHE, etc. – older than triptans but highly effective. Can cause nausea and the caffeine can cause trouble sleeping.DHE-45 is a good rescue drug (injectable).
- (One of my ?s) If I do a two-week rice diet, slowly adding foods back, is that healthy? It shouldn't cause harm but you may not need to do it a full two weeks. It's better to do it under a nutritionist's guidance.
- Can neck/shoulder tension cause migraine? 75% of migraine sufferers have neck/shoulder pain so it can be part of a migraine – many people think muscle tension is causing the migraine but that’s not the case.
- Can stress cause migraine? Headaches in stressful occurrences can be triggered by adrenaline/nervous system changes.

Hope these notes aren't too scattered or out of context.

I'm going to take a short break from all things computer, including this blog, so I want to go ahead and wish everyone a Merry Christmas!!!

Forehead Lift for Migraines

My Twitter friend whose sister suffers from migraines told me about today's The Doctors TV that talks about forehead lifts for migraines. Check it out here. Has anyone tried this? Something to add to my wish list of future migraine treatments...especially once I start getting wrinkles! ;)

*Warning - not for those with weak tummies!*

Ulcer med caused headaches, go figure!

I was on 40 mg of Pantoprazole Sodium for a stomach ulcer, but I realized after being on it for a month that it was giving me a constant headache and migraine attacks too! The first side effect listed was headaches, but that's a common side effect - even for medications I've been given to treat headaches - so I thought nothing of it. But after 29 headaches in November, I decided to stop taking it. My internal medicine doc told me to take two 150 mg Zantac pills a day for a month instead. So far today's my first day with only a minor headache.

An unfortunate update: I was supposed to be having an MRI right now. But my insurance requires a form to be signed by my neuro and the MRI people weren't able to get in touch with my neuro to sign the form. I could have had the MRI anyway and tried to get the form signed later, but there would be no guarantee that my insurance would cover any of the MRI. I'm already going to have to meet my deductible, which my husband is giving me the hardest time about ("You don't need any Christmas presents - you're getting an MRI" - he better be kidding), so there's no way I can pay in full. So I had to cancel it. I'm going to call my neuro's office to reschedule and ask them about the stupid form.

Oh and regarding biofeedback, my insurance doesn't cover it so I'm trying to found out how much it will cost. I'm probably not going to do it, unfortunately.

Sorry for the negative updates. I guess the lessons learned are to make sure your meds aren't giving you headaches or making them worse, and maybe we do need some sort of health care reform!!!

Free Headache Webinars

Join us for

Headache Health Talks

 ~ a FREE Webinar series.

Get the latest information about headache causes and treatments from the nation’s leading headache specialists and participate in a question and answer session to learn how to better manage your headaches.

Enjoy Your Holidays: A  Guide to Managing Migraines	This program covers basic information about migraine, as well as how migraine sufferers are affected during the often stressful holiday season. We will discuss common holiday-related triggers, including family stresses, seasonal food triggers and changes in schedule, and how to avoid them to make the best of your holiday season. There will be Q&A sessions with the presenting headache experts after the presentation.	December 8, 2009 12 PM CT - Dr. Traci Purath 6 PM CT - Dr. Vincent Martin December 9, 2009 6 PM CT – Dr. Sylvia Lucas December 10, 2009 1 PM CT– Dr. Traci Purath December 16, 2009 4 PM CT– Dr. Sylvia Lucas

Register today by emailing nhf1970@headaches.org

Include the program name and date in the subject line and your name, city and state in the body of the email. Send to nhf1970@headaches.org. You will receive instructions via email with a toll-free number to call to participate in these educational and interactive teleconferences.

Sponsored by National Headache Foundation through an educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc.

New Game Plan!!!

My headaches are worse than ever. 20+ days a month now. AND I still have migraines! I can deal with the headaches, but the migraines will be the end of me. So, it's time for a new game plan. Enter Neuro #6. I've outline our plan of attack below:

• Sleep. My sleep study results showed I woke up 10 times an hour, and Neuro #6 read the results and said it was from leg movements (which I didn't notice at all). To fix this I'm taking a med that can help with Restless Legs Syndrome called Ropinirole HCL, or Requip. It may take multiple things to help my headaches, and getting a good night's sleep is definitely one of them! 

• Jaw. Related to sleep, I frequently grind and clench my teeth in my sleep. Sometimes my husband tells me or sometimes I know when I take that first bite of breakfast because my jaw is killing me. I tried a drugstore mouth guard but didn't notice a difference, so Neuro #6 referred me to a TMJ specialist. My dad has TMJ (it can be hereditary due to bone structure similarities), and it can be related to headaches, so this is a good move. My appointment is early next year.
  

• Migraine diet. This is one I asked about because I've been wanting to do it for a while. Sometime in January I'm planning to eliminate everything but rice from my diet. The new neuro said to do it two weeks and see if I notice a difference in my headaches; if not, I can go back to eating like normal. We agreed that if I did the gluten-free diet, I can do anything. It's only two weeks! 

• Biofeedback and meditation. The clinic I visited offers biofeedback; however, when I tried to schedule an appointment, they said they are "out of network" for my health insurance, so I need to do some research to find out how much it will cost. The Web site's undergoing maintenance but I'll look into it this week. Neuro #6 also recommended trying a mindfulness meditation class to learn stress reduction, but the ones she recommended are in the $300 range, so I'm going to hold off on that.
  

• MRI. And speaking of expensive, I almost forgot the most exciting part of the appointment! I FINALLY found a neuro who wants me to get an MRI! After nine years of headaches and migraines, someone wants to look at my head, the source of my pain. What a concept! :) I'm getting a brain and cervical spine MRI next month and it's ridiculous how much I'm looking forward to it. My husband doesn't understand why I want them to find something because he said it probably wouldn't be good, but I'm sure most of you who are reading this understand. If it's something fixable, I'll do whatever it takes. 

I'm thrilled that this new game plan isn't a long list of drugs. I made it clear that I've tried most of them and wasn't interesting in trying more. I'm still taking Butalbital and Toradol for migraines, and Aleve for headaches, but I try my best to avoid them when I can. 

P.S. - Love me some Philip Rivers! :) 

Image by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images.

Support the NHF while Christmas Shopping & Searching the Internet!!!

I've been writing constantly at work and honestly don't want to write another word. So this post is an e-mail I received from the National Headache Foundation. Thanks for understanding my need for a break from writing!!!!

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The holidays are all about the spirit of giving. That’s why the National Headache Foundation (NHF) is letting you know about an opportunity to give to your friends and family, and give back to a cause that’s important to you at the same time! The NHF is proud to be working with iGive.com, a Web site that allows you to do your holiday shopping online and donates a portion of the profits to the NHF.

All you have to do is go to www.iGive.com, register and put the National Headache Foundation as your cause of choice. From there, you can shop in the online shopping mall of over 750 stores, including big names such as eBay.com, Barnes & Noble and Best Buy. A portion of the profits from everything you buy will go to the NHF, and for every search you do on the site, iGive.com will donate a penny to the NHF as well!

There’s no better way to show your loved ones how much you care than with a gift that keeps on giving. The holidays are only a few weeks away, so go to www.iGive.com to start shopping!

- - - - - -
Note - I created an account, made iGive's search page my home page at work and did my normal Internet searches from it instead of google. So far today I've made 36 cents for the NHF from the search feature, and that will add up pretty quickly if do this every day!

Ulcer?

I mentioned in my last post that I think I have a stomach ulcer or ulcers. Every morning I wake up with a burning stomach which mostly goes away once I eat, and before dinnertime I start to get sharp, stabbing stomach pains. I tried a 14-day pack of Prilosec OTC and it didn't work, so I went to my internal medicine doctor. He said that I wasn't taking too much Aleve (I try to limit it to twice a week to prevent rebound headaches; plus if I take it too much it doesn't touch the headache), but he said it still might have caused an ulcer. My rescue med is Ketorolac (Toradol), and that's an NSAID as well but I have to limit it to twice a month. In my opinion it's probably stress, because I have a lot of non-headache things stressing me out, in addition to the daily headaches. The doctor didn't do an X-ray or anything but did listen to and feel my stomach and said there was inflammation.

He put me on 40 mg of Pantoprazole Sodium which I assume is the generic for Protonix, a gastroesophageal reflux med. It was only $10 (with my insurance) for a month's supply, which is awesome because I'm supposed to take it for 2-3 months. Then if my stomach isn't better, I'll have to go back to the doc.

A side effect is headaches, so does that mean it'll cancel out my current headaches? Let's go with that.

Counseling Session #2

Had my 2nd counseling session today, and my counselor did some guided imagery with me. I've done it once before online. You pretty much visualize a relaxing scene in order to take your mind off of your pain and lower your stress. The counselor also let me borrow a book, Creative Imagery, by William Fezler, Ph.D., which has a chapter on pain.

I've been super stressed lately for very good reasons, so I'm praying that this will help. I'm also trying really hard to work out more because exercise is vital to good health. Realistically, I'm always tired and headachey, which makes it hard to work out, but I've been doing a workout at least once or twice a week which is an improvement for me.

Oh and FYI, last month I had 24 headaches, and I haven't had a headache-free day since Oct. 15. I also had a horrible migraine last Friday night/Saturday but after three doses of Butalbital, I was well enough to party for Halloween! However, I went back to two Aleves today, and although my ulcer seems to be under control (if I even had one - maybe Prilosec is working), the Aleves didn't do a thing. This cycle has GOT to end.

Counseling

A co-worker of mine pointed me to an article in a benefits newsletter on headaches, and one of the things offered that I wasn't aware of is three free counseling sessions. I've been miserable lately - although hiding it well - and my headaches have been daily. Tonight it's a migraine (I also have a fever and upset stomach). Ugh.

Since I don't seem to handle stress well (I tense up, tightening my neck and shoulders, and keep it inside or cry), I decided to take advantage of the three free sessions. I'd rather not go into detail on the first session, but let's just say I cried on and off the entire time. In fact I'm tearing up just thinking about it. Stupid PMS.

My counselor recommended a work book on behavioral therapy, Mind over Mood, which I ordered from Amazon. She also said to do "rescue breathing" which I thought I was already doing, but I was doing it incorrectly. I was taking deep breaths through my mouth when stressed out, but you're actually supposed to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth and breathe with your diaphragm. If you breathe in through your mouth, you could get dizzy easier and cause yourself to hyperventilate.

The counselor also gave me a list of supplements that can increase serotonin naturally (5-HTP amino acid and SAM-e) and help me get deeper sleep (melatonin), but I'm sick of pills so those will be a last resort. I should note that she can't prescribe anything so she said to talk to a doctor before taking these.

One other update on my health - I think I have a stomach ulcer or ulcers. Every morning I wake up with a burning stomach which mostly goes away once I eat, and before dinnertime I start to get sharp, stabbing stomach pains. I'm taking Prilosec OTC for 14 days to see if that helps, and if not I'll see a doctor. Because of this I've stopped taking Aleve. If my headaches get bad enough, I still have Butalbital (which I will absolutely take tomorrow if I wake up feeling like I do now) which has acetaminophen and is not an ulcer-causing NSAID, to my knowledge.

If you're wondering why I haven't mentioned Tui Na massage lately, my husband refuses to let me see the acupuncturist who does that because he's still freaked out from the cupping (see earlier post). I'm trying to stand up for myself, but it is $50 a session and I don't make nearly as much as my husband, so I feel like I don't have the right to spend that kind of money when I don't know for sure that it'll work. Sometimes you have to pick your battles.