[FamilyMan is a regular commenter at Eat4Today & contributes his Migraine Diaries on an irregular schedule -- katiebird]
I haven’t posted on the migraine diary for awhile. Mostly me being lazy I guess, but here are the latest things that have happened to me.
The Occipital Nerve Block (ONB) was done in May. Here’s the story from my point of view. It really wasn’t bad and the anticipation and worry about it was far worse than the procedure. I wrote this awhile after I got back home and my frame of mind was not the best. I’ve talked to a lot of people that this has worked for, and I was more than willing to give it another try. So I don’t want to turn anyone off from trying this. It didn’t work for me, but it may work for you.
It’s Just a Little Pin Prick
I made my appointment and had the ONB done. A nurse checked me in, an intern asked me questions and finally the doctor came back in with the intern.
I asked the doctor questions, he answered them and then I asked how long would this last. He said the effects would work for four to six week, if it worked. IF IT WORKED!!!!! IF IT &%$** WORKED? What the heck is going on? He told me for a lot of people it works and some it doesn’t. We’ll just have to see. (more)
He asked me if I had a migraine right now and I told him no, just one of my normal daily headaches. He said OK and started feeling around the back of my head. He finds the locations he wants and washes it off with alcohol. He then said there would be a little pinprick. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but it’s the closest I’ve ever come to fainting. It’s not just a little injection type thing. He’s explaining to the intern, you push it in here and then move it over here and here. He then gives me another injection in the muscle under the base of my skull. During this whole time he had to keep reminding me to breathe. He asks me if I’m nervous. I’m thinking you %&& idiot, do I look totally relaxed. He’s finally done and I’m seeing little bright lights. I have to put this disclaimer in. It wasn’t from the injection. I just didn’t know I could hold my breath that long.
As I said, he finally finishes and then he tells me……
You might get a small headache that radiates up toward your forehead from the injection. Now let me get this straight. I already have a headache, but I will also get one from the injection he just gave me. He asked how my normal daily headache is now. I tell him it’s the same. He said the injection will hopefully make it go away. HOPEFULLY? HOPEFULLY??!!!!!!To cut a long story short, I’m now home and my normal headache I started out with this morning is worse, but it’s not a migraine. I can’t take any tylenol, advil or anything like that because of rebound headaches. I’ve got stronger stuff, but that is only for migraines.
September Neurologist Visit
I saw my Neurologist and I fully expected him to say we would keep on with the ONB, but he didn’t. He said, if I came away with a worse headache that it’s no need to try them again. So he asked me if I had every tried Effexor. I told him I think it was tried years ago, but I don’t remember why it was stopped. So he wants me to start that and see him again in 5 months. I know Effexor is an anti depressant, but my doctor said it helps with migraines also. I told him it was probably good because the amount and severity of the migraine were really getting me down. I’ve looked up Effexor and it looks to do wonders, but it also looks to have some pretty big side effects.
As I’ve said before, everyone is different and I do think there is something that will help each person. Whether it prescribed or over the counter, that’s for each person to find. Hopefully sooner than later I’ll find mine.
4 Comments
FamilyMan, Thank you so much for posting this. I really had no idea the range of options that are being used to treat migraines these days.
And I hope this time you’ve found your answer.
Hi KB and thanks. I guess the most interesting thing that happened on the last visit was he prescribed a medicine that has to be compounded so I can rub it on my wrist.
I wake up sometimes with a full blown migraine and the nausea is so bad I can’t take anything for the nausea or migraine. The medicine is what I take now by mouth for nausea, but he said the compound would absorb through the skin and help the nausea. There is no compounding pharmacy around here, so I’ve got to find one. The first time I try it, I’ll let everyone know how it works.
Thank goodness I don’t get migraines, but my wife does.
I know that doesn’t help FamilyMan, but menopause seems to have a positive effect on decreasing their frequency.
One pleasant surprise we had the last time we had to go to the hospital for one was a new drug they used there. I can’t remember the name, but it was related to motion sickness medications. They used to give her strong pain killer injections, which really didn’t do anything but mask the pain without ending the migraine. Within half an hour after taking this new drug we were leaving the hospital. It was phenomenal.
Hi Rick.
You know I used to think once I hit my age (53) that the migraines would get better or either be gone. As my Neurologist keeps saying, everyone is different.
I’m glad to hear the new medicine helped your wife. I haven’t heard of a motion sickness medicine for migraines that stops the pain yet, but I’ll be doing some research now.
You’re also right on the strong pain medicine. It doesn’t stop it, but just masks the pain.
Thanks again for the info.