Horrific Migraine

[Anonymous]

Have had Migraine for 7 days now. Tried Imitrex pills, Maxalt disolving tablets, drinking more, Magnesium--no effect...Last Tues & Weds, vomited several times, now just pain & nausea & misery...

Any suggestions, good docs (I'm in MD)....anything??

TIA

[Anonymous]

Have you tried frova? Expensive but the best for my migraines.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Rothstein at GW Hospital. He's a neurologist. Good luck, it's miserable, I know.

[Anonymous]

i get horrific migraines about once a year. The pain is so severe that I feel like I had a 2x4 slammed into my forehead. I vomit and have lot of neurological symptoms---my left arm goes numb, I loose the ability to talk, I see spots.

when this happens I end up in the ER for IV anti-nausea meds and IV (narcotic) pain medication. It generally does the trick although I do it as a last resort. I HATE narcotics--they always make me feel completely out of it and more nauseated. However in the throws of one of these headaches I am willing to try anything.

If you're really feeling terrible then call your physician about the possibility of IV narcotics or go to urgent care/ER.

i hope you feel better soon!

[Anonymous]

I am a chronic migraine sufferer and have had several cycles of a very bad migraine like yours. When they hit like that, I have ended up in the ER three times for a cocktail of fluids, steroids, narcotics, and anti-nausea meds via IV. It's the only thing that works. Now when I have a headache that seems to not respond to my triptans over two days or so, I call my neurologist and get put on a multi day steroid taper (Prednisone). It is frigging miracle! It breaaks the cycle. I also have seen the neuro people at GW. I now have a wonderful neurologist at Hopkins that I drive to see. For the first time in two years, I am not getting a daily headache. I also have seen Dr. Elizabeth Latimer in Bethesda. She doesn't take insurance but she is also good. Best of luck

[Anonymous]

At this point I would go to the ER. They will treat your pain with IV drugs and will order imaging to be sure you don't have something more serious. That is really the next step here...don't hesitate to go. It is warranted.

[Anonymous]

Not the op but a migraine sufferer. I have an appointment next week with Dr. Latimer that I made awhile ago. I do see a neurologist but still get frequent headaches. Is Dr. Latimer worth it (her consultation is fairly expensive)? Thanks for any feedback.

[Anonymous]

Another +1 for the ER. My DH gets awful migraines and has rarely, but occasionally, ended up in the ER for them. Sometimes, that's the only thing that will work. (It is also how we found out he was allergic to Imitrex; they gave him an injection of it and he immediately seized up on the table.) At 7 days, you're well justified in going to the ER and letting them set you up on an IV cocktail.

[Anonymous]

If I have one that lasts more than three days or the pain is really, really severe I go to the ER/urgent care (we have Kaiser) for an IV cocktail. Dr. Susan Calkins is excellent but is with Kaiser so I'm not sure if she sees other patients.

If you get regular migraines you may want to look into biofeedback. I was skeptical at first but it worked well for me for a few years. I saw Judith Siegel in Chevy Chase.

Hope you get some relief soon!

[Anonymous]

How much is Dr. Latimer's initial fee?

[Anonymous]

I suffer migraines, and no pill ever worked for me, I use zomig nasal 5mg - expensive but who cares when your in that much pain.

[Anonymous]

When I had a migraine that long and imitrex wasn't working, I had to go to the ER. They'd be an an IV of some medicine that I can't recall (a pretty serious narcotic I think). That was the only thing that worked. I'd feel like a zombie for a day but then be back to normal the day after.

I tried the headache clinic at GW but they just wanted to prescribe meds. Wasn't a fan of that approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not the op but a migraine sufferer. I have an appointment next week with Dr. Latimer that I made awhile ago. I do see a neurologist but still get frequent headaches. Is Dr. Latimer worth it (her consultation is fairly expensive)? Thanks for any feedback.

Did you have your appointment with Dr. Latimer? I made an appointment with her next week and wanted to get your impression