Botox

[RhaaTindal]

I have an appointment with a neurologist on the 29th, I went to see my doctor for a talk about my medication and she told me that the neurologist thinks that the next step for me will be Botox. I'm kind of freaking about about this, I'm only 21 and hate needles! Have many people found that Botox has actually helped them?? I've had absolutely no luck with medication, I've been on 20 different medications in the past 2 years and nothing has worked.

[Badknee]

Have you tried Candesarten, brand name Atacand? It's a BP medicine, but I don't have high BP. It works for me and with a lot of others who've tried it. My doctor brother-in-law got me to try it. Bad headache with vomiting only once since January 14, 2014. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[RhaaTindal in reply to Badknee]

It's never been offered or suggested to me, I will bring it up with my neurologist when I see them and see what they say!

Its great that you've managed to control your migraines, gives me a bit of hope!

[seawarrior in reply to Badknee]

Doesn't work for me

[sili]

Hi Rhaa I have been having the botox injections for over two and a half years and rarely have a migraine at all , I had to go off medication due what ever tablet is on it would affect my pituitary gland making my symptoms even worse.If I do get one it is just after the treatment and only lasts a day...it is a bit mind over matter when having them as the injections in the sensitive area's can sting but I wouldn't go back on medication even if I could.

[RhaaTindal in reply to sili]

It's good to hear you have your migraines under control! I'm starting to feel a bit better about it hearing the success of botox.

[Frustated]

I had botox in mid October, yes it does hurt a bit, but I just closed my eyes and didn't look at the needle. I have had some relief, it took 6 weeks, migraines are less frequent and headache less intense, and some days with no pain. Saw the pain specialist on Monday who feels 2nd dose should really help, followed by a 3rd dose. I'd go ahead you have nothing to loose and the possibility of a good response.

[RhaaTindal in reply to Frustated]

It's great to hear your migraines aren't as bad with botox, I hope the next few doses help even more!

I think I'm starting to realise that I should just do everything I possibly can to try and help get rid of them.

[seawarrior]

I've had migraines for 70 years and an effective preventative still hasn't been found for me. Botox is the next step although something new I'm trying now seems to be fairly effective so far so I'm hoping to be able to tell my neurologist that I don't need his 30+ injections!

[babs1234 in reply to seawarrior]

What are you trying that's helping? Seawarrior x

[seawarrior in reply to babs1234]

Have a look here: healthunlocked.com/migraine...

[RhaaTindal in reply to seawarrior]

I'm sorry to hear you've been dealing with migraines for 70 years!!

Oh I will look into what you are taking, it might work for me since nothing else will either

[seawarrior in reply to RhaaTindal]

I came off all other preventatives when I tried 5HTP and you must be careful not to take sumatriptan and 5HTP on the same day. I'm getting far fewer headaches and when I do get one, I catch it as soon as I can with 2 Solpadeine Max soluble tables, repeated after 4 or 5 hours if necessary. I had a relapse which lasted for a week but now I've been without a migraine for eight days - a record for me!

[RhaaTindal in reply to seawarrior]

The only preventative that has worked for me so far has be topiramate but it gave me too many side effects so I had to come off it. None of the triptans work for me either!

That's great, I'm definitely going to look into it!

[seawarrior in reply to RhaaTindal]

Don't forget to come off all other preventative medication before trying 5HTP. Good luck!

I've tried topirimate, too. It didn't help and the side-effects were awful. I felt sick most of the time and consequently lost a lot of weight, my thumbs and big toes became very tingly-painful and I became very depressed. Three months was enough for me!

[hopefulforcure in reply to RhaaTindal]

Have you tried the extended release form of this drug.? I too, couldn't handle the non extended release, but am doing considerably better with the Ex version.....just a thought...God bless....

[hopefulforcure in reply to seawarrior]

I am sorry to hear you have suffered so long with this horrible condition. I have been challengened around 35 years... I was wondering if you have tried topamax extended release.? This hasn't been a cure, bit has decreased my three day downs by around 75 %. Just thought I would share so you could research, maybe an option for you...God bless and hang in there.....

[MIPAINGRAIN]

You may Need to try multi medications supervised BY ONE of the BEST doctors in your area.

YOU HAVE MIGRAINE DISEASE. OK. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN A LOST LIFE OF PAIN. We, as migraine sufferers suffer with you, we all want you and the rest of us out of this medically neglectful pain.

You have to educate yourself on doctors themselves (many think it's a mental issue) walk as fast as possible away from these uneducated types.)

My Grandfather suffered tremendous migraine attacks and was always SEEN by a "House Visited doctor who shot him up some a pain killer AND ANTINFLAMMATORY. While we were all so pleased that Grandpa could shower, stand, sit and eat dinner with us that same evening or day after. We knew that throwing an ice cold bucket of water on the raging fire was not a permanent answer.

However, way way too many top Neurolgists think (while in their pain free state in the comfort of their warm beds) that the answer is out there and DOES NOT EVER INCLUDE PAIN KILLERS …"WHY PAIN KILLERS ARE FOR DOPE ATTICTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A FIX. MANY WILL OUTRIGHT SAY.

Well, the real FIX with this approach is with the doctors themselves. If their remedy (group of several migraine treatments is failing you and not working) your afraid to tell the doctor, right?

I found myself in that space years ago. "How could humble pie me tell this highest migraine doctor of the land anything less). I found that many people felt the same and starting taking (anything they could get their hands on to stop the pain -THIS IS BAD, PLEASE NEVER DO IT I have heard of people dying because a doctor refused to bring her a "medically" correct amount of pain medicine. Bring up the idea of adding a pain killer "suppressant" for choice of a culturally correct (actually frightened and mortified state of mind) up in the doctor's office.

I can surely tell you NO, because you will get what they created and call re-bound migraines. It's noting more than if having a beer with breakfast, bloodymary for lunch, followed by wine and two martinis with diner everyday will do to you. YES, YOU WILL KNOW YOU ARE GETTING A RE-BOUND HEADACHE FROM ALCOHOL INTOXIFICATION.

Why in this wonder world of modern medicine do we POUR WISKY AND WINES DOWN THE STREETS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, sell it in supermarkets without a blink of an eye.

But when pain relievers are even asked about within the concoction of other DRUGS FOR MIGRAINERS like BOTOX, TOPOMAX, CALAN, AND A HOST OF OTHER "UNKNOWN TO WHAT THEIR SIDE EFFECTS AND SESTEMIC EFFECTS LONG TERM ARE - THE DOCTORS ARE FREE TO DUMP YOU WITH SO MANY MEDS EVEN THEIR FREE TRAIL PACKETS RUN OUT IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE. NOT TO MENTION WHAT YOUR INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER AND WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY.

MIGRAINE IS ONE OF THE WORSE PAIN DISEASES KNOWN WITH THE LEAST COMPASSION FROM DOCTORS WHO KNOW BETTER … BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE THAT 75K RAISE AND MAKE PARTNER NEXT YEAR!

It may take you a while to find the right doctor, or the medical minds of the world to get one so they will know things need to change- to place you the diseased, pained, tax paying american on an "Illicit Drug" list is a crime in and of itself. AN AMERICAN DISGRACE.

[seawarrior in reply to MIPAINGRAIN]

You seem to have a big chip on your shoulder about the treatment you have had for the migraine condition (not disease, I think) as well as other things and you tell us what NOT to take but don't make any specific positive suggestions except to find the right doctor and expect a cocktail of drugs. Would you like to offer something more positive, please?

[MIPAINGRAIN in reply to seawarrior]

I am very sorry for your so many years of suffering, sea warrior.

I have found BOTOX, MAXALT, somewhat helps. Many foods and food additives are hidden ignitors: nitrates, artificial sugars, gluten , etc. There really is so much which doctors say nowadays that it can make one frustrated.

I have so many in my own family with the same Migraine issues so perhaps I am trying to protect/help them too.

That'y why I promote Doctor/Patient relationships.

Also, Coffee and an ansprin (if you can take aspirin) seems to keep a true attack from occurring.

God Bless You

[seawarrior in reply to MIPAINGRAIN]

Over the years, I've tried cutting out all the usual (and some unusual) food triggers but it never made any difference. I think my migraines are more to do with my mental state rather than the quality of my food!

I'm not supposed to take aspirin because I'm also on Warfarin. I'm advised against all NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen) because they can cause internal bleeding which becomes a problem because of the Warfarin.

[babs1234]

I had a nerve block injection on Monday. It worked but only for two days, had a slight one this morning, hope it was just a glip

[RhaaTindal in reply to babs1234]

Fingers crossed it was just a flip and that these injections work for you!

[RhaaTindal in reply to RhaaTindal]

*glip

[jackiesutton62]

Hi I had my first round of Botox at the end of October. I had 11 crystal clear days then had bad migraines for about 10 days. Once that round cleared I've a a few headaches, not migraines, aspirin takes them away they're pretty mild. Neck pain is eased by deep freeze gel and usually doesn't develop to even a headache.

My next round is at the end of Jan. Can't wait to see if this helps even more. My neurologist said some people get worse headaches for a while then they clear. Usually the 2nd round has more impact.

Needles sting they don't hurt. Whole procedure takes 10 minutes max. No after effects other than a few muscle aches in shoulders for a few days.

Dual trigger occipital nerve blocks didn't work for me. I had 4 tries but I'm feeling hopeful for the first time in 35 years of chronic migraine.

Give it a go please. Good luck Jackie x

[RhaaTindal in reply to jackiesutton62]

That's really good to hear, I'm glad you've found something that works for you!

That's good, I will probably just have to keep my eyes closed the while time.

I'm glad you're feeling hopeful! Fingers crossed the 2nd round works even better! X

[PattiJay]

Hi RhaaTindal!

I have started using Botox Treatment in August of this year, and I just had my second treatment the first week of December...a little more than a dozen little shots....and by now I'm very adjusted to it and my head is used to it as well. My migraines have improved 92% and my functioning is SO much better! I still take Topamax 2x per day plus the occasional Relpax...but the Botox truly helps me, A LOT! The first month I had to get used to it, but to me it's worth it. My insurance company wanted me to try other remedies first of course and keep a headache journal. My migraines started suddenly Feb. 2015, and they were pretty debilitating. Now they do not happen like that at all, thank goodness. Give it a try if you have already done the Topamax, Cambia, Relpax, and other painkillers. Believe me nobody likes shots in their heads, but it DOES help! Good luck to you!