1 step forward.......2 steps back :-(

[KatherineM_PBC]

So recently I was delighted to post on here, that after months of suffering migraine and daily headache, I had a spell of 2 weeks with no head pain at all. I'm on Amitriptyline (30mg) and taking magnesium supplements, I have adapted to a gluten free diet, all these things helped, but it was when I started acupuncture sessions that I could not believe..... no head pain at all.

However, 10 days after the 2nd acupuncture session, I got a bad headache (no migraine aura) but although the severity passed after 2-3 days, I have been left with constant head pain (mostly forehead). This has been accompanied by depression and a very dizzy head.

I'm sooooo fed up - I don't know whether to carry on with the acupuncture? I was told I might need to increase the titration of Ami but when I tried 40mg before that made me dizzy too!

Any ideas?

[5555aniceta]

My Doctor prescribe me amitripthlineand nene me so sick I couldn’t take anymore now I just take more magnesium and vitamin B2 I have a break of 2 weeks with no pain I do Physiotherapy, and lots of yoga 🧘‍♀️

Good luck

[Cat00]

I'm on 175mg Amitriptyline, I found I would get dizzy every time they put it up but that the dizziness would pass Fter a while.

[Adriana5631]

Kath, you're almost there. Don't lose hope! Someone said: "The past is where you learned the lesson. The future is where you apply the lesson. Don't give up in the middle!"

You've eliminated gluten, stepped up on supplements - though you should also add 400mg Riboflavin (Vit B2) daily - but now you have to ditch the SUGAR (POISON, especially for migraines)!! Trust me on this one. I'd been on Amitriptyline for years, and all it did was to make me sleep like a log and constantly wanting to fall asleep behind my computer at work. It did me no favours.

Dr Josh Turknett's book, "The Migraine Miracle", has changed my life around. I have been a migraineur for the last 45 years and used to suffer DAILY migraines. I now get two a MONTH. That is nothing short of a miracle! Some days I still can't believe that making such a few changes could have impacted my life so radically. When I do get a migraine, I take only Imigran - no need for painkillers with the Imigran any more either. It's been 5 months of 'normal' living - like everyone else. Some days I'll stop and think "So this is what it feels like to wake up in the mornings, go to work, live your life, go to sleep and wake up again the next morning without a migraine?!" It still blows my mind! And best of all is the fact that I am free of painkillers. Oh, what a joy!!! I recently calculated that if I took an average of 4 painkillers daily for the last 45 years, I would have consumed 65,700 painkillers. That my kidneys, liver and stomach survived such an onslaught of synthetic poison, is grace from above. And the worst news is that medication is never going to cure your migraines. You have been blessed with an awesome body that is capable of doing it - just give it what it needs. All the best!

[BuyMeFlowers]

Katherine... I had acupuncture sessions few years ago. I had 10 of them altogether and when I was at 4th or 5th I nearly gave up. My migraines were so bad, I've had them almost every day, and they lasted for days. I didn't know what to do but I was sure the acupunctures are not working. A friend then advised me not to stop and that I have to finish my treatments and then we will see the right result. After 7th session (I had 1 session per week) my migraines were completely gone and even when my treatments were finished my migraine-free day lasted for more than 6 months. Could not believe it, that was the first time in 20 years that my migraines were gone for so long. So please, don't give up and keep up your good work xx

[KatherineM_PBC in reply to BuyMeFlowers]

Ah thankyou. After my 2nd acupuncture I had 10 days headache free, and felt so good. After my 3rd treatment though I had a bad headache that night, following 4th treatment only 2 days headache free and a massive headache yesterday afternoon/evening. I do understand that I may have to run a course of treatments - it would be interesting to know if others found relief or if the headaches got worse initially?

[5555aniceta]

Amitriptyline make me so sick and dizzy I can’t take it

[KatherineM_PBC in reply to 5555aniceta]

Just interested what dose you took? I was started on 10mg and increased v slowly to 30mg. I have heard of people who started on 25mg who simply gave up due to side effects like dizziness, but increased slowly you might be able to tolerate it?

[5555aniceta in reply to KatherineM_PBC]

Just 20 mg

[KatherineM_PBC in reply to 5555aniceta]

Even 20 was probably too much to start on. I took 10 for about 10 days before I went to 20 then another 10 days to 30. It does annoy me, that Doctors know how the side effects of this medicine affect many yet give you the worst possible chance of staying on an effective med, by starting you on a high dose! When you said you couldn’t tolerate the side effects and we’re going to stop taking it, what did your Doc say.....obviously not apologise and suggest you try 10 🙄

[5555aniceta]

I had amitriplyne and make me so sick and dizzy

[Quito]

Hi Katherine - I also took amitriptyline for a couple of years as prescribed by GP alongside 10 acupuncture sessions. Started at 10mg and slowly titrated up - much slower than by 10mg per week though! Much like you. After a month or so, I got up to 40mg and the side effect impact from 30mg to 40mg was quite a shock - I had muscle spasms, felt general intense malaise, irregular heart beat, dizzy, trembling, etc... I couldn't control my hand and arm to be able to write. So I went back down to 30mg! And the following day, I had no headache or migraine at all. The first day without a headache in 15 years or so! Sad to say, it was just that day, but overall, once I got used to ami (which did take a couple of months), it did reduce the frequency of attacks and length of each one. It was a good result really compared to other things I've tried! I stayed on it for 2.5 years but started to get urinary retention. I then gave it up.

For the accompanying acupuncture - the first session brought on a truly terrible migraine for about 1 week. The subsequent 9 acupuncture sessions made no difference for me I'm afraid to say. There's not much evidence for it for chronic migraine with aura (my diagnosis) either - perhaps more for if your migraine is episodic or related to back pain. There's more evidence for specialised neck/upper back and head massage (so said the Migraine Trust at their event in Exeter). I've also found this from personal experience too. Not that the massage stops my migraine per se... but helps reduce some of the horrible pain, vertigo, dissociation, discomfort, numbness sensations, etc.

I can imagine you feel really fed up - it's such a horrible, horrible thing. Do persevere though... all these things make a difference and different combinations of things work for different people. The most important thing is to not lose hope - you will feel better sometimes, some days! Look after yourself and pamper yourself!

You're taking control of this and trying ways to make yourself feel better... it's maybe just an ongoing battle and process! We're here to battle with you! Good look xx

[Ursinia]

I had acupuncture with no good results. It did however lower my bank balance.

[KatherineM_PBC in reply to Ursinia]

How many sessions before you noticed a difference? If they told me I’d be cured I’d be prepared to spend anything! 😳

[Ursinia in reply to KatherineM_PBC]

There was absolutely no improvement? I have spent tons of money trying to find a cure for my migraines with no success.