Migraines...AGH

First, I haven't posted much over the last month because I have been down right miserable with headaches and migraines. I'm on my second month of topomax, a daily anti-seizure medication, to try to prevent migraines. This is something that they refused to put me on in high school and college because it is daily and has other side effects. At this point, I could careless about the tingling in my hands and feet and racing heart as long as I don't have as many headaches.

It seems like I've had many more headaches than normal since last November when I got my swine flu vaccination, but who knows if there is a connection. I've always had headaches several times a week, if not every day, so I'm used to taking Advil and Excedrin on a daily basis. However, none of the OTC drugs have worked at all over the last five months. I've been to Dr. Stokes three times, who sent me to and ENT for TMJ, put me on flexeril to relax my muscles, but the headaches continue.

I was finally able to get in to see a Neurologist last week. She couldn't give me a diagnosis or reason why I am getting them other than I'm in such a bad cycle that it is going to be difficult to break. Her goal is to get me to 5 consecutive headache free days. She wrote a fricken book about my headache history and said that we have a long way to go. We talked about physical therapy, which I've done several times in the past, but without long term relieft. I have a brain MRI scheduled for this coming Thursday, the 8th. But, she also said that insurance has been denying MRI's like crazy over the last two months, so we'll see if I get a call on Monday that says the appointment is canceled. I really hope not, because after years of suffering, I would like to know what is going on inside of this skull of mine!

For now, I've started taking Prednisone for 12 days, which I know can come with nasty side effects, but for now it has just made me super anxious and jumpy. I'm hoping it doesn't cause weight gain because the Topomax causes weight loss and actually allowed me to lose 5 lbs! I would like to continue that trend. If today is any indication, I may continue to lose some weight because I don't feel like eating anything other than oatmeal.

I have a four week headache diary to keep over the next four weeks before I return to the Neurologist for a follow up appointment. It would be really nice for someone to figure out what is going so that I can get some relief and be able to get back to my normal routine. I hate having to try to teach when the lights feel like razors stabbing me in my eyes and I can't get on the computer or talk on the phone because the lights and sounds bother me. I haven't been to the gym in 6 weeks and other than going to bed when I get home I haven't had much of a life period.

I'm going to keep praying that things get better before I really lose my mind!