I've tried all the over the counter ones out there: aleve, tylenol, excederin, advil, motrin, bayer..you name it, I've tried it. Nothing touches the headache.
Since receiving my diagnosis a couple weeks ago, I've been put on topamax and prednisone. I stopped the prednisone. I just retained fluid, which made my head hurt worse. Still doing topamax but it's not even touching the headache at all. ? I don't get it.
I'll admit I've turned down every suggestion at a narcotic. I have a previous history of drug abuse when I was younger. They scare me for that reason, plus I'm worried about side effects in general with them. Not being able to drive or work, and just plain relying on them. I don't want to.
However - I'm becoming desperate. I don't know what to do to relieve the pain/pressure. I've done darkness, quiet, ice packs, warm packs, meditating...
Any suggestions out there for what might help? If I have to succumb and accept narcotic relief what are some of the better ones that you've found? I'm allergic to percocet and codeine.
I've been feeling the same way about med's lately. I've been on vicodine for months and doesnt help but they still want me to take them...I'm scared of becoming addicted to them to. I do not know what topamax is but if you are getting the headaches that are sending me to the ER i dont see how that can be helping at all. I wish I knew what to help you...if i find anything that will help with the headaches i'll let you know
All the over the counter stuff causes rebound headaches. My nl took me off topomax (that my PC put me on) because he said for some it can cause worse headaches and kidney stones…which I was getting a bunch! Acupuncture is a great option if you are afraid of narcotics. Sometimes heat pack on my forehead with ice on my neck can help. Prednisone can really help…my nl gives me 2 week bursts of it…no fluid retention in short bursts. Right now we are trying Verapimil and Neurontin. I was on Neurontin years ago but was also in methadone for pain for 10 years, so we thought we’d try it again now that I’ve been off methadone for a year now.
Good luck!
Ice packs usually help me best when I take it right from the freezer and leave it on the area that hurts. I don't take it off until it starts to thaw or I absolutely can't take the cold any longer.
How long have you been on topamax? It usually takes 2-3 weeks to get in your system.
Try doing some research on herbal alternatives. I have found that hops help me. I noticed early on that beer would help the pain, but didn't want to be drinking every day. Also, wine or other alcohol didn't help. So I finally put two and two together and figured out it was the hops in the beer that was helping.I also take (every day) a product that you can get at GNC called NatraSleep. I cannot remember the ingredients off the top of my head and I do not take it for sleep, but have found that it is a huge help with anxiety during the day! I do not go without it!
There are about a billion herbal options though. Just gotta do some research, sift through and see what works for you.
Also, you can try Tramadol (sp??) for pain. I recently hurt my ankle and am on it all day at work. The doc prescribed it for me and it is non-narcotic, non-habit forming. I like it because it is one of the only things I've taken that doesn't make me dizzy or fuzzy headed. I can take it and work with no problems.
Good luck and be patient. Keep trying new things. You never know what will work.
HOPS! That is so weird! I went out the other night with some friends and drank 2 beers (Guinness, my FAVORITE). I was nervous about it. Hadn't had any since the headaches had been this bad, roughly 3 months. But I had NO pain after I drank them. I wasn't sure if it was a fluke or what... hmmm.
I haven't altered the dosage of topamax, yet. I don't want to do it w/out dr orders. I hate meds as it is. I don't want ANY. All they do is eff ya up more, in my opinion. Side effects are terrible and often multiple. Topamax scares me too, but I gave it a whirl hoping it'd help. It hasn't. :(
I was prescribed Fioricet (Butalbital- generic name), it is a combination of caffeine, acetaminophen and Butab (a barbiturate). It helped, but you have to take it AS SOON as you feel a headache coming on. If you wait till you have the headache, it does not help. I was also told by my NL that it could cause rebound headaches. Worth a try though, you never know what may help until you try it. Hope you find some relief soon.