Headaches:(

[rkmonckton11]

Ive been getting constant headaches or migrains. well i take migrain medicine Topamax 75mg. a day. and my headaches or migrains are still bad. All through out the day my head is throbbing. and im so agitated. and nothing is helping not even taking avele or excedrin during the day. i take my topamax in the morning and i should be fine throughout the day but im not. anyone else having problems? Should i change something? anyone have any ideas? thanks

Kristen

[ravenwoodglass]

Ive been getting constant headaches or migrains. well i take migrain medicine Topamax 75mg. a day. and my headaches or migrains are still bad. All through out the day my head is throbbing. and im so agitated. and nothing is helping not even taking avele or excedrin during the day. i take my topamax in the morning and i should be fine throughout the day but im not. anyone else having problems? Should i change something? anyone have any ideas? thanks

Kristen

The first thing I would do is call your pharmacist to be absolutely positive that all your scripts are gluten free. Then call the number on the Aleve and on the Excedrin bottles and ask them the same question.

How long have you been gluten-free? Are there any possible issues with CC? Have you eliminated gluten from non food items like shampoos, toothpastes, craft stuff, makeup etc?

It took a while for me to be migraine free after diagnosis, don't lose hope.

Sending a hug from dark soundproof room for you.

I just noticed your picture, what a beautiful bird. Are you the one who feeds him and cleans his cage? I ask because there is nothing in the bird food line that is gluten-free. Be careful of glutening yourself caring for him, I used to get 'got' all the time when I had my little parrot.

[jknnej]

Hmmm...Topomax is an anti seizure med they give headache sufferers because it sometimes helps with migraines. Perhaps it isn't working for you...maybe it's time to try something else.

And even with topomax you should still take prescription migraine meds when you feel really bad. Try Zomeg, or Relpax, or Imitrex. Forget over the counter stuff if you have real migraines-it does nothing.

Sometimes you can take about 800 mg of Excedrin WITH a Zomeg or Relpax but other than that it won't help you on its own. If you're like me, you may get nauseated, too, and light sensitivity....the Relpax helps with that.

My migraine sufferer friends and I haven't been helped by Topomax or blood pressure meds, unfortunately. Some people are, though. But you should definitely explore other options with your dr. No need to continue taking Topomax if it isn't helping. It has too many side effects.

In any case keep us posted and good luck!!!

[Ursa Major]

Have you considered that maybe your migraines could be caused by other food intolerances? Mine were caused by tomatoes, and got much better when I stopped eating them.

[gfp]

What other meds are you on.....???

I personally get terrible long headaches extending into my back and shoulders from Nexium.... most people don't but I do. I can use a generic omneparazole (and yet some others can't).... and so in many ways it could be some other medication just isn't suited to YOU and another close one might not?

Worth a shot?

[Corkdarrr]

Have you considered that maybe your migraines could be caused by other food intolerances? Mine were caused by tomatoes, and got much better when I stopped eating them.

Urusula, after you stopped eating tomatoes how long was it until your headaches stopped?

[LaurieAnn13]

Kristen - I can certainly relate to what you are going through. A few months ago I started having migraines again after five years of being gluten-free with no problems. I started taking a closer look at what I had been eating and found out that there was a seasoning that I was using that has gluten in it! I don't know how that happened because usually I am soooooo careful. It just showed me that I was getting a little lax about my diet when I really need to stay adamant about checking and RE-checking ingredients all the time! Also, I had never been too worried about using gluten-free soap/shampoo, stuff like that, but from now on, that's all I'm going to use! I just ordered a bunch of stuff from the gfsoap.com and can't wait to get it.

Also, if you are taking a lot of advil and such, I read a study that said taking those types of meds can actually CAUSE headaches when taken over long periods of time, so perhaps this is ADDING to your symptoms??? Who knows...maybe something to look into...

Good luck, I hope you start to feel better soon!

Laurie

Have you considered that maybe your migraines could be caused by other food intolerances? Mine were caused by tomatoes, and got much better when I stopped eating them.

Ursula - how were you able to figure this out? Did you happen to do an elimation diet? I have been wanting to try doing this, but don't know where to get reliable information on how to do so. If this is what you did, could you tell me where you got the info to do it?

Thanks!

Laurie

[Ursa Major]

Laurie and Courtney-- a naturopath tested me for food intolerances with a vega machine about five years ago (I know it's controversial, but he figured out mine, three of my daughter's, my son-in-law's, and three of my grandchildren's intolerances accurately with the vega machine, making my grandchildren's and son-in-law's horrible eczemas go away completely), and the nightshade family was one of my intolerances.

I don't think that machine picks up on anything that causes a delayed reaction, though. I didn't even test intolerant to wheat, never mind gluten!

I used to get migraines lasting up to three weeks every summer especially (I love tomatoes, and would eat them every day). Nothing would help, and I'd be in bed for days, and hardly functioning.

When I stopped eating tomatoes (and potatoes and peppers, I've never liked eggplant) I stopped having those long migraines immediately. I still get migraines from getting overtired, or having too much stress, or sensory overload (bright lights coupled with loud music and too many people might do it). But they don't last more than a couple of days. And they are a lot more infrequent.

[ravenwoodglass]

Ursula - how were you able to figure this out? Did you happen to do an elimation diet? I have been wanting to try doing this, but don't know where to get reliable information on how to do so. If this is what you did, could you tell me where you got the info to do it?

Thanks!

Laurie

Hi Laurie I'm not Ursula but I was diagnosed through an elimination diet after years of negative blood work. The person who helped me with this was an allergist. He skin tested me first for true allergies and then he took a detailed diet history and gave me a starting diet of foods that I rarely ate but would give me the nutrients I needed. I started with turkey, rice, sweet potatoes, peas, pineapple and cranberry juice. Nothing else, no othr drinks except water and no salt, spices, butter etc. After I felt better, no D after 15 years of it, we started to add foods back in one at a time. They were added in pure form, for instance when I tested wheat it was cream of wheat and triscuits not bread. All new foods were added in until either I reacted or until a week was up. With intolerances sometimes the reaction is delayed, I didn't react to the wheat for 3 days but boy did I react when I did. My allergist then referred me to a GI who confirmed celiac and I continued on the elimination diet for a while just to be sure with some other foods.

The elimination diet is a long process but for me it found what the doctors couldn't or didn't look for.

There may be others than allergists that can guide with the diet and hopefully others will have some different resources and maybe websites. It wasn't easy but for me it was so worth it.

[LaurieAnn13]

Ursula and Ravenwoodglass -

Thanks so much for the replies! I guess I'll look into meeting with a homeopathic doctor or a nutritionist next!

Laurie

[mommida]

I used to suffer from migraines too. I would drink a large smart water ( magnesium and calcium added water sold by Glace -recently saw it a Target) Take sublingual vitamin B-12, and try to remember what it feels like not to have a headache. Myabe my home headache remedy can help you through til you figure out what is causing yours.

Are you anemic?

L.