[waves]

Well.

My stomach has revolted violently against further use of NSAIDs. I am going to do a 6-8 week diet to try to let my GI tract recover. This means no NSAIDs and there went my migraine medication.

In any case i've been having so many i had to "pick my battles" as far as medication - I really need a prophylactic, andi need a neuro, and an exemption so hopefully i won't have to keep shelling out for the meds.

Gabapentin has worked in the past as a prophylactic. I started it today - i had a moderate headache. I didn't expect it but it apparently worked directly... that or the migraine coincidentally ended.

In any case, i am ramping up Gabapentin for migraine prevention to 1200mg.

Tomorrow i will try to book the neuro i wanted but if he doesn't have anything soon, i'll call around. a lot of what i need is paperwork signed and stamped, plus some meds that aren't going to hurt my stomach. i'd like to try triptans.

~ waves ~ now losing it from a 3am dose of gabapentin.

[Mari]

Dear Waves,

I hope that the Gabapentin helps you. Sleepy times might be in your future as your ramp up.

Good luck dealing with the doc/s.

M

[waves]

Lol thanks Mari

Indeed, yesterday was like that... i was only going to do 2 300 mg doses spread apart... but after the first dose seemed to do amazing things with the migraine and neuralgia all down my neck... and since the headache reappeared about 6 hours after dosing, i took another 300 right then... kerflumppppp!!!

then i took 300 about 2 am...

today i have no headache, how nice, wow, wish i could take a picture of this feeling!

i have to get up to 4x300mg a day... i'm usually methodical with titration but i'm going to play it by ear ... if i start getting a headache i'll throw a full 300 dose at it, ramp or no ramp.

i was so amazed that it helped. it was not placebo effect... i could feel the drug in my whole body. my expectation was that it might make me sleepy but that it would take a while (weeks) in the system to help as a prophylactic. i just hope the results persist.

===========================
getting going on neuro...

mom just went to the nearby hospital (which i hate but through which i must have my exemption processed). She needed to book something for dad, so i gave her my referral to try to book me a neuro. worst case i will at least find out that my referral is expired.

i forgot to take down the referral number. when she gets back i'll call for an appt with the neruo my pdoc knows. Since he practises in a different area (health system) he probably can't do the exemption paperwork for me, but i'd like to see him first if possible. i can't do the exemption on the first visit anyway, so i could see him, then take the dx etc to the horrible hospital nearby.

Right then, here goes measuring out a 150 dose of gabapentin... lol fun fun fun. i have to eat the first half w/o capsule... yuck! it is very bitter!

~ waves ~

[Dmom3005]

Good luck Waves

I think I've been on the Gabapentin for so long it doesn't work
on the migraines for me.

Donna

[waves]

Thanks Donna,

sorry the gabapentin doesn't help you. i don't normally take it i guess that's why. when i took it for prophylaxis i was only on it for a year... then i stopped and my migraine frequency was back to 1-2 days a month, whew.

When i was having trouble at work with more migraines last year i tried it again but could not tolerate even 900mg d/t crazy side effects. I was on 1500mg of Depakote then and pdoc and i figured the combination of the two was too much. i hope that is the explanation, because....

I *REALLY* hope, now that i am back to 800mg Depakote, that i can tolerate a full 1200mg. That is the dose i found i needed for good coverage when i took it successfully as a prophylactic. (900 was not enough). Anyway and it's all i have available for now so it's worth a shot.

If it works, i'd expect to take it for a limited period - maybe a year. i know that its effects tend to poop out gradually if one stays on it.

~ waves ~

[waves]

Mom found out that my referral is no longer valid because the format has changed since its issue.

this means i can't make appointments today as i need a valid referral to do that.



I can get that from my mdoc this evening. I need to see him for meds anyway, and ask if he might prescribe something to help my stomach recover from the recent NSAID-related insults and injuries.

~ waves ~

[bizi]

good luck with your mdoc today.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[Mari]

Hi, Waves,

I am happy that the Gabapentin is helping.
You are making progress even if you encountered a stall. You are going through the process.

M

[Vowel Lady]

I'm so sorry you are having migraines. They are awful.
Perhaps I missed a post...but Topamax works very well to help prevent them.
And helps a little with BP Disorder.
Hang in there!

[waves]

Thanks VL,

we'll see what the Neuro says... i am going to ask about the various options, and if he is reluctant to prescribe something i'll press to know the reasons why not.

Part of the reason too is that once i am used to it, i have no side effects from gabapentin (not case right now - still adjusting). Topamax is known to have some serious side effects. The last neuro refused to even let me try it; then again she was a real witch.

I also want to know if the state will pay for Topamax, coz it won't pay for gabapentin. Gabapentin may be cheap over there (?) but here it is expensive considering the amount i need.

However since gapapentin has worked before - and seems like it's helping even though i'm all groggy coz not used to it... many a doc would tell me to stay with that.

Nice to see you. I hope all is well with you and your family

~ waves ~ i'll have to reread this post tomorrow i hope it made sense i am falling asleep.