A is for:

Aura: Only about 25% of Migraineurs experience an aura. An aura can be different things to different sufferers. Visual issues such as flashing lights, floaters, zig zag's, blurry vision or even loss of vision. My friend Rain just found a great video on aura, which you can see HERE.

Abortives: Abortives are medications that actually abort a Migraine attack. There are quite a few options in abortives right now, including Triptans (Amerge, Axert, Frova, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, Treximet, and Zomig). Then there is Migranal, DHE, and newly back on the market, Ergomar which are Ergotamines. And last but not least, Midrin, which is a combination of Acetaminophen, Isometheptene, and Dichloralphenazone. Abortives can come in many forms such as pill, capsule, indictable, IV therapy, nose spray, and even wafers. Not all abortives are available in each form, click the links for more info on them.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: Given the name because of famous Migraineur Lewis Carroll's book, Alice and Wonderland. This is a specific type of aura that can make a person feel like they are too big or too small. Teri Robert just recently wrote a great article on this: Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: The Basics.

Aphasia: The inability to speak or trouble speaking. Also may affect comprehension of words.

Allodynia: Sensitivity to touch.

ANODYNE Headache and PainCare: This is where, IMO, the top Migraine and Headache Specialist set up shop. Dr. John Claude Krusz's office is located in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Krusz is know for IV therapy and treating the patient, not just the Migraine disease.

Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy (AHDA): A group of Doctors, patient advocates and patients working together to raise awareness and funds for Migraine research.

ADVOCACY!!!!!: Teri Robert, the top Migraine Advocate! Advocacy is empowering yourself, sticking up for yourself, and teaching others to do the same. It's fighting for a cause. It's busting your butt, it's having a great passion for something. This is how I view the word Advocacy.

Wow - "A" is a big one! I didn't do them all, because you would lose interest in reading them, and I also wanted to give you, the readers a chance to add your own! Please feel free to add any other "A" words you feel fit in with Migraine, and give a definition.

Drug holiday is OVER! I have a new preventive!!!

I went to my neurologist on Tuesday and also started a new preventive medication. I had given up on Topamax and Amitriptyline because of the side effects...and well, I was still getting an average of about 7 Migraines a month.

My new preventive is Inderal. Inderal is a Beta Blocker commonly prescribed for high blood pressure. It's also sometimes used after a heart attack.

I've been on the Inderal at 10 mgs a day, in a split dose (5mgs a.m./5mgs p.m.). So far, so good. The first night I think I freaked myself out. Being that I have a normal low blood pressure, I was nervous to try this drug, but my doctor put me at ease saying that at the first sign of it giving a bad side effect - I back it down.

I have to say, other then the first night, I am sleeping better now then I have in a long time. I don't know if it's the Inderal, since it can take up to 6 weeks to take affect, or if it's my own "placebo effect". I think it's working, therefore, it is.

Now, I sleep like the dead. This is a welcome side effect (if that is what it really is) since I had been waking frequently and not getting sound sleep.

Also, my doctor gave me a script for Zanaflex to be taken at the onset of any Tension Type Headaches.

The story with my Tension Headaches is that the only thing that would touch them was Vicodin. Originally, if I caught the headache in time, Skelaxin would ease the pain somewhat. That is no longer the case. I tried Midrin to no avail. So now I am on Zanaflex for them.

My doctor said we will, at first, treat with Zanaflex on an as needed basis, since I just started the Inderal. The reason for not starting me on Zanaflex as a preventive with the Inderal, is to see which drug is or is not working. Once we know the Inderal is (hopefully!!) working, then we can add the Zanaflex in as a preventive as well. That is, if my Tension Headaches are still frequent on the Inderal.

I also received my first script for a rescue medication, that being Vicodin. I had so much Vicodin left over from my shoulder dislocation last year, I have not had a need to ask for a rescue.

So, that's my story.

So far, since starting the Inderal on Tuesday evening, I have not had a Migraine. I have, however been having a new aura. My aura's usually consist of floaters that look like oil spots, or sometimes, little shooting stars. The last two days I've had a more defined aura in that I'm seeing half crescent zig zags just in my peripheral vision.

For those of you unfamiliar with aura, I found a great video on YouTube featuring Dr. Silberstein from the Jefferson University Hospital.


I should also mention - I got back my blood work results, and as I suspected, I was deficient in Vitamin D! Thank you again Dr. Krusz for bringing this possibility to my attention! I am now taking 400mgs of Vitamin D, along with all my other supplements.

For more information on Vitamin D, you can check out some great articles by Diana at Somebody Heal Me. I have linked her articles directly below:

Chronic Migraineurs Lack Vitamin D

Vitamin D Eases Chronic Pain

Also, if I am not mistaken, Teri Robert is or will be working on an article about Vitamin D as well. Once that is up, I will post the link here.

And the Doctor says.....

Today was my appointment with Dr.G. He really is such a character. I really like him, but have to remember sometimes, that he is just a neurologist, not a Migraine Specialist

We went over a bunch of things. The Topamax
and Amitriptyline and the side affects that made me stop taking them.

We decided I would go a month clean with no preventive. This way, we can be sure when we start the new one, (which may be Wellbutrin) we can figure out what drug is causing what side affect. I was o.k. with this. I kinda like the idea of a drug holiday. I feel like I've been putting so much crap in my body everyday, it will probably welcome the break.

He did tell me that I will probably start to see a spike in Migraines after I've been off the Amitriptyline for about 10 days....I'm on day seven and I already feel it.

I got a script for Midrin, which I can try for my Tension Headaches. It sure beats Vicodin, that only knocks the pain down to make it bearable! So we will see how that goes.

I am having blood work done to check all my levels, such as vitamin B12, Magnesium, vitamin D (Thank you Dr. Krusz for making me aware of this!!), among other things, but I just can't read Dr.G's handwriting to see what else I am having checked....and of course I already forget.

So we will see how it goes! Wish me luck!

First day of conference

Today was our first day of conference stuff, seeing as we came in a day early to get adjusted. Teri and I woke with the chickens at 4:45 to make a 6 a.m. breakfast satellite symposium on Brains, Sex Hormones & Woman: Neural Mechanisms of Migraine. It was all about women and the impact menstruation has on Migraine and menstrual Migraine.

I know Teri is going to write up a share post about this within the next couple weeks over on My Migraine Connection. Once I have time to reread what I've learned, I may come on back and talk more about it here.

We also went to a lecture on how the brain processes pain signals.

This all happened between meeting so many wonderful doctors such as Dr. Fred Sheftell who is now the president of the American Headache Society, Dr. Elizabeth Loder, Dr. William Young, Dr. Krusz, Dr. Silberstein, and Dr. Lipton. These are just a few of the brilliant minds of gotten to meet so far, and it's just the first day!

I believe this is going to be about it for now since we are crazy and getting up for another satellite symposium tomorrow at the crack of dawn.

Good night for now!

Special K.....

Well, at least that's what the kids call it.

Ah, yes, ketamine.

I was recently reminded of this drug when I was over at the Migraine News Network which is also my friend Rain's site.

In one of her recent posts, she mentioned an article, Night club drug could ease depression, on how ketamine can actually help ease depression!

For those of you who didn't know, ketamine is also used in IV therapy for migraineurs. See this wonderful article:IV therapy for Refractory Migraines by Teri Robert about Dr. Krusz down in Huston who is know for his IV therapy and of course, his kind nature towards patients! Love ya Dr. K!!!!

I found this funny because well, back in the day I used to go to the club, and although I never personally did "K" or "Special K" I just remember all the hanging "K"s all over the place (think the Kellogg's red K).

Also, I had a friend that worked for a dentist. Well actually and oral surgeon. His drug of choice for putting children under? Ketamine! Yes, he would put these children into a K Hole because the side effects from the Ketamine are less then those of the other drugs.

The one little interesting side effect of a "K Hole" is that as you come out of it, you act as if you are a child again, like in utero. Yep, you may actually curl up in the fetal position and gurgle like a little baby. Interesting side effect isn't it?

Now, of course, the amount being used for IV therapy for Migraineurs is obviously not the same amount as what a dentist would used to actually put someone under....

But I still found the whole thing very interesting.....