Migraines.
They've been the bane of my life since my teens. In my twenties, they
ramped up and in my thirties they became unbearable with two a week and
each lasting three days. Then the triptan drugs came on the
market, and at least I had some relief. But the past ten years or so,
the pain has been daily and has requried a dose of Zomig every
day.
I've tried everything
under the sun from supplements to accupressure. If I found any mention
of a cure, I've tried it. I always felt that it was something my body
was lacking that caused them. Why me and not other people? I'd see
people who never had a headache in their life, and I so longed to live
a normal life. Still, nothing I tried worked for long.
So
when I saw a new "migraine cure" I was skeptical but intrigued in spite
of myself. I read an article in Life Extension Magazine. You can read
that article
here. I bought the book,
The Migraine Cure,
and read it at least four times. Something inside just clicked when I
read it and I sensed that this might be the answer for me.
I'm
a can-do girl. I always think if someone else can do it, so can I. So I
took the article to my doctor and asked that he would prescribe the
bio-identical hormones gels for me. Dr. James Bain is an awesome doctor
and he has helped me follow every rabbit trail I've found about
migraine including checking for a PFO (I've got one.) I was going to
get involved in the PFO clinical trial until I found The Migraine Cure.
Anyway, Doc sent me to a compounding pharmacy in Kokomo and I started
trying it on my own, guessing at the dosages based on lab results I saw
in the book. My migraines got worse instead of better. I stumbled along
with the help of the pharmacist who was very helpful, but after nearly
two months without improvement, I decided I needed help.
I
talked to a patient of the doctor's whose problems had been just as bad
as mine. She was totally migraine free and felt fabulous. So I took the
plunge.
Yes
it was expensive. $2000 for the doctor's expertise. But you know what?
Within a week I was going 7-9 days between migraines. That's PRICELESS! The
doctor said because of my longstanding problems, it would likely take
2-3 mos for the migraines to fully resolve. I'm just thrilled at
the results so far. For more information, click the link below. And on
down this page, I'm updating weekly on my progress if you'd like to
follow along.
I can't reccomend this program enough! It's changed my life already.
May
25, 2007: Went to the Fountain Anti-Aging Clinic near Cleveland OH. Met
with Dr. Rozakis, his wife Betty and my patient coordinator Susan Maloney who
has been my life-line. The more I talked with them, the more convinced
I became that this was the answer. Left there with my plan, a box of
supplements and my precious bio-identical hormone gels.
May
26, 2007: Had a migraine this morning but wasn't discouraged since I
knew it would take some time. Took my proper doses of everything. Dr.
Dzugan and Dr. Rozakis usually put patients on ProGreens but it has
Chlorella in it and I can't digest the stuff. It makes my throw up. So
they prescribed another probiotic in a pill form.
May 28, 2007: Migraines still. Emailed Susan who has been holding my hand.
May
31, 2007: Migraines still. Got to thinking about how I'd tried the
program on my own and had taken ProGreens with lemon juice. Looked it
up and lemon juice contains more enzymes than anything else so it had
probably helped me digest the chlorella. Started taking Progreens.
June 1, 2007: Began the doses for days 1-14.
June
2, 2007: Migraine free! I think it's the higher doses of hormones.
Informed Susan who told the doctors. They said they would adjust dosage
before end of next month. Need to go through one full month on the
initially prescribed dosages.
June 4, 2007: Still no migraines!
June 8, 2007: First migraine in a week!
June
10, 2007: Feeling great but have had some diarrhea and hair loss.
Doctor adjusted dosage of magnesium and it abated. Also noticed some
weight gain in areas where I've never gained weight: mostly abdomen
(generally carry weight in butt and thighs.) Susan told me this is
normal in beginning and it will stop and come off.
June
15, 2007: Face breaking out some. Doctors decreased testosterone to .1
ml. Noticing I have hair growing on my legs for the first time in
years. Have so much energy and mood is terrific! Love this stuff. And my skin looks younger, with better color.
June
17, 2007: Oh no! A bladder infection (and migraine with it) but didn't
want to take antibiotic. Started taking Cranberry concentrate with
d-mannose which KICKED IT IN THE BUTT! That stuff is fabulous.
June 20, 2007: Mild migraine, maybe a 2 but didn't take Zomig for it. It lasted all day.
June
22, 2007: Bad migraine, about a 7 but I had to fly to Minneapolis
yesterday and travel sometimes triggers them. Got new plan from the
doctors who raised the doses of hormones and lowered my DHEA.
June 25, 2007: Starting new dose today. Still feeling great.
June
29, 2007: Migraine, about a 4 or 5. Hot flashes as well. Doc adjusted
dose of DHEA and Tri-est. Went 7 days this round with NO migraine so
that's amazing. But I know this is just the beginning and I will soon
be migraine free.
June 30, 2007: Feeling great.
July
12, 2007: Was traveling last week. Had a bad week with migraines 3 or 4
days in a row, but I realized I started not feeling as well when the
doctor cut my testosterone dose. I also noticed changes like lack of
normal hair growth again. Told the doctor and he increased it again and
I immediately felt better. Now a four day stretch of no migraine and
great energy again. Whoohoo!
July
13, 2007: The Fountain
Anti-aging clinic also does things other than cure migraine--like help
with high blood pressure, cholesterol and staving off Alzheimers. Dave
signed up for the hormone balancing to see if his cholesterol will go
down, and there is a lot of Alzheimers in his family. We got his plan
yesterday. His blood work showed he was a little low in testosterone
and a little high in progesterone as well as his pregnenolone being in
the toilet. His thyroid was low too. He was ready to try it! I got
him started on everything. I'm eager to see if his energy level comes
up. STILL
MIGRAINE FREE FOR ME!
July 24: The past ten days or so haven't
been as good. I've had some head pressure at night, around 9. And some
hot flashes. Then yesterday I got a migraine in the morning, around a 5
or so pain level but it didn't resolved until several doses of Zomig.
I'm waiting to hear how the doctor will tweak my meds. He warned me
this could take some time and I'm determined to figure out my perfect
dosages!
July
31: I'm feeling much better since the doctor changed up the dose. I
guess I just needed more estrogen. Good thing I have the doctors
because I would have guessed I needed more progesterone! LOL
Aug
22: I've been in deadline dungeon and just emerged into the bright
light of day. LOL I'm doing well, going 4-9 days between migraines. The
doctor needs to see where I am in blood counts but I've not been able
to get into the clinic for a test. I've got an appointment next week
and he'll know how to adjust me better. Dave is doing really well! He's
actually started losing a little weight without even trying. Oh, if
only that were happening to me! LOL
Sept
17: Three weeks with no migraine! I almost can't believe it. And I feel
fabulous, great energy, good mood. Who wouldn't be in a good mood with
this kind of relief??
Oct
8: Nearly 7 weeks with no migraine severe enough for medication! I had a
couple of minor headaches and the doctor upped my triest by adding
triest sublingual drops. I feel really great and I've lost 13 pounds
this month. I've been walking with three pound weights and that has
helped. But at least I feel good enough for that much of a workout!
Oct
10: At 7 weeks with no migraine, I finally had one, but we'd been
expecting it. When checking my lab results, we found my estrogen was
still WAY low. It will take a bit to balance me with the addition of
the sublingual triest.
Oct 12: A mild headache but nothing
bad enough to take Zomig. The doctors adjusted my dosage again, adding
more progesterone in the evening.
Oct 21: Feeling great again, no actual migraine since the one Oct 10.
Nov
13: Migraine, about a 5. I had a bladder infection and we've been
monkeying with my testosterone again so I think that's it. The doctor
upped both Triest and Progesterone a bit so that should fix me right
up. I still went weeks in between and I feel fabulous in other ways as
well! The swelling in my legs and ankles is gone, the lymph nodes in my
neck aren't swollen anymore (they've been swollen for years!) and my
mood is fabulous all the time. I love feeling so good. My brain is much
clearer too--always a helpful thing for a writer!
Nov
30: I've been great the last three weeks until this week. It's that end
of the month drop in hormones that I take and we still haven't quite
found the right dose. But the doctor will adjust the dosage again and
we'll find the right one. I take the hormones on a cyclic basis as far
as dosage. he tries to mimic the natural cycle. I think my body hasn't
had a natural cycle in so long, it doesn't know what to think! LOL But
I feel SO GOOD compared to the way I was before. Even if I have a
migraine once a month or something, I'd be happy. I have more energy
and a great sense of well-being. The really great thing was that when
we went to Arizona over Thanksgiving, my legs and ankles didn't swell
at all! Great benefit! I'm also noticing I have fewer gray hairs. Even
my daughter noticed.
Jan
20: You wonder where I've been and how I'm doing? I've been down for
nearly two MONTHS with shingles! I always thought it was only older
people who got shingles but I've found out anyone can get them. I'm on
the mend now, but you know what's really cool? Through the worst of the
shingles, I didn't have a migraine! I'm now trying to get off Lyrica, a
NASTY med if ever there was one, and I've had some withdrawal headaches
but I've just got to get through the next week and I'll be fine. I feel
fabulous still on the hormones.