Migraines

[Guest JuicyPrincess]

I am so full of questions (good thing I found this site).

I get Migraines, I know certain triggers and try to aviod them. Did any of you that had the lapband have migraines prior to getting it? And, if so did it make any difference (better or worse) in them? Mine are NOT Blood Pressure Related..:crying:

[VegasGrace 1]

Well, I can answer that...but you will not like my answer.

As a Migraine sufferer for 20 years and unresponsive to treatment, years ago I found a published study and went to my neurologist begging for the medication used in that control group. Years later, the FDA approved it for migraine treatment.

Since then, my Migraines have completely ceased.

But when I was banded and then achieved restriction, they came back with a vengence. See when you eat less...it's like dieting. And the body can't stand dieting as it thinks you are trying to kill it. So I went thru withdrawal symptoms from soda, sugar, etc.

But now, a year later and on maintenance, my body has stablized and no more migraines. I don't even get headaches!

I'm sure others will reply with their experiences.

[Socalbandit 0]

I had a lot of headaches prior to my surgery. After my surgery I had not had a headache for 3 months. I had been on the birth control pill but went off prior to my surgery and stayed off a few months. As soon as I started back on the pill my headaches have returned. I never associated it with the pill before. It was only after being off them and going back on them that I realized the cause. I am having a hysterectomy in a few months so the problem will work itself out. I just think also that with taking better care of myself it helped tremendously. I exercise 5-6 days a week and limit my calories to 1000 or under and carbs to 10% of my diet. Good luck.

[maryrose 2]

Hi Juicy,

All I can add if the fact that artificial sweeteners do a number on me. I don't suffer from bad Migraines, but trigeminal neuralgia.

A lot of the sugar free things are recommended like diet Jello, crystal lite, etc. at my clinic, but I can't stand them and a lot of the Protein drinks.

I hope you don't let this discourage you.

I think if you take good care of yourself you can do this!

[Guest JuicyPrincess]

I so glad to see a response so quickly. I am not on the pill and havent been in years (IUD) and when i was, it was before my Migraines developed (I am a late bloomer i guess..lol). I have noticed artificial sweeteners are a problem and i avoid them like the plague. That was one of the concerns i have is the Protein shakes/bars being loaded with artificial sweeteners, soy and ANY form of MSC (it has so many names).

I tried Topamax but the problems i had with that...started with the hand tingling, then weight loss (so at this point i am in love with this drug), then memory loss (as long as i am thin i can be dumb JK), next was gas that wasnt the kind you can hold and run to the bathroom, then i realized i had no interest in sex anymore (hubby noticed earlier then me), then a had so depression, FINAL STRAW...i got yeast and urinary tract infections for over 3 months and the doctors said..."well i guess you need to come off". So we tried blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, etc. next step is Botox (yes, they are using it for migraine) so hoping hard!!!

I really want to have lap band because obesity is a disease that is killing my life and eventually me but migraines want to have their piece too so i just want to hear from you ladies and gents (its usually gals with migraine) if you had em, how they did and how you handled it.

You all are such a great tool for me and i just want to say a heartfelt thankyou, this is such a huge decision filled with joy, fear and sadness (that i didnt suceed on my own as people like to tell you).

So keep on with the feedback, i will keep checking this post for more info.

xoxo:tongue:

[mbanja 1]

I HATE TOPAMAX!!! Been there done that with all those side effects plus more it is a bad drug. I have experience Migraines since I was 3yrs old (I am now 27) and have tried everything. Post banding I have had them less frequently and now started to notice that they are PMS (hormone) related. It is very infrequent that I get them from food triggers or barometric pressure anymore. I do not take anything as a prophlactic (sp?) I have tried so many different things that didn't work so now I just treat them when they come on. I treat mine with Imitrex 100mg tabs and during my time of the month it is not uncommon for me to used at least 4. I also was using a muscle relaxer to try and catch it before it became full blow, since usually what causes mine is tension in my neck. But the muscle relaxer doesn't really work for me anymore (I think my body is now immune to the effects...or possible I just need a stronger muscle relaxer, who knows).

All in all to really answer your question; Yes, I do notice that they are less frequent after banding. I can eat all the foods that used to trigger them (Peanut Butter, pork, chocolate) and not get one. But, I am still plagued with them during my time of the month. So now my doc and I know that they are more hormonal now.

[purplegoddess 0]

I have Migraines and have had trouble both before the band and after. I haven't found a perfect med regime for me (topomax doesn't work, unfortunately). Splenda is ok for me, but NutraSweet is a trigger, so I've had to be careful.

Sorry, I wish I could say that the band was an instant cure for my migraines, but they have been the same or even worse. Hopefully when my weight stabilizes (I'm only 3 months out from my surgery) my migraines will stabilize too.

[Guest JuicyPrincess]

thanks, that gives me hope with the Migraines.< /p>

[mbanja 1]

Keep in mind too, that as you loose weight estrogen (which is stored in fat) is released and if hormones are a trigger for your Migraines then you will unfortunately have to deal with that. Hopefully after you reach goal and stop loosing the weight then they will subside or become less frequent.

[mom22 0]

I too suffer from Migraines - big time!! I also suffer from fibromyalgia - between these two lovely monsters, I don't have too many days when I feel good - thus the lovely weight gain over the last 20 years. Topomax is not a good drug - felt pretty good on it, less the memory loss and balance issue - until I was diagnosed with glaucoma!!! My eye specialist said this is definitely a side effect possible from Topomax - please consider this when considering taking this drug!

I have started the 6-month pre-op program for the lapband surgery - it seems so far away and I just want it now! This program is mandated by my doctor - I'm sure it's good to learn everything prior to surgery - but 6 months - ugh!!!

I'm in month 2 - so I"m looking at about September - another summer in fat clothes!!

Thanks for all the comments on this forum - it's so helpful and great to know we all have the same concerns and questions. Anyone else in a pre-op program and just waiting???

Mom22

[want_so_bad 0]

i had Migraines before being banded and still have them. i say normally mine are hormone related and come with my period. but occassionaly i get them at other times. they have never been food related. i can eat or not eat any of the triggers and it has no effect.

i have tried many different Migraine medicines. maxalt-that disolved in my mouth. it worked a little, took the edge off anyways. imitrex, pill form, nasal spray, and injector pen. they all worked for a time, but seem to lose effectiveness. now i use relpax when one hits. it is working for now. the side effects suck, i get this heavy feeling in my arms and chest for about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes and sometimes get sleepy, sometimes not. i also feel very out of it. like i cant think. but like i said, that only lasts for a time. thank goodness.

at times, since being banded, it does seem they are worse. but that must be explained by the previous post about estrogen being released and such.

sorry this wasnt helpful for you.

[Guest JuicyPrincess]

Thanks gals (and guys) this has been helpful. And I think just knowing they might get a LITTLE worse is not too scary. So the hope would be once you stop losing weight (hit your ideal or max) they Migraines would at least return to normal. I have heard of people losing their migraines once they lost their weight (with lapband) but i think most of them had high blood pressure.

I am now on the final stretch prior to botox. I am on the bp drug corgard and so far i dont think its doing anything (good or bad) so in about a month i will be getting my first series of botox shots..the neurologist says they work great.

For my migraines, i take Relpax too. I get nauseated, a little dizzy, clammy and very heavy and tired. I then go home, sleep and usually wake up better. If that doesnt work, i take 1 percocet. The down side is since the replax makes me so sick, i dont take it when i cannot leave work (so you just work and suffer). The others didnt work for me, Relpax is my magic ticket but boy, its yucky.

A few years ago, i read this book "Heal your Headache, the 1-2-3..." by David Bucholz (a neurologist from John Hopkins University) and it took me a while but i tried his elimination/type diet and was really surprised by how well i did. I have now reintroduced some food that were fine but i have also laxed on those that are questionable. I cannot eat yogurt which i LOVE and giving up caffeine was hard, thankfully i can tolerate onion. Etc So anyone who is looking for something new to throw at the migraines, i HIGHLY recommend this book, i have 3 copies that i constantly loan out so people can get better.

WOW, i am wordy today.

Love ya guys!!

PS... Mom-I am on the waiting game too, i have a year though so its like 10 more months for me...that puts me at like...April? I will probably just cave and pay for it myself but 13K sounds like a lot of money to not try and let my insurance pay for it (since thats why i pay for insurance).

CIAO BEBES!:rolleyes2:

[want_so_bad 0]

your description of relpax is just what i experience too! and i dont take it unless i can be at home also. trying to work with a Migraine is utter hell! every time the phone rings, or i have to get up from my desk and walk...ugh! not to mention the lights... me and percocet dont mix well. sometimes loritab helps take the edge off if i cant leave work. but it also ups the nausea, so its a trade off. my all time favorite (haha, wink wink) would have to be the shots of morphine at the emergency room. we have a new doctor at our local er (very small rural town) and she is great. never before have they started an iv to rehydrate me (she says that its typical to be dehydrated, from the vomitting--something i had never given a thought too---and it will make the headache worse) and then the little magic syringe of relief! of course i am out like a light and that way for the rest of the day and night, but sweet relief! i hate when they get that bad. i have had that kind of migraine twice since being banded.

this is going to sound so stupid, but where do you get the botox injections?

best of luck!

[Guest JuicyPrincess]

My neurologist here in Tacoma, WA is going to give them. He says people should be careful who they let do this but if done correctly it can change lives. Find someone experienced (preferably a neuro) in Migraine and botox shots. I dont know how far you live from a bigger city but since you only get the shots every 3-6 months it might be worth the drive. I will let you all know on this thread once i have mine!

About the morphine shot...my neurologist will let me come in if i have a migraine longer then 1-2 days (thats rare for me) and give me a shot in the butt of Toradol....30 minutes later (while resting in his migraine room-dark lights, soft bed and pillow) and then they come check on you and BOOM no more migraine but again i am a little fatigued. I think the fatigue from all of it might be that pain just takes it outta ya.

Dehydration can be a probem for some of us, its never my prob...i seriously drink so much Water my pee is almost clear (i just love the stuff)..

I love this thread!

[AAA022414 13]

have you tried going to the chiropractor? i started getting them all of a sudden last summer...i went to my reg doctor...he tried different drugs...nothing. so he reffered me to a neurologist...different drugs and an mri...nothing. i noticed when i pushed on a part of my neck when i was having one it hurt way worse...so i figured why not go to a chiropractor...worked! i didn't go for almost 2 months and i got one on monday so tuesday i made an appt! went last night...feel so much better...way more relaxed and stuff. so if you havn't...give a chiropractor a try...

also i must say, they're not all the same...the 1st one i went to didn't do a darn thing for me so i found another one and went to him and i love him!! different techniques and stuff and works awesome. so if one doesn't work for you try atleast 1 more.