Migraines And Ic???

[sandy1020]

:confused: Hi friends! Has anyone else noticed how many of us with IC also suffer from migraines? I've been battling IC for aprox 6 mo now but battling migraines since '91. My Dr. tried everything:depakote,antidepressants,imitrex,and the only thing that helped was fioricet w codiene but that eventually caused even more (rebound headaches) and is not good to take over a long period of time. I have recently gone through menopause at 46 yrs and on premarin now and I rarely get them any more. I'm an RN and used to give myself prescribed Torradol IM. Had to take the shot cuz I was so nauseated and hurling! It worked every time but can't do that anymore cuz Torrodol is not compatable w Elmiron. Increases bleeding tendencies. I had my 1st migraine last wk after one yr and missed a wedding of a dear friend and my former church friends cuz we changed churches. The pain just reminded me of how horrible it was suffering with them all the time. If they come back with a vengence which I pray they don't, I would almost be tempted to get off the Elmiron to treat the migraines. Although the IC pain is horrible too! What's worse?:cussing: I just hope I don't have to make that decision.Anyone else notice this connection? Gotta go now,gotta pee pee in the potty!:woohoo: Take care my lovely friends!

[jamie_visiting]

I also suffer from both IC and migraines, but my migraines have been under control for several months (after being chronic and horrible for a year). I was really helped by seeing a chiropractor and, more importantly, an acupuncturist. PM me if you need help finding a qualified one in your area.

I am currently on 50mg nortryptiline and with acupuncture I have not needed to take Relpax (which works better for me than Imitrex) since last year. I get a headache about once every week or two, and it's not too strong. I've also started using Sinus Buster (migraine version) and it worked about as well as ibuprofen. Word of warning: it contains citric acid, but it's a nose spray so I figure it's not so bad.

Good luck!

[nogo]

I started with migraines too...horrible ones and took Zonegren for years to keep them at bay. I got off of that and use Maxalt prn to fight the ones that rear their ugly heads a couple of times a week. Maxalt, Excedrin Migraine and 800 Motrin combined, will curtail a bad assault. I used to use the Imitrex shots, but they always made me feel so weird that I stopped. As for which is worse, the IC or the migraines, I truly think I would choose migraines over this horrible urgency and frequency. At least with migraines, there is a window of time when there is a break. Still, not much of a choice any way you look at it. There is also the IBS connection with many of us. Sigh.

[mary124]

have you tried Topamax? the only side effect of course that I can see is the weight loss. My doctors are seriously thinking that I need to get off of it due to that. I have loss almost 60 lbs. (gain some back but I am down to 130 which i haven't been in almost 24 years).

[nogo]

Topomax was the next stop in my migraine arsenal of meds. Happily, the Zonegren worked well enough to get me under control after so many miserable years and one lost job due to the migraines. I have actually weaned myself off of the Zonegren and take Maxalt PRN for the bad HA's the others I'm able to control with Excedrin Migraine, Motrin and Xtra strength Tylenol. As for the weight loss it can be a scary thing if you aren't wanting that result. I hope you wanted that loss, but not knowing your height and stature, I can't tell if 60 lbs is good or bad for you. I gather you are happy with it, though and that is wonderful! My daughters are 6 feet tall and when they were competitive swimmers, they weighed in at 160 or so. A weight loss like that would have been quite scary (they suffer migraines too). They have since settled into non-competitive weight which meant about a 30 ob. loss for each. They look good too. The Zonegren, coupled with the stress of IBS-C and this bladder ordeal has sent me from a size 8 to a size 2 in a short time. I'm not happy about that. Im off the Zonegren, but with the bladder deal and the IBS-C, I have totally lost interest in food. Thanks for the thought. I have heard good things about Topomax and headaches. I know it helps many people.

[carly2]

I have I/C, IBS and migraines.

I just went to the ER on Mon for a migraine. My med which is Stadol NS, was helping for a long time but is now causing rebound headaches.
So, I received an IV with Demerol and Phenergan. the ER doc asked if i wanted Torradol, but I don't know anything about it. I had to have 2 doses in my IV and it really just dulled it enough for me to say that i was better..did not want to stay overnight. He gave me a script.for 10 Vicoden to take home.

I am still peeing alot, but Vistaril seeems to be helping me with I/C.

I am just so tired of headaches.

[nogo]

your headaches sound horrible. I went to a headache clinic for several years and they kept playing with different meds to help. If you have a neuologist, something like Zonegren or one of the newer generation drugs may help you. It is a trial and error ordeal, but after many other meds, the Zonegren worked best for me. As I mentioned above, Maxalt helps and you can take it three times in a day, an hour apart. Sometimes the integrity of a med you have taken long term wears off and the problem of rebound migraines is a tough one. My neuro told me that I could only do Maxalt, Excedrin Migraine, tylenol for three days. After three days, no matter what you are taking, you are a set up for a rebound migraine. Have you checked the side effects of your vistaril or other meds. Sometimes those things can give you headaches if you are prone to them and in that case, it's a choice between the devil and a witch. You may need to check all the drug interractions to be sure you are causing HA's. I am so sorry you are dealing with those. It's enough to have IBS and IC without the Migraines. Please find a neurologist who specializes in migraines if you haven't already done so. They are out there and they are sympathetic. My neuro's wife and son suffered from them so he was very helpful. The other key is to take Maxalt (or whatever you take) the instant you feel like you MIGHT be getting the headache. Timing is everything and if it gets a hold, you're in for a rocky ride. I sometimes feel slightly nauseated for no known reason, then I realize, it is a prodrome to a headache; that and sudden heavy fatigue. So, I take a Maxalt and usually that will either curtail the headache or lessen it's severity. I wish you the best.

[jamie_visiting]

nogo is right - it is a process of trial and error, and you need a competent neuro. My neuro (who runs the local migraine clinic) thinks that medicating more than two migraines a week will lead to rebounds. For me, Relpax worked better than Maxalt (I would need 2-3 Maxalt to make a migraine go away vs. one Relpax, add 3 Advil gel caps in either case). Excedrin and Tylenol work for nogo while they've long ago stopped working for me. People are different and you need a doctor who's willing to help you experiment until you find the best solution for you.

[MakinIT]

I have noticed the connection: along with IBS, Chronic fatique, fibro,some of those fun and wondorous diseases to go along. My migrianes started 18 months before my IC. I lost so much wieght, finally, on topamax...That was a plus. They've put me back on it for nueropathic pain but I have regained about halof of what I've lost and I'm about 3 sizes from my starting point. (I got down to a 10 after years of fighting to get out of a 20) The IC diet also isn't compatible with the diet that went along with my diet that would help me lose the damn weight. Always a give and take, give and take, give and take. My headaches have come back again too, but this time there is an explanation...they are Migraine but I have a major spasm in my neck on the right side and my neck vertabrae are totally compressed and twisted. My chiro fixes but they just start up again. And I am a great expert of 4am Imitrix shots. What fun.