Finally, relief! :)

[CaliBungalow]

I had a history of BAD migraines 2-3 per week and a couple a year that would last 7-9 days straight! I have tried many medications including ssri's, imitrex, topamax and tylenol w/codeine to name a few. The topamax helped me quite a bit as it reduced my migraines to 2-3 per month. The downside was I became extremely forgetful and I started gaining weight. Also, as the dose went up the side effects became even more scary. One day I was leaving a store when I couldn't remember how I had gotten to the store! It took me about 3 minutes before I started to remember - by then I was in a total panic! That was the final straw for me. About 4 months ago I started Acupunture treatments. Though I was skeptical I was also desperate. To my amazement it actually worked after my 2nd treatment! Since then I've only had 1 other migraine. I'm in total shock and can't stop telling everyone I know what great results I'm having. My family and friends are now also believers in the acupuncture as they've seen my suffering for so many years. I don't know if it will work as well for everybody, but I just had to share my story as I know what it's like to be looking desperately for some other alternatives. Good luck and God Bless!:)

[Ashley Evans]

Hi CaliBungalow,
My sister also suffers from migraines, and she lives in SD (ironically), in Point Loma to be exact. Do you mind giving her your acupuncturist's name? I know she's tried it, but it didn't help too much, but it may help to go to the same one you did. Also, she has a great alternative medicine clinic she goes to in Encinitas, they've really helped her find the triggers...if you want that name, I can get it for you.
Thanks,
Ashley

CaliBungalow wrote:

I had a history of BAD migraines 2-3 per week and a couple a year that would last 7-9 days straight! I have tried many medications including ssri's, imitrex, topamax and tylenol w/codeine to name a few. The topamax helped me quite a bit as it reduced my migraines to 2-3 per month. The downside was I became extremely forgetful and I started gaining weight. Also, as the dose went up the side effects became even more scary. One day I was leaving a store when I couldn't remember how I had gotten to the store! It took me about 3 minutes before I started to remember - by then I was in a total panic! That was the final straw for me. About 4 months ago I started Acupunture treatments. Though I was skeptical I was also desperate. To my amazement it actually worked after my 2nd treatment! Since then I've only had 1 other migraine. I'm in total shock and can't stop telling everyone I know what great results I'm having. My family and friends are now also believers in the acupuncture as they've seen my suffering for so many years. I don't know if it will work as well for everybody, but I just had to share my story as I know what it's like to be looking desperately for some other alternatives. Good luck and God Bless!:)

[Jayma Malme]

Hi CaliBungalow,
I'm Ashley's sister, mentioned above :) I'd love to know who your acupuncturist is!!!! I used to get several migraines a week, and have found a couple causes...now I get them once a month...but it's still once a month too often! I have tried acupuncture before, but would be willing to try it again. I've been going to a clinic in Encinitas (Center for Advanced Medicine) and found out that the migraine I still get is hormonal. They've got me on some hormones to hopefully replace what gets low at the end of my cycle...but the hormones just gave me more headaches. Maybe playing w/ the dosage will help. BUT, I have found out 2 causes in the last 8 years on my road to finding answers:

1) my focusing muscle in my eye works too hard for 20/20 vision, thus straining it and giving me a tension headache. After getting a light prescription, however, I still got migraines a couple times a week...complete with nausea/vomiting, etc.
2) after going to an alternative med dr. I found that I'm gluten-intolerant. After cutting out gluten from my diet, I cut down on the number of migraines DRASTICALLY (1x/month). His first clue that it was food-related was the vomiting.

Hopefully this helps someone out there! I truly believe there is a root cause for these buggers, and it's a matter of finding the individual cause(s) in each of us! Best of luck to everyone. Hang in there...your relief will come!

Yours for a headache-free life,
Jayma