My Topamax jouney, days 1-6
03 August 08 - 14:38
My doctor started me on Topamax as a preventative for migraines and I've been reading all sorts of good and scary things so I wanted to start a blog to document the good and bads of what I experience. Since I didn't have this bright idea until today and I'm 6 days in, I'll have to play catch up, so here goes.
First...my history. I have had migraines for 15+ years now. WOW! I've never really looked at it that way, but it has been that long. Wow again! For those that don't have them, first, you are lucky, second, they are not all the same. Most people think of them as either 1. just a regular headache that a wimpy person is whining about or 2. a horrible pain like your head will explode and you throw up and can't move and you want to throw yourself in front of a semi to get it all over with except you are in too much pain to walk out the door much less all the way to the road.
Let me just say for those of you with the opinion of number 1...go away, you aren't worth my time. For those with the opinion of #2. YES!!!, but only sometimes. Some people have it that bad, or worse, if you can imagine. I've only had it that bad maybe a handful of times in my entire life. Most of mine are just horribly bad pain, usually starting on one side (for me it seems to be mainly the left) and behind the eyes...moving on it will encompass the rest of my head and once it hits the back of my head/neck its all downhill from there). Mine get bad enough that they make me miserable, but not so bad I am looking for semi's (not that they have them on our island anyways!). I just have to avoid lights and loud noises. Try that with a toddler with elmo firetruck toys. I can take something when I feel one coming on (I sometimes get a wierd vision thing going on, like its "foggy" around the outside of my vision) but unfortunately the things that work for me also knock me out, so usually I just have to suffer through until I can sleep.
Well, now I have started with Topamax. It is actually a med for epilepsy but it was worked wonders for migraine sufferers. My BFF is on it and it works great. But it has some funky side effects. From what I can tell though if I stick it out they will lessen adn the migraines will go away! yay. Because for me, the migraines may not be the full blown gonna slit my wrist ones, but they are painful as hell every other day which is pretty darn exhausting and despressing.
So......onto Topamax... Doc has me taking 25mg at night for week 1, then 25mg in the am and 25 mg at night week 2, then 25 mg day and 50 mg night week 3 and then 50 mg day, 50 mg night week 4 (this is my target dose right now).
Day 1. Took my 25 mg and then took some tylenol PM, 2 tabs, because I had a migraine coming on and caught it early enough that if I could just get to sleep I knew it would go away. BIG MISTAKE. The toddler was up EARLY and the Ty pM was still in me. Oh, did I mention...when it comes to drugs I am a major lightweight. I'm talkign children's dimatap will knock me on my ass. So I got up and was moving, but still out of it, and took my morning dose of Topamaz. Wait a minute!!!!!! AM doses aren't until week 2!!! Too late now! Ugh! So all day I am a zombie. Bad. And zero patience. So, was it the Ty PM, was it the Topa? Was it the start of "that time of the month" hormone thing? Was it a combo of all of the above? We'll never know, but what I do know is it sucked BIG TIME.
Day 2-5. Took my 25 mg at night only, and no Ty PM this time, haha! still Since this is in the past those days sort of mesh together. Day 1 definitly stood out, but the rest sort of blend. I know I had a few days of feeling sort of disconnected and impatient. The disconnected is sort of like if you take some cold medicine I guess...that "medicine head" like on the commercials. And tired as all get out. But once again, I had the hormone thing going on, and that does that to me as well, so I really can't say if it was the Topa or the hormones, or a combo of the two. I can say that for it being "that time" my food cravings were almost non existent. Well, that's not really true. Its like part of me WANTED to have a craving if that makes sense. I WANTED to go buy something to be able to snack on at night when I'm reading in bed, but then when faced with the opportunity to do so, there was nothign I wanted. Wierd and definitly not me!!!! But not a bad thing! Oh, and noticed right off on day 2 that Dr. Pepper is the nastiest tasting thing on the face of the earth if you are on Topa. And I used to love it!!!! Oh well....good thing I like water!
Day 6...Last night as my last 25mg. I'll take a 25 mg tonight and then tomorrow I'll take 25mg in the am and one in the pm. I'm a little nervous that I'll be all foggy headed again, especially since I have to go to work and have TONS of catch up to do. Oh, as far as side effects...today I have the pins and needles feelign in my hands and feet but it is only occasionally. When I am sitting doing nothing, like now at the comptuer, and earlier on the couch, otherwise its fine. And its really not that bad and nothing I can't handle. I must say I have no relief with the headaches yet. The Doc said not to expect any until I got up to my target does of 100mg though (50 mg 2x day). But you have to build up to that or it can cause bad things, so to be patient. Will do. What can it hurt I guess. I am trying to drink TONS of water. I've been reading it is key to help with many of the side effects. Apparently the Top dehydrates you like crazy, but its weird because I don't FEEL dehydrated. I don't FEEL thirsty, Idon't pee alot, I don't have a dry mouth or dry skin or anythng like that. but better safe than sorry, so drink up I will. I have been eating a lot of salty stuff though. I think that is a hormone thing. So the water is a definite must anyways.
See you tomorrow for day 7 and 50 mg's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
