[TheForge] Re: TheForge Digest, Vol 46, Issue 22

[Todd Rich]

On Wed, 14 Nov 2007, Ron Childers wrote:

> Todd,
>
> You have my empathy. Relpac, (I think) has less killer side effects than
> Zomig.

Well, last time around my doctor gave me 2 medicines to try.  They were 
the same basic formulation, with one being stronger than the other, the 
stronger one I belive was Relpac (my memory wants to say Relpax, but I'm 
probably wrong on that).  I was supposed to try half of the weaker one, 
and if I had problem with it to not take Relpac.  That one made me sick 
for 3 days.


>
> Description: Imagine driving a rusty screw driver into the skull just in
> front of the right ear, breaking off the tip then digging it out with the
> shank. Blindingly debilitating, nauseating and breath arresting. Mere words
> are inadequate. Does that sound like your case?
>
> Ron C

Well, I think I tend to run not quite as bad as some people do, for which 
I'm grateful.  For most of the last 6 years I've had a perscription for 
Vicodin which I take at the first visual onset, and that seems to start 
kicking in before the pain hits.  I hurt, but it is only the level of a 
bad normal headache and I can finish working the day and then go home and 
lie down.  However, this and the last time I didn't have my perscription 
close by are much, much worse.  I'm nauseated, hurt all over, things are 
too bright and start shimmering and glowing and throwing off my balance. 
My head feels like it is in a vise that has about half my scalp squeezed 
off, except when it punctuated by the guy who comes by and crushes my 
skull with a 20# sledge...excuse me..except when I sneeze or cough.

If I could pay $5000 every time this started to be able to avoid it, I 
would.

Oh, and just to add some confusion into all of this, about every 15 or 20 
onsets, it turns out to be an occular migrine.  That is where you have all 
the visual onsets (shimmering, loss of vison, some nausea), but you wind 
up getting no pain.  Since I can't wait to take a pill to find out, 
because they are a lot worse if I don't take one soon enough, when I do 
get them, I'm loopy and sick for the next several hours.

Still better than the pain though.

Sorry about whining...