I've been to see a Pain Specialist for my migraines a few times now.
When I first saw him, I was still nursing Little Man, so there wasn't a whole lot he could do for me.
I have tried out a few different types of medication for my migraines and nothing seems to work consistently. I have also tried out acupuncture and couldn't stand it, nor did it work.
About a month ago, I saw this doctor again and he suggested I go on a daily medication to try to rebalance things and to hopefully decrease if not get rid of my migraines all together. He told me that this wasn't a permanent thing and we would revisit things in 3 months time. I was quite hesitant, but I walked away with the prescription and I thought and googled and thought some more.
My headaches had started to rule my life. I was taking way more medication that I was comfortable with (or that was good for my body for that matter) and the doctor was actually worried that I was causing my body to have rebound headaches. I was getting headaches on a weekly rather than a monthly basis so I decided it was time to do something else.
I hate taking medication. I hate pills, I hate needles. But, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!
I'm now on Topamax. It's a strange feeling. I am taking one pill at night and in a week, I go up to 2 pills, each week increasing the dosage to a max of 3 pills at night and one pill in the morning.
What scares me the most isn't that this isn't going to work, it's the side effects. There are a few specific ones that worry me:
One nickname of the drug is "Stupomax" because it can significantly reduce your cognitive function. My memory and cognitive function isn't good on the best of days (especially since I'm more sleep deprived right now).
It can make you more moody--GREAT! That's what I need to be more moody with my family--remember MTM, benefits...
Pins and needles in hands and feet--super cuz I already have poor circulation and wake up not feeling my hands and I can't sit cross legged on the floor as my legs go to sleep in 5 seconds flat.
I can't even remember the other negative effects that I am worried about--see, my cognitive functions are already going....help me!
The one plus is I might (hopefully) lose some weight. Not the healthiest way to do it, but apparently lack of appetite is another side effect. Let's hope this goes along with reduced cravings too...haha!
Wish me luck, people!
Have any of you been on or known anyone on Topamax? Share with me your experiences, please! Make me feel better.



