Therapy-resistant migraines

Thank you I did monitor some of the summit lectures this year. However I’m sorry to say the membership is not in our budget. I did get some helpful information though.

I just turned 80 a couple of weeks ago; my migraines started in my 20's. I've suffered with them daily for 60 years and tried most drugs. The newer drugs on the market are out of my price range. The biggest help I've had is from changing my eating habits. All scratch cooking with organic foods. All the pesticides used on food triggered my migraines. I log my food and make note of foods that trigger headaches, I noticed pork as a trigger. Sugar is a HUGE trigger; I get a tad envious when I bake cinnamon rolls or cookies for my hubby and can't eat them. I'm currently on 10 mg of Amitriptyline and it's not working. I have an upcoming appointment, maybe he'll prescribe something I can afford.

I just turned 80 a couple of weeks ago; my migraines started in my 20's. I've suffered with them daily for 60 years and tried most drugs. The newer drugs on the market are out of my price range. The biggest help I've had is from changing my eating habits. All scratch cooking with organic foods. All the pesticides used on food triggered my migraines. I log my food and make note of foods that trigger headaches, I noticed pork as a trigger. Sugar is a HUGE trigger; I get a tad envious when I bake cinnamon rolls or cookies for my hubby and can't eat them. I'm currently on 10 mg of Amitriptyline and it's not working. I have an upcoming appointment, maybe he'll prescribe something I can afford.

@bobbi2 - Do you have any tips on how you keep a log of what foods you eat and what foods trigger headaches?

Are you on Medicare? Part D (prescription) plans usually cover one CGRP med and I’ve been able to get others on Medicare with a Prior Authorization. It’s definitely more work for your doctor, but I have found that is one of the items I used to measure a good doctor by, whether they’re willing to do some of the annoying paperwork that I need done. It’s okay to ask them to help you get meds not in your formulary. They also might have samples you can try while you’re waiting to hear from your insurance. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Yes, my doc filled out forms for Emgality. I received a whole years supply for free but it didn't help at all. I have an upcoming appointment next week, I'll see if anything new on the market that I can afford or get help with.

Are you on Medicare? Part D (prescription) plans usually cover one CGRP med and I’ve been able to get others on Medicare with a Prior Authorization. It’s definitely more work for your doctor, but I have found that is one of the items I used to measure a good doctor by, whether they’re willing to do some of the annoying paperwork that I need done. It’s okay to ask them to help you get meds not in your formulary. They also might have samples you can try while you’re waiting to hear from your insurance. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

I purchased a large calendar (has the whole month on each page) and write all info on it. If I wake up with a migraine, I write down what I had for supper the night before. I do the same if I develop a migraine during the day. I write down not only food but types of OTC pills or sumatriptan. I highlight in yellow if I took a sumatriptan. You can usually see a pattern of what triggers a migraine. Sometimes a strong smell or odor triggers them, I write that down too. At the end of the month, you'll see foods that are likely to trigger migraines.