Do late effects of sinus radiation contribute to TBI/concussion?

@jw9 so two weeks ago I had my first VA Appointment and the provider never heard of Triptans causing stroke after 60? But he didn’t want to override the other two providers 🤷‍♂️

@mojo244
Very interesting timing to receive your note here today. Just last night I had a migraine and still only have rizatriptan on hand. This is because of a couple of factors: my doctor is too busy and I can't get an appointment until June, she renews the Rx because it works.

As for medical providers who don't know about this (including my own dr.) I just searched TRIPTANS... and the first thing that came up was STROKE. These were all medical reports with stats from everywhere from USA, Great Britain and Denmark. Some I could read, others required sign ins with credentials.

This is what medical providers might be seeing, if they don't actually read these reports: The risk of Cardiovascular Accidents, CVA's is low. BUT not for people with history of stroke or myocardial infarction (MI/heart attack). And, NOT for people over 60!

They have done studies for 2 decades on this. The most recent adds in Over 60 and the risk of heart attacks.

This is because (you may know this) triptans are potent vasoconstrictors and have been shown to vasoconstrict both coronary and cerebral arteries.

I want to thank you for taking the time to post again on this subject. I am going to act on this today. I will see my neurologist if I can't get an appointment with my internist.

Please let me know how it worked out for you; when you write "he didn't want to override the other 2 providers"....What did he prescribe for you?

I'm grateful for this Mayo Clinic support group.

@jw9 I wasn’t prescribed anything else, I just battle out my 24/7 migraine. Nurtec and the other common one have a $400 copay for 9 pills so NOPE! I will live in pain.

And they told ya to go to cognitive behavioral therapy? Grrrrr. People with chronic pain who need prescription meds (opioids), taking for pain only stand a .01 chance of addiction, just tolerance. And all hate the meds and try not to take for fear of rebounding. When thousands of dollars are spent out of pocket to find other ways to deal with pain or find the cause and fix it, to no avail, the pain not answer may be the nasty meds, even in tiny doses can be a lot safer that all the side effects of otc’s and other meds by scripts. We are not lab rats and quality of life is important, even if a tad bit shorter.

@ponygirlnd @mojo244
Just today I took the time to read old posts from the three of us, it's been about a year since we first posted in Head&Neck Support Group. We have had different types of cancer, the common factor is radiation and side effects from that. It's really helped me to reconsider treatments for migraine/neck issues and blood vessels damaged by radiation. Also to appreciate what has been good in the years surviving cancer. I've appreciated your senses of humor too!
To think of the similarities in side effects from radiation and wonder why it is no one put it together and talked about what might happen years from then. I think there's a bizarre denial of the worst of it. If they told us, would we have gone ahead with radiation? Or were our chances slim to survive? And they didn't care what came next, just as long as we got the medicine(radiation).
Thank you both for being there!

@jw9 yes it’s great to have friends that understand what we’re going through and living with 24/7.
A sense of humor is needed from all of us or I think we’d go crazy 🤷‍♂️🤪
I appreciate your kind responses!
Jody

@jw9 and everyone : look.at how people have to deal with chronic pain. We all hate the meds and wish we could find a treatment that would fix the root cause instead. One thing I did find which helped for a long time was daily traction for neck spasm headaches. That was great, reducing pain 80%. But other stuff took over and I’m on chronic pain meds for quality of life even after spend lots of time and out of pocket expense on trying to treat the cause first. I do give my pain as prayer. Doesn’t make
Pain go away but at least
I know it going to a good cause. The trick is putting up with being a lab rat until the right pain med works w/o unlivable side effects. And biggest barrier is finding a Dr that 1. Understands and 2. Is willing to prescribe. This forum is great, especially without resources in travel distance since travel is such a barrier also.

@ponygirlnd
Thanks for the truths about travel being a barrier. This is why I have tried to go within creatively and spiritually.
I'm also on chronic pain meds for quality of life. I guess this is another statement about the difficulties we can face post-cancer treatments.
And Buddhists call this , Dedicating the Merit; whatever we have to offer, it has meaning. If it's pain, we can dedicate that in prayers to benefit all Beings.
And thanks for helping me have more awareness about my neck, upper back. Not feeling so alone.

20 years out I believe that late effects of radiation have been worsening, my TBI and post concussion symptoms, as well as continuing to change the geography inside my head. First it was lost smell. Then eye issues & eyesight issues then teeth then ears (btw hyperacusis IS caused by physical damage) and I continue to have difficulty trying to clean out sinus that are remaining. Don’t forget the arthritis in your neck. Keep moving so one does not rust and flexible so we do not break. Focus on gratitude instead of anger. For me, I surround myself with with nature and Christianity