I'm not like the Scarecrow, I really do have a brain.
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85680)
United States
November 15, 2011 12:48am CST
Well, it is confirmed I have a brain. I guess that is something. I had a brain scan this last Friday and I was relieved a doctor was finally looking to see if there were a reason my migraines have gotten worse as I got older, not better like I was told migraines usually do. Obviously I'm glad nothing is wrong, but on the other hand I was hoping something could explain the migraines and it could be fixed. Of course I was not expecting brain cancer, but I thought something would show up. So I'm back at square one.
Do you ever, or have you ever gotten your hopes up when it comes to the results of a medical procedure? I think of the women who have IVF and then find out they went through all of that and aren't pregnant. Then I think of the women who do get pregnant and up end with five children in one try. Yikes! I think that is why I'd go the way of adoption before IVF. At least then I'd be sure how many children I was getting. 
*I'm pretty sure everyone got my title reference, but just in case they didn't, the subject line is a reference to The Wizard of Oz.
*I'm pretty sure everyone got my title reference, but just in case they didn't, the subject line is a reference to The Wizard of Oz.5 people like this
15 responses
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
15 Nov 11
Hi my sweet lil' sis! I am really glad that you have a brain too and
that it is "healthy"! Even though the doc's didn't find what is causing
your migraines I know exactly how you feel because about 2 months ago
I went through the exact same thing. I had a migraine for over 6 weeks
that just wouldn't go away and finally I couldn't take it anymore so
my girlfriend took me to the ER. They started giving me all types of
meds both orally and intravenously and nothing worked. I was there
for hours. They finally did a CT Scan to make sure I didn't have
a "brain bleed". When it came back "normal" I was both relieved and
upset at the same time, as you were because it meant there was still
no answer to the reason for the horrendous migraines! It finally just
went away one day and haven't one again so far. I hope your's will
disappear too and not return. I hope you feel better soon. Miss
you and love you, Les
2 people like this
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
17 Nov 11
Dearest Opal thanks for you loving caring comment. I miss my heartmom soooo much but thats life. I am really blessed to have had her for almost 25 years.
@GardenGerty (157672)
• United States
16 Nov 11
At this point, personally I have not had this happen. I am glad they did not find cancer or anything. I worked with a teacher whose son had some kind of a vein malformation and I cannot remember the name of it, but it would cause him serious headaches and other problems. He lived for sports and at times had to be restricted. I would be asking next about any dental problems that might be causing your headaches, and as someone said, a chiropractor might do more good than the medications, but I know your insurance does not pay for it. Since massage helps I would think that chiropractic body work might as well.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157672)
• United States
16 Nov 11
I find that with chiropractors you have to find the right one. I like the one I have now, but I seldom go see him. He also will tell me the truth and not drag a treatment out forever if it does not help. Anyone ever offer you infrared light therapy? Or tens therapy? I have had them both, and both are good. I would think maybe a tens treatment would be helpful.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85680)
• United States
16 Nov 11
I wear a special dental mouth piece to keep from grinding my teeth. That has helped my tension headaches, and my facial pain. I went to a chiropractor about 6 years ago for about 4 months. It helped my back, but it never helped my headaches. Back then I had a job so I could afford to pay for it.
1 person likes this
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
17 Nov 11
hi dear GardenGerty so you must have been really strong seeing your sister cope with remissions for 4 times.........
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
13 Dec 11
Oh how I can relate with this one my friend. Many times I have gone to a Doctor in hopes they can pin point what is going on that seems to be causing all of my pain, and what they can do to help me, and it seems like many times it has been a waiting game. I too have suffered from severe migraines from time to time, and nothing really seemed to be a Big help. There are medications like Relepax that have helped with these headaches, but until they got to more of a root of a cause it seemed like I had migraines many times an awful lot, and BOY are they no fun.
What seemed to be a lot of my cause was stress, and when I hurt a lot from when my Fibromyalga as acting up, as well as hormonal. But since they started having me take Nuerontin in July for the Fibromyalga, etc. the migraines have almost disappeared. I do still get one from time to time but nothing compared to what they used to be which is good.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 Nov 11
well that is great nothing is seriously wrong. I never heard that migraines get better as you get older.
Nope I can't see I had ever gotten my hopes up and then was disappointed when it came to medical conditions.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 Nov 11
interesting, I didn't know that,
I know that I am in a really edgy mood today.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
15 Nov 11
Hi Amber,
Do you have Fibro? Just wondering. I have a friend with fibro and she has massive migraines. My daughter gets them from time to time, but nothing like you. Your accident may have something to do with those migraines. My daughter had a bad fall outside and she has had bad pain in her neck and the base of her her head. The xray was fine, but she is in terrible pain a lot from that.. she has to wear a neck brace about every other day now.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85680)
• United States
15 Nov 11
I do have fibro. I've had migraines since I was eight, but I think the fibro has made them worse like you said. I guess the car accident that messed up my neck could also be the cause, but they told me the neck problems would most likely be the cause of tension headaches, and not the migraines. Although tension headaches can be just as bad as a migraine, that's for sure.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
16 Nov 11
Hi PQ & Ambie~ I was just diagnosed with Fibro myself. I have suffered from
migraines for over 30 years now. Mine started when I was in my 20's and
I believe they were brought on by stress because of the job I had then. It
started with my seeing double and then the strobe lights and the pounding
headaches. I know now that Fibro can affect everything in any part of the body. The doctors just can't explain it so it could definitely be connected
to the migraines too. I just started to see a "Physiatrist" (Pain Management
Specialist). I will be seeing him again in a month after I do 4 weeks of
Physical Therapy. I still have alot of questions for him and I will add this
to the list and let you know what he says about it's connections to Migraines.
The reasons I am going for Physical Therapy is because I now have also been
diagnosed with Bursitis and Sacarilitis in my lower back, buttocks and leg/pelvic joint on my right side and am in excruciating pain when I sit, walk or lie down.
That is along with the Fibro diagnosis!
1 person likes this
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
15 Nov 11
hi dear Ambie I did have high hopes but not for myself.
Someone very near and dear to me battled cancer the second time around. I was floored when I heard it and went to see my friend. She said that she would undergo sort of chemo, which would make her overly tired in the process. That should shrink the tumor she said.
hmmmm she did these awful 30 days of that stuff and as she had indicated that she would give up when she is as tired and exhausted as she was when she did it the first time I wrote a card or letter to her every day so she would stay strong.
Unfortunately the tumor didnt shrink considerably from these meds.........
She went to heaven a little less than a year after we had gotten word the cancer is back.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157672)
• United States
16 Nov 11
I am sorry, Ritter, I went through four cancer recurrences with my younger sister.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
15 Nov 11
exactly...... I am glad for her she is in heaven and no worries no pain, as she had a hard life but that wont make me miss her less.......
2 people like this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
15 Nov 11
well last year i was hoping i had pnemonia (i know it sounds weird, trust me!) but it turned out that my asthma was really messed up. see, you take some meds and the pnemonia is gone but asthma is here for ever!
as for the brain part, i have fibromyalgia and one of the nasty symptoms is fibro fog and i often wonder where my brain has gone!!
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63252)
• United States
20 Nov 11
I know what you mean about headaches, you hope that something will show up to PROVE you have a problem and its "not all in your head".
I hear that loud and clear, and hope that they figure out exactly what my problems are too - at least they can't say they are in my head since they aren't!
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
15 Nov 11
I am sooooo glad they confirmed it for you! LOL....seriously I bet you do wish they could find the cause....I know my sister has them and hers are hormonal....and have eased as she is getting closer to menopause. We'll keep our fingers crossed that they will be able to find the source!
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
15 Nov 11
Oh I'm sorry Ambie, then again I am not sorry. In other words, I wish they had found something, (very minor) that is causing your headaches, and very happy they didn't find a cancerous tumor.
As healthy as I claim to be, the only time I had my hopes up was when I had a check up and it showed not my cholesterol, but something I think that starts with an "L" that wasn't very high, but borderline. I had my hopes up because at the time I did occasional fasting and lots of exercise and expected a very clean bill of health. That was many years ago, today I would not want to know what my test results would be..
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
15 Nov 11
I'm so sorry that they weren't able to find something fixable in there. Have you tried a full body scan? Have you ever been to a chiropracter? I have bad back and neck muscles from an accident years ago which causes me some headaches, and to fix it I really need to see a chiropracter.
1 person likes this
@lagirl1966 (709)
• United States
4 Dec 11
I am sorry you are back to square one. But at least nothing bad was found in your brain!! We haven't talked in a while, but I am still living with daily pain. So I completely understand having no answers for so long. I am still looking and looking to find out where this pain is coming from. You don't give up either. I know there is an answer for both of us someday!!!
1 person likes this
@elivingnewbie (4)
• United States
15 Nov 11
I also have suffered migraines for most of my life. Last one was last week for 2 days this time, which was a short one. Most of the time i grin and bare it, as someone who has never had one they really don't know what the fuss is about. Mine also has gotten worse the older I get. Good luck to you and may the pain ease over time.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
9 Apr 12
I think that I would go the adoption route anyway, even if I could become pregnant (not a possibility because of the surgery after my initial cancer in 2003). I think that it really isn't worth risking the chance of multiple births or none at all if one has difficulty conceiving on their own. As far as the migraines go, I never had one so I can't help there. But as far as getting hopes up following a medical procedure, I think I have been doing that following every CT scan and every lab test that I have had since my cancer diagnosis. Oh, and I did get the title reference and I know that you definitely have a brain! Happy Easter!
