THEN AND NOW

I was a very sickly child. I can remember at age 4 my first "bad headache." I vomited profusely and felt like I was going to explode. Being a child of the 90s, I ate and drink typical foods and beverages of the time. My mother began noticing that certain foods or drinks would seem to cause this "sensation" more.

At age 17, I was officially diagnosed with migraine. I have migraine with aura, meaning I have visual disturbances when my symptoms initially begin. I was having up to three migraines per week. 

I have taken Cambia, Relpax, Maxalt,  Fiorcet, Tramadol, and Imitrex for preventives. I even had a doctor who prescribed me hydrocodone (which I developed an addiction to).  I took Zofran and Phenergran for nausea. About 8 years ago, I was referred to a neurologist when I had a pain shoot through my head taking my ability to speak for a minute or so. With my neurologist, I was treated with Topamax (up to 400mg daily), Nortriptyline (40mg daily), Relpax again, Maxalt,  and finally Imitrex. Imitrex and Topamax cut my migraine days to about 1 or 2 per week. However, with my lifestyle, this was still too frequent. 

My neurologist questioned me about my family history and nearly all of my maternal side were migraine sufferers. This means I am genetically predisposed to this neurological condition. Next, barometric changes and fronts are a trigger. Finally, I also have dietary triggers. It was discovered that chocolate with alkali processing, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5 and 6, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) are dietary triggers for me. I even had issues with blue lights. I could not walk in my town at Christmas or watch anything blue on television as it threw me into an attack. 

In 2020, my neurologist prescribed me once-monthly Ajovy and had me to wean off of Topamax. I still had Imitrex for preventive. My headache days went to about one every couple of weeks,  however, they seemed even more vengeful than before. I was taking two Imitrex simultaneously when I felt an attack. 

I constantly felt tired, weak, and foggy--almost a feeling of coming off of anesthesia. I begged  to try something else.  I had seen commercials for Nurtec ODT. I did some studying on it, and I asked my neurologist to please prescribe Nurtec to me. In February 2021, my neurologist agreed to prescribe this medication to me. I have not had a migraine since starting Nurtec. At the first symptom of an attack, I use Nurtec as prescribed. Within 15 to 20 minutes, my symptoms disappear and I go about my day. The only side effect I notice is a little bit of acid reflux. I now have a life thanks to Nurtec ODT. To learn more about this amazing preventive medication, please click the button below.

 You will find my profile under "Patient Stories and Reviews." If you are a neurologist or healthcare provider,  you will find my profile under "For HCP" and the "Patient Profiles" tab.

I had a migraine on my wedding day. Yes, the beautiful bridal photo above was during a migraine attack. I was so medicated that I could not remember the wedding vows my beautiful husband had written for me. He read them to me on a "good day."

I felt my migraines were not only hard on me, but hard on my husband and our marriage. My husband was so loving, patient, and kind to me with every attack, though, I felt it was unfair for him to be a caregiver. This is why I made the decision to ASK my neurologist for Nurtec. Since Nurtec, I have gone over a year without an attack. My husband and I do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING we want now. He no longer has to put me to bed, medicate me, rush me to ER...he now has a wife who is active in his life and our marriage. We sing , travel, cook, garden, and enjoy his children and granddaughter together now.

Today, I am helping my husband form a new nonprofit organization and I consult with him in our professional audio/recording studio business. I am a more efficient wife, daughter, stepmom, and student. Yes, that's right...I have been accepted into the Master of Science of Cybersecurity program with John Brown University. My classes begin August 22, 2022. I am recording songs again. I am contemplating "doing gigs" with my husband now. In my daily life, I am an office manager for a large real estate company, a wife to a rockstar, a stepmom to a teenager, a dog mom, and a fabulous cook. :-)

                                              THERE IS HOPE...JUST ASK FOR IT...RECEIVE IT...BELIEVE IT!