Serious Neurological Problems?

[NightLily]

My youngest sister has been having severe migraines from "smells" to the point where she hasn't been going to school nearly all of this last semester (she is 15). Whenever she leaves the house, if she smells any artificial scents such as perfume, it can trigger a migraine for a day. So as a result, she has to wear a mask to leave the house.

 

She is currently taking Topomax to help the migraines and it might be having a little effect. But, Topomax is making her lose a lot of weight because she is always nauseated and she is already underweight.

 

Does anybody know what could be causing this or what can be done about it? I somehow doubt anybody will be able to help but it is just to the point where she does literally nothing and has trouble standing.

[sarey]

Has she been to a neurologist?

[yellowcal]

If the topamax isn't working she needs to be put on something else. I have severe migraines and topamax actually made my migraines worse. She needs to get back in and bring this up to her neurologist.

[NightLily]

She has been to the neurologist but they weren't very helpful at all. Because of the way our insurance is, you get put through the ringer for another referral so she may not have another appointment for a month.

 

yellowcal-Did they put you on something else that worked for you?

[Sunny1607307996]

My migraines could be triggered as well by certain smells --- although it was no where near as serious as your sister and noises and lights were bigger triggers for me.

 

I tried all sorts of meds to no avail. Eventually my mom figured out my migraines were primarily menstral (always happening around my period and ovulation) and I've been on birth controle ever since. That's the only "medication" I've ever found to work effectively.

 

Before the BC route, though, I ended up having surgery on my sinuses because I kept getting sinus infections and the theory was that I was getting sinus headaches in stead of migrianes. Basically they made my drainage areas wider. It did help my sinus infections but did nothing for my migraines. Ever since, though, I've had an extremely poor sense of smell and sometimes, none at all. Althought smells were never a huge factor for me, it did help a little not to be able to smell things anymore.

 

I guess having sinus surgery in the hopes of eradicating a sense of smell isn't really an option for your sister, but maybe the BC is? Is she more sensitive to certain smells around her periods? Maybe it's just a bad PMS symptom and BC may help.

[NightLily]

I don't think it is period related because I asked her today if she still has a cycle (because she is so thin). She said she had two weeks ago. Yesterday she opened a drawer with scented candles and as a result has had a migraine all day.

 

It does seem to only be artificial smells. Not flowers or sweet smelling things but only perfume. Seems odd.

 

I really have no idea how it is going to get better.

[Sunny1607307996]

Maybe there's a certain thing common in artificial smells that sets her off, just one specific chemical?

 

She needs to talk to a doctor again. A better one.

[Lamour detruit]

I am sorry to hear that about your sister, my youngest brother suffers from migraines as well; however they are mostly triggered by body posture and stress instead of smells. I can imagine smells are hard to fight since you never know when one might pop up. No doubt there are certain toxins from artificial items or strong smells that can trigger this.

 

She should definitely see a specialist for this who is experienced with migraine problems (unlike the neurologist who didn't help), hopefully she'll get some more help soon.

 

I did a quick search, while they do not have many answers,some possible relieves for the pain are mentioned: link removed

[Seraphim]

Both my mother and I and my son suffer from migraines. I understand her pain I have had them for almost 20 years now and my mother since she was 3 years old and my son since he was 8. I take Maxalt. Yes, they can be triggered by perfumes this often happens to me, weather is another issue for me and certain foods. Extreme and severe migraines are sometimes caused by a hole in the heart which can be repaired. Basically it is a neurological issue which is incredibly painful and affects all the systems of the body.

[Seraphim]

link removed

[Seraphim]

link removed

What helps me is sometimes ice on the back of my neck, the affected side of my head. For me my neck on the affected side is greatly affected and if someone can loosen the affected tight muscles it can abort an attack. I can not have ANY noise, I swear I can hear my neighours 3 streets over. The greatest thing to abort an attack is to sleep, gravol and sleep.

[yellowcal]

Weather is my biggest issue , changes is temps and pressure kills me with migraines as well as scents. Even walking by certain smells hurt me, bath & body works? It's my enemy! I am on Axert & Relpax I also double up with narcotic pain relievers if I know i'm going to be around something that triggers migraines to up the effectiveness of the relpax.

[Seraphim]

Another thing you can do for the naseau is the scent of lemon and the space between your thumb and fore finger of the right hand...........squeeze hard on the meaty part and that helps with the pukey feeling.

[NightLily]

Thanks for the links you guys. I just read the one sent my Lamour and told her about the suggestion for peppermint oil and magnesium. We are going to pick it up tomorrow and see if that does any good. Maybe she will get to go to school.

 

I don't know if she has any neck pain.. or do you not feel it?

 

One of her big problems right now seems to be not being able to eat. I'm not sure if that is the Topomax or the migraines though.

[yellowcal]

and the space between your thumb and fore finger...........squeeze hard on the meaty part and that helps with the pukey feeling.

 

I thought my doctor was crazy when he told me to do that but boy does it work.. if only for a short period of time it is a lifesaver sometimes.

[NightLily]

Weather is my biggest issue , changes is temps and pressure kills me with migraines as well as scents. Even walking by certain smells hurt me, bath & body works? It's my enemy! I am on Axert & Relpax I also double up with narcotic pain relievers if I know i'm going to be around something that triggers migraines to up the effectiveness of the relpax.

 

Would you say those two medications are working for you? And, have you had any serious side effects?

 

PS-She also hates walking by Bath and Body works lol

[yellowcal]

Thanks for the links you guys. I just read the one sent my Lamour and told her about the suggestion for peppermint oil and magnesium. We are going to pick it up tomorrow and see if that does any good. Maybe she will get to go to school.

 

I don't know if she has any neck pain.. or do you not feel it?

 

One of her big problems right now seems to be not being able to eat. I'm not sure if that is the Topomax or the migraines though.

 

Migraines can really kill your appetite, try to make her eat something small (Toast, Soup, something!) not eating will make the migraines worse.

[Seraphim]

Thanks for the links you guys. I just read the one sent my Lamour and told her about the suggestion for peppermint oil and magnesium. We are going to pick it up tomorrow and see if that does any good. Maybe she will get to go to school.

 

I don't know if she has any neck pain.. or do you not feel it?

 

One of her big problems right now seems to be not being able to eat. I'm not sure if that is the Topomax or the migraines though.

 

I definitely feel neck pain all the way down into my back. Gravol will stop the nausea.

[Seraphim]

I thought my doctor was crazy when he told me to do that but boy does it work.. if only for a short period of time it is a lifesaver sometimes.

 

It does work for sure! Also acupuncture can be invaluable........there is an acupunctureist close to me that has a 85% cure rate for migraines, but the treatment is $5000.

[yellowcal]

Would you say those two medications are working for you? And, have you had any serious side effects?

 

The only side effect I have noticed is from the relpax, it makes me feel tired and weak I only take the relpax as a backup of the Axert on days where I suspect the triggers will be high so it isn't that big of a deal.

[NightLily]

It does work for sure! Also acupuncture can be invaluable........there is an acupunctureist close to me that has a 85% cure rate for migraines, but the treatment is $5000.

 

Wow.. that is really expensive Oo..

Also, do you know if Gravol is over the counter?

[yellowcal]

Wow.. that is really expensive Oo..

Also, do you know if Gravol is over the counter?

 

Yes it is over the counter.. Depending on your area it may be Dramamine instead of Gravol

[BellaDonna]

The only thing that has ever worked for me to combat migraines is chiropractic treatment. My headaches start in my neck and work their way up and pound behind my eyes.

 

My headaches do get triggered by scents now and then -especialy the smell of cheap cologne or even the slightest trace of oil-based paint smell. If I feel a bad one coming on I usually go to the chiropractor and get an adjustment and it squashes it.

 

It's much better now. One of my aunts suffers from migraines that are very scent-triggered like your sister. She avoids smells at all costs. She also hates certain stores.

 

One other thing I've found that has worked for both of us is this peppermint herbal pack. It looks like a small pillow and it is filled with herbs. I usually heat it up and put it over my eyes- although sometimes I'd rather have it cold from the freezer. The smell and the darkness help the headache a lot.

[yellowcal]

One other thing I've found that has worked for both of us is this peppermint herbal pack. It looks like a small pillow and it is filled with herbs. I usually heat it up and put it over my eyes- although sometimes I'd rather have it cold from the freezer. The smell and the darkness help the headache a lot.

 

Where can you buy something like that?

[NightLily]

OK, so I am going to go through the links and these suggestions and compile a list of everything we can try that we haven't already. The nausea meds are a good idea. I also didn't know that not eating would make the migraines worse but it makes sense.

 

She also likes lemon so I'll suggest that for sure.