Migraines - starting Gabapentin for now, seeking neuro asap

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

Dear Mari,
This is helpful. This is also very different from my experience. My problems were more receptive than productive.

Hi, Waves,

Meds that worked a certain way in our past, work differently a few meds later. It is weird. I think you did not expect this from Gabapentin.
You are getting a good break from the headaches. That is good.

My thoughts are to wait before you freak out any more about the speech. It could take two weeks or more to feel less brain fog.

The receptive issue i had, on the other hand - unintelligible syllable salad - seems more directly related to speech (possible Wernicke's aphasia). It didn't occur to me to ask to be spoken to in English to see if that worked any better (in aphasia, one language can be messed up and another not.)

I forgot about the different language thing ---- prolly half remember that from a long time ago in regards to something not related to Gabapentin.

I am curious about your results in a different language.
M

[Mari]

It is crap yes, but in no way is it usual. i have never had this happen before with any med.

i have four viable languages: two i need for daily use as well as for professional purposes, the other two can also serve professional purposes and thus are definitely non-negligible. i don't have a lot of ways of earning right now besides my languages. mess with my speech centers and i get more than a little uncomfortable.

Hi, Waves,

I wish I had been able to talk to Work Buddy about my Gabapentin side effects. Throughout summer 2011 he and I worked in my office (face to face) on a document. If I had spoken to him about my concerns then, I would have been able to get my status re words and speech.

Last summer, I remember feeling strong with very close reading even through the other issues. I have not been able to write in about 20 years --- since I started the Verapamil and Klonopin.
The receptive might have been an issue last summer. . . . but if Work Buddy noticed it he did not mention it.
It is possible that weeks and even months after being on the Gabapentin, the speech issues got better.
I feel OK now.

I really feel that you are going to be ok.
Think of the benefits.
The Gabapentin is helping. Your stomach issues are clearing up.

I hope your day is going fine.
I need to go to sleep. I have to deal with people today.

Mari

[waves]

Originally Posted by Mari

Hi, Waves,

Meds that worked a certain way in our past, work differently a few meds later. It is weird. I think you did not expect this from Gabapentin.

right!! I absolutely did not!!

900mg in the first 24 hours was excessive. I mean, I figured it would knock me out and make me feel drunk and unbalanced when awake, but the rest took me by surprise. I will be more cautious in future.

My thoughts are to wait before you freak out any more about the speech. It could take two weeks or more to feel less brain fog.

I'm ok now. I am sleepy during peak times but nothing caffeine can't handle for the most part. My sleeping schedule is a little crazy now too which doesn't help.

Believe me, it is SUCH a relief to wake up every morning, without a headache!!!! I still do double-takes every now and then, about the fact of not having one!

I forgot about the different language thing

yes different languages use different areas of the speech center. Also, while most people have left-hemisphere dominance for language, either hemisphere may be dominant. In the case of multilinguals, left-right dominance may vary across languages.

I am curious about your results in a different language.

i'm curious from an academic perspective, but not(!) curious enough to do something which will produce any degree or type of aphasia just to find out. ...... However ....... if it should happen again incidentally *AND* i have the fortuitous presence of mind (HA!) to remember to switch languages - i'll let you know the outcome!

There is a test called a Wada test which is used before some brain surgeries (e.g. ablative surgery to correct refractory temporal lobe epilepsy) that is to affect speech areas, to test which hemisphere is dominant. For speakers of multiple languages, the Wada test must be repeated for each language.

~ waves ~

[waves]

((( Mari )))

just wanted to reply real quick to say thanks again, and wish you some good rest and a good day to follow.

i'll reply to your other post later on... needing a break myself.

~ waves ~

[bizi]

I am thankful that you are getting relief from your migraines.
The support we give each other is invaluable.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[waves]

Originally Posted by bizi

I am thankful that you are getting relief from your migraines.
The support we give each other is invaluable.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thanks Bizi. It is an incredible relief. I hope it lasts. I also hope this out-of-itness lets up soon... i think i stuck my foot in it by starting too fast, but the flip side is if i hadn't, i might still be having the migraines. i dunno, but i'm just glad for now i'm not having them. (this morning i keep getting small indications of one coming... it is migraine prime time wrt my cycle, so things still look promising thus far.

Now if only Donna can get relief too.

I know what you mean about our receiprocal support.

((( everyone )))

~ waves ~

[waves]

Ok.. I finally made it! The call center was finally working this morning.

I have an appointment with the neuro my pdoc knows for

June 14th - 11:00 am

The clinic is in the town where I used to live - 3 hours away. My pdoc also works some hours there as a state pdoc. They have another neuro also, who the clerk told me usually handles migraine cases. I was tempted to book her instead, but if I'm going to book any old headache specialist I might as well book one closer to me. The only reason I'm going there is because
-- my pdoc knows this neuro personally and recommends him as a person and physician
-- this neuro has with cross-disciplinary training in psychiatry which is handy in my case

I can always change. I will talk to my pdoc about it and see what he thinks, whether he knows or can find out anything about this other doc, since they all work at that clinic. Their migraine doc's first availability was only one week earlier anyway.

I might meanwhile shop around for a nearer headache specialist - perhaps even book just in case.

But at least, even if I do nothing more now, bottom line is:

I have a neuro booked!

~ waves ~ removing ten ton weight from mind ..... whew.

[bizi]

great news this morning!!!!!!
congratulations are in order.
congratulations!
6 weeks away seems like a long time to wait, but hopefully the time will pass quickly and you will be having some migraine free days with this new medication usage.
Be well.
love bizi

[waves]

Thank you so much Bizi

This is so long overdue, so... finally...

I haven't had a migraine since starting the gapapentin! Today I have been having twinges on alternating sides again. I should increase the afternoon dose probably but I was so sleepy this morning I stayed put today. I think I will increase it tomorrow though - that will be 300mg tid for a total of 900mg. The aim is to be totally migraine free, at the right dosage.

It's just as well to have the neuro some time away, because it gives me time to sort out other things, get used to the gabapentin, see to what degree the med works, make additional dose adjustments if necessary, etc.

love

~ waves ~

[bizi]

who prescribed the gabapentin for you?
bizi