Hi, last Thursday I finally had my appointment with Dr Silver. It made me feel so much better because he didn’t look at me as though I was mad. He said I was a textbook case and he was really pleased that I’d already given up chocolate and caffeine! I told him about this site and he also had the MAV survival guide that I’d printed off from here. He’s starting me on 75mg of pregabalin, working upto 300mg a day. I’m just waiting for my GP to do the prescription and then I’ll be jumping in with both feet!
My one vice left was smoking and Dr Silver says I must stop immediately as I am 8 times the risk of having a stroke - great! So today is my last day on the digusting weed!
His actual diagnosis was ‘chronic migraine’ and ‘migraine assoc dizziness’ (I’m MAD!!!)
This forum has saved me at some desperate times. I’m hoping that the tablets will work and I can have my (altered) life back. I’m still not working properly and I don’t know how long work are going to put up with it. The downside is when I got my diagnosis and told work you could see people thinking " oh she’s got a headache!!" I think MAV should be renamed as “I’ve never felt so ill in my life and you’ll never know how bad it is so stop looking at me like that or you’ll get it and then you’ll be sorry”
Take care x
Hi Tracey,
This is some really wonderful news! Thank you too for letting Dr Silver know about mvertigo. I wonder what he thought of the Survival Guide?
Well done at your commitment to stop smoking! That’s no easy feat I know but I’m sure you’ll feel so much better once you get past the withdrawal – both mentally for doing it and physically. I wonder how smoking impacts migraine? Did Dr Silver say anything about that?
Let us know how the Lyrica goes and how you respond.
Good luck … Scott 
Scott,
Pregabalin from Dr. Silver? I could have sworn I read somewhere that he wasn’t fond of that…or was it neurontin? That is a drug you might consider if you’ve never heard of it.
Kelley
Hey K,
Tried Lyrica and was instantly depressed out of my skull. Two anticonvulsants and both did the depression number on me. :shock:
Hey Scott,
when did you try Lyrica, was it a while ago?
jen
Jen – just checked my calendar and I tried it 3 years ago now in November 2007. I also note that I wrote down that I was getting whacked with an outbreak of you know what which can also cause depression. I lasted 2 days on it. I remember it cost me a fortune.
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I wonder how smoking impacts migraine? Did Dr Silver say anything about that?
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On Dr Silver patient guide it says that “the risk of stroke is increased in those with frequent or chronic migraine if they smoke. The risk seems independant of the amount smoked and may be just as relevant to those who smoke only occasionally. The riks is particularly increased if you have (1) experienced previous aura symptoms such as distorted/blurred vision, odd sensory symptoms (eg tingling, numbness), or speech distrubance, or (2) had frequent headache. Stopping smoking completely seems to gradually reduce this risk but it may take a couple of years to reah that of a non-smoker.”
He told me that even 1 cigarette a month can have an impact - I suppose a bit like his views on caffeine/chocolate - they have to go completely.
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Thank you too for letting Dr Silver know about mvertigo. I wonder what he thought of the Survival Guide?
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He did have a quick look through it while I was there and said " ah that explains it" when looking at one of the pages, so I’m sure someone had perhaps said something to him about what was in the guide. He took my copy and also asked me to email him a copy.I also sent him the link to mvertigo - hopefully he’ll have a look.
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Pregabalin from Dr. Silver? I could have sworn I read somewhere that he wasn’t fond of that
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From what he said he likes this drug as it encourages a regular sleep pattern and at the moment I awaken several times during the night. He seemed quite confident that it would do the trick so fingers crossed.
Take care x
Tracey,
Thanks very much for the information! I didn’t know this about migraineurs and cigarette smoking. Yet another gold nugget from the good Dr Silver.
I’m also glad he seems to have heard of the Survival Guide now and may have checked our forum. I guess another patient might have mentioned it to him. Well, his knowledge makes up a sizeable chunk of the Guide so he’ll be chuffed to see people taking it on board I’m sure.
Best of luck on the Lyrica.
Scott 8)