Migraine Headaches Support Group

Being in chronic pain, whether from a cancer, a car accident, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, migraines or cluster headaches (which are actually called suicide headaches because of the prevalence of suicide), can cause severe depression. Severe depression not only because the change in chemicals in the brain, but because of the huge adjustment throughout your life that has to be made. You have to grieve for your own life, and not everyone is fully equipped emotionally or support-wise to deal with that.

People who have unmanageable chronic pain are one of the highest rated groups of people to commit suicide. Divorce is also common. They might have a life that looks wonderful and happy, but on the inside they feel like they are being torn apart every day, and that they have nothing to look forward to.

The problem with migraine is, where does it fit in on the scheme of things? Too often it is seen as "just a headache" and something we can just live with. People who have other diseases, like cancer, SHOULD ABSOLUTELY be offered the support they are, but because they have this support, perhaps they are that more likely to come through the other side, to survive the depression that comes with the treatments and pain. Whereas when you have a disorder which is put on the backburner, both in regular treatment and in pain management, it becomes even harder to reconcile living day to day.

Yes, I have had my moments of wondering where I fit in on this earth, if I even should. If I did not have my loving family and friends, I truly do not know if I would still be here today. For when there is no end in sight for the pain, you have to envision something else for yourself. A life with hope, a life that offers you something, whether or not you have physical health or not.

I hope this helps. I am truly sorry for your loss.
-Laura

I am so sorry for your loss. Celticfife said it! I am in constant pain. I am miserable it seems all the time. People that don't understand wonder why I can't just "go on". To be honest with you, if I were not a mother of two..I honestly believe I would have already left this world. This pain that I have been in over the past 2 years is unbearable. Now, I am at my wits in again and have been for 2 weeks. The pain is so intense that most days I can't function. I go to the doctors but noone can help stop the pain, drugs stopped working. I fight everyday just to keep going for my children. It is hard to grasp but it is so real. I thank God for my children and for giving me the strength just to get through one more day.
You are in my prayers Ighatfield. I hope you get the answers you are seeking.

lghatfield, I am very sorry to hear of your loss. I wish I had something to say to make you understand it all. Unfortunatly there is so many differant types of headaches/migraines that no one can FIX them.
it is a struggle every day to get thru everyday. I have had chronic daily headaches for more than 6 yrs. I am at my worst right now. depression is setting in big time.
I hate that I have to try new meds all the time. I hate that no one can FIX me. I hate that no one can tell me why. I have a wonderful son and husband that make it worth the struggle every day. I my self have never thought of not wanting to live. I love my family and myself too much.

I do not have migraines to the extent of most migraine sufferers, I can ot even imagine the paint they suffer.

It is a life comsuming disease ( for a lack of a better word) it is a tough life. I am sorry he never found that one person to help him live with it.

I know these words do not make it better. but as a sufferer i can say it is HARD.. Tough..Fustrating.. debilitaing.. and it plays tricks on ones mind.

Again I am sorry for your loss.. we are here for you ...

I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am for you loss!

The others here have already said more than I can. I'm fairly new to the migraine world.

Take Care!

I am also very sorry for your loss.

Many people who have never had a migraine do not understand how bad they can get. Let me go into detail of one of my worst episodes to give you an idea....

This took place about 4 years ago....

I woke up in the morning with a really bad headache. I opened my eyes and the light was blinding. I got my meds and took a naproxen 500mg, 2 Midrin, 1 maxalt, and a t-3. I had to call my mom to take my kids to school for me. The sound of them and my mom's voice was piercing. Every sound sent shockwaves of pain and nausea through my body. She tried her best to quietly get the kids ready for school and usher them out the door while I was in the bathroom throwing up my meds with my head feeling like it was going to explode. I began dry heaving after I had thrown up every last bit of bile in my stomach. Once I started dry heaving, there was no reason to stay by the toilet, so I grabbed ice packs to surround my head and put behind my neck. I try to will myself back to sleep, but the pain is so bad. After a couple of more hours, I try to take my meds again. This time I am able to keep them down. I fall asleep for a few hours. My mom picks the kids up from school and she has her friend watch them so she can take me to the ER because when I wake up I start dry heaving again. We get to the ER and my mom has to get a wheel chair for me. I can no longer walk, and in the time it took to get me to the ER, one side of my face had gone numb and I was slurring my words. We get in to the hospital and they try to triage me. I am in so much pain I can no longer talk and I can no longer sign my name. I tried to sign my name only to have a squiggle on the page and then the pen fall out of my hand. They immediately take me in the back thinking I am having a stroke and order a CT scan. Of course they cant give me anything until they get the results from the CT and do their paperwork, so by the time they get me meds about 2 more hours have gone by. They finally decide I just have a migraine, and they give me a shot of imitrex....I wait another hour, no effect. They then give me some toradol. I wait another hour....no effect. The order IV demerol and phenergan. Another hour and a half go by.....no effect. They give me IV morphine.....and still no effect. By the time I get tired of them sticking me with needles, it is 3am and I have my mom take me back home and put ice around my head and try to sleep.

All in all, this migraine lasted for 3 days.....

I am very sorry for your loss. I am a strong person, but I suffer from migraine variant and fibromyalgia. So, I can understand what he means by he can no longer stand the pain. I have been on midrin on an off for 8 yrs. I have never had any suicidal thoughts or tendancies on it. I hope that helps you.

I am sorry for your terrible loss. In my HUMBLE opinion, pain induced suicide is quite possible.
I am not a doctor, .. but have had migraine to the point where if it got ANY worse, or lasted much longer at all, I am almost sure I would have killed myself. Maybe not, .. but I really think so.

My brother chose to end his life about 15 years ago following a dispute with another family member, to get even with her by causing her that pain. But he hurt everyone who cared for him. Every day it seems like I wonder if there's something I could have done to stop him, or something that I didn't do that would have made a difference. Someday perhaps I'll be able to let it go. Myself, in the depths of my migraine suffering I start thinking about death, fantasising about it, but I always remember the pain my brother caused everyone and I know I could never choose that path. You asked not for advice but for answers and I'm not sure I have any. But my advice is to seek support groups or just find something meaningful to do, something that means more than the hurt you're feeling now.

I can relate to your ex hubby.. I suffer from migranes so bad that they have to give me Demerol IV's and lately top em off with a Toradol shot. You just don't think straight when the pain is there. I have scars up & down my arms & legs from cutting myself.. sounds insane but it brings me relief. I get so tired of going into doc for migranes.. I feel foolish that I can't handle Or control this migranes. If it wasn't for my hubby & kids I am sure I wouldn't still go on.
I am sorry for your loss.

This morning while driving to work with a Migraine (a migraine that I have had since September 3rd), I envisioned/fantasized about pushing the gas pedal and running into the flat bed semi-truck in front of me. The thought soothed me and gave me peace, because I knew my head pain would end.......

Honestly, I do not think I would really do it, but chronic pain does send you out of your mind! So, I'm not really sure.