My migraines are horrific, imitrex maxalt or botox? Ive had worse after imitrex as well as botox?

What stuck out for me was the peanuts, red licorice, caffeine, diet soda, red wine, and lack of water, I didn't like water. I loved all of those things except water, and as I thought about it I realized every time I had any or all of those I ended up with a migraine. I used to drink coffee and diet Pepsi like it was water. If I had diet Pepsi I had peanuts too. Red licorice was my go to snack and not just a couple of pieces.

I started cutting back on the caffeine, and finally got down to just 1 cup in the mornings and sometimes 1 cup of decaf coffee late afternoons. Cut out almost all diet Pepsi and now I don't drink it at all. Cut out the peanuts and red licorice and all wine ( that was a hard one) completely and started cold drinking water with a slice of lemon in it for taste. I kept cold water on my desk, but it had to be cold water or I wouldn't drink it and drank that throughout the day. When I went out for a meal I ordered water with lemon and still do. Just doing all of that helped reduce my migraines.

I can now have a little peanut butter every once in awhile, 1 piece of the red vine licorice, and my 1 cup of coffee in the morning, but not all on the same day. However, even if I only have one quarter of a glass of wine, any wine including wine coolers I end up with a migraine. It's not a killer migraine, but enough to remind me I ate or drank something I shouldn't have.

Then for me things like bright lights (I can't go outside without sun glasses), any smoke, stress, lack of sleep, muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders, being outside when it's to hot or to cold, and even my allergies, will trigger a migraine.

Have your daughter keep a journal of every single thing she eats and drinks and medication she takes every single day for 1 month plus what she does each day and how she feels. Then when she gets a migraine she can look back in her journal and see what she has eaten or drunk within at least the last 3 days and what she has been doing or how she has been feeling. This can be a key to figuring out what triggers her migraines.

My son's allergist told me that everything you eat or drink stays in your system for 3 days. So if I eat peanut butter today it will stay in my system for the next 3 days and if I eat it again tomorrow, add another 3 days to it being in my system and on and on. Eating a little one day might be fine, but eating it 2 days in a row may be to much. And if I add 1piece of red licorice it could push me over the top.

The doctor that gave me this list of trigger foods, drinks, etc and prescribed the Amerge (Naratriptan) was an amazing doctor. Sadly, not long after this she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died within a year. We need more doctors like her.

I will keep you and your daughter in my prayers and like I said, be persistent and insistent when it comes to medication. Also, ALWAYS check the side effects and interactions of any medications you or your daughter are currently taking.

Here on webmd.com there is a place where you can put in the medications you are taking and it will tell you whether the interactions are anywhere from none to do not take these drugs together. You can also search for a drug and it will tell you all about it. I use the site all the time, especially when a doctor wants to prescribe me a new medication. I research it first before I take it.

Lastly, someone mentioned Butrans. I take Butrans for chronic back pain (I broke my back in 2006 and have had 3 back surgeries).

Butrans is a transdermal pain patch which is worn around the clock 24/7 and comes in 7.5 mcg/hr, 10 mcg/hr, 15mcg/hr and 20 mcg/hr. It is an OPIOID narcotic and it is ADDICTIVE. As far as I can tell, it does nothing for my migraines. If you or your daughter don't need it, stay away from it. I'm currently using the 20 mcg/hr patch which is as high as it goes and it is now starting o give me very little relief. You put one on, wear it for 7 days and then put a new one on. Also, they are very expensive for 4 patches per box per month and I had to get a prior approval from my insurance company to get it because they weren't going to pay for it. It's a tier III drug. I can't even have it delivered from my pharmacy. I have to physically pick it up and show a picture ID (my drivers license). I live in California. It's considered a controlled substance.

Again, my best to you and your daughter and I hope your daughter gets the help she needs.

With the TENS machine you can select the level of strength you want and the duration of time. They give little electric "shocks," pulsating "shocks" and a 3 tier "shock," at least mine does. I have found the pulsating "shocks" to be the best for me.

You can set the TENS machine for very light electric feeling "shocks" up to "shocks" that will have your muscles "jerking." I don't recommend that setting. I found if I have the setting to high, the next day my neck and shoulder muscles are tender. It is something you have to try and figure out what setting works best for you. Very, very few doctors even ask if you have used one or even suggest one. It's something to think about. They are small and compact.

It runs on batteries, comes with 2 thin cords, one end of each cord plugs into the machine and the other ends plug into sticky pads (patches) which you place on your neck and shoulder muscles. Don't put it on the "bones," just the muscles. You can also use this on your lower back. You may have to purchase the pads (patches) separately. You can use the pads more than once.

My TENS machine has been wonderful for the tight muscles in my neck, shoulders and back. Just something to think about.

Judy