Topamax?

On Mon. my Dr. (or should I say his nurse) called to tell me my brain scan was normal. Which surprised me I always thought I was crazy. Or maybe it just doesn't show on a scan..... hmmmm. Anyway, she said "The Dr. want's you to take Topamax (Topiramate) for your headaches, and come and see him in 4 to 6 weeks" HUH? For my headaches? As I'm talking to her on the phone I do a quick Internet search. I'm informed that Topamax is an anti seizure medication. I'm totally confused now. So I ask the nurse. Is the Dr. going to address all the pain I've been in. "Pain?" she says. Now I'm just irritated. Again I feel like no one is listening to me. "Umm Uhh, let me talk to the Dr. I'll call you back." After she hung up I was dejected. Here I thought the Dr. understood what I was saying. I decided to look further into this medication Topamax. It's also used to treat Migraine's. Okay I have had Migraines, but I really haven't had one in a long time. A few years actually. So now I'm really confused. Time to do some more digging. What do I find out? Some Dr. use it to help patent's with Fibromyalgia. It's not approved for the treating of Fibromyalgia at this time. Since I have the headaches, I guess he figures we need to deal with that first. Who knows? Since he didn't talk with me directly.

Six hours later the nurse called me back and said very bluntly "The doctor just wants you to take the Topamax and see him in 4 weeks." By this time (after stewing for 6 hours) I'll try it. So I give her my pharmacy number and pick up the prescription. One of the side effects isn't bad. Weight loss. The others are. Blurry vision, kidney stones, dizziness, fatigue(like I don't have enough of that), confusion(or that), tingling in extremities etc... etc... . that's why I hate taking anything. It can help some things but then create a whole host of other problems. Sometimes I feel like if what you have isn't life threatening just deal with it instead of inviting new problems. I did decide to try it though.

The Dr. prescribed 50mg to be taken at bedtime. Of course because I don't want kidney stones I took it with a ton of water. DUH I woke up twice to use the bathroom during the night. YEAH that's helping with my REM sleep! Go Serotonin! Last night I decided to take it with little water and try to make up for it during the day and thankfully I slept through the night for the first time in a very long time. Of course only being on it for 3 days I'm not noticing much yet. My stomach does feel a little queasy here and there. My mouth is very dry already, I hear this goes away after a few weeks though. I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses so I was out in the Ministry work for about 3 hours yesterday and was walking, it was the same old same old. I spent most of the evening on the couch exhausted and sore. So obviously it hasn't helped yet. It usually takes a month or so for a medication like this to really make a difference. I wonder if it will. Only time will tell.

I'm doing my best to be humble and learn my limitations. I always thought of my self as a strong woman. I used to be able to move furniture alone and do heavy yard work. I saw myself as someone who was very capable. The last few years so much has changed. These days it's difficult for me to move a simple coffee table. I think if I just learn to live within these limitations I'll be happier.