Name:
Victoria Shawl
Location:
Charlotte, North Carolina
Story:
I have been suffering from Migraines for almost 10 years. Before I was pregnant the first time my migraines were severe enough to take a prescription maintenance drug to controle the frequency of the episodes as well as a migraine medication to help with the pain of the migraine attacks. I have used medications such as butalbital, cafragot, cataflam, anti-seizures, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, anti-depressants, and many of these were used in conjunction of one another for the most benefit. When I decided to get pregnant, I realized that many of those drugs could have devestating effects on a pregnancy and the unborn child so I stopped taking all medications. I was given tylenol3 with codeine to use in the event of any migraines during pregnancy. Mind you I was suffereing from 4-6 migraines monthly. This affected on average 12 days of the month. I saw numerous neurologists, and physicians and had catscans that revealed no reason for my episodes.
Upon my first pregnancy I was fortunate enough to not suffer any migraines and that continued until I weaned my first born from nursing at 7 months. Within 2 weeks I had a migraine that caused a blackout from the pain and I ended up in the emergency room. At that point I decided to return to a neurologist who prescribed many regimes of medications all of which were not completely helpful.. I had partial relief, but never felt that the side effects of medications was worth the effort, not to mention, I had to sign contracts that i would not get pregnant while taking some drugs because of the potential dangers to an unborn baby. After 8 months of trying medications I walked out of a neurologist appointment in tears that I was back at the beginning and still haveing migraines that put me out of commission for 2-3 days at a time. THis was not at all feasible with a child and work.
This was when I decided to try accupuncture. Within 2 weeks my frequency of migraines had decreased from 1-2 per week to only 1 in that time period. I also immediately noticed a difference in the severity of the attack. I continued with accupuncture for almost a year with fantastic results. I was able to get pregnant while using accupuncture, and I eventually was able to go more than 3 months without any migraines. I now have a 3 year old and 6 month old who is nursing and I am beginning to get increased migraines again. My husband's current insurance will not cover accupuncture and the cost is too high to cover on our own since I am staying at home with our children. I am all for getting our health care in the US on board with alternatives to traditional health care. I can truly say that I have seen the benefit of alternative medicine without the side effects of drugs.
