Nasty. I've never been officially diagnosed with migraines, so I just call mine "sick headaches," but I've never had to deal with anything as horrendous as what you described. I can't even imagine. I can give you some more input if you and your doctor decide you need medication, though. A couple of years ago, my psychiatrist prescribed Topomax for me as a mood stabilizer in addition to my other medications. I've been taking it ever since. The thing about Topomax is that its primary use is as a migraine preventer - mood stabilization is actually a side effect. I've only had two "sick headaches" since I started taking it. And as far as I know, Topomax doesn't have the potential for heart complications that Imitrex does. One of my co-workers had to go to the ER after a dose of Imitrex sent her heart into severe arrhythmia. As a first line of defense, my son's neurologist (he sees him for his ADHD) recommended Excedrin Migraine for his migraines, to be taken at the first indication of an aura. He says it works often enough to be worth trying at school if one comes on for him there. (We haven't had to put it to the test yet, so I can't give you firsthand information on results.) It might be worth keeping a small bottle in your purse, especially over Thanksgiving. Sending you a big bunch of sunflowers, Michelle, in hopes that you don't have to deal with this again very often if ever.

Not only no perfume, but avoid scented personal products of any sort, whether they are soaps, deodorants, skin lotions, cosmetics, hair products, the like. She should always choose the unscented version not matter how pretty the scent of the scented version is. The side benefit is that when she goes out in the evening she can put on her favorite perfume and not worry about conflicting scents getting in the way of the scent she has chosen to wear. Sometimes people wear so many contrasting perfumes they cancel each other out. BTW - my daughter took Benadryl for a while because of severe allergic reactions. I noticed she was becoming very sad. Her allergist told me that Benadryl is a beta blocker, which meant nothing to me, but apparently it can affect a person's mood. It also makes people very drowsy, so she should not drive when she is taking it. For long term use I believe there are better medications, but Benadryl is easily and conveniently available when one needs something quickly. And in an emergency, nothing is better than the Epipen. It can save a person's life and give him time to get to the hospital. I wish your mother a quick recovery and a happy return to her garden. Rosefolly

I have participated on other forums but just came upon this one looking for something else, hope you don't mind me adding my two cents. Marie, I had the same problem over 6 years ago. It started just as you say numbness in the toes and fingers, mine was on my right side. But then it progressed up my foot & wrist, not all of the time though. Over time the numbness went up my leg and arm, I just kept ignoring it until it reached my thigh and I started having pain in my right thumb and eventually up my arm. Then the pain got so bad I couldn't sleep. So I went to my MD, who sent me to a neurologist. Who took several sets of xrays, but didn't see anything. Did an EMG and said everything was fine. He prescribed anti-inflamatories, which worked ok for the pain but not the numbness. Until I started rectal bleeding. So I went to a gastroenterologist who did a colonoscopy which showed I had diverticulousis (which had nothing to do with the pain, but just meant I had to stop taking the anti-inflamatory) But the pain got worse and I couldn't sleep and I couldn't straighten my right arm and I couldn't feel a pin prick in my thigh. One day I happened to mention this to some coworkers and one mentioned I may want to see a chiropractor. At this point it couldn't hurt. I called and mentioned my symptoms, they saw me the next day. When I went in imagine my right shoulder up at my ear and holding my right arm up against my breast, with a limp. To make a long story short, after he took xrays and ordered more xrays from my GP and an immediate accupuncture treatment I walked out of his office nearly pain free. The chiro pointed out over 11 vertibrate that were misalligned and explained how they were causing my pain & numbness. After six more months of chiropractic and accupuncture treatments and deep tissue massages I no longer had the numbness or pain. That was over 5 years ago, I still have the occassional numbness in my leg, but that is from decompression in two of my vertibrate (4th&5th) in my lower back. I am an avid gardener and thank God every day for my chiropractor and licensed massage therapist. During the growing season the first thing they ask me is what I did the past two weeks? And then shake theirs heads as I recite all of the heavy gardening I did and where I needed work done on my back or neck. I tried the B12 supplements, didn't help. One thing that did help temporarily was weight bearing exercising, until my husband was laid off and we had to cut back on expenses, when I stopped the weight bearing exercising that is when it got the worst. Unfortunately finding a good chiropractor or licensed massage therapist isn't easy. We've moved three times and I've had some good and some so so chiropractors, the best is recommendations. Ask around. Same for massage therapists, even if your state doesn't require them to be licensed look for one that is and one that continually is updating their skills. And just recently I started yoga for the stretching, because I need to cut back on my visits to the massage therapist and chiropractor. And by all means drink water to flush out the toxins that build up in your muscles and joints. Many people poopoo chiropractors, in fact my husband and son thought it was all in my head. Until they saw the change, they both go now and are true believers. My son had whiplash and the GP thought it was TMJ. I'm not saying this is the answer, but if it bothers you that much or gets worse what can it hurt. BTW...it cost me ove $1500 that first 6 months out of pocket. But that is because the chiro didn't accept insurance, and unfortunately the good ones usually don't. Karen

Phoggie, wow, a double whammy! Do you remember a while back there were a couple threads that you and I, and others posted on abut sciatica, spinal surgery, etc? I made the comment in one of them that you and I are in the same boat, but now that has changed for both of us. I haven't had the urinary problems, or any lumbar surgery. This will be a reminder/update on me, some of which I have posted bits and pieces of: Long story short. Because I fell, I ended up in the ER, followed by one day in the hospital. Chest scan showed blood clots in my lungs, Large one on the left, smaller ones on the right. I was put on Coumadin, which caused a hemorrhage in my kidney/s. The worst part is now I'm on a walker, and have the Lifeline thingie around my neck. Coumadin dose was lowered. Urology doc wanted another scan, after which he suggested doing a bladder scope, in case there might be cancer there. I have decided not to do that. My left leg is larger than my right leg and is painful; my right hip hurts if I sit too long, but I can tolerate both. I've said all that because I believe those who mentioned blood clots are on the right track. I made many, many trips to the lab and still going every 3 weeks to check on my blood levels. I learned about INR, which I had never heard of before. Talk to your primary doctor about the possibility of blood clots and consider what to do next. I hope you can get on a good path soon, and you and I will be rowing the same boat. It is doable. Sue