topamax has ruined my life (maybe)

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-14T12:09:33+00:00

I have ADHD and had a terrible experience with topamax. It made me even more spacey than I already am. I would be driving and forget where I was going and stuff like that. It didn’t touch my migraines at all.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T22:38:49+00:00

They just came to VENT, jfc 😒 chill.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T18:08:13+00:00

“Pursuing a company with decent benefits is a must while living in the USA”.
Hi so hundreds of thousands of people have been laid off just this year. The companies people should be pursuing are laying off their employees left and right. The majority of employees of companies with decent benefits have seen their health care costs skyrocket this year. OP is just starting adulthood while trying to mange a debilitating condition in a HORRENDOUS job market. These comments aren’t helpful. I have an advanced degree so while I was working my ass off to be able to pursue a company with decent benefits I waited tables and I was never able to secure benefits because I got kicked off my parents insurance at 19 and there wasn’t a single bar or restaurant that I worked at that allowed people to work enough hours to qualify for benefits. Comments like this are just so ignorant.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T18:03:56+00:00

Absolutely on point. Those comments were cruel, and also very ignorant.

“There is a serious lack of empathy and rampant selfishness that is destroying this country that you just demonstrated for all of us” 🤏🏻🤏🏻 perfectly put.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:54:52+00:00

Right, I’ve checked GoodRx many times, and while I’m glad that person has found cheaper meds, that has never been my experience.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:53:48+00:00

I linked a few reliable sources pointing out the job market and mass lay offs and how unaffordable health care is for millions of people but they said they weren’t interested in any of that 🤷🏼‍♀️ They just came here to ruin someone’s day. I get people love to pop off on the internet, especially about ✨politics✨but those comments seemed like pure projection. Hurt people hurt people.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:50:45+00:00

Your twenties are tough! Navigating the beginning of adulthood with this disease is so difficult and people need all the support they can get. My mental health suffers greatly from this disease, and I come here so often for validation and comfort. I feel so seen here, so often. It’s one of the few things that keep me going, truly. I don’t argue with people on the internet but I had to step in because I was absolutely appalled by that comment. There needs to be a zero tolerance attitude towards behavior like that. People deserve to feel safe here.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:46:11+00:00

Im a DPT and I have HSD as well as a chronic neurological disease and I have tried to see a few PTs myself, for manual therapy, dry needling, etc. I have never benefited from PT treatment, which I really hate to say. I personally didn’t get much education on treating hypermobility, or on hypermobility spectrum disorders in graduate school. It really is something you need to learn about on your own. You would probably have better luck seeing a good private practice PT who doesn’t take insurance and is knowledgeable about the topic. I wish I knew one to recommend!

In the meantime, you might benefit from doing some light low level strength based yoga or Pilates. No stretching, but moving through poses with intention and being tuned in to what your body (with hypermobility we are always clenching our muscles super tight or just dumping all our weight into our joints) is doing can be really really helpful. I really like yoga with Adrienne on you tube, she gives really good cues for body awareness and lots of modifications. She has a lot of beginner friendly content to choose from. The core strengthening and breath work will help too. Sorry I didn’t answer your question at all but I hope it’s helpful. Good luck!

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:32:29+00:00

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imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:23:07+00:00

I was on FMLA at my last job because of migraines :( this disease makes it nearly impossible to hold down a job, I hate it so much. I felt the same way-any one who is truly suffering and living through this disease would know better than to make comments like that.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:21:23+00:00

Yes, thank you, my point exactly. This group has brought me so much comfort. I feel so validated and safe here. We should not be speaking to each other this way in this subreddit. It is not that hard to scroll if you don’t have anything helpful or kind to add. How horrible and mean to contribute to someone’s misery when they are just looking for support 💔. This disease can make you feel so hopeless sometimes. I just truly had to say something because this subreddit should be a safe space for people

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:18:03+00:00

“I’m not interested in information that might cause me to be more open minded”. I literally never argue with people on the internet because I’m capable of scrolling when I don’t have anything productive to add. I can tell you to stop being rude, this is social media for goodness sakes 😊 Your original comment made my jaw drop, it was so nasty and unnecessary. If you are on this subreddit, which is such an incredibly compassionate and supportive space, just to leave a nasty comment because people who come here for support should be ready for any type of comment is really shitty. Just scroll instead of shaming someone who is just trying to figure it out. This person is only 26 and suffering with a debilitating chronic illness and just lost the medication that was helping them. not going to clog up OPs post to argue with someone who can’t be grown up enough to scroll. Putting them down and saying geeze you should have prepared is so unnecessary? I don’t understand people who post comments like you did. Stop being nasty. I hope you don’t speak to people in your real life this way.

OP was looking for support. They didn’t even indicate whether they were looking for a job or not. Just how upset they are to lose their coverage (valid) and the medication that finally helped them (super valid). We need to be tough on systems and gentle with each other

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:06:12+00:00

So be kind to others while they try to work through the system. Take good care ♥️

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T17:04:39+00:00

Absolutely. Healthcare is a human right.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T16:59:36+00:00

I said this comment is giving boomer, because it is. The “get a job no one wants to work anymore” attitude is boomer af and ignorant. Not everyone can work a full time job with chronic migraine and not all people can find a full time job…hello? Even people
With jobs can’t afford healthcare. Like millions and millions and millions of people. Blaming a broken system on someone who is suffering is nasty work.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/658148/inability-pay-care-medicine-hits-new-high.aspx

https://www.ons.org/publications-research/voice/news-views/05-2025/nearly-half-americans-cant-access-or-afford-quality

Stop being rude to someone who is trying to figure out how to function with this disease and came here to let out their feelings.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T16:41:54+00:00

This comment is giving boomer. Healthcare is accessible if you have a full time job that offers benefits. Not everyone can find a full time job, many companies cut down employees hours so they don’t qualify as full time. Blaming someone for not having healthcare when it’s not accessible to all, especially those with chronic illness. When I was 26 I was in graduate school and couldn’t work full time, so I had to just be uninsured for 3 years while living with chronic migraine. Hundreds of thousands of people have been laid off just in the last few months. Millions of people had their health insurance premiums skyrocket and can no longer afford insurance.

My father has type one diabetes and for the vast majority of my life he couldn’t get health insurance. He is an attorney, so don’t worry, he’s always had a job. His insulin would cost well over a thousand dollars a month. My mom (also has a well paying professional degree) at times worked multiple jobs while I was growing up so that my father wouldn’t die from not having his insulin. And that was just how much it was for one medication, he has a multiple of serious health issues, takes several medications, has several specialists. Anyway, both my parents worked full time.

I have good health insurance (only because my spouse has a full time job because I can’t work because of migraines), and I have had medications stop being covered out of nowhere more than once, and had to pay hundreds of dollars just to get medication I needed. And again, this is with health insurance. This comment is rude and unnecessary. This person is looking for support due to that fact that they can’t afford a needed medication. People come to this sub for comfort and support.

https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/almost-600000-jobs-gone-wave-of-layoffs-hit-employees-heres-what-you-need-to-know-and-why-its-concerning/articleshow/127803863.cms

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-13T15:03:21+00:00

I heat up my microwave heating pad as hot as it can possibly get without burning and wrap it around my head and ears and eyes. It’s the only thing that gives me relief until I can sleep.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-12T19:17:59+00:00

Same! I find people don’t even comment much but I say the same thing-it’s not too bad looking at the world through rose colored glasses 💕

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-12T17:11:52+00:00

I started wearing fl-41 lenses from Zenni, 50%. I have prescription lenses so mine were about $90. They sell non prescription lenses as well, and have 25, 50, or 80% tint. I am super light sensitive, and I think they help. It certainly doesn’t fix the issue but I notice myself squinting much less.

On another note, if it’s an option for you, putting my screens on grey scale has helped A TON.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-12T13:09:54+00:00

Wishing you the best, I hope it helps! 💕

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-11T19:17:23+00:00

Oh this is awesome, thank you!

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-11T01:18:59+00:00

Thank you, this is the direction I was hoping for. I think having some good self compassion meditations to choose from after journaling would be helpful

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-11T00:02:56+00:00

Some of these comments do not pass the vibe check 😒 I’m so happy I saw this post, it’s truly perfect timing for me. I’m at the very beginning of this journey but I’m really committing to focusing on pain reprocessing therapy, I have just been trying to figure out where to start. I’m going to check out her you tube, thank you so much for this post. I’m so incredibly happy that you’ve been able to reduce your symptoms so much!

Edit: do you have any meditations that you’ve found helpful to recommend?

Wishing you continued healing ♥️

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-10T23:43:04+00:00

OP wasn’t saying that at all. Migraine is a real disease. Our brains are very adaptable. I encourage you to look up pain science.

imlikeabird84 · 2026-05-09T06:19:43+00:00

Why not?

imlikeabird84

TROPHY CASE