I started having chronic headaches by the 6th grade. In my early 20's
I was having migraines that required trips to the ER. I started an
SSRI in '94 to help with headaches and depression (they do seem to go
hand in hand) and haven't been off since. I got a migraine-like
headache that started in Feburary or March of 2005 that lasted almost
a year... daily... minute by minute... I don't remember much of that
year.

2005 marked the first lumbar puncture, the IIH diagnosis, and the
medication roulette (Topomax, Neurontin, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Midrin,
Ultracet, Hydrocodone, Fioricet, and some other names I've
forgotten). It also marked the beginning of non-stop tinnitus, that
was sometimes so loud I couldn't hear the person I was talking to.
Sleep was very difficult to say the least, so was trying to keep my job.

Things got better in 2006 and headaches were back to "normal" (2-3/
wk) in 2007. But since January of this year the downhill progression
is starting again. I've already had a very bad run in with a trial of
Inderal and a doubled-up dose of Neurontin. So, it's back, and it's
scary because I really don't want it to go back to what it was in 2005.

That's my IIH story in a nutshell.

Hope to learn more from you guys to help manage this strange and
frustrating condition.

Peace,
Selah