shuke>good luck to you and your family. That really sucks. I have two friends whose wives are dealing with very similar issues. Kind of weird that everyone that I've heard of dealing with this crippling migraine/pain issue is a woman.
Hang in there and shield your kids as best as possible. Also, be willing to ask friends for help. People are usually good about helping and there's no shame in admitting you need the help. The emotional burden is quite heavy.
We have come across a few men during our time dealing with this, but yes, it seems the large majority of patients are women. Maybe it's hormonal related, who knows.
We do have a good network of friends who help us when needed, but my wife at times is afraid to ask, she already feels she is a burden to everyone. This has already come close to destroying her relations with her parents, who she can't really count on for help any more, and she is afraid it will lead to that with others.
I haven't wanted to weigh in too much because I am pretty sure I've mentioned hormones before and I couldn't remember what you had said about it. Hormones are no joke. I know women who have had their levels checked and once they got their hormones back on track, the migraines went away (I think it's an estrogen issue). I know your wife is way worse off than these women who just seemed to have them here and there, but if you haven't looked into hormone imbalance, I don't think it would hurt.
Regardless, I'm sorry for both you and your wife, and your kids as well. Sounds like quality of life is being affected across the board and I hope that gets better soon.
Actually I've heard it's a testosterone issue with most women. I have a client that specializes in helping women with migraines. I've heard the doctor interviewed several times on the radio. Any help you want Shuke and I'm happy to do it.
I hesitate to bring this up, but since we are offering suggestions for a situation that seems to have tired most everything (Shuke's wife's migraines), I used to be in the employee of Dr. Russell Roby in Austin. Roby had quite the past and had been cited by the Texas medical board a number of times for being disorganized with patient records. He is/was also a narcissist who ultimately fired me because I didn't bow at the alter of his genius. But he was, indeed, a genius. He helped a LOT of people (kids with allergies, professional athletes who used to play catcher for the Dodgers, state legislators who may or may not run for Governor here one day) by manipulating their hormones with bioidentical hormones and a regimen of diet and exercise. There was one girl that had intersistal (sp?) cystitis so badly that she couldn't get out of bed and needed a catheter because the pain of urinating made her pass out and now she lives a normal life.
I'm certainly not suggesting you contact him. I am suggesting that if you haven't looked in to any hormone therapy then perhaps you should.
ETA: Looks like he's either out of business or dead. So don't even bother contacting him. But look in on the hormone thing.