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My first migraine was 4-5 years ago and was characterized by a “popping” feeling in my head, like a change in pressure, and then an intense, loud, ringing noise in my ears. It was loud enough to prevent me from hearing anything for several minutes at a time. I called someone to take me to the ER because I had never experienced that before and doctors at the ER thought I had a brain aneurysm. I was totally unresponsive, couldn’t walk, the muscles in my arms and hands were in spasms and I couldn’t move them.
After 9 hours in the ER, they concluded that it was a migraine. Several months after I continued going to the ER for severe symptoms of migraine.
Eventually the ER visits have slowed down, I haven’t been in several months, but my headaches continue varying from 2-3 all the way up to an 8-9 on a scale of 1-10 for pain and I continue to have 3-4 migraines a week.
With tracking I have been able to find two triggers; stress and my recent discovery of allergies to all plants in the state i live in, but nothing else, and I’ve been able to identify when I have a migraine coming on, normally a can of coca cola helps stop most symptoms other than aura and dizziness. Some mornings I wake up with severe headaches that effect my balance and ability to walk but they subside within an hour or two.
Since my migraines started I’ve noticed a steady decline in my motivation about anything. I’m increasingly becoming more apathetic and my memory has definitely been effected with my recurring headaches, but I’m not sure if it’s just because I’m not getting the help I feel I need.
I’ve spoken to countless doctors here that attempt to write me a 30 day supply for a Schedule III drug like Vicodin, which I don’t want. I need to know how to speak to a physician about the “disruptive-ness” of what’s going on with my headaches and maybe some pointers on what to clarify with a physician to understand that I need help dealing with my migraines.

I am in a predicament and I need some help. I am prescribed topamax for my migraines (about 4 per week on a good week), and my neurologist retired. Prior to his retirement,he prescribed me a years worth of refills in three month increments (meaning different paper refills) so when I went to refill my rx this week it was expired…not a problem, I had a paper prescription, dated 11/12/2010 but the pen had been dying, so the doctor wrote it in a few times to make the ink show, so the pharmacy won’t fill the rx. I am currently uninsured because of my migraines, and cannot self pay because at 4 migraines/week being employable is not an option. Should I follow my mother’s advice and go to urgent care and get a new prescription and have the indigent care program by the state write me a new script or should I demand the filling pharmacy fill the 2.667 fills I have left or do you guys have an idea? Taking 3 excerin, 4 motrin every 4 hours is getting REALLY tough on my stomach and when I need the pain relief taking 6/8 respectively makes throwing up 2 times annoying. I need a preventative, at least… :[ I hate headaches

CMOORE09,

Stopping topiramate cold turkey can result in neurological side effects that can range from bothersome to severe or even life threatening. Can you take the prescription to another pharmacy?

Perhaps you need to remind the current pharmacy of the risks associated with immediate cessation of this drug as well as your history of purchasing the meds there, and ask them to re-think their decision not to fill it.

I’m honestly not sure if it is even legal for your doctor to have written pre-dated prescriptions which brings up another potential problem. I’m just not sure.

Bottom line, you need the meds to continue to be available to you, so do whatever you need to get that accomplished legally, and I hope you can find another doctor soon who will be able to take over where this doctor left off.

JWAWRZYN,

Have you been seen by a headache specialist yet? This is perhaps the best and first place you should go. Obviously we cannot diagnose you online, and a specialist is the one best equipped to do that for you. Another option might be seeking the help of an ENT and asking about Meniere’s Disease.

Triptans are considered a first line abortive for Migraine. Have you asked your doctor why he chooses not to treat you with this drug which was designed specifically for Migraines? It also sounds like you may be a candidate for preventive therapy. Have you requested that you be started on anything to prevent future attacks?

I’m very sorry you are not able so far to find the treatment you need to properly manage your Migraines. Sadly, you are not alone. It often takes several doctors to find a good match and someone who is Migraine literate enough to properly diagnose, treat and help you manage your Migraine Disease.

Here is a link to help you get the most from your doctor’s appointment http://bit.ly/gPYDNl

Hang in there and keep trying okay?

Hi I am April and I am here because my fiance, Derek has had a migraine with no relief for over 4 months! Yes you read that right it has not subsided nor has it eased since the Wednesday before the Superbowl. We have seen neurologists and he is currently being “treated” by a headache specialist. Unfortunately she will not do anything for him and I don’t understand whats going on so I am asking for help and advice from ANYONE. The first doctor tried many different drugs with no help which is when they sent Derek to Dr. Kelley. He has had an MRI, MRA, MRV and CT Scans along with multiple blood tests but everything keeps coming back normal. He has now lost his insurance through work and when we applied for medical assistance for him The doctor called the office and told them that because she has not yet found the cause she will not label him with a debilitating condition nor will she say how long it may take to treat. Therefore he is not able to get medical assistance. I tried talking to the doctors office but no one can give me any answers or ideas what to do and the doctor will not return my calls at all so I can’t ever talk to her directly. Every other neurologist I talk to tells me they cant see him without a referral from her as she is currently treating him so even if I could find a way to pay for the appointments he cant get any. I can’t stand watching him suffer anymore and I am at a loss as to what to do so at this point anything would help. Please feel free to reply with any information you have. Thank you for reading this.
April

You might want to schedule a consultation with the doctor to discuss his insurance and what the doctor might be able to do to help. Does the doctor understand what’s going on here??

Ellen,
I don’t think she cares but he does have an appointment on Friday so we are going to have to see. I tried to explain everything as clearly as I could and after I did that is when she call the medical assistance office and told them it is not a debilitating condition.

The unfortunate fact of Migraine is that it is a diagnosis of exclusion. If he has Migraine, she can look until the cows come home but will not find anything. Someday we will have more genetic information and that might be an option, but for now, Migraine means nothing else will be found. Migraine can be disabling as is evidenced by the fact that it is on the government’s list of conditions that can cause complete or partial disability and the need for SSDI payments. Maybe the fact that you know this information will encourage the doctor to be more open with why she did what she did.

Have you checked yourself to be sure this doctor actually IS a headache specialist? Right now there are a lot of physicians who call themselves specialists, but lack the training etc to actually be listed as one.

I honestly can’t find any information on her. I called another hospital today and they told me I should bring him into their ER so that he can be treated right away and then be referred to their headache center to see a doctor there, they said that is not how they usually handle referrals but with him being this sick for this long it’s really important we not waste any more time so I think thats what we are going to do.

Here is a link to the doctors that are currently certified as headache specialists http://www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/pdf/Final%20Diplomate%20List.pdf