Migraine Headaches Support Group

Migraine is a neurological disease, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head and are often accompanied by photophobia (hypersensitivity to light), phonophobia (hypersensitivity to sound) and nausea.

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Brain & Nervous System
/ Migraine Headaches Support Group

Migraines?

MamaEssie
MamaEssie
I am normally a stalker on this page but I need some advice. I have had a headache for twelve weeks. I have been told I have been told I have viral meningitis, sinus infections, idiopathic intercranial hypertention and finally after seeing a new Neurologist that specializes in headaches. He ruled everything out and said I have chronic intractable migraines. I am currently taking Topomax, Verapamil, and I've tried imitrex and Thorazine. Nothing has helped. Now the scheduler at my Dr's office called me out of the blue saying my neurologist wanted to see me ASAP. My question is... I have gotten very good at dealing with and hiding most signs of my pain. I don't know how to communicate to my Dr well how close to at the end of my sanity i am. Does anyone have any suggestions of phrasing or trigger words that may be successful in communicating successfully so that I can get my Dr to take me seriously? I have seen all my medical records and they all say, patient shows no outward signs of discomfort.

Thanks for reading!!

Essie
YvetteK
YvetteK
Which doctor are you speaking about? Are you talking about your Primary care doctor, or your Headache specialist? If it's your headache specialist, then you need to be upfront about the fact that the cocktail you are on is not working. I have been seeing headache specialists for over 15 years. Believe me when I tell you, it can take YEARS before they find a cocktail that works specifically works for you. It's possible you might need a blood pressure medicine. There are ACE Inhibitors, Calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers. That can be trial and error. Also, the triptan they gave you, Imitrex is the very first triptan that came out on the market. There are others out there which could be more effective. Now, there is Axert, Zomig, Frova, Relpax, and Amerge.

As for the thorazine you are on: I take thorazine. It is a WONDERFUL drug that helps with pain and nausea of migraines. But it's possible you might be on too low of a dose.

Bottom line is this: You need to let your headache specialist know that you are not finding any relief with the current medications you are on, and ask if it can be changed up. And you have to be blunt with your doctor about how much pain you are in.

I don't have any trigger words or special phrasing that I use because I'm just honest with my doctors, all of my doctors. When they ask how I feel, I just tell them. I don't hide it.

Good luck to you!
Bobby5000
Bobby5000
I had something that turned out to be serious, and fortunately thank G-d cured (at least to my knowledge). However, it was missed by multiple doctors in and out of the hospital because I did not have classical symptoms. It was like, well we can't find anything wrong, this one test seems a little elevated, we'll see if we can reduce the blood pressure and then SHIT YOU ARE REALLY SICK, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US. Hey I did that's why I went to the doctor and emergency room.

Rather than trying to convinced doctor A, I would consider a change. It sounds like you have something potentially serious. I know that intracranial hypertension is associated with severe headaches, and I would try to find out if that is the cause. Note that some medications even as innocuous as tetracycline can cause or contribute intracrannial hypertension.

Rather than focus on the symptoms, I would try to find out what is wrong.

While headaches can come out of nowhere and my mom had classic migraines, sometimes that are an important symptom of an underlying problem that needs to be treated.
gigglemon
gigglemon
My aunt is old school. Always fixed her hair and makeup for apts. When it gotso bad she ccouldn't... that's when they took her serious. Sad but true. Go in looking like u feel. Dont pretty it up. Dont smile and fake it. I generally wear sunglasses cuz that lighting makes my eyes and head want to explode so when they aren't listening I take them off and let them see my eyes and how its really affecting me.