Migraine

Sorry to keep asking all these questions about status, I just still don't have a good feel for all this.

So last night was my 7th day with this migraine, and my doctor told me to take an extra neurontin (1100 mg) and an imitrex, in addition to the steroid pack i'm on. She told me to call her this morning if it still hasn't broken.

Question is... I'm not sure if I should call or wait a little bit - the migraine is barely there, but I can still feel it some when bending over or moving around. I'm not sure if it's just residual pain in that spot, or if the migraine is actually still there. I'd love to hear any opinion or advice any of you could provide.

Thanks in advance!

In my opinion -

If you are still having any type of pain - I would call. Explain to her how you feel - she is the doctor - tell her again it's been this long, I still feel like this, what do I do?

I would say if you still feel a bit like it's a migraine, then it probably is. As you know - if you have not had more then a 4 hour break from the pain, not including sleep, then you are still in status.

Please let us know what she says. It is very important that you get out of pain!!!!!!!

Thanks for updating us -

Oh, and to answer the first question - sorry...

No waiting - you call ASAP - you want this bugger gone! Call as soon as the office is open, which if you are in CO - should be now.

Thanks Eileen! I will call and post an update when I get ahold of her.

Yep. If you can feel it at all, then it's still there. It may be that it's on its way out, but do still call, and don't wait. If your doctor should want to fit you in, it's better to call right away, to make that easier a process for everyone. And then, if she thinks it's on its way out and all you need to do is rest up and keep an eye on it, she can tell you that right away, and bring you some piece of mind in the process. I think it's always best and safest to call as early as you can when calling the doctor.

Let us know how things go. If you're concerned, it's something to talk to your doctor about.

Gretchen in Mississippi

e-I just wanted to know what your doctor said? Please keep us posted as you can, k?

Well she finally called me back and left a message (I was in a meeting) suggesting that maybe I try some advil or naproxen

I called her back and left a message to the effect that I was worried about my stroke risk and that I was only concerned about *aborting* the migraine at this point. I haven't heard back from her, so I'm going to the ER, especially since it's gotten worse. I tried to get into urgent care, but they're booked solid.

Wish me luck! I've never been to an ER before... I'm really really not looking forward to it.

Good luck!!

I am so proud of you for going to the ER. I know this is a big step for you, but it is the right one. I'm proud of you for not waiting anymore.

I'm proud of you for knowing what you need to do and not waiting to hear back again from your neuro.

Maybe our next topic should be finding a new doctor.

Good luck honey!!! I'll be thinking of you!!!

Please let us know how you are doing ok??!!??

Thanks! This is really hard for me to do, but I know it's time. I just finished filling out Teri's ER form, so I'm going to head out. I'll let you know how it goes!

-e

Hey e, just wanted to check in with you and see how you're doing. Not sure if you've made it back from the ER yet. When you're feeling up to it, post and let us know, ok?

Thanks MJ... just got back from my first ER visit. It was a lot less scary than I expected. I brought Teri's form with all my meds and such, and the registration nurse bumped the urgency of my case way up so they took me right in.

I had to wait in the triage bed for a long time, but it wasn't as bad as i thought. They tried to turn the lights off, but they unfortunately couldn't get rid of the ones right in front of me.

The doc gave me a few options, although no abortives. I asked him about the abortives, and he said that in his experience, they don't really work when this far in. I asked him what his recommendation was, and he said that the combination shot of dilauded and phenergan with a good, deep night's sleep has had the best success. So that's what he did. I'll call the doc in the morning and let her know.

Thanks again for your support everyone! It was really hard for me to go to the ER, but now I know it's not that big a deal. It would be nice if they knew a little more about migraines (i'm not sure if i should have pushed for an abortive like DHE instead). I'll see if this works

I am so so proud of you for going to the ER and getting treatment! Sounds like it wasn't as bad as you thought is was going to be, and that the doctor seemed to be somewhat versed in migraine....thats good!

This was a big step for you and I am so proud of you! I hope you are feeling better today!

Please let us know! I hope the news is that the migraine beast is finally gone!!!!!!!

I'm so glad to hear you went to the ER, e! It's definitely not a fun place to go, but it is sometimes very necessary!

I sure hope the dilaudid and phenergan do the trick! At my ER, that is usually the combination they give me...I sure do hate that feeling I get when they first put the dilaudid in my IV though! Feels like my head is on fire!

As far as the abortives go, I think that some hospitals use them as their "migraine protocol" and some simply don't. My local ER is a small-town place. They don't really know much about DHE, decadron, or any of the other meds that actually stop the migraine process! All they really know to do is provide pain relief for me so I can (hopefully) sleep and allow the migraine to run its course...

Hope you're feeling better now! Please check back in and let us know how today is!!

jenny

e-I'm so happy to hear your experience at the ER was a good one. I hope it did the trick and your migraine is now a thing of the past. Please let us know how you are feeling when you're up to it. I know the ER trips wear me out!