Migraine

Elizabeth,

I thought you just started seeing Dr. Roy. Is your treatment plan not working out?

My GP gave me the name of a neurologist who treats migraines in Austin, but she's not accepting new patients until after Memorial Day.

My GP also referred me to a neurologist who treats migraine using Botox -- if that's what you're looking for -- since he's only taking on new patients who want Botox. I have my first appointment with him in April. (His staff is hard to deal with and they take forever to call you back).

I'll let you know how it turns out.

I really don't want to travel to Dallas or Houston because I just started a new job about 6 weeks ago. But I will soon enough if I have to!

My old neurologist (from Connecticut) who treated me with Botox referred me to Dr. Ninan Matthew in Houston when I told him I was moving to Texas. I never saw Dr. Matthew though. My doc said he was very experienced in Botox though.

Let us know how everything turns out.

Christine

Yeah, I did just start seeing Dr. Roy... I guess around a few months ago...

My treatment plan isn't working out w/ her... SHE was the one who suggested I see the doc in Houston...

I have an EEG tomorrow, and they'll send the results to Dr. Roy... I also just did some bloodwork this past Friday... I think she was checking my thyroid level, and a few other things.

She hasn't mentioned anything to me about Botox, so - I have no idea if that's what the doc in Houston will suggest...

Thanks, Christine!

Elizabeth

I don't know if you have an appointment with Dr. Mathew but I will tell you we have had no relief and had a very difficult time getting through his personality. Also, if you have problems with medications and insurance they will not contact insurance for you. He doesn't want his staff caught up with Insurance dramas. He may be able to help you but I would like you to know some problems we ran in to with him.

Good luck!

lovemykids411
Melanie

quote:

Originally posted by tracieB:
Elizabeth--

Please-oh-please consider going to Dr. K rather than Dr. Mathew. I went to him for 2 years finishing in 2006. He DID get my diagnosis right which nobody else seemed to be able to do, but he doesn't talk to you, no information about what he wants to do, and the many of the floor staff of the hospital he admits to treat migraineurs badly. I really had to work at it, but I finally found someone else to order my drugs. He's also super expensive for everything, especially botox.

I am now at the very best I've been in at least 15 years, taking fewer preventives and no longer on daily Zomig NS and Dr. Mathew had NOTHING to do with that!!!

Tracie

OK - now I'm seriously debating going to see Dr. Mathews, in Houston... financially - it'd basically kill my husband and I.

I was just looking all over for Dr. K's phone number, and - of course, I can't find it.

Can someone please provide his number, and the spelling of his full name, so I can double check w/ my ins. comp. to see if they take him?

I believe that I mentioned earlier that I called his office a few weeks ago, and left a vm to set up an appt., and nobody STILL has called me back from there - but, I figured I'd give that another shot.

Thanks in advance, for his full name and ph # !

Elizabeth

quote:

Originally posted by lovemykids411:
I don't know if you have an appointment with Dr. Mathew but I will tell you we have had no relief and had a very difficult time getting through his personality. Also, if you have problems with medications and insurance they will not contact insurance for you. He doesn't want his staff caught up with Insurance dramas. He may be able to help you but I would like you to know some problems we ran in to with him.

Good luck!

lovemykids411
Melanie

Thanks VERY much for your post...

I agree, and I haven't even seen him! (about him not wanting to deal w/ insurance).

I still have an appt. scheduled for 4/14 (I believe), but I'm looking more into Dr. K, now...

Thanks,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth--

If you go see Dr. Krusz, in my opinion (having dealt with Dr. Mathews) your money will be much better spent--and I've never seen him!!!!!

I AM planning on making an appointment and going even though I'm in pretty good control, because my primary doc said he'd welcome another opinion on our treatment plan. I'd like to find ways of beating the nasty ones that I can't seem to abort without resorting to narcotics and so would he.

John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD

Tracie

I suggestion for Dr. K is calling back and asking to go ahead and set up an appointment. They did not return my first phone call either but I figured they are extremely busy and I just called back and told them it was really serious and when I explained Sarah's symptoms we had an appointment in less than a week.

Good luck. The money is an issue for us too so we have asked my parents for help. They love their grandchild so that helps a lot.

Keep us posted on what you do.

lovemykids411
Melanie

quote:

Originally posted by tracieB:
Elizabeth--

If you go see Dr. Krusz, in my opinion (having dealt with Dr. Mathews) your money will be much better spent--and I've never seen him!!!!!

I AM planning on making an appointment and going even though I'm in pretty good control, because my primary doc said he'd welcome another opinion on our treatment plan. I'd like to find ways of beating the nasty ones that I can't seem to abort without resorting to narcotics and so would he.

Dr. Krusz' telephone number is 214-750-6664

Tracie

Thanks SO much for his full name and ph #... I'll give them ANOTHER call tomorrow, to find out some info (if he takes my ins., if not - some prices, out of pocket).

It's still weird that nobody from his office has returned my vm... I said I wanted to set up an appt., and NOBODY has called me back! I's at least been over one week!

Hopefully, I'll have better luck when I call, again, tomorrow.

See, that's another thing - Narcotics.

Narcotics are the only thing pretty much (I take a small dose, if I have to take it) works, for killer migraine headache... Dr. Roy doesn't seem to like to give prescriptions for Narcotics - I even told her I take them, on average, once/week, if necessary!!!

So, how does Dr. Krusz feel about prescribing narcotics, for the BAD migraines? Is he on a pretty tight leash w/ them, or - not so much? Like, he'd prescribe enough (and decent ones) to help me for a BAD one?

Thanks SO MUCH for his name and ph. #! I'm entering it in my cell, NOW, so I don't have to ask again.

Thanks!

Elizabeth

Elizabeth--

Don't get too panicky about narcotics or no narcotics. I only use narcotics about once every 3 months when I get a migraine of 7 or higher that doesn't respond to 2 doses of Zomig Nasal Spray. (I basically take dilaudid at home so I don't have to go to the ER.) And I'd love to work out another treatment plan that might be able to let me stop taking those.

The trick is to get a super headache doc who can work out a good abortive plan for you.

Tracie

quote:

Originally posted by lovemykids411:
I suggestion for Dr. K is calling back and asking to go ahead and set up an appointment. They did not return my first phone call either but I figured they are extremely busy and I just called back and told them it was really serious and when I explained Sarah's symptoms we had an appointment in less than a week.

Good luck. The money is an issue for us too so we have asked my parents for help. They love their grandchild so that helps a lot.

Keep us posted on what you do.

lovemykids411
Melanie

Good idea - thanks - I WILL do that (call back).

Do you (or anyone!) know how good he is w/ ins. comps.?

I'm having issues logging on to my new health ins. website, so I have no idea if he takes my insurance (Principal - TX True Choice... it's kind of crappy, because my hubby works for a small company).

I STILL have not heard back from Dr. Roy's office, for names of other doctors she may refer me to, that DO take my health insurance. That's kind of the main thing I'm really looking for.

I'm sure Dr. K is a GREAT doc, but - he's NO GOOD for me, if he doesn't take my health insurance and charges a LOT, like I know Dr. Mathews (in Houston) does (ie - Botox, etc.).

So, now - I'm basically in frustration mode... I've called Dr. offices, left messages (burned a LOT of my cell minutes, which isn't good), and I've yet to hear what I'm looking for (the other neuro recommendations, if Dr. Roy has any...).

If not, I'm almost thinking I may just keep seeing her... she, miraculously, IS on my ins. plan. Yeah, go figure!

I'm kind of manic, right now, sorry - if that's noticeable... I'm just trying to get out a lot of info at one time... but, I AM sorry this post is so long!

I just HATE asking my parents for money... I know my Mom doesn't really have any to give (she's a teacher), and my Dad - not so much.

Do you/anyone recall what the consult price was, for Dr. K?

W/ the doc in Houston, it's 450.00 for the consult, then 1355.00 for the hospital stay (IF he admits you, which - sounds like ne normally does, typically), and if he did botox, it'd be over 1K!!! There's NO WAY I can afford all of that!!!

I'm actually getting my resume ready/updated... I called a place I did temp. work for, around a year ago - so, they still have all of my files/tests on their database, so I don't have to re-take anything. Yay! I just feel I need the shortest posssible assignment (I told her that), or PT (they don't do much PT)...

I feel so guilty NOT working, spending what money we have on ALL of these huge doctor bills.

OK - SO, SO sorry for all the rambling!

I'll FOR SURE give Dr. K a call, tomorrow, and hopfully actually get a hold of someone!



Elizabeth

quote:

Originally posted by tracieB:
Elizabeth--

Don't get too panicky about narcotics or no narcotics. I only use narcotics about once every 3 months when I get a migraine of 7 or higher that doesn't respond to 2 doses of Zomig Nasal Spray. (I basically take dilaudid at home so I don't have to go to the ER.) And I'd love to work out another treatment plan that might be able to let me stop taking those.

The trick is to get a super headache doc who can work out a good abortive plan for you.

Tracie

Cool, thanks Tracie.

I've NEVER heard of Zomig Nasal Spray working for migraines! Interesting! What does it do?

I know - I just need to find a doc I like, that ACTUALLY takes my insurance. SO easier said than done...

Hugs to all!

Elizabeth

Here's the link to Dr. Krusz's full profile in our list of physicians:

John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD

If you see Dr. Krusz, do mention to him the problem you had with getting a call back. He can't address these problems with his office if he doesn't know about them.

I just saw Dr. Roy today, for no reason other than I can't get an appointment with another neurologist in Austin because they're not taking new patients anytime soon...what is it with this town?

I found it odd that when I told her that my abortive medicine (Maxalt) isn't working as well as it used to (and I've said this to her before), this time she seemed to listen to me and prescribed me something different (Zomig nasal spray). It makes me wonder what was different from my complaint four months ago?

Anyway, I've had the same problem you've described in the past... great doctor but busy (or in my case, terrible) staff. It happens. They don't call you back and somehow you get lost in the hundreds of messages they receive. I don't know how it happens, but it does.

If Dr. K is really good, just keep calling.

I've been referred to Dr. Sara Westgate in Austin. If I get in to see her this summer when she gets around to taking new patients, I'll let you know how it turns out.

quote:

Originally posted by nutcrackerHOST:
Here's the link to Dr. Krusz's full profile in our list of physicians:

John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD

If you see Dr. Krusz, do mention to him the problem you had with getting a call back. He can't address these problems with his office if he doesn't know about them.

Oh, I'll FOR Sure mention to Dr. K. about his anwering people/receptionsits... that is IF I see him. I still don't know how much he charges, and if he takes my crappy insurance...

Does anyone know - if it's out network, or - even IN network... will Dr. K let you set up a pymnt plan? I don't hava in issue in paying the flat, consult. rate (if it's out of network), but - I WOULD like to know if his staff does pymnt plans, if he puts me in the hospital.

Is that normally what it's like?

Does he typically put people in the hospital?

Does your ins. cover the stay, providing it's IN network?

Thanks in advance! You guys ALL rock!

Elizbeth

quote:

Originally posted by Christine:
I just saw Dr. Roy today, for no reason other than I can't get an appointment with another neurologist in Austin because they're not taking new patients anytime soon...what is it with this town?

I found it odd that when I told her that my abortive medicine (Maxalt) isn't working as well as it used to (and I've said this to her before), this time she seemed to listen to me and prescribed me something different (Zomig nasal spray). It makes me wonder what was different from my complaint four months ago?

Anyway, I've had the same problem you've described in the past... great doctor but busy (or in my case, terrible) staff. It happens. They don't call you back and somehow you get lost in the hundreds of messages they receive. I don't know how it happens, but it does.

If Dr. K is really good, just keep calling.

I've been referred to Dr. Sara Westgate in Austin. If I get in to see her this summer when she gets around to taking new patients, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks! For sure, please let me know how that doc visit goes! I'd be very much appreciative of that!

Maxalt DOES work on my BAD migraines, but Dr. Roy told me to discontiue Maxalt until I see the doc in Houston... I have Basilar Migraines, and I believe there's a risk of stroke that goes along w/ the two... But, I DO take it when I MUST.

Keep me udated, ok?

Elizabeth