Migraine

i haven't been on much lately but still here with migraines. imitrex injections have been working for the most part. except for this dozie of a migraine. my husband was leaving for a business trip today so i knew i had to get better to take care of my one year old son for the next five days.

i took aleve, phenegren, imitex nothing helped.
so off we went to the urgent care clinic. its right near my house and usually the dr. there is very nice and gives me demerol and sends me on my way.

well he was off today. so the nurse comes out and explains to us that the dr. there does not give narcotics under any circumstance. so i said, ok thats fine, what about toradol? (i didn't know if that was a narcotic?)she comes back and says no injections. (i thought that was a little strange) we go into the exam room. the dr. comes in the room (lights are dim) and says "whats the problem" as he is reading through my chart. i said i have a migraine.

he says "the nurse told you i don't give out narcotics so why are you still here?" (can you believe that!!!!!!!!!!!) i was a little taken back by his rudeness. i said "well i thought maybe there is something else i can take besides a narcotic."

he said "is this one of the worst migraines that you have ever had?" i said yes. "well then you should be in the ER for a CT scan." at this point there are tears pouring down my face from the pain and i can see where this is going. no where. i said "i don't need a CT i know its just a ususual migraine." i told him what medication i took for it and he stood up and said "well then there is nothing else i can do for you, you tried them all!"

i was like, "why are you so mad and defensive? did i do something wrong?" he said, "i won't sit here while you question my medical practices!" i said "there is got to be something else that you can give me." he gets even madder and gets up to leave!!!!! im like "wait a second what about a steroid pack?" he turns around and says "yes i can give you that."

i said "SEE there is something besides narcotics."
i got into the car and started sobbing. i just cannot believe how i was treated. i understand that he doesn't want to give out drugs to people who are drug seeking but i asked for other options.

im going to write a letter to his boss and the AMA. i will not be treated like this. apprently he needs an education in migraines.
someone please cheer me up, tell me something positive.

i told my husband in the car that this kind of experience makes me want to contemplate suicide. im not going to but just feels so hopeless ya know?

thanks for listening. you guys are the best.
JJ

I'm right there with ya. My docs office has all but said they think I am drug seeking. I agree that you should write a letter to the clinic director as well as file a complaint with the AMA and your state licensing board. His job as a doctor is to HELP you, PERIOD. If he can't or won't then it is his responsibility to find someone who will. I would be beyond MAD and well into livid if I was you. Don't be hopless, get mad and get them EDUCATED. I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience.

i forgot to add that i told him that i couldn't see out of my right eye and i was having trouble talking. this never happens. he didn't even do any kind of exam! didn't even look at my eye. unbeleivable.

Awww JJ sweetie, I'm so sorry you had to go through that! It's good that you're writing to the AMA and his boss and he sure does need to get an education in migraine. Not only that, he has no business being angry and rude and snippy with you when you're in pain - that's just plain unprofessional and mean!

You really stood up for yourself and gave it right back to him, though! You should be proud of yourself.

Have you ever looked at the letters Teri has for using in the ER - saying you're not a drug seeker, etc? It might be good to get one for next time. You can find them on Teri's site here.

I sure hope you feel better!

- Megs

That doctor sounds like a real piece of work, JJ.

More importantly- how are you feeling NOW? Has the steroid pack helped at all? Are you still in that much pain? 'Cause right now, that's the important thing. I know you want to scream and yell and do something to make that doctor understand- but that won't help you right now, will it?

Take care of YOU first. If you want, we can all help you write a letter once you're feeling better and in a better space. Sounds like someone needs migraine education. But it's almost impossible to educate someone if you're in that much pain.

Take a deep breath. You have family here for you, okay?


Gentle hugs,

Hey JJ, are you still with me?

Just wanted to say that people will be around here for a few hours- until it gets really really late at night, and you know that we're here to support each other. So, if you need us, we're here, okay?

Also, I know that things may be really big and scary and too much to handle, there are people who you can talk to in real life. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Someone trained in making things "alright" will be there to help you.

In addition, if you're still in that much pain, perhaps the ER is the place to go. You'll have access to more advanced medical treatment than can be done at home with a steroid pack.

I hope you're feeling better. Just keep that number handy, should you feel overwhelmed, or frustrated to the extent of utter desperation.
Other folks should be in and out and around the forums in the next couple of hours. We're here to give support, and if there's anything we can do to make things better, just holler.

I'm so sorry, JJ.

You deserved a doctor with compassion, who was willing to help instead of hinder. With the speech and vision difficulties, the ER might have been a better place to go, maybe.

Perhaps a seven-smoosh salute would be cheery, huh?

I'm proud of the way you stood up to the doctor. I agree, a letter is in order. If you want, post it here and we can give you hints or tell you how great it is.

Take care.

JJ,

You sound like you could really use a hug!

I'm sorry you had such a rotten experience! I'm sure you were already feeling horrible--you certainly didn't need that doctor making you feel even worse!!

Forgive me for forgetting, but do you see a neurologist or headache specialist for your migraine care? I know that my headache specialist will often prescribe things like decadron or steriod packs over the phone if I let him know I'm having a really bad run...Just a thought...

Unfortunately, despite the terrific care of my specialist, I still sometimes end up at the ER (every few months). For me, this happens if I've been vomiting with migraine for several days and I know that I'm completely unable to keep down my preventives...Once I'm that far gone, I need to get IV fluids and meds. Have you seen our information about Status Migrainous?

Please don't give up! There are so many treatment options for migraine sufferers today! And don't be afraid to speak up and ask for help when you really need it!!

Please check back in and let us know how you're feeling now...



jenny

Holly,

I was thinking about your post, too:

quote:

I'm right there with ya. My docs office has all but said they think I am drug seeking. I agree that you should write a letter to the clinic director as well as file a complaint with the AMA and your state licensing board. His job as a doctor is to HELP you, PERIOD. If he can't or won't then it is his responsibility to find someone who will. I would be beyond MAD and well into livid if I was you. Don't be hopless, get mad and get them EDUCATED. I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience.

I'd say it's time to fire that doctor! Check out our list of recommended specialistsHERE and move on!

jenny

Jennifer, this is for AFTER your migraine is under control, all right? I agree with Jamie that your priority needs to be ending the migraine and getting through postdrome. There's plenty of time for letters later.

Check on your State of Florida web site for something like a "State Board of Healing Arts," "physician licensing," or something related to that. A properly filed complaint to that board is likely to have the most impact.

Take care of yourself and keep us posted on how you are doing. There will be people on and off the forum all day, and all of them are here for you!

I'm hoping today is a much better day and that the steroid pack has started working.

I think the doctor was a coward for sending the nurse in to say he wouldn't give you a Toradol injection.

Is there another Urgent Care nearby? It might be worth trying them out.

While you're sending letters, consider dropping by when you're feeling better and tell the understanding, helpful doctor how horribly the other doctor treated you. If the nasty doctor is violating clinic policy, he might get a talking-to by the clinic director. Or the helpful doctor might be able to put a note in your chart that you're not drug-seeking and are only there when you've tried everything you have on hand and things are out of control.

I'm so sorry your were treated so horribly. Please do let us know how you're feeling today.

Jamie's right about talking to someone about desperate feelings and thinking about harming yourself. Those kinds of thoughts are a warning signal that something dangerous is going on. It's normal to feel desperate, especially when you can't find relief, but feelings like this are dangerous.

Gretchen in Mississippi

JJ,

I know you said you will be taking care of your son by yourself this weekend I assume since DH is on a business trip. So we understand if you don't have much time to get to a computer and write that much to us right now.

Can you please just come on and let us know you are ok? Please?

I'm with everyone else. Let's get you feeling good, then we can worry about how that doctor treated you later. You are first! OK?

I'm throwing you down some smiles, hugs and love!!!!

oh, and if they are going all the way to Florida I might need some shades too...

Let us know you are ok!

JJ - I had an urgent care experience that went kind of like that except I only made it to the receptionist telling me that they didn't have anything that could help me. I left in tears and ended up in the ER with no where else to do. I am so proud of you for demanding the help that you needed and deserved. Sorry that you were treated that way though.

Hope that you are feeling better. When you are you can make the complaints like the others have said.

Take care of yourself.

Good morning Jennifer!

I hope you’re feeling much, much better this morning. Did your steroid pack work? Please let us know how you're doing, k?

I’m sending you lots of hugs and flowers from Virginia!



Once you're feeling up to it then it will be time to let that doc's supervisor know how terribly you were treated.

Please keep us posted? All my best to you