Migraine

What a day this has been! Last night my dear husband and I had a long discussion over my whole migraine treatment, primary doc, and new neuro. and I told him all about this board and your help. We decided it was time to call Diamond headache clinic.

I went to my primary this am, got a prescription for a albuteral inhaler in case I have problems and she second Diamond before I finished my sentence.

I came home, called my insurance, called Diamond and I have an appt with Dr Nissan May 1. There is no feeling like hope is there?

Thank you all again, have a blessed weekend!
lisa

Lisa,

That is awesome, awesome news!

Glad to hear it!!!!!

You just made my day!

Lisa,

I am coming in on this thread a little late, but I think you made an awesome choice to "fire his sorry butt" and find yourself a Migraine Specialist!

Good for you Awesome News!! Let us know how it goes,

Dar

Hooray!

Lisa,

Fantastic news! I can't wait to hear all about it. I'm glad you got in so soon!

All my best,

I think you're doing the right thing, and I hope the experts at Diamond will be able to give you the help you deserve.

Diana

Excellent news.

Please let us know how your appointment goes!

quote:

Originally posted by Lisa EBK:
What a day this has been! Last night my dear husband and I had a long discussion over my whole migraine treatment, primary doc, and new neuro. and I told him all about this board and your help. We decided it was time to call Diamond headache clinic.

I went to my primary this am, got a prescription for a albuteral inhaler in case I have problems and she second Diamond before I finished my sentence.

I came home, called my insurance, called Diamond and I have an appt with Dr Nissan May 1. There is no feeling like hope is there?

Thank you all again, have a blessed weekend!
lisa

I'm glad you jumped ship. I just started at Diamond two months ago, and I have never been so glad in my life. I'm in year 9 of this disease and I'm more hopeful than I've ever been before.

Plus, their inpatient unit is really nice, relaxed, good atmosphere, etc. so if you end up inpatient I think you'll have a good experience.

Dr. Nissan did rounds with me one morning, so I don't have a lot of impressions except that he was pleasant - he was really just following my doctor's treatment plan. I see Dr. Urban and I adore him - he's extremely competent, treats me like a grownup, and is very compassionate. One morning when I was in the hospital I got a little discouraged during rounds and got teary. I was expecting to be pathologized about it. Instead, he got very serious and said, "Are you sad? What is making you sad? We need to talk about that before I go." Then he patted my hand in the nicest way and talked briefly. Never seen bedside manner like that in my whole illness history! And I have had about 10 neurologist.

I'm so glad you trusted your judgment and jumped. It was NOT too early. Some doctors really do have only one or two treatment approaches!

Lynne

Lynne,

When you email Teri with your recommendation, make sure you put this information in it, ok?

Lisa, how did your appointment yesterday go?

Hi! Finally getting here to let you know as my husband was driving up Lake Shore Drive there were a few small sailboats and I just knew my "jumping ship" question had been answered and I wasn't even at the clinic yet. It was just a beautiful day.

My appt with Dr Nissan went well. Besides a very long wait I was very pleased. The staff was great and he was attentive and really took interest in my three decades of migraines, previous treatments etc. Really encouraged me to stay on the Topamax, work back up to 100mg once a day in the evening.

He did not feel the coughing/tightness in my chest was related to the Topamax but was open to swithing me to another anticonvulsant if I continued to have problems. So that did not really solve my problem which I am still having but I can make it till my follow up next month.

He also gave me some samples for Migranal which I have not had to use yet. So although my miracles I definately felt a better connection with him and feel I was heard. Next visit school will be out and I will bring my sons and maybe we will hit Lincoln Park Zoo or a museum afterwards. Gotta make those Chicago trips worthwhile!

thanks again for all your help in talking this out!
blessings,
lisa

Glad to hear you had a good appointment and were able to address your Topamax issues.

I'm also happy to hear your doctor is not against switching you, if the topamax continues to be a problem.

Congratulations on a good physician visit!

So glad to hear you had a good visit, and that you felt heard and were given options. Sounds like you were treated like a partner, not a patient. I think that's a good sign.

Clinic-wise (since I go to Diamond also), you should know that the waits aren't always that long. Because they're so flexible, sometimes they are working in somebody who's flying in from several states away and needs to be hospitalized right then, or something. Other times you'll actually be taken in early, so be prepared!

I really encourage you to use the nurse and P.A. phone call system that they have in place. It's wonderful. They get back to you the same day, always, and since they're used to working with patients who live far away, they're really good about assessing the situation over the phone if possible, or telling you to come back sooner if necessary.

The most important thing, as you know, is whether or not you trust your doctor, and it sounds like you made a good first connection. I'm so glad for you. Like I said, I've been through a lot of neurologists and have finally learned that I should have always trusted my gut feelings and fled at light-speed if I was being minimized or ignored! Live and learn ...

Keep us posted. And really, don't be afraid to push the timeline and call the P.A. or the doctor during his calling hours if you start to think you just don't want to stick this plan out. You'll get a good response, I bet.

Take good care,

Lynne

thank you Lynne, and always everyone, for the encouraging words. I had a migraine last evening that did not respond to the imitrex, was nervous about taking newly prescribed migranal for the first time right before bed. some what better this am but just got my sons on the bus and going back to bed.

I had a day yesterday where I felt so "Topamaxed" all day long. Nausea, numbness, tingling, "off" and then last evening I end up with a migraine. I am struggling with dealing with this even though I have had migraines for 30 yrs but never this frequent. They are dominating my life.

Are there any links to dealing with chronic disorders mentally? I really feel that's where my battle field is now. (in my brain physically and mentally) I am a Christian and am thinking of seeing a Christian counselor. The bad days are so blue, the good days are wonderful but then I just fall into that hole again.

thank you all again for here,
lisa