Migraine

Sorry....didn't know which topic this one would go under...

I have been living overseas for about 7 months. None of the meds I was on at home are available here unless I travel to Singapore to get them. Medication is limited here, as well as expat doctors who are familiar with migraines. I have worked a little with an Indonesian doctor (from work, so it's free for me) and have tried some Indonesian drugs he prescribed, but none have had any effect on me and he doesn't know much about migraines. There is an expat clinic if I go to Jakarta (about an hour away), but it is expensive and our previous experience there hasn't been great.

We experienced similar problems last year living in Indiana, as doctors and meds were too expensive, and we struggled to save our money just to cover doctor and medication expenses for me. We had a deal going with the pharmacy (around the corner from our house at the time) where they would let us buy 1 imitrex pill at a time when I would get a migraine. Here, however, the problem is a huge lack in resources to begin with. The only thing I have found so far is an Indonesian excedrin substitute that works about half of the time. A pack of 4 only costs about 50 cents.

My migraines have actually decreased a little bit since coming here, I think because of a huge reduction in stress since taking this new job. But when they do come, dealing with them here is kind of a nightmare. To add to it, there is not a single person here at my job who experiences migraines, so they try to be sympathetic, but no one, including the doctor, understands any of what I'm going through.

Has anyone else dealt with this kind of situation- living overseas and struggling to find doctors and the right meds? Or any advice for someone like me?

You present an interesting dilemma Javagirl.

I'm pretty sure the only foreign countries that are represented here are Canada, England, Australia and I think New Zealand.

While members in these countries don't have as many choices as members in the US, they still seem to get adequate care.

I hope there is a lurker here who will come out and talk to you because I don't have any idea what to tell you. You may know the answer already and that would be driving to Singapore.

Unfortunately I can't give you much help - the year I lived abroad (half in Paris, half in Montreal) my migraines were well controlled with Topamax, and, since I knew I would be there a limited time, I worked out a deal with my insurance to fill my Topamax for the entire length of my stay.

Your best bet may indeed be to travel to Singapore. Perhaps you could try the clinic in Jakarta first, since it's closer, and if that doesn't help you, you could go to Singapore.