myheadhurts33
05-03-2008, 03:33 PM
New to the boards, so hello! Been having killer migraines with vomiting. Take fioricet and vicodin es for pain, but when I have a major one, go to the ER. Went the other night and the doctor refused to give me narcotics. My husband had peeled me off the bathroom floor, drove me quickly to the er to drop me off and get back to our sleeping kids.....I called him to come back because they would not treat me. He called a neighbor over to watch the kids and came to talk to the doctor, who finally agreed to give them to me and told him that the reason he wouldn't at first was because I was alone at midnight and that is a sign of a drug seeker.....WHATEVER. I am still so distraught over the whole thing. My friend who is a nurse there told me to file a complaint.....wondering if it will even help. Anyone else had this problem and what should I do to avoid it next time? Seriously, I am 33, take about 60 pills a month prescribed from the same doctor, I hate taking meds, but HAVE to. The stress of a hospital migraine is enough, I can't take it if that happens again!!!!!!! Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
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moocowsmum
05-03-2008, 05:58 PM
Hi.
That sounds so bad for you & having to take all the meds too.
Just a thought...Sometimes you can get horrendous migraine, as a side effect of so many pain killers. It's a kind of break through pain? I had cancer and was on major amounts of prescribed narcotics! The migraines I got, as a result of the break through, was appalling.
It's worth asking about preventatives? I'm sure you;ve done that?
I take Inderal once a day. It's a beta blocker. It's wonderful for me & really effective. I get very few attacks now-I was getting multiple attacks.
Maybe this is no help to you, but I wanted you to know that there are things that can help? Keep trying & keep posting. Someone will give you advice.
x
That sounds so bad for you & having to take all the meds too.
Just a thought...Sometimes you can get horrendous migraine, as a side effect of so many pain killers. It's a kind of break through pain? I had cancer and was on major amounts of prescribed narcotics! The migraines I got, as a result of the break through, was appalling.
It's worth asking about preventatives? I'm sure you;ve done that?
I take Inderal once a day. It's a beta blocker. It's wonderful for me & really effective. I get very few attacks now-I was getting multiple attacks.
Maybe this is no help to you, but I wanted you to know that there are things that can help? Keep trying & keep posting. Someone will give you advice.
x
hearts4120
05-03-2008, 06:27 PM
New to the boards, so hello! Been having killer migraines with vomiting. Take fioricet and vicodin es for pain, but when I have a major one, go to the ER. Went the other night and the doctor refused to give me narcotics. My husband had peeled me off the bathroom floor, drove me quickly to the er to drop me off and get back to our sleeping kids.....I called him to come back because they would not treat me. He called a neighbor over to watch the kids and came to talk to the doctor, who finally agreed to give them to me and told him that the reason he wouldn't at first was because I was alone at midnight and that is a sign of a drug seeker.....WHATEVER. I am still so distraught over the whole thing. My friend who is a nurse there told me to file a complaint.....wondering if it will even help. Anyone else had this problem and what should I do to avoid it next time? Seriously, I am 33, take about 60 pills a month prescribed from the same doctor, I hate taking meds, but HAVE to. The stress of a hospital migraine is enough, I can't take it if that happens again!!!!!!! Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
Hello, welcome to the board.
I have had migraines for about 17 years now. I know first hand that the ER is the worst place to be with a migraine, usually very long waits and most of the time the doctors don't or won't treat a migraine properly. I did find an ER here in town that knows how to treat Status Migranious but sometimes the wait is very long. My advice to you is to work closely with your doctor and simply ask them what you should do if you need treatment and their office is closed. My nerologist puts me on home health for intractable migraines.
I did go to a ER one time, the one my nerologist is connected with, and that ER was awful. Before they even examined me they wanted a urine sample, never dawned on me why, I was in horrible pain and my mind just didn't think that way, dawned on me later that they wanted a drug screen. :mad: Then I told them I had this migraine for over four days, and I told them who my nerologist was, they acknowledged knowing him, but went on to ask me what works for me, I told them what my nerologist usually orders at the home health level, and what another ER used once before, the doctor looked right at me and said "we won't be doing all that here"! Say what! So, I ask them to please call me nerologist, his office is only 3 blocks from the hospital, they told me "we dont do that"! So, they start an iv and gave me demerol and something for naseua, ask me 30 min. later how I feel, took the iv out and sent me on my way. My ride (hubby was not even there yet, he was on his way from work,) so I sat outside on the curb in front the hospital! Trying hard to stay awake, head still hurting. That was the worst experience I have ever had with an ER. My nerologist couldn't believe they treated me that way not to mention the fact that they would not call him, he said they call him for things so stupid it doesn't even warrant a phone call and not to call when I requested it was silly.
Yet, many physicans have come a long way in learning/treating migraine patients, how we were treated 20 years ago is even more appauling....
Best of luck.
Lori
Hello, welcome to the board.
I have had migraines for about 17 years now. I know first hand that the ER is the worst place to be with a migraine, usually very long waits and most of the time the doctors don't or won't treat a migraine properly. I did find an ER here in town that knows how to treat Status Migranious but sometimes the wait is very long. My advice to you is to work closely with your doctor and simply ask them what you should do if you need treatment and their office is closed. My nerologist puts me on home health for intractable migraines.
I did go to a ER one time, the one my nerologist is connected with, and that ER was awful. Before they even examined me they wanted a urine sample, never dawned on me why, I was in horrible pain and my mind just didn't think that way, dawned on me later that they wanted a drug screen. :mad: Then I told them I had this migraine for over four days, and I told them who my nerologist was, they acknowledged knowing him, but went on to ask me what works for me, I told them what my nerologist usually orders at the home health level, and what another ER used once before, the doctor looked right at me and said "we won't be doing all that here"! Say what! So, I ask them to please call me nerologist, his office is only 3 blocks from the hospital, they told me "we dont do that"! So, they start an iv and gave me demerol and something for naseua, ask me 30 min. later how I feel, took the iv out and sent me on my way. My ride (hubby was not even there yet, he was on his way from work,) so I sat outside on the curb in front the hospital! Trying hard to stay awake, head still hurting. That was the worst experience I have ever had with an ER. My nerologist couldn't believe they treated me that way not to mention the fact that they would not call him, he said they call him for things so stupid it doesn't even warrant a phone call and not to call when I requested it was silly.
Yet, many physicans have come a long way in learning/treating migraine patients, how we were treated 20 years ago is even more appauling....
Best of luck.
Lori
myheadhurts33
05-06-2008, 07:01 PM
Thanks for the support. I have decided to write a letter to the hospital CEO and alert them of the treatment I received. Also, I am going to have my doctor write something to put in my file at the hospital that I am a patient of his for several years that is definately not a drug addict. I have been feeling pretty good the last two days :-) KNOCK ON WOOD. I am going to the Michigan headache clinic soon, as well. Pain free days to all!!!
MvingForwrd
05-11-2008, 12:46 AM
Hi! I'm new to this board too. This thread caught my attention because I used to go to the ER a LOT for my migraines. I'm very fortunate to have a hospital that sees me quite quickly, as long as I don't go during peak hours.
Anyway, I'm not able to tolerate narcotic injections. Everything they've tried has caused me to vomit all the way home and all day long once I get home. They tried something non-narcotic, Toradol (an anti-inflammatory) mixed with Vistoril (an anti-nausea drug). If your migraines are severe, it may not be strong enough for you, but it's worth a try. It usually works quite well for me. The nice thing about that drug is that many doctors keep it in their office. I now have a new general practitioner who carries the drug, and I can go to her office and have a nurse give me the injection.
As for the hospital refusing to treat you, I'm glad you wrote that letter. IMO they were WAY out of line. I know that when I've gone to the ER, they have no problem giving an injection. It's people who come in asking for prescription pain pills that are the red flag. Being alone is only a valid argument because the patient can't drive home after a narcotic injection. But to say that someone who is alone is a drug seeker . . . that's just wrong.
Kathy
Anyway, I'm not able to tolerate narcotic injections. Everything they've tried has caused me to vomit all the way home and all day long once I get home. They tried something non-narcotic, Toradol (an anti-inflammatory) mixed with Vistoril (an anti-nausea drug). If your migraines are severe, it may not be strong enough for you, but it's worth a try. It usually works quite well for me. The nice thing about that drug is that many doctors keep it in their office. I now have a new general practitioner who carries the drug, and I can go to her office and have a nurse give me the injection.
As for the hospital refusing to treat you, I'm glad you wrote that letter. IMO they were WAY out of line. I know that when I've gone to the ER, they have no problem giving an injection. It's people who come in asking for prescription pain pills that are the red flag. Being alone is only a valid argument because the patient can't drive home after a narcotic injection. But to say that someone who is alone is a drug seeker . . . that's just wrong.
Kathy
alisaaggie
05-11-2008, 09:09 PM
What an appaling issue about the ER...
This week alone, I have been to the ER 4 times for my migraines. I get this steady dull pain at the bottom of the left side of my head. It feels like someone hit me with a baseball bat several hours ago and I'm left with dull throbbing continuous pain.
THANKFULLY, the doctors and nurses take me seriously, but I'm still sitting here in pain. Luckily, I only get this about 1 -2 times a year, but each time = 4 x to the ER till it's knocked out. There's never been a recognizable pattern and I have a job I love and the stress level is no more than most people. Each time I go in I get the usual IV cocktail (morphine, benadryl, toradal, phenegan, demural, etc...I know I'm misspelling all of this) it lessens the pain fo about 10 hours, then I'm back to it all over again. Needless to say, I'm still paying off my medical bills from ER visits one year ago and am trying to not let the stress of these future bills get to me or the 5 days I had to take off of work.
I'm seeing another neuorologists this week (it's been 5 years), but I have no doubt I'll get a clear bill of health (which is good, but leaves me no where). I've done the topomax and other usual drug crud, but because it's only about once a year, no one really listens to me because I don't have an ongoing case.
What a headcase I am... I am at a loss anyone else get really bad ones 1-2 times a year that leads to so many hospital visits???
This week alone, I have been to the ER 4 times for my migraines. I get this steady dull pain at the bottom of the left side of my head. It feels like someone hit me with a baseball bat several hours ago and I'm left with dull throbbing continuous pain.
THANKFULLY, the doctors and nurses take me seriously, but I'm still sitting here in pain. Luckily, I only get this about 1 -2 times a year, but each time = 4 x to the ER till it's knocked out. There's never been a recognizable pattern and I have a job I love and the stress level is no more than most people. Each time I go in I get the usual IV cocktail (morphine, benadryl, toradal, phenegan, demural, etc...I know I'm misspelling all of this) it lessens the pain fo about 10 hours, then I'm back to it all over again. Needless to say, I'm still paying off my medical bills from ER visits one year ago and am trying to not let the stress of these future bills get to me or the 5 days I had to take off of work.
I'm seeing another neuorologists this week (it's been 5 years), but I have no doubt I'll get a clear bill of health (which is good, but leaves me no where). I've done the topomax and other usual drug crud, but because it's only about once a year, no one really listens to me because I don't have an ongoing case.
What a headcase I am... I am at a loss anyone else get really bad ones 1-2 times a year that leads to so many hospital visits???