Frustrated with docs and questions about pain meds

Hi everyone,

       I have to admit I am deeling quite desperate right now. I am trying to get an appointment at Diamond but I have a bill that needs to be paid before the doctor will see me again.

        In the meantime my family doctor has essentially dumped me - she does not feel comfortable prescribing meds any more.

        I am in the process of trying chiropratic tx from  man with advanced neorologic training. He referred me to a doctor who was supposed to help with the medical managment of the drugs untill the chiro tx helped. This new doctor has gone from saying it was no proablem to write out scripts for me as long as the meds help to I should find another doctor to help me with this problem.

        I do understand the doctor's reluctance to write the scripts - they are a big cocktail of narcotics. I have tried many other drugs Over the years and this was a combo the local ER docs came up with that works.

       In all honesty I would prefer not to take them. I do understand the rebound issue and the tolerance that you can build to these drugs. Yet without them I am truly non-functional. I have a 4 yr old and 16 yr old children and since I have been taking the narcotics I have been able to do many more normal everyday things. The headaches also seem to have decreased some in intensity and do not seek to last as long ( before I would be out of commission for three days)

       I live in a smal town and all the local neorologists will not take me as a patient once they hear I have been to Diamond - they feel I am too complicated.The new doctor suggested trying morphine 15 mg instead of the dilaudid injections. I think I feel worse from the morphine and at this point I have no idea what to do. I know I need to find a family doctor that will work with me and I don't want to go through withdral.

      If anyone has any suggestions I would really appreciate it. I am so frustrated with this whole thing and I am very tired of being treated like a drug addict. All I want tis to be an active part of my family's life.

Thanks for listening

          Somedayishere

 

Hi somedayishere,

I am so sorry to hear that life is still so tough for you! You are talking a lot about what you are taking to abort (take away attacks), but before I go into that, what are you taking to prevent the attacks?? It sounds like your preventative is not doing it's job properly!!!

What about the triptans? Have you tried Maxalt or Imitrex? Unfortunately you may have reached a situation whereby your headaches are much worse because of the narcotic meds you are driven to take because of the pain, and may now be in a vicious circle so to get away from these type of meds can only be good if you can!

What about anti-inflammatory's such as ibuprofen and diclofenac. But although I may make these suggestions, these drugs may not suit you, your Doctor must decide that! But first of all you need to sort out a better preventative which should help prevent the attacks in the first place and hopefully help reduce the need for the abortive meds!!

Hope this helps, take care

Ann

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Co-Moderator of the Migraine/Headache Forum

thank you all for your replies,
Yes I did try cranialsacral tx and they did seem to help as far as improving my physical ability , yet they did not really impact the frequency or duration of the migraines.

My preventative is verapamil and I just recently tried to go up on the dose. However I have 90/60 blood pressure as normal and the verapimal and many of the other frugs make my blood pressure drop too low and I am dizzzy and close to passing out,I do agreee that it needs to be changed and I also have learned that the quicker I take the abortives the better I do.

I have tried all the triptans. Imitrex gives me chest pain and the maxalt was helpful for a while and then it actually seemed to make the pain worse. I have had trouble with some of the anti inflamatory meds as they give me gastritis in my stomach. I ended up back at the Er tonight and they gave me morphine which did nothing so they ended up giving me a dose of dilaudid.

And I do worry about the whole viscious cycle thing too. Thanks for your input. If anyonne has had a good experience with a certain preventative I would apprecciate hearing about a good experience.

Thanks Again for your support!

Somedayishere

Hey Somedayishere,

I'm right there with you regarding the low blood pressure issue.  I'm a 90/60 girl myself.  I have been through ALL the preventative medications used to deter migraine attacks, and none of them have ever worked for me.  Over the years, the frequency of my migraine attacks has increased astronomically.  I'm most subseptible to weather changes.  Spring and Summer are miserable for me.  I have the same problems with meds.  I've seen so many doctors and specialists, nobody wants to be responsible for writing script for the medication I need to handle the migraines, and to stay comfortable with my chronic pain problems. 

Living in a small town is hard.  In my town, there is a centralized database system, which all medical facilities have access.  I see several doctors for different problems, but if I get pain meds for specific problems, it's like the end of the world if I seek treatment for some other problem.

I can only function if I can take narcotic medications on a regular basis.  I've had a problem with internal bleeding, so I can't take NSAIDS anymore.  My stomach is all torn up, due to having a gastric bypass and dumping so many meds into such a tiny location.  I recently just spent four days in the hospital for internal bleeding.  They kept me on Dilaudid for the pain, but they couldn't tell where the bleeding was coming from, so they sent me home with some Percocet.  None of my doctors will prescribe my regular pain meds now until I see the Gastroenterologist again.  That appointment is two weeks away.

I think I'm going to switch back to my old Primary Care Physician.  I have been going to a clinic for a couple of years, but now that I'm on SS Disablility, I can switch back to the doctor I had from the time I was 12.  I know him and he knows me, so I think it will be easier to deal with him, instead of the doctors de'jour.

I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Leigh Ann

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Basic info:

• On Disablility for: Chronic Migraines, serious Back and Knee problems (will need surgery eventually), moderate Depression, Anxiety/Panic disorder, TMJ 
• Divorced, 42, no children
• Surgeries: Gastric Bypass, Gallbladder Removed (followed by a week in the hospital for a Blood Clot), Kidney Stone Removed, Broken Ankle, Major Dental work(four molars pulled, multiple cavities, root canals) 
• Current Meds: Lexapro, Klonopin, Wellbutrin, Migranol, Trazadone, Buspar, Nexium, Skelaxin,  Phenergan, Chantix,  Iron Pills

 

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                                             - Jimmy Buffett