Migraines and Doctors who dont care

[Smiles Are Fake]

Last night I had to go to the ER to get a shot for my migraine, it was horrible. I am a recovering addict of Vicodin and have been clean for 3 weeks.

before last nights migraine episode I had one the other day, so I had to go to the ER again, which my Primary Care Doc told me to do. So Last night the doc was giving me a hard time. Looked up how often I used to go to the ER for pain, ETC.

My trip 4 days ago, I got 200mg of demerol, got the migraine right away, BUT also with Toradol whichs helps migraines too and phenergan for nausea.

Well that helped, didnt have a migraine for 3 days.

Last night I get to the ER, I get asked 150 questions, I get 75mg of demerol and 25mg of nausea meds and he sends me home, I didnt feel comfortable leaving, my migraine was still killing me, he advised me to just go home and lay down, but also during our convo he said 75mg wasnt enough that I should get 100mg, I said id like to start slow bc when It kicks in, it kind of gives me an anxiety attack. So all I got was demerol, Way to make me look lik e adrug addict still. he wouldnt even discuss any  other alternative meds or shots to help me at the time. Why is it people get treated like that?? he told me uve been to the ER a lot for migraines. Yeah well you would be too if you were diagnosed with them at 14yrs old and i cant afford my migraine meds. 9 tabs is 190.00 and i take it anyways bc my primary care put me on cymbalta and ur not supposed to take any migraine meds on it, its DANGEROUS. and i refuse. Im seeing a new doc monday, but what the hell do I do in the meantime if i get a migraine? Nothing over the counter helps, hense the reason i have strong migraine meds. I just felt neglected by one of my favorite doctors last night. it hurts so bad that I cant get the care I need bc I go to the ER for "narcotics". Well WTF else is gonna make it go away? Ive dealt with them my whole life. I know what it takes for them to go away, but you cant force a doc to give u anything. I just feel neglected. I dont even know what to do now if I get another migraine.

[headache123]

I'm sorry to hear how each of you is or has suffered.  There is just no excuse for this in this day of medical miracles.  And,  I do believe a physician's committment is to "Above all else, to do no harm."  And yet, many of us have been harmed emotionally, if not physically by their judgemental and careless additude.

I came down with meningitis & encephalitis in 2003, and was left with a permant migraine from that day forward.  I have tried all forms of migraine medication, to no avail. And, and left with a cocktail of drugs to try  and keep it from 4 - 10 in the pain scale.  Twice during this time I went to an emergency room seeking relief because the pain had gone beyond anything I could bear.  Both times I was treated as a low-life drug seeker.  You can be assured that no matter what the pain level, I will never repeat that experience again.

It is a sad reflection on the ability, and quality, of our medical communtiy when they cannot tell the difference between those people that are ill, and those that are not.  Frankly, it's shameful!

[worried878]

I am not sure how much a trip to the ER costs but I know it has got to be expensive...my brother takes elavil 10 mg each night and he has also suffered with migraines since he was a small child...i remember him vomiting and being in the bed all day due to them when we were little...he swears by the elavil and says he rarely gets one anymore...cheap drug and not habit forming...may be able to replace your cymbalta as well as it is also an anti-depressent and helps u sleep....my doctor prescribes it to me for chronic back pain...good luck

[malenurse57]

I to am a nurse and can identify with the whole stigma thing. I guess they see so many of those seeking just the high that they forget the bigger picture and I am sure that I have probably been guilty of such in the past also.

[ladyboop]

I know your pain. I have the same trouble. I have failed all of the migraine meds, because of panic attacks. That is how I got started on the pain pills. Back in the day, Toradol did not come in pill form. it does now. But it is so hard on the liver. My doctor said you should not be taking it weekly. It also does not work real well by it self. That is why they use pain meds with it. It helps relax you, so the toradol can work. That is what I have been told. I have had alot of Dr. who try to use it alone..
I have not had a migrain in awhile.. Thank the Lord....

    Good luck to you...

           Lady

[Jacqui805]

If I'm hearing what you're saying, in-between the lines so to speak...I think what you're really talking about is your treatment and the whole drug-seeking issue that you feel you're being labeled with.  This is a super sore spot with me.  I am a nurse, and have been suffering in some major pain now for a week and a half and been way too scared to do much about it, for fear of that treatment as well.  

The thing is, as a medical professional, I KNOW they should know better...so it angers and hurts me even more.  I have been traumatized by past experiences, and now am cutting my nose off to spite my face in order to avoid the whole thing.  I am resentful to be in this situation in the first place, and I understand what you're saying...Just wanted you to know.  I'm so so sorry for your pain, and hope we can all find solutions without having to be subjected to the uncompassionate few who are working in the field that is supposed to be there to help provide answers.

[cathy5841]

hi, i feel you on the migraines.  i am 47 and have had them all my life too.  i made many trips to the er for morphine injections.  but, i am happy to say it has been 3 years since i went to er.  i take excedrin migraine.  it works better than any narcotic ever has.  i take it the minute i get the sensation and know one is coming.  in about an hour i can feel it letting go.  i also get in as hot of water as i can stnd and soak up to my kneck to relax those shoulder and kneck muscles.  just a though.

[kittykat58]

I had migraines all my life -- from when I was 6 -- and went through all the same things you are talking about with ERs, etc. over the span of my life, I found nothing really worked that well...yeah, narcs hit it for a bit but the headache would come back, and so now I just go to bed, put an ice pack on my neck, take tylenol, and stay in the dark. if I can get to sleep it usually breaks.

I find too, if there are things I HAVE to do (can't do the lie-down thing), it usually goes away on its own eventually. so whether I lie down or keep going, the headache breaks within 2-3 days. they're awful, but the trouble with narcs is they usually cause a "rebound" headache and prolongue it.

other good news -- migraines dissipate over life -- you get less and less of them as you get older, so you have something to look forward to! I might only get one every couple of years now. I think there must be a hormonal component, so if you are using medications with hormones in them and have a history of migraines, you may want to re-think those meds.

[malenurse57]

Just a thought but talk to your Dr about a drug called neurontin or one similar. In some studies it was found that migraine were a tupe of siezure and these meds helped if taken on a daily basis. I to have migraines but not often anymore.
God bless

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

Do you not have insurance for Imitrex, I'm guessing that is what you are talking about the 9 pills for $190??? I use the Imitrex when I have a bad migraine and Midrin in between which has not opiates in it. It's not as expensive as Imitrex. I think 60 of the caplets are $42 and it works for me and my son. I'm 41 and had sever migraines since I was 14. The toradol works well if it gets to that point. Morphine and demeral just cause you to have a rebound migraine that's why it comes back and why you having an addiction should never get these two drugs/shots they are opiates.
Also, your doctor should be able to get samples of Imitrex pills, nasal spray, and injections to give you for free if you have no insurance. They have them and they are given free to the doctors to give out. I would ask. The injection is easy to give and almost painless, it will take away your migrain in a few minutes with nausea.

[joann1975]

smiles...I am really sorry to hear about your experience. my personal thoughts are could you consider is the cymbalta worth being on if you can't take your migraine meds? is it the maxalt you are talking about that is so expensive? i take that and i have good rx ins and it is still expensive for me...9 pills $50... but my dr gives me samples of it b/c he understands the financial burden also he has recently put me on a med to prevent them topamax...just started it 3 days ago. i am sure you know all these drugs as long as you have been suffering from them but i know when we are upset we don't always think straight and forget stuff. also i am worried that you are working yourself up and getting upset over it and going to get another one....gotta relax hun. (i know easier said than done) hope you have a great weekend and that it is migraine free! joann