Welcome to the February 2012 Headache and Migraine Disease Blog Carnival
The Headache & Migraine Disease Blog Carnival has been created to provide both headache patients and people who blog about headaches with opportunities to share ideas on topics of particular interest and importance to us. To read all the wonderful entries this month, hope on over to Somebody Heal Me.
February's theme is "Tales from the Trenches: Experiences (good and bad) on the Road to Finding the Right Migraine Doctor." Since the day I fell, I've seen at least six different doctors in Massachusetts including the emergency room doctor, two doctors in Vermont (who were purportedly "headache specialists") fourteen doctors and a true Migraine specialist in New York. That total comes to 22, and does not include all the nurse practitioners I've seen. I've had only a few appointments that turned out to be horror stories, the majority of them were fine. Seeing as many doctors as I have, there are only a few visits that jump out at me now.
I think one of the most memorable doctor's appointments I've had to date would be with the current neurologist I see. I could talk about the awful visit with the "headache specialist" I had when we first relocated here, instead, I'm going to use positive energy to discuss the first visit with the doctor I'll call "Dr. Who."
"Dr. Who" had a thriving neurology/pain practice when I first saw him ten years ago. I scheduled my first appointment and was told to expect a new patient packet in the mail. I was asked to complete it and bring it with me to my first appointment, which I did. When I arrived for my appointment at the scheduled time, the office appeared to be fairly busy. The staff seemed nice enough and I was given yet more paper work to fill out. There were a few other patients in the waiting room; some with canes, others with crutches, there were even patients in wheel chairs.
When I was called into the exam room, I only had to wait a few minutes. In walked "Dr. Who" a very pleasant man with a thick European accent. He proceeded with his exam and asked me plenty of questions regarding my fall and headache history before it. That took some time. He then proceeded with his exam, which I must say was quite extensive. When he was done, he told me to meet him in his office and we would have a talk. One I'll never forget.
In addition to post-concussion syndrome, "Dr. Who" said I had Migraine and fibromyalgia. He could see my situation was very "desperate" (his exact words) and would help me to the best of his ability. During the ten years I've been seeing him; I've seen neurosurgeons, had a cervical spine fusion and visited other Migraine specialists with his blessing. He also helped diagnose me with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and has entertained almost every suggestion I've brought to him.
He validated me and my head. He understood what I was and continue to go through and knows how to help. I can't say that about every doctor I've seen.
Thanks for reading and feel well,


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