Scooter Chronicles

Yesterday I went with Marcia to a doctor’s appointment. This was for her migraines. She has been getting more and more frustrated with her treatment. This especially stems from the Jefferson University Hospital’s Headache Center. The doctors there seem to be stuck on certain meds. No matter how much Marcia told them that she either didn’t want to use them (some are also used as mood stabilizers for bi-polar patients) or that they didn’t work for her, they kept insisting that those were the meds they would prescribe. Then on top of that they diagnosed her with hormonal migraines, yet won’t treat them with hormone therapy or some other form that would help.

So yesterday she went to the Pennsylvania Headache and Pain Management Center. There is one doctor there, Dr. Farber. And he took to time to listen to everything Marcia said, and even examine things that no other doctor did. His diagnosis is that she has secondary migraines, and gets them from a sleeping disorder, as well as stress, which in turn is part of the sleeping disorder. He said that a pain blocker with steroid can prevent the migraines, and she would only need the med three times a year.

It was great to hear and see someone take a much more broader approach to Marcia’s problems and explore other areas. Either that or just know more then other doctors or not pigeon hole her and meds of choice. Hopefully this treatment will work as well as Dr. Farber believes it will. It will be a relief to know that Marcia will be able to function all the time and not have to worry about the next migraine.