Many of you know that my wife Marcia suffers from frequent migraines. Over the last year or so, they have become even more frequent. Also, most of the doctors she has seen lately have not been able to or just won’t prescribe things that Marcia knows works. To the doctors’ credit, it could be an addictive drug.
Marcia had a latest round of issues today. She has another migraine coming on, and she also had an appointment with a pain management specialist, a doctor who strictly deals with patients with chronic pain. He quickly told her that her problems were too complex (her migraines are partially triggered hormonally and possibly tied to TMJ), and gave her a phone number to a place that he said would provide a team of physicians that would work on her problem. She wasn’t happy with this, since one of the two offices he mentioned is an hour and a half drive away. She called the closer of the two places, and they told her that they wouldn’t see her, that someone with her pain issues would be sent to a pain management specialist. Can you say vicious circle?
So Marcia quickly made an appointment with her general doctor (primary care physician) and she suggested that Marcia get admitted to the hospital where she actually could get a group of specialists to work on her pain needs, not only medication, but suggest procedures that could reduce the pain. Marcia should be receiving the call later this afternoon or early evening that they are ready for her. She is nervous about being away from Nigel, and will miss him dearly, but she is also looking forward to making steps in the right direction. She has already seen an allergist a couple of weeks ago who wanted her to get more tests, and she has an appointment in a couple of weeks with a specialist about her TMJ. So Marcia has already been trying to go in the right direction, but has been dealing with chronic pain while waiting for these appointments and test to happen.
UPDATE: Marcia will actually be admitted on Friday morning now. They were full in the area where she will be, but will have a few releases tomorrow morning.
September 20th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Scott, tell Marcia we will keep her in our thoughts!!! We hope she gets some relief (long term).
John & Kathleen
September 21st, 2007 at 8:31 am
Uncle Len and I wish Marcia well to find relief from her migraine pain. We have both had a few migraine type headaches and they were very unpleasant experiences. I can’t imagine having then as a chronic condition. I hope the doctors find a way to rid Marcia of the migraines. All our love, Aunt Mary
September 21st, 2007 at 11:12 am
Tell her im sorry i didnt get a hold of her. Tell her i hope they figure it out so she can get some relief and all is good with the baby i was suppost to call her but i there was answer. Im still going every 2 weeks and my blood pressure was normal. I will let her no if anything changes.
September 23rd, 2007 at 5:54 am
Slightly off topic: I’m glad that the medical community in the last 20 years or so has decided that pain, as a separate issue from the illness or disease, is worthy of being treated seriously.
My best to Marcia.