I've never gone to the ER for migraine.
Once, while in the neurologist's waiting room, I witnessed something that just about broke my heart.
An older woman came in holding her head and crying in agony. She told the receptionist that she had a crushing migraine and was all out of meds. She wanted a new prescription.
She was very matter-of-factly informed that without an appointment, this was not possible. She was told to drive to the ER because there was nothing they could do for her. It was so cold.
I had big troubles of my own that day, but it haunts me still that I did not speak up on her behalf.
Morally and ethically, a patient in pain should be treated in the best way possible. The problem is that so many people (not necessarily headache patients) use the ER like a primary care office, resulting in an overburdened system. Burnout rate of these professionals is very high and the average doc may last about 5 years or less in an ER before a career switch.
In this system, a headache sufferer tends to be pushed to the bottom of the list and waits to be seen..the longer the wait, the worse the headache and the less chance that treatment will work.
Having said that..try an urgent care center. They tend to be less swamped and don't get the trauma cases. They are perfectly capable of managing a migraine with IV hydration and medications.
I live in Outer Mongolia Alabama and I have NEVER had an issue having my migraine pain addressed at the ER. I PITY the fool who gets in between me and having my pain addressed, in fact. And its not as though this is the only place in which I've had to have my needs addressed. I've been to ER's in other states as well, I'm sure.
In fact, physician's offices will no longer address critical care pain issues, they refer you to the ER. Most ER's I've seen have a patient's bill of rights on the wall that TELLS you that its ok to have your pain addressed. I've just never had an issue with this. Perhaps I've been fortunate.
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I don't go to the ER anymore, because of my insurance denying the claim in the past. Denied for "non- emergency." I had to sit through a class on "What is an emergency, and what is not," then the insurance would pay as a "one time thing." I was working in a hospital at the time, and a co-worker wheeled me down to ER in a wheelchair. I couldn't even walk. I was also having an anxiety attack which was scaring me more!
So.....I usually go to an Urgent care if I really am suffering and need something more than what my medication can do for me.
However, there have been times, I really should have went, but just didn't have the strength to get up and go. It's really hard to make the decision, but I go by the severity of how long my head has hurt and not gotten releif.
Denise