Monday, February 13, 2012

New Doctors

Ok sooooo, I saw a new neurologist, Dr Merkey, and I took the big step to see a psychiatrist. I was avoiding the second one for a long. Since depression and migraines are comorbid, meaning that they are interrelated I was hoping the neurologist/headache specialist I saw would alleviate some of my pain and in turn some of the depression would go away. He did give me antidepression meds at the same time though.


If you have read through my previous shareposts you know that I have not had the best of luck with neurologists. I was extremely hopeful for Dr. Couch. I looked him up and found out he was a headache specialist/neurologist. I had to wait 6 months to get an appointment. He was late over an hour to see me on my first appointment but spent a lot of time trying to explain things (more for my husbands sake than mine).


Anyway, I soon found out the bad side of a headache specialist. He is away from the office all the time. He is only in the office on Mondays and Wednesdays. He speaks at and attends conferences many times during the year. That being said, I would like to think he would be on the cutting edge of a migraine treatment plan. But I can't believe that while an acceptable preventative treatment plan is being sought migraineurs suffer needlessly. Dr. Couch tried hard to get me a preventative plan that worked and triptans that worked but when the triptans didn't work, the only answer from him was I don't want to give you narcotics. I didn't ask for them, I ask for something to take the pain away.


Anyway, I saw this new neurologist a couple weeks ago. He changed up my preventative meds. Yeah, that was it. When I had me first BAD migraine this week, I called his office and asked what he would like me to do when the triptans don't work (had the migraine for two days and bedridden) His answer, (this by the way was after I had waited all day for a call back from his office, didn't get one so I called them back) He said to go to my primary care doctor and see if they could give me an IV of compazine and maybe benadryl. (I have gotten that in ER, doesn't work then they add the dilaudid.)


I was frustrated because they waited all day so if my primary care doctor was busy this was not going to make them happy, second way to pass the buck and I never heard of a neurologist doing that, and third, I really try hard to stay out of the ER but if it sounds like if I stay with this neurologist I may end up there a lot. What I am wondering is this, this is the third neurologist who does not have a treatment plan that includes rescue meds. Is this common practice or is my name on some list since I keep changing doctors trying to find one who work with me and communicate with me and understand my needs? If anyone has any ideas or insights I would love to hear them. 


P.S. For all of you taking Ultram/Tramadol, my new neurologist and psychiatrist both said DON'T take them if you are on antideppressants!!!!! Highly likely to cause seizures. My old primary care doctor who insisted I was addicted to one drug gave me tramadol knowing I was on an antideppressant!Surprised Yeah, I know unbelievable right!!! OK, time to go.....I have rambled enough. Please let me know what you think! Still confused in Oklahoma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa

10/11/09 1:33pm

I am so sorry to hear what you have been going through. Generally the triptans (Relpax followed by Frova) work for me, but when I've reached my maximum dosage of those, my prescribed rescue of Norgesic (Orphenadrine Citrate with Aspirin and Caffeine) taken with Vistaril (for the nausea) works amazingly well. Maybe you could ask your doc if a combination med like this would be appropriate for you.

 

I've also experienced problems with Tramadol when taken too close to the Triptans--seratonin syndrome--scary. I don't bother with it any more.

 

Good luck to you.

 

 

10/11/09 2:29pm

Thanks Melanie,

    The only triptan that works some of the time is treximet, but I get more headaches per month. It always takes 2 doses to work so that means I can only have 4 migraines a month. I have 4 a week. Anyway, I would love to work with a doctor who would include a rescue medication in a treatment plan. I really need to ask at the first appoitment exactly what their plan is so I am not surprised when it happens. Live and Learn! I think I am running out of neurologists to try who are on my insurance plan!!! Isn't that my luck!

Sucks!

 

Lisa

10/11/09 5:45pm

Hi, Lisa,

 

I really hate to see that you're still going through such a tough time. Let's see if I can give you any information that can lead to help...

 

You said, "I soon found out the bad side of a headache specialist." Not really. You found out the bad side of Dr. Couch maybe, but being in the office only two days a week is not common among Migraine specialists.

 

It's very important to realize that neurologists aren't necessarily Migraine specialists. Thinking they're one in the same has slowed down many of us in our search for help and better care. Take a look at the article Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? If you need help finding a Migraine specialist, check our listing of Patient Recommended Migraine and Headache Specialists. I looked for information on Dr. Merkey, and nothing I found indicates that he's a Migraine specialist.

 

I fully understand your frustration with not getting more help from Dr. Merkey. Referring you back to your primary is unlikely to be very helpul. Most primary docs don't keep many injectable medications in their offices.

 

For the record, I totally agree with you that we need to have rescue options set in advance. Actually, that's a question that I recommend asking ANY new doctor at the very first appointment, and to me, it's a deal breaker. If a doctor isn't going to put a plan in place for me when I need help with a Migraine that doesn't respond to my regular medications (and I mean during office hours, after hours, evenings and weekends -- any time), then he's not going to be my doctor. It's that simple. Take a look at the Migraineur's Guide To a Successful Doctor's Appointment for more information.

 

As for the inssue of tramadol and antidepressants, most Migraine specialists do not agree with what you were told. I take an antidepressant daily, both for depression and for Migraine prevention, AND I have a standing prescription for tramadol for breakthrough arthritis pain. Also, the prescribing information for these medications do NOT say that they shouldn't be used together. It says that patients should be made aware of the symptoms that could indicate problems and report them to their doctors immediately. The same thing applies to triptans such as Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, etc. You can find more on that in Antidepressants, Triptans, and Serotonin Syndrome.

 

I hope some of this helps.

 

Please keep us posted?

Teri

10/15/09 7:27pm

Lisa, Terri had some great advice, and hopefully the links have even more info. I just want to offer support and empathy as I have been there with doctors who don't want to prescribe pain medication for one reason or another and would rather see you go to the emergency room. I had the worst reaction ever on the dilatod (sp?) patch when a neurologist prescribed it to me for post emergency room pain--it caused such a severe anxiety attack I needed to see a psychiatrist ( on Christmas Day of all days!) - thank God my dad is a social worker and his employer was available to see me in crisis. I have used tramadol for pain and am on wellbutrin - (previously was on zoloft/seratraline) and have not been warned by either the neurologist or pharmacist about drug interactions. Two doses of tramadol did nothing for me last night and I needed to resort to a dose of hydrocodone, which eventually resolved the pain, but unfortunately- I was unable to work today. I so sympathize with you for your inability to cope with the ongoing incapicitation of migraines and the seemingly lack of true understanding of doctors (and employers) in dealing with this. Hope things get better for you soon.

 

 

10/15/09 8:18pm

I too agree with Teri's information.  I'm on Wellbutrin which is prescribed by my psychiatrist, who is extremely well-versed on anti-depressants, side effects, etc.  He always knows what my neurologist is prescribing (and vice-versa).  I've been on both Ultram and Tramadol during this time and when I've tried other anit-depressants and have never been told they shouldn't be taken together.  I don't get how neurologists can have totally different information when, I assume, they can all read the same research.

12/ 4/09 2:18pm

To everyone who replied to my post, thank you very much. I think there was a lot of good information. I did find another neurologist who I was able to see relatively quickly and my family doctor is making sure my pain management is well controlled. It looks like I might have an autoimmune disease to go along with everything else....they took so much blood last week all my veins disappeared deep inside and I was a little woozy!! I hope everyone has a great holiday season without migraine pain!!

 

Lisa in Oklahoma