they have labeled me a "drug seeker"... thought the ER was there to help

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I had this happen to me in 2006.  When I' made a complaint, the doctor put me into some database as a drug seeker. Just this past month it's caused me problems both during an ER visit for another reason and with my pain management doctor. I was very lucky to meet with a new primary care doctor on Monday.  Turns out he also specializes in managing chronic pain.  I discussed the incident with him, and he just shook his head.  He says ER doctors see way too much drug seeking behavior and they are also under alot of scrutiny from the DEA etc.

Unfortunately this doesn't help you very much when your head is splitting and you're desperate for some relief. How much longer do you have to wait before you see the neuro? I sure hope they are able to find some answers for you, and it's nothing as serious as a tumor. There are several drugs they can give you that are supposed to help prevent migraines including Topamax.  I started on that one yesterday.  Unfortunately, it makes me pretty loopy, but he says that this will pass.  Something that worked well for me in the past, from the root of the butterburr plant, is called petadolex. I'm going to order it again even though my headaches now are rebound headaches from overuse of chronic pain meds.  Unfortunately I'm not in a position to stop the meds so it's Topamax time.

Have you tried any of the triptans like Maxalt? The kind that dissolves under your tongue works quickly. For my worst migraines, it takes two of them, but it does control the symptoms.

Again, I'm so sorry that this is happening to you. I may not have any specific advice to give on how to deal with the ER, but I can let you know that there are a lot of people here who understand and sympathize with what you are going through.  I think it is reprehensible that we should have to deal with this kind of prejudice on top of the terrible pain we are experiencing. It may be our only hope is strength in numbers. I would like to compile a report of these types of experiences.  Perhaps make it an investigative journalism type of piece.  If you would like me to include your story, please send me a message in my inbox.  I understand you can go to my home page by clicking on my name at the bottom of this post.

I know how difficult life must be right now, but please hang in there.  Migraines can be managed and quality of life can be regained.  Until that time, I will continue to hold you in the light.

COmtnmama

I am so sorry you are having to experience this.  And unfortunately drug seekers to to the ER.  The ER that you go to, is it based out of the hospital your doctor practices out of?  I am wondering if you don't if that would make a difference?  Would the ER doctors be more likely to call and talk to the doctor to verify who you are and that the care plan is legit?  I am also trying to think what your doctor could provide to the ER to have on your record directly from his/her office (therefore not coming from your hands) that would assist them in knowing you are not there for drugs, but acute migraine treatment?

Also all that being said, is it time for your doctor to provide you with better rescue medications to use on a limited basis to avoid the ER?  In the migraine forms that are available through this site many patients give themselves injections or use pretty strong narcotics on a limited basis.  They will have contracts and keep detailed records of the medications they use for rescue.  It maybe something to discuss with your doctor until you can get into see the neurlogist.  Repeated ER or even urgent care visits aren't good and they are expensive. 

Take care,

Cindy

I have a few thoughts on this issue:

Since you have an ER plan from your neurologist, try a different ER or Urgent Care Clinic if possible.

Can your neurologist do IV infusion therapy in his office? Breaking a Migrainous cycle can be done in a doctors office, instead of an ER. We have information HERE and HERE on this. 

I hope this helps.

How Terrible!

I think alot of us have had the same experience.  Do you have someone that can be your advocate during the ER visit?  It is very hard when you are in such pain to have to deal with something like this ontop of a migraine!  Tell them to check your medical record and they can see you are not a drug seeker! Topamax has worked great for me this time.  I had tried it a few years ago but the side effects drove me nuts! this time I am on a lower dose and can live with the tingling if it means fewer migraines!  I have not had a migraine for 1 week! Hang in there, I hope your doctor can help you find a treatment plan soon!

Trish

As a health professional, here are my suggestions and thoughts.  First, you HAVE to treat the hospital staff with respect and be kind, even in your terrible pain.  People who work in health care have so many stresses, and if you go in there being demanding and uncooperative, you will be sent out the door as soon as possible. They will not go the extra mile for you.  Make sure that you use the 1-10 rating scale and if the interventions they have offered you are not effective, make sure to rate your pain high.  Yes, the doctors in ER are sensitive to "drug seekers" but there is also pressure to provide adequate pain relief.  If they are sending you out the door with pain at 6 or higher, then there is a problem. Another thing I would suggest, is to call the Neurologists office and kindly tell them how sick you are feeling, how your meds are not working, you can't work....whatever is TRUE, and ask if they can work you into their schedule earlier.  Use kindness and integrity, and I wish you the best.   Also, remember that many of us have tried numerous meds and have struggled with headaches for 20+ years.  This can be a chronic problem.

You do not say which city you live in.  If you live around Cincinnati-they would not laugh at you.  especially at Good Samaritan Hospital.  Keep up the faith!  I know how disabling these headaches/migraines are.  You will find a Dr.

Hello my name is Hope and I am new to My Migraine Connection.  I go to the ER very often... so often that I had a doctor accuse me of being a drug addict.  Needless to say I was not very happy.  I feel your pain. 

Hope

I think that sooner or later every migraineur who goes to the ER will be accused of drug seeking behavior.

My migraine condition is so hard to treat that my neurologist and I have labelled it clinically frustrating.

I've been going to the same ER in my neurologist's hospital for years. No ER attending questioned my condition. That is because of my doctor's reputation as being Canada's leading migraine authority. I've  read most of his journal articles on the subject. In addition, I used to work in his hospital.

However, when I moved to another province I was accused of drug seeking behavior by an ER resident. His attending called my hometown neurologist (who is still following me for the condition) who confirmed my condition and shredded the ER resident. I never went back to that ER.

Since then ,I've never been questioned about my condition. Once I'm in the ER, I provide them with a list of non-narcotic cocktails used for status migrainosus (a continuous migraine that persists for >72 hrs) treatment. These include DHE with Reglan or magnesium sulfate with Reglan, Thorazine with Reglan. If these meds fail, then we resort to morphine or dilaudid.

Contact your neurologist and ask for an emergency treatment plan or even better a letter confirming your diagnosis.

Also, try searching for a local migraine support group.

I currently co-chair a support group and found it to beneficial to all of its members. We mutually connect with each other and support each other.

Hope this helps!

Jaime

Sorry to hear about the unrelenting migraines.  You didn't mention what meds they are giving you at the ER.  From personal experience, if I overdo ER visits where they pump you up with morhpine and any of the triptans (Imitrix, Relapax, etc.), the chance for getting a rebound or medication overuse headache increases exponentially.

Although the triptans can work wonders, I found the hard way that if you take more than 2-3 a week, I guarantee you will get more and more severe headaches.  It took me two summers of what I call "migraine storms", a bad migraine almost every day for months, to realise the source of the problem was taking too many triptans.

My rule of thumb is to take only 1-4 triptan medications in a two day period.  Then NO TRIPTANS for the next five days.  This recommedation scared me to death.  But I found that enduring the rebound headache without taking the meds actually started to break the cycle.  I had to use ice, over the counter meds and relaxation exercises, but it worked!  So now I swear by the 2/5 day rule.  Use the meds for 2 days (ON) and five days (OFF).

Also, narcotic medications such as morphine really, in my experience, work for short term use only!  Over the long run, they really offer no long-term relief from migraines. 

I've found the principles for a good migraine management program at a very prestigious headache clinic in Chicago; they are really good pioneers and might help you.  They also make recommendations for doctors or clinics in your area if you contact them directly.

http://www.diamondheadache.com/

Hope this helps; our migraines our a complicated, twisty, frustrating bit of life that literally messes with our heads!  I wish you the best of luck!

Sorry to hear about the unrelenting migraines.  You didn't mention what meds they are giving you at the ER.  From personal experience, if I overdo ER visits where they pump you up with morhpine and any of the triptans (Imitrix, Relapax, etc.), the chance for getting a rebound or medication overuse headache increases exponentially.

Although the triptans can work wonders, I found the hard way that if you take more than 2-3 a week, I guarantee you will get more and more severe headaches.  It took me two summers of what I call "migraine storms", a bad migraine almost every day for months, to realise the source of the problem was taking too many triptans.

My rule of thumb is to take only 1-4 triptan medications in a two day period.  Then NO TRIPTANS for the next five days.  This recommedation scared me to death.  But I found that enduring the rebound headache without taking the meds actually started to break the cycle.  I had to use ice, over the counter meds and relaxation exercises, but it worked!  So now I swear by the 2/5 day rule.  Use the meds for 2 days (ON) and five days (OFF).

Also, narcotic medications such as morphine really, in my experience, work for short term use only!  Over the long run, they really offer no long-term relief from migraines. 

I've found the principles for a good migraine management program at a very prestigious headache clinic in Chicago; they are really good pioneers and might help you.  They also make recommendations for doctors or clinics in your area if you contact them directly.

http://www.diamondheadache.com/

Hope this helps; our migraines are a complicated, twisty, frustrating bit of life that literally messes with our heads!  I wish you the best of luck!

This just happened to me the other night. My husband peeled me off the bathroom floor to drive me to the er, while our kids were sleeping, dropped me off, raced home and the doctor rushed in, told me he wasn't giving me any narcotics and was incredibly rude.  I was in such horrible pain and vomiting and I called my husband, he called a neighbor over to watch the kids......he came and talked to the doctor, who finally gave in and gave me demerol. I am still just sick with frustration about the whole thing. I am going to go in and ask to see my hospital records.  I may also file a complaint against the doctor.  I will also have my GP write a letter with my diagnosis to put in my hospital file so there is no mistaking me for a drug addict in the future!!!!!!!! TOTALLY RIDICULOUS>>>>>>>>And that ER visit cost $1500??

Prayers with all of you

K in Bay City

I'm so sorry for all the pain and suffering you're going through. I know all too well how it feels to be in absolutely excruciating pain, and all the other symptoms that go with migraines. I got migraines from the time I was 10 years old all the way up to when I was 42 and had a complete hysterectomy. Since my hysterectomy in February of 2007, I have had no migraines, so I guess with me it was hormonal. With the hormones gone, so are my headaches. I will not go on HRT. I'm taking supplements to deal with the hot flashes and stuff, and it's not a big deal. Something to maybe check out.

Personally, I think this is pathetic and there is no excuse for the behavior of the ER staff.  It is bad enough we are not always taken seriously by people too ignorant to understand migraines even though we have tried to educate them, but then to be treated like this in ER, makes me furious.  I asked my neurologist for a 'rescue' medicine since the preventive medicines have not worked for me or if they gave me some small relief in the severity of the pain, the other side effects were worse or almost as bad.  She ended up giving me a prescription for a different abort medication to see if this will work better then the Imitrex tablets.   We will see as I go back to see her in 3 months and if I still do not have the relief I require, I will insist or ask my family physican to refer me to someone else since he agreed I should have something. The only other medication I take to ease the pain somewhat is Advil and then lay down and try to sleep if the pain is not overbearing (although can not sleep at work or lay down all the time).

I did not read all the comments but you obviously have my understanding of the situation and wish you luck.

I HAVE HAD MIGRAINES ALL MY LIFE BUT ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I WOULD WAKE EVERY NIGHT WITH A HEAD ACHE SO BAD MY LEFT EYE STARTED TO SWELL OUT OF MY HEAD HAVING NO IDEAL WERE TO START I WENT TO THE EYE DR. AND SHE DID AND EXAM PACKED MY EYE TO RELEAVE THE PREASURE AND TOOK MY BLOOD PRESSURE. IT WAS UP A LITTLE SO SHE TOLD ME TO GO TO ANOTHER DR. TO GET THIS TOOK CARE OF. I DID HE SCANNED MY BRAIN FOUND NOTHING WRONG THEN PUT ME ON AND OLDER MEDICATION CALLED VARAPIMIL THAT WAS SEPT. 2007 THE LAST TIME I HAD A MIGRAINE OR CLUSTER HEADACHE IS WHAT HE CALLED THEM THEY HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY AND LAST FOR ABOUT 45MIN TO 1 HR. AND CAN GO ON FOR WEEKS STOP FOR A LITTLE AND THEN START AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING OVER AND OVER AND OVER MAYBE THIS MED. WOULD HELP YOU.