Hello everyone,
My name is Nicola and I have been suffering with migraines for the majority of my life. They got really bad about five years ago and I finally stopped working three years ago.
I have an excellent family doctor and neurologist. I work closely with them to manage my condition.
Like many others on this site I fight the discrimination and misconceptions that are out there about migraines and migraine sufferers. It is frustrating because I don't have the energy to educate the world - or at least the world with whom I come into contact with - about migraines and the fact it is a neurological disease, not just a "headache".
On Wednesday I was admitted to the hospital because I couldn't breathe. I've been struggling with this for two months now and no one could figure out what was wrong. When I was admitted I informed the ER doctor and then the admitting doctor about my migraines. I have a fairly good pain management regiment, and informed them about that. No one took me seriously.
Our health care is so good in Canada that if you are admitted to the hospital through the ER, chances are you will stay in the ER. Have you ever tried to be in a light, noisy, room when you have a migraine? Now multiply that by 10.
Luckily we're in such a pickle that I was put into isolation (in the ER) until I could be cleared for H1N1. I didn't have any symptoms of the flu, just a cough that accompanied these breathing attacks I had been suffering. The positive part of that was that I was locked in a room, by myself, with a commode (don't even get me started on that) and a sink. My nurse was the only one allowed in (other than the doctor) and she had to come in gowned, masked, and gloved from head to toe.
On Friday the respirologist stopped by - another positive of the Canadian health system, our local hospital doesn't have a respirologist on site so I had to wait two days until he came to the hospital.
The doctors were puzzled by my symptoms. I would have trouble breathing and then my lungs would fill up with fluid, but drain quickly when I was able to breathe again. Before the respirologist came, the doctors began treating me for everything and anything. Antibiotics for pneumonia, blood thinners for clots, asthma medications for asthma, and codeine to help with the pain.
The asthma medication made me jittery and increased my heart rate, which I believe contributed to a really bad migraine on Friday. I also worried about the codeine because of rebound headaches.
On several occassions I informed the doctors and nurses that when I have a migraine I begin with an injection of DHE (Dihydroergotamine) and then proceed to tylenol and codeine (without caffeine) if that doesn't work. I also take Gravol (anti nausea medication) to settle my stomach. The migraine and both medications make me very nauseous.
On Thursday morning I woke up with a migraine. I asked for some DHE. I got a variety of answers from, we don't use that, we don't have that, to no. I finally was able to convince the nurse that if he got me a syringe I would use my own prescription DHE and inject it myself. I did (to his amazement) and was feeling better very quickly.
i just got home for a rather nasty ER visit. my migraine started this afternoon during a very nasty thunderstorm. i took meds and toughed it out for several hours before throwing in the towel and seeking help..... boy was that a mistake.
i arrived at the ER and was taken in by a very sweet intake nurse ( who also treid to explain to the doctor that thunderstorms and the accompanying drop in barametric pressure can make migraines worse..... he didn't pay her any attention either) she got my vitals and put me in a room. they notified the doctor i was there, and i guess he things a migraine makes me deaf, because his words were she needs to see a psychologist not an MD. he comes in, does a brief neuro exam and tells me that the nurse will be right in with something. i am sitting there with tears running down my face from the pain, and this man dares to shine a bright light in my eyes.
about 30 minutes later the nurse comes in with a small packet or anti nausea meds, 2 pills, a shot and a glass of water. i asked what it was and i was told zofran for nausea, percocet for pain, and a shot of toradol. i was like.... did anyone look at my chart..... percocet swells my throat. at which point the doctor told the nusre... loudly enough for me to hear.... give her a referal to behavioral sciences....... ( our meantal health ceneter) and send her home.
never mind that i was in MORE pain than when i arrived. i looked at him on my way out and told him i hope he enjoyed his stay in our ER, as i am now going to complain to my doctor, the adminastratot, and the medical board. he asked what i meant..... told him to go back to school and learn about migraine disease. it's not just a headache, and it sure isn't in my head!
i'm now waiting for my doctor to call me back. fixing to call his paging service again. here's hoping i get some results!
Sorry to hear of your horrific experience. ER docs need to learn how migraine sufferers go to the hospital as a last resort--after their pain experience has progressed to the point where it is unbearable and needs to be treated quickly and efficiently--whatever that takes.
I myself had a bad experience 10 years ago, relayed my symptoms from a 14 day long migraine, and was asked by the ER doc "so what do you want me to do?" I said I didn't know, just please help me. I was at the point where I wasn't eating, sleeping, could barely walk, certainly couldn't think. I was sent home to rest til it passed.
Reluctantly, I went to the ER 2 weeks ago with a 6 week migraine. Things went much better, once the ER doc was able to get in contact with my neurologist (before that they were non-committal--didn't know what to do or how seriously to take me?). They started an IV, gave me nausea drugs (I was vomiting already) and painkillers. I needed three doses of each during the course of the day to bring the pain from a level 10 to a level 3 (on a 10 point scale) but by then the nausea was gone. I actually asked to be let out at level 3 because I felt guilty about tying up an ER bed for so long!
Anyway, I am sending the form on treating recommedations to my neurologist, so I can have it with me if I need ER help again. Thank goodness they were able to help me this time.
Hope you have better luck in any future treatment at the ER, maybe taking the "Physician Supplied Emergency Treatment Information" form with you will help the ER people take you more seriously and give you the care and attention you deserve.
my doctor had a copy of the emergency treatment from put in my file a while back... and this same doctor has treated me before, both in the ER and in the doctors office. not sure what his problem was that night. but i printed off a bunch of information on here and passed it on to the nurse in the doctors office. she in turn gave it to my PCP, who gave it to dr attitude, along with the suggestion that he apologize for the attitude ( but i'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen).
just ready to get the 11th over and done with, as i have my next neuro appt, as well as the MRI that day!