I have horrible migraines....been EVERYWHERE around here. The doctors look at me like I'm crazy and I always get a "we can't help you..." kind of response. My regular doctor only will prescribe imitrex and steroids. I've seen two neurologists.....Lisa Mannox is on the list of doctors, but she has been on sabattical for a year and you can't get in to see her becuase they don't know when she will be back. The other doctors are from Cleveland, and apparently that place only does a three week program that is the IMATCH program which you can't find anything about, and they swear people to secrecy, which is weird....Also sounds like they give you i.v.'s to get everything out of your system, have you then excercise, and then give you a guilt trip about having headaches and that you just need to deal.....found several people say this on different places when googleing it....so, I need some help here.....WHERE CAN I GO WHERE A DOCTOR WILL LISTEN AND NOT ACT LIKE I'M STUPID! I'm a research nut........I have bought Teri's book, and another one about controlling your migraines by diet.....I'm trying everything I know to do, but it HURTS and I can't get any help........PLEASE HELP!
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Hi Alicia,
Have you tried keeping a Migraine diary to track any triggers you may have? These include food, dehydration, changes in sleeping patterns and even the weather. You can download our free Migraine diary HERE.
You may have to travel outside Cinn, Ohio to find a Migraine specialist. But those who do travel, have found it well worth their time and energy because they have gotten their life back. Our list of patient recommended Migraine specialists can be found HERE. Migraine and Headache Specialists - What's So Special? will let you see how important it is too see a "true" specialist.
Good luck
Nancy
Alicia,
I went to the Cleveland Clinic, and just wanted to let you know that the "Specalist" that I saw was very nice. But........tey dd want me to do the "IMATCH". I would try it, but I can't afford it right now. Basically, what I was told, is that you go in with all your medicines that you are taking. They just try to get you off of some of them, and on to better ones. The first week is IV fusions, for 4-6 hours a day. They do have Psychiatrists and doctors to talk to also. They do have a physical therapy where they have you exercise. It doesn't sound like much fun to me either, but I would do it if I could afford the Hotel stay, and My food for the 3 weeks. I just don't have the finances now. I haven't worked in 2 years because of my migranes, and me and my husband are struggling with bills. I just had rotator cuff surgery and it's so painful, so I've been taking Vicodin and Percocet for pain. So........the doctor I spoke to won't be so happy about that.
She basically wanted me off the medicines that I was taking, and the ones she suggested didn't work. So, I go back next month. At least I'm trying to do what she wanted me to. By cutting down on Aleive for no more than 2 x a week, it's helped. Also, I stopped Midrin, and Depakote. I take Neurotin so that will help me to not have seizures and help my headaches. At first, I wasn't sure, but now they are better. I've cut down a lot on caffeine also.
I know how you feel, I really do. I've suffered so long myself, and had people say,"Can't they do something for those migraines." Have you tried this and tried that? Duh!!! They just don't know what it's like to get these everyday. Keep trying to fing a good doctor, but........also go to a specialist and at least try it. You have to keep trying and not give up. I don't know about Cincinnati, because, I'm in Dayton and that would be closer for me too. I've been to 3 neurologists. They don't know, but my family doctor treats me better than they do. You can get through this, just hang in there.
Good luck and God Bless you.
Alicia,
Dr. Lisa Mannix is in the Cincinnati area. You can find her contact information at the link Nancy gave you.
Good luck,
Teri
No actually I am pretty sure she is right, Lisa went on sabattical and went overseas with her husband on a mission trip last I heard and sold her practice. I used to go to her for consults. There are not many other doctors in Cincinnati that know what they are talking about except a pediatric neurologist at CCHMC headache clinic.
Hi,
I suffer from chronic migraines too, for 27 years! As I get older, they seem to get worse. I have been to so many doctors and for the past year I got fed up...I was seeing a headache specialist in Kentucky, and all they wanted to do was push meds at me, I wanted to find the cause. I know most of them are caused my "that wonderful time of the month" and any change in barometric pressure will trigger them too! Last year I was searching on the internet and came across this doctor on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati, he is an Ear Medical dr that also specializes in migraines...he specializes in them because his wife suffered with them for many years!!! He will actually spend time talking to you, not like all the other doctors around!! His name is Claude Hobeika..try him out...
Good Luck!
Dear Alicia
I just found this website and seen your question. I hope you found a good doctor by now. I attended the IMATCH program recently and it was expensive but my insurance picked up a big part of it. I have spent so much money in past going from doctor to doctor and trying this and that. Botox I did twice. It was out of pocket, painful & 13 shots in random places in my head and didn't work anyway. I'm still seeing a doctor at The Cleveland Clinic which I admire & trust. They are doing fantastic work in my opinion with migraine patients. The things you wrote about them are true but they really have the patients best interest in mind. Every one of us migrainors' are different and need individual treatment so another migrainor cannot tell another what will work for them. I learned , very very important, that no prevention medication will ever work for you if you are mixing it with pain medicine. ie; narcotics, aleve, excedrin, etc. or your triptans. This is why they stop your pain med's for awhile, to get them out of your system, so your preventive can work effectively. Every doctor I seen before going to Cleveland gave me pain pills & preventives together. Not Good At All! I still have migraines but I got relief once I stopped relying on the pain meds. After you have the headaches more manageable you can use Aleve up to 2x week but no more. It critical that you stop the pain meds to get out of the cycle. My migraines are debilitating & have great effect on my life. Relaxation techniques can sometimes get rid of my migraine. Go to www.theacpa.org, there is a relaxation video you can try. It takes practice of letting go of your thoughts & stressors but you will get better at it. I hope this information helps.
Carol lynn
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oh my god you are so right about all of this, the specialist i saw was excellent but he was in Carmel IN at the St Vincent Headache Center... he's not covered by my insurance and so i cant continue with him and trying all these wild therapies. I'm missing out on so much of my life as well. I wish there was more help and understanding for migraineurs!