Migraine - advice for referral?

Torry_Quine

Parva wrote: »

I guess being an 'administrator' does have the advantages of being able to remove your own posts, nice. Not sure what else I should call you.

Everyone can remove their own posts though.

poet123

What was wrong with the quoted post?

topsales

I too am in Scotland - although the East. I became 'addicted' to Imigran exacerbating my migraines. Several years ago I was referred to a neurologist who prescribed Venlafaxine (an SSRI) as a prophylactic and I have been pretty much migraine free since then.

craftyorganiser

Hi Glaswe Jen,

Back in 2010, like you I started with a migraine headache which lasted for 15 months. Like you nothing worked, nothing showed up on CT scans or MRI scans. As a last resort, a friend recommended I visit a mctimoney chiropractor- I have joint hypermobility syndrome and it turned out that something in my neck was mis aligned which was the cause of the ongoing migraine. I wouldn't say I am now headache free now, but I would say I get two bad heads/migraines a month now compared to living with it every day. Seeing a chiropractor is just a suggestion but if you've tried everything else and nothing has helped it might be worth a go?

Indie_Kid

craftyorganiser wrote: »

Hi Glaswe Jen,

Back in 2010, like you I started with a migraine headache which lasted for 15 months. Like you nothing worked, nothing showed up on CT scans or MRI scans. As a last resort, a friend recommended I visit a mctimoney chiropractor- I have joint hypermobility syndrome and it turned out that something in my neck was mis aligned which was the cause of the ongoing migraine. I wouldn't say I am now headache free now, but I would say I get two bad heads/migraines a month now compared to living with it every day. Seeing a chiropractor is just a suggestion but if you've tried everything else and nothing has helped it might be worth a go?

Well, that explains something. Someone has suggested the same thing to me.

malebolge

Whilst I sympathise with anyone who is in constant pain (as I am myself) I do think that your attitude to members of the medical profession you have dealt with recently is rather harsh. The people you call 'not a GP' will be, in fact, fully qualified medical doctors, highly trained and in the process of completing GP training. Any GP, qualified or not, is a first line practitioner, able to assess & treat some things, and a point of referral for others. If a person has complex medical issues, the GP will not, and should not, just prescribe.
A short term fix can lead to long term problems. I know this only too well. I am under 5 specialists and have had to wait whilst suitability for a treatment is discussed by my cardiologist... neurologist... gastroenterologist etc. It can be frustrating but it has to happen. If someone did as you wanted, and break protocols, then they would be acting unethically, unprofessionally, and could be sued.
It is very hard to accept sometimes that pain is going to be part of your life. I have been taken off a transplant list because of the complexity of my problems, and had to stop a drug that did help because it was badly contraindicated.
One of the best things that has happened to me is that I was referred to a pain management clinic. They provide a range of treatments and support. I still have pain and a terminal disease, but now have a lot better coping techniques and a lot more positive attitude. If it seems that you are going to have pain for some time, perhaps see if there is one in your area. A lot of hospitals have them

Parva

I take into account your own personal views on the medical care you have recieved and also sympathise with your condition but I take your post with a pinch of salt. I'm not suggesting that you had anything but excellent healthcare but you have to understand that some are let down by the very people we rely on.

I'm glad that you have received the best care you can get but don't for one minute think that just because it all went ok for you that it does for everyone else. I've lost a whole right leg due to something that should have been picked up not months, but YEARS earlier!

GlasweJen

I understand that the people I see are doctors but they are not in fact general practitioners. When I was pre-registration I had to tell people "I am qualified but working under supervision for a year while taking my pre-registration exams, would you like to see a qualified optician" and if the person said yes I had to then produce a qualified optician there and then to perform the test. These doctors don't tell you they are not GPs and do not have the skills of a GP, that's why they need to work in a practice for 2 years before qualifying - to get skilled. If this person was to ask me if I'd rather see a skilled GP then id have said yes but the problem with my practice is all the skilled GPs have either retired or work part time between 2 rural practices making it hard to see someone who is qualified with a few years experience at their back.

I did end up getting my medication when the migraine clinic received my referral and all the drug has done to me so far is give me pins and needles. I'm hoping the pain will dampen down and the dose increases which I'm to do by 25mg every week.