Rude medical staff and the brush off (Long)

[MELR]

I go to the Cleveland Clinic for treatment of my 24/7 headaches. I called yesterday TWICE (and only the second time because I waited 8 hours and still had not received a call back.)

The nurse that called me back today, after 2 calls to them, told me they were prescribing Fioricet (Tylenol, caffeine, and butalbital--which is an built-in anxiety med). Btw, tylenol does squat for me. When she called me to tell me this, she said "Please don't keep calling 4-5 times, I will call it in when I get a chance." She was so rude and I told her I didn't appreciate her talking to me this way. She then went on to chastise me and say that I was being over-bearing and rude to her for constantly calling. I called TWICE. Not to mention I am a patient at a level 10 pain.

When I got off the phone, I just started crying because I cannot get these doctors here to help me! I just cut out 3/4 of my stomach in hopes that my headaches will just ease up a little. I'm still hoping they will. I told myself today that if I have to get down to 90 lbs to see if it works, I will. I am just that desperate. I hate feeling desperate. I want to call her superiors and talk to my neurologist about the way she spoke to me but I also want to learn to let things go because it is causing me such stress and thus making my pain even worse.

Any suggestions on what you guys might do, I'd appreciate it. I am not looking for validation but just venting and not understanding why most of the doctors I see just don't want to help. They look at me like, "Oh well, it's just something you have to deal with." I have even been told "Lose weight and your headaches will most likely get better." I've also read medical studies to support that. I don't know where to go from here except to try to lose this weight as quickly as possible....Sorry for the long post. Thanks to everyone who takes time to read it.

[Metread]

Not sure what to tell you about your treatment, but I have suffered migraines for years.

Caffeine does tend to help if I catch it early, and so does an anti inflammatory like anaprox, (naproxin). I also try to lay in a dark, cool room on my stomach, with my hands under my chin (like when you were a kid watching TV). Laying like that tightens up the back of the neck and restricts the blood flow enough to relieve the throbbing.

As for the IV meds, my best friend suffered with chronic migraines for years. She was using toroidal and morphene (sp) for at least a few months on a regular basis. She died at the ripe old age of 30 from liver failure that went I diagnosed. Be careful.

[MELR]

Thank you Mary. Yes, I have tried it all. Cold helps sometimes. Last year I was taking tons of NSAIDS to the point of having medication overuse (rebound) headaches but I detoxed from those and have rarely taken NSAIDS since. I know they are dangerous. My point with the toradol is it's the only thing that has even remotely helped my pain and I was only prescribed it twice over the last 3 years. When I had it I only took it very sparingly. For instance, one script was 10 injections. I made it last me over 6 months. Even suffering through very bad pain and telling myself, "I cannot take it because I can't overuse it." My doctor knows this. I am just so tired of this. I was even told by my "previous" primary care doctor that my headaches were because I was putting too much on my plate!

Thanks for the post, I appreciate you taking the time to read and respond.

[MELR]

Oh, when I had my sleeve done 4 weeks ago, my surgeon said my liver looked perfect....so that is always good news. I want to keep it that way.

Sorry about your friend.

[Kodi's Mom]

I know nothing about your area, but is there another center anywhere near you that you could get to? Maybe another migraine/pain relief center could help you more and be more respectful to you. If you only called twice, I don't consider this to be out of line and there is no excuse for her talking to you like that.

[toutdesuite]

Have you tried magnesium?

[MELR]

@Kathleen Yes, I have tried several neurologists and headache and rehabilitation clinics.

@Susie Yes they tried magnesium through IV. It made me very sick and nauseous but I was just reading yesterday that it has helped many people. I am going to explore maybe trying it again and just loading up on the anti-nausea meds. I took it years ago also when I had a preemie baby and it was given through IV, and it made me deathly ill then. I don't know if I'm allegic to it or what....but I'm willing to try again. I was just reading a medical journal article just yesterday (I do a lot of research) that was referring to magnesium being a key treatment.

Thank you for responding. I truly appreciate every comment and suggestion.

[Metread]

Have you looked in to Botox? I have heard it works for many people.

[MELR]

ust had 29 injections in face, head, neck.

[Metread]

I hope you get some real relief soon.

[Kellyef3]

I might not be any help, but I just found out that the topical meds dr nick gave pryer to surgery aren't just for the scar areas. I never used it and the refills kept coming. I called the pharmacy and they said that topical has like 4 pain meds in it. Good for back pain and arthritis pain and more. Just for shits and giggles, put some on the back of your neck and see if it helps. Might not be an immediate relief or a full relief, but it might help a little? Hope you feel better soon.

[short sleeve]

I am sorry you are having so much difficulty obtaining relief from migraines. I too was having problems with migraines for several years, ended up getting discharged from the navy due to them. I found an internist who experienced migraines himself, he put me on Inderal LA 80 mg to be taken daily as this worked for him, and it has worked for me as well. This drug is usually prescribed for hypertension, but off label it is used for migraines and it really did work, much to my surprise. Additionally, they have been having quite a bit of success with Botox. Best of luck to you and your journey.

[RubbityDub]

Yes I have heard of Inderal being effective as well, although I have never tried it for anything other than hypertension myself.

[toutdesuite]

Maybe you can better tolerate oral magnesium.

[MELR]

@susie I started taking magnesium glycinate 400 mg once a day a couple days ago. I read a scholarly article written by the American Headache Society and it talked about 600-800 a day, so I am going to try that. I seem to be doing okay right now but it may take some time to work, if it does. I hope so. Thanks for the suggestion.