Good, Better, Best

An update on my post from Sunday…

Good – My blood work came back showing marginally low Vitamin D, which a OTC Vit D supplement with 1,000 iu’s per day should correct.  Easy peasy!

Better – Since I seem to get more migraines during the winter than during the summer, we’re going to beef up my preventives by adding Baclofen, a muscle relaxer.  Last March, I got stuck in a 3-week-long mega-migraine cycle that couldn’t be broken.  No fun.  The plan is to prevent a reoccurrence this year.  My neuro gave me her top 3 recommended meds and I chose to try Baclofen first.  (Have I mentioned that I ♥ my neuro?  And her PA?  And their awesome nurse?)

Best – My MRI showed no signs of MS!!  Whoohoo, non-existent bullet dodged!  They did pick up sinusitis, but that’s old news by now.  Needless to say, I’m thrilled that they didn’t find anything serious.

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A New Neurologist – Part II

I posted a couple of months ago about my search for–an appreciation of–a new doctor for my migraines.  Enter Dr. M.

To pick up where I left off in my last post on the topic, Dr. M gave me three treatment options:

1. Leave everything the way it was, including the two preventative medications I was taking daily and the migraine abortive medication I took when I did get headaches.

2. Begin searching (via trial and error) for migraine preventative mediation(s) that would be more effective at reducing the frequency of my migraines.

3. Wean off all preventive medications and begin lifestyle changes designed to minimize my migraines naturally.

I decided to give my body the opportunity to do this on its own and chose option #3.

Dr. M’s instructions were as follows:

1. Exercise (aerobic) 30 minutes daily.

2. Set a sleep routine and stick to it.  Determine the RIGHT amount of sleep for me (between 7-9 hours/night).  Keep the same bedtime every night and rise-time every morning, even on the weekends.

3. Eat small, frequent meals in order to keep my blood sugar level more constant.

4. Keep hydrated – drink plenty of water daily.

5. Learn–and practice–some form of stress management (meditation, reading before bedtime, etc.).

6. Read the book Headache 1-2-3.

To date, I have been better at keeping some of these guidelines than others.  #6 hasn’t yet happened, though I’ve read other headache/migraine prevention books.  #1 has been touch and go.  I bought an elliptical, but find it uncomfortable to use.  (There’s definitely a quality difference between the ones at the gym and the one sitting in my living room!)  I’ve been very good at #’s 3 and 4 (I eat every 3 hours and make a conscious effort to drink a set amount of water or Gatorade throughout the day).  I’m working on making a habit of #5 and have found that giving myself a nighttime routine makes my evening into a de-stressing time (as it’s designed to do). 

For me, #2 has proved to be the key to preventing migraines.  I CANNOT emphasize enough how important sleep regulation can be for migraine prevention.  If I don’t get 8 hours of sleep one night or stay up later than 11pm, I’m almost guaranteed to develop a migraine the next day. 

I’m happy to say that my migraines are managed equally well through these lifestyle modifications as they were through chemistry.  Meanwhile, I feel better, too!

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A New Neurologist – Part I

It’s been a week and a half now–I’m just now getting a chance to sit down and write about it–but I finally had my first appointment with a new Neurologist (Dr. M) for my migraines.  I absolutely loved her!  I’m so happy I decided to “shop around” for a doctor with whom I felt more comfortable.  I highly recommend this–it’s most definitely worth it!

To back up a little in the Saga of the New Neurologist, I decided after a visit with my original Neurologist (Dr. P) last May that I wanted to find a new doctor.  Not because he wasn’t a good doctor (he is), but because we weren’t a good match.  I felt anxious, rushed, and flustered at every appointment.  (Well, we only had two, so I should say both appointments.)  My migraines have a strong menstrual connection, and I felt uncomfortable taking to him about that aspect.  Partially due to my reluctance to talk to a man about my menstrual cycle, hormones, use of the pill, and birth control options, and partially due to his lack of sufficient tact during these discussions. 

Once I made the decision to switch Neurologists, the challenge began.  I knew I wanted a female doc, and there weren’t very many female Neurologists in Dayton, OH on my insurance plan.  One of the few (Dr. M)happened to be part of the same practice as Dr. P, so I called and attempted to switch to her.  However, I hit a brick wall in the form of the office staff.  After giving me a different run around during the first conversation, the second time I called they stonewalled me by stating that the practice didn’t allow transfers from one doctor to another.  Ladies (and gentlemen), if anyone tells you this, while it’s possible that it’s true, it’s unlikely.  So, don’t give up easily and definitely not before you’ve tried all avenues.

Long story short, it took several months, but I ended up talking to Dr. P (who happens to be the founder of the practice) and explained the situation to him (in friendly, vague terms of “I’d just feel more comfortable discussing things with a female doctor”).  He told me that they didn’t have any policy against switching doctors within the practice, unless the patient was unhappy with the type of care they received.  After I assured him that I was content with the quality of care and just preferred talking to a woman, he made the necessary arrangements for me to get an appointment with Dr. M.  See, easy as pie!  (Well, besides the endless phone calls and 6 month lapse in care because of the hang up, but I’m over being bitter.)

So, what was so great about Dr. M?  First, she took time to listen AND answer my abundance of questions.  Second, she spent a lot of time going over my history, which tells me that she wants to start at the beginning in order to find a workable treatment plan.  Thirdly, she gave me options, which gives me the feeling of active participation that I’m looking for.  Finally, I feel very comfortable conversing with her.  Plus, she happens to have a migraine pattern similar to mine, which makes me feel like she knows were I’m coming from.      

And so, I’m still chipping away at #21.

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