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Topic: Milwaukee Neurologist (Read 468 times) |
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sioux-z
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Milwaukee Neurologist
« on: Jun 13th, 2007, 2:59pm » |
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Can anyone recommend a neurologist in Milwaukee that knows something about clusters? I have one but he is on vacation and the triage nurse referred me to someone who told me to take Tylenol and to drink more water. I about jumped through the phone. I only get an episode every few years and I go through this every time. This time I'm more in a panic to get someone who really knows what they are doing because I am pregnant and think O2 treatment may be my only option. My neuro was reluctant to try that with me last episode and I ended up on Depakote, which I know is not safe in pregnancy. Please help!
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Bob_Johnson
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Re: Milwaukee Neurologist
« Reply #2 on: Jun 14th, 2007, 10:43am » |
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1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.
2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.
3. Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.
4. http://www.achenet.org/physicians/ On-line screen to find a physician.
5. http://www.headaches.org/consumer/index.html Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder" which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.
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I checked drug info on medscape.com and Olanzapine is o.k. for limited use in pregnancy.
Headache 2001 Sep;41(:813-6
Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.
Rozen TD.
Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.
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Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.
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OTC meds are not very helpful with cluster, as you know, but may be one of the few options available to you. Some folks have good luck aborting/easing an attack by applying an ice pack to the pain site. Others find very hot water also works; others have used a hair dryer blasting the pain site works! No predicting; just try.
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Re. special needs of women. Both of these in HEADACHE QUARTERLY, Vol X, #2, 1991: "Women and headaches:a comprehensive approach", p. 31-36. "Special considerations in the management of headache in women", p. 37-43. The last one focuses on role of hormones in headache and how medications must be altered.
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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006 Jan 11
Cluster headache in women - relation with menstruation, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause.
van Vliet JA, Favier I, Helmerhorst FM, Haan J, Ferrari MD.
Medical Centre Haaglanden, Netherlands.
Abstract. In contrast to migraine, little is known about the relationship between cluster headache and menstrual cycle, oral contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause. We performed a population-based questionnaire study among 224 female cluster headache patients, and studied the possible effect of hormonal influences on cluster headache attacks. For control data, a similar but adjusted questionnaire was sent to healthy volunteers and migraine patients. We found that menstruation, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause had a much smaller influence on cluster headache attacks than in migraine. Cluster headache can, however, have a large impact on individual women, for example to refrain from having children.
PMID: 16407458 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Bob Johnson
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Brew
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Re: Milwaukee Neurologist
« Reply #3 on: Jun 14th, 2007, 12:19pm » |
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I've sent Sioux-Z a PM recommending my neurologist here in Milwaukee.
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alienspacebabe
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yup. i am. i do. uh huh. you know it hon.
  
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Re: Milwaukee Neurologist
« Reply #4 on: Jun 14th, 2007, 9:25pm » |
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on Jun 14th, 2007, 12:19pm, Brewcrew wrote:| I've sent Sioux-Z a PM recommending my neurologist here in Milwaukee. |
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Listen to Bill. His neuro is great (as is mine - they work together).
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Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.
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Brew
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Re: Milwaukee Neurologist
« Reply #5 on: Jun 15th, 2007, 6:47pm » |
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It's now been more than 48 hours since I sent that PM, and it remains unopened. Hmmmm......
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Brew
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Re: Milwaukee Neurologist
« Reply #6 on: Jun 16th, 2007, 7:51pm » |
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72 hours. Still nothing.
Seeming not very urgent at this point.
Sioux-z, we want you to get some relief.
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Peppermint
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Work it out baby!
 
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Re: Milwaukee Neurologist
« Reply #7 on: Jun 20th, 2007, 12:31pm » |
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on Jun 16th, 2007, 7:51pm, Brewcrew wrote:72 hours. Still nothing.
Seeming not very urgent at this point.
Sioux-z, we want you to get some relief. |
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She might have read it in her email brew. Hopefully.
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You like apples? How ya like them apples?
When playing in the gym, beware of steel beams. - M. Amyx
Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble. - Charles H. Spurgeon
FYI - I am NOT a clusterhead.
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Brew
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Re: Milwaukee Neurologist
« Reply #8 on: Jun 21st, 2007, 3:21pm » |
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on Jun 20th, 2007, 12:31pm, Peppermint wrote:
She might have read it in her email brew. Hopefully. |
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We got it worked out.
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Always remember that you're unique, just like everyone else.
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