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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
        
(Message started by: Amy on Nov 12^th, 2002, 4:29am)

Title: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by Amy on Nov 12^th, 2002, 4:29am

I've been suffering from migraine headaches for about 12 yrs now (since I was 14 yrs old)& have been suffering from a painful headache that describes all the symptoms of a cluster headache for about 7 yrs. I've seen many doctors and have described in detail my pain and they have all diagnosed my headache as a cluster headache. I've researched many websites & books about cluster headaches and I've gone through many types of treatment ie. physiotherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicines etc, in order to ease my pain.

I recently went to a Neurologist and again I've described my pain in detail and have called it a cluster headache. His response was "Don't call it a cluster headache as it is not one. You can't possibly be suffering from a cluster headache as it only exists in men between 18-45 yrs of age. You are only suffering from a very bad migraine headache, regardless of what other doctors tell you because they are not specialists."

After leaving the clinic, I was very confused as all these years, all the other doctors have diagnosed my pain as a cluster headache. Also, every website and books I've read defines my pain as a cluster headache. Could it very well be just a very bad migraine that comes every two years during the months of May or October, sometimes waking me up between 2-5am or 1-3pm with a very painful, throbbing, stabbing pain only on the left side of my head where it feels like my left eyeball is about to explode and where the pain lasts between 20-60 excruciating minutes, having at least two attacks a day for about 4-6 weeks and then all over for another 2 years??

I guess so because I am only a woman and not a Neurologist.

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by BobG on Nov 12^th, 2002, 4:59am

Good morning Amy. It sounds to me like you could very well have cluster headaches.

And it sounds to me that the neurologist you went to is an idiot and a very un-educated one at that. He's living in the last century.

A quick glance at the authors of the messages on this board will show that cluster headaches are not a men-only-club.

You said you tried physiotherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicines, etc but didn't mention medicines. Have you tried Imitrex, verapamil, oxygen or any others?

Please let us know more. There is more information and help here than you'll find any where in the world.

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by Charlie on Nov 12^th, 2002, 5:22am

Make it two. From where I'm sitting, your description sounds very much like clusters. If you look around this site, one of the first things you'll learn is that many many women are posting here with cluster headaches. It is not just a male curse.

Also, a headache which wakes you out of a sound sleep and is as excruitating as you say, is very very likely a cluster attack.

Bob is correct. Your doctor is behaving like an idiot. I feel that some of them hate to diagnose clusters and one reason may be that they don't know what to do for the patient.

Stick around and tell us more.

Charlie

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by OneEyeBlind on Nov 12^th, 2002, 5:28am

Yup, sounds like clusters, for sure you have an idiot for a doctor. Find another neuro. And do let us know what meds you have tried. Perhaps this site will supply enough info so that when you go to the new neuro you can tell him what to do !!!

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by Amy on Nov 12^th, 2002, 6:45am

hello all!!

thanks for all your replies, i feel so much better knowing that others think my neurologist is an idiot too!!

in regards of medication & treatment, as mentioned before, i've had physiotherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicines, calcium & magnesium tablets, but in regards to prescribed medication, i've had so many prescribed to me, i'm not so sure which ones are for migraine & which ones are for cluster headaches!!

let me see, i've been prescribed inderal, ergodryl, mersyndol forte, maxolon, tegretol, endep & most recently imigran nasal spray. i'm from sydney, australia so maybe the medications i've stated may be called another name in other regions.

please advice me of other medication that is meant to help ease my pain.

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by SteveY on Nov 12^th, 2002, 6:52am

Sounds like clusters to me.

Remember though in all 'trades' there are good and bad, I'm sure you know of a good builder and a bad one.

You have a bad neuro. Dump him.

Steve

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by don on Nov 12^th, 2002, 7:15am

Would you mind posting the doctors name, address and email if there is one. We can educate.

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by kim on Nov 12^th, 2002, 7:29am

I'd be happy to send the doc a nice polite e-mail myself ;D

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by spaceman on Nov 12^th, 2002, 7:47am

Amy:

Sorry you've been suffering with this for so long. It really does a lot to make things better when you get an a-hole doctor who thinks he's God and doesn't know his ass from his elbow. You should print out a few dozen pages from this site, fax them to his office along with a notice that you want all your records and that you aren't paying for your last visit (and perhaps a refund of the cost of prior visits). Bad enough you have to suffer with the pain, but to have a doc that doesn't even know the most basic of information? That's a joke.

Good luck finding someone who can really help.

Hoping you are pain-free.

;)

Andy

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by NotH20 on Nov 12^th, 2002, 9:30am

>:( >:( >:( Man I get so angry when I hear of docs using that old line of only "middle aged men" get clusters. I am a female and was only 15 yrs old when I started dancing with the beast!!!!

Amy dump your doc - that is after you bombard him with as much info on CH as you can. You may want to check out the list of recommended docs on the OUCH site for one close to you.

It surely sounds like clusters to me and you deserve to be treated by someone who is educated. I totally agree with Charlie that many docs will refrain from giving a CH diagnosis becuase they are not sure of the proper treatment.

It's a hit & miss with the treatment of CH and the different combinations of meds that will work for you. What works for one sufferer does not work for all. Please do as much research as you can......

Good luck and let us know how your progress is coming along.

NotH20

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by David Shea on Nov 12^th, 2002, 9:35am

HI AMY,
Your headaches sound to me very much like the cluster
headaches I'm suffering with.

I do not think your doctor is an Idiot or liveing in the last
century. Years ago the medical field conclued that ninety
percent of sufferes were male. That number has declined
alot in the past years.

There was also A profile of the male suffer offed to the medical community, That has proven over the years to
be unrelieable as well.

I think health care providers are sweeping this topic
under the carpet so to speak. Do to the fact that most
findings are proven to be unconsiting. I fear they will never know. There are good theroys out there. But,
I can see docs. sigh in regards to there lack of knowlege.

Like the others here have told you, There is A great deal
of infomation on this site. I think you should gather that
info. and educate this very doctor you are speaking about. This will truely help other suffers. looking for help
with this same doctor.
Truely, this is why this site is here, And it has proven to
be A great tool for many people. including me. Hope it helps you the same. Wishing you pain free days and nights.
David

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by echo on Nov 12^th, 2002, 10:05am

Sounds like your neuro needs to pull his head out of his ass and get with the program.
Sorry that the beast has decided to make you one of his victims. Welcome to the board.

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by Mark C on Nov 12^th, 2002, 10:30am

May I suggest you get a new doctor.
Good luck,
Mark

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by Drk^Angel on Nov 12^th, 2002, 11:46am

Welcome to the board! Sorry that the beast is driving rusty nails through your cranium, then heating them 'til they cause your eyes to explode. Docs are idiots with God complexes. Sorry ya got stuck with one of the bad ones. Good luck!

PFDAN......................................... Drk^Angel

Title: Re: Only a Woman, Not a Neurologist
Post by cootie on Nov 12^th, 2002, 12:00pm

Yer doc needs ta read up.....he's goin by all the old info...print somea the info out on this web site and 'make' him read it....course if he's not inta it it won't work. Can lead an ass to water but can't make him drown...Good luck....we got a family doc that is up on all this jazz which is purdy dam cool and he's located close so it's worked fer us.....for now at least ! :)