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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Very1st Doc Visit
        
(Message started by: Smartin on Dec 30^th, 2003, 5:39pm)

Title: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by Smartin on Dec 30^th, 2003, 5:39pm

Thanks to all who counseled me on taking the right info to the doc. This was my first visit to ask for help with CH. My GP was skeptical at first and tried to classify the HA's as migranes. The more I insisted otherwise, the more he became resistant. I finally just asked him to read the info I brought and then we could talk.

He left for 20 minutes then returned with a scrip for 120 mg of Verapamil ER, 10 samples of 5 mg Zomig inhalers, and said he was working over my insurance carrier to get some O2 delivered this week, though it might take longer as they were not too receptive without a specialist script. He was impressed with my knowledge and the info I brought along. He was not too interested in sending me to a Neuro at the moment because I am now on the downside of my cycle. he thought that we could wait till later in the summer to try to stop the cycle before it starts up again.

Any comments on the above treatment would be greatly appreciated. I am only experiencing 5 or 6 kip now and am sleeping through the night. So I don't think I'll be using the Zomig much. The inhalers were more convenient for him and free. Will the Verapamil be enough? Is the once a day effective?

Again thanks so much.

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by BlueMeanie on Dec 30^th, 2003, 5:47pm

Great News.

That's a good start for the first visit. Hope the O2 works out for you. I guess that prooves this sight can be alot of help. Are you getting the NON-rebreather mask ? I ask, because I tried the tubes up the nose. It didn't work. There wasn't enough flow to tackle the Beast. Gonna try again on Jan. 16th. I found a new Neuro who will hopefully be as receptive as your doc.

thanks jonny !

PFDAN

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by jonny on Dec 30^th, 2003, 5:48pm

You did good, you did really good first time out. Most dont do half that good.

If you think your cycle is ending just go with the 120 verap like your Doc said, only time will tell if the Zomig and 02 will work.

..................................jonny

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by thomas on Dec 30^th, 2003, 5:54pm

Ch.com strikes again. Way to go. Thanks DJ. :)

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by River_Rat on Dec 30^th, 2003, 6:01pm

I use Verelin PM 200MG twice a day, I don't really know how that compares to your Verapamil ER, MiliGram wise. I know that Verelin PM is Verapamil and it really seams to help, but the dosages could be way different.

I also use Imitrex injections.

and last cycle I used Amerge 2.5MG morning and night, that shit really worked for me.

PFDAN
Lee

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by thomas on Dec 30^th, 2003, 6:05pm

on 12/30/03 at 18:01:35, River_Rat wrote:

and last cycle I used Amerge 2.5MG morning and night, that shit really worked for me.

Me too, shit worked great, fucking insurance company wont let me have it anymore. Oh well at least I can still get zomig. (just have to wait a frickin hour for it to work)

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by Renee on Dec 30^th, 2003, 6:08pm

ask for a traveling tank of o2 also that comes with a shoulder strap. ya never know when you will get hit and not be around home. I have a tank for home, office and a smaller traveling tank with the shoulder strap and i just take my regulator with me everywhere i go.

congrats on getting so far so quickly. you are very lucky.

I just started using the verap about 2 weeks ago but had to go off of it a couple of days ago. It is originally prescribed to lower blood pressure and since my normal bp is already very low the verap just crashed my bp. of course i'm most likely alot smaller in size than you so you might be just fine. my rx was for 180 mg once daily and i weight 124 lbs.

good luck and like they said...get a NON-breather mask also.

renee

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by stevegeebe on Dec 30^th, 2003, 6:31pm

Outstanding.

Send him an invoice.

Steve G

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by don on Dec 30^th, 2003, 6:35pm

Holy Shit-ka-bobs!

Congrats to you and your Doc.

You for doing your homework and your Doc for his willingness to learn. You may have just saved the next sufferer coming through his door from a mis diagnosis.

If your Patient/Doc relationship grows as it has started why will you need a neuro? Stick with this guy and go put his name up on the Suggested Docs page at OUCH .

The verap may not be enough but that is a sort of trial and error arrangement anyway. If you need a higher dosage, express that to him. Sounds to me like he is willing to let you participate in your own treatment.

Refreashing!

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by Linda_Howell on Dec 30^th, 2003, 6:41pm

refreshing for sure.

We need to keep this to the top for a while.

Ya done good Smartin

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by 5-string on Dec 30^th, 2003, 6:47pm

Hey Smartin,
Glad to hear it went well.
I got pretty much the same thing when I saw my neuro the first time, except I got Imitrex inhalers in place of Zomig.
The Verapamil pulled me right out of cycle. I'm still on 120mg a day. I hope your stuff works for you...seeya,
...Mark.

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by Cerberus on Dec 30^th, 2003, 7:39pm

Fuckineh...........BUMP!

Ramon

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by Patrick_A on Dec 30^th, 2003, 7:53pm

That is very good news to hear. Everyone likes a success story.

I was in mid cycle and my Neuro put me on 240mgs of Verapamil and 60mgs of Prednisone. That stopped mine in its tracks. I hope the 120 works for you. I know of some people who are on 960mgs a day.

Good job, Patrick :)

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by Smartin on Dec 31^st, 2003, 1:07pm

Y'all have made me feel so frickin great.

Just to let others know, I took the following info with me to the doc:

*the cluster quiz with it filled out with my answers. This was the best at communicating my symptons and not leaving anything out.
*the kip scale so the doc could understand my pain levels. this was great.
*the CH description and treatments from the OUCH site.

Hope this is helpful to others.

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by jonny on Dec 31^st, 2003, 3:15pm

on 12/31/03 at 13:07:08, Smartin wrote:

Hope this is helpful to others.

It will be bro, more than you know!!

Was out your way a year ago, in Mesa...Stayed at a place between baseline and 60....great weather for January....LOL ;;D

..........................jonny

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by Smartin on Dec 31^st, 2003, 3:28pm

hey Jonny,

I live in Tempe between Southern and 60, just west of the 101. I can spit on Mesa I'm so close. My office is right in the middle of downtown Tempe, I'll be leaving soon cause the Fiesta Bowl Block Party is gettin ready to kick off. Being a former Buckeye from Toledo, I'm pretty stoaked that OSU is back again this year.

Have a great new year. And come visit again, I'd love to meet another clusterhead and show you around our fair desert. 8)

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by jonny on Dec 31^st, 2003, 3:35pm

Ill do that Bro.....should be out there this spring....i'll introduce you to a few clusterheads in that area, there are lots of them thats why I go out every year.

Have a safe one Dude!!

.............................jonny

Title: Re: Very1st Doc Visit
Post by Prense on Dec 31^st, 2003, 6:19pm

Outstanding!

Neuros are not always necessary...especially when you have a GP that is genuinely helpful. If you ever feel you must see a neuro, don't wait until you are in cycle. Some neuros take a month or better to get in. Other than that, don't let an O2 tank run dry!

Chris