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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Medicare
        
(Message started by: Why_me on Jan 28^th, 2005, 10:54pm)

Title: Medicare
Post by Why_me on Jan 28^th, 2005, 10:54pm

I was just wondering if I am the only one who has NO benefits and a bunch of doctors who don't know anything? The only doctor I had who tried to help me has recently moved out of his practice and into the ER. The only medication I can get on a regular basis is OTC Advil Migraine and tylenol. I have been using these forever since the doctors I have seen don't know anything and my medicare is bottom of the barrel, by the way my frickin' boss makes about 4 million a year, not a word of a lie, I work in granite and marble kitchens, did 3 hotels last year, the wonderful man gives us benefits (BASIC MEDICAL not extended and NO dental) cheap bastard. What does it take to get proper benefits in this country. Sorry just couldn't hold it in any longer. If it wasn't for my wife and all of you here I would be totally alone in the dark. Thanks for the ear. No reply necessary.

Title: Re: Medicare
Post by sandie99 on Jan 29^th, 2005, 4:54am

[smiley=hug.gif]

Bad docs... been there, met them.

I hope you'll find meds which work! There's lots of info in this site to help you out.

PFdays & best wishes,
Sandie

Title: Re: Medicare
Post by don on Jan 29^th, 2005, 9:26am

2 words.

New employer.

Title: Re: Medicare
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jan 29^th, 2005, 12:58pm

Because Cluster is such an uncommon disorder it's hard to find a doc with experience and knowledge unless you happen to live in a larger urban area. When you see how many medical specialities there are you have evidence of the reality that there is more knowledge than any one person could have.

Next best: find a doc who is willing to work with you and then you provide him with MEDICAL literature to help him learn how to treat you. I've written several times about my Rheumatologist who has come to trust me to show him what and I want to try and why. He doesn't know squat about clusters either but when I can give him an article, book, etc. which he respects--we work well together.

I'd suggest investing in the second book, written by an excellent headache doc for docs. If a doc you approach is willing to work under this arrangement you may have found a winner. Folks here can feed you medical literature.
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HANDBOOK OF HEADACHE MANAGEMENT, 2nd ed., Au. Joel Saper, MD, 1999, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. A highly condensed volume for doctors but good for "advanced" clusterheads who have a grasp of medical terminology and medications. Covers all types of headache with the section on cluster being brief. Sections on general considerations in treatment and on medications are important.

MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE AND HEADACHE MEDICATIONS, 2nd ed. Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D.; pub. by Springer. $49 at Amazon.Com. This volume is better organized and easier to read for nonprofessionals compared to Saper's book. It covers all types of headache and is primarily focused on medications. While the two chapters on CH total 42-pages, the actual relevant material is longer because of multiple references to material in chapters on migraine, reflecting the overlap in drugs used to treat. I'd suggest reading the chapters on migraine for three reasons: he makes references to CH & medications which are not in the index; there are "clinical pearls" about how to approach the treatment of headache; and, you gain better perspective on the nature of headache, in general, and the complexities of treatment (which need to be considered when we create expectations about what is possible). Finally, women will appreciate & benefit from his running information on hormones/menstrual cycles as they affect headache. Chapter on headache following head trauma, also. Obviously, I'm impressed with Robbins' work (even if the book needs the touch of a good editor!) (Somewhat longer review/content statement at 3/22/00, "Good book....")

Title: Re: Medicare
Post by Night_Zombie on Jan 30^th, 2005, 4:32am

Its good to know that crap docs are global, but that good ones do exist, its just a added pain to try and find one!!