Posted by Chris Buckmaster (152.158.23.45) on February 18, 2000 at 05:44:51:
I have finally gotten my family doctor to refer me to a neurologist. I was originally diagnosed some 18 years ago - migranous neuralgia (aka CHA).
Biggest problem is getting medication. Prior to the advent of Sumatriptan (Immigran/Immitrex) there was basically nothing. They tried lots of things - the typical migraine stuff - to no avail.
Now, I find that Sumatriptan tabs (100mg) will stop a CHA in its tracks if I get it down during the shadow phase - but not always. And it's no damn good at all for the wake up jobs (already running well up the Kip scale!)
However, after much badgering, the guy tried me on both the nasal spray and the jabs. Nasal spray not a lot of help when I wake up with one (already going at Kip6/7 - I'm a deep sleeper!) but the injection works like a charm.
Now the problem - COST, COST, COST. Here in the UK we have this thing called a National Health Service. In principle it works great - any medication you need for a standard price. However, the doc is less than happy with the very high cost of the jabs (around $32 or £20)- in fact he's not all that impressed with the cost of the tabs which is less than half (around $13 or £8). He's now referred me to a neuro.
What I need help with is getting some 'ammunition' to go to the neuro with so that I can get this guy switched around. Things like:
What's the best preventative
What's the best immediate treatment
etc.
I have a whole bunch of info from this (and other sites) which I have printed off, but any additional data will help.
Oh, and please, if you specify treatments, can you cite the drug's pharmaceutical name rather than its trade name (i.e. Sumatriptan not Immitrex) since there are national naming variations.
Meanwhile, the good news is that I appear to be coming to the end of this current cluster (it's been 6 weeks and I've had a couple of real belters during that - I was looking for a Kip value greater than 10 to describe them - went in to work eventually but with this large area on the front of my head almost devoid of skin and black and blue).
Thanks in advance for all and any assistance in this quest - all tips for dealing with the medical profession appreciated -
L&K Chris.
P.S. apologies for the rambling post, but I'm getting tired of the run around - C