Posted by Todd (64.34.202.197) on November 09, 2000 at 23:04:46:
In Reply to: medication posted by Dolores on November 09, 2000 at 18:31:38:
Is your sister in law upset because you overstepped the boundries for a "mere layperson" or because you learned about Topomax here on the message board? Of course, either is medical elitism.
I'd have to suggest that you stop defending yourself to her. Your hubby's doctor prescribed Topomax..all you did was raise the subject. Your SIL isn't about to be swayed by a bunch of lay person testimonials, and she probably won't accept anything any of us have to say.
You can, and I assume have already, check the pharmacology links through the "headache links" button at the left, but that too would probably not carry much weight with ol' Sis.
So why not try this? First, challenge her back as to why she's upset about this. What does she know about CH and Topomax? What research has she done? Then, if she still has an attitude, ask her to call your hubby's doc and discuss it "pro to pro".
Here are a couple of tips:
If she claims that CH is a migraine variant, she isn't up to date.
If she's never heard of Topomax as a migraine treatment and that it's being studied for CH, she isn't up to date.
If she thinks CH is a vascular headache, she isn't up to date.
If she doesn't recommend O2 and verapamil as the first two treatments of choice (with the qualifier that if your hubby has already tried these with no success and she knows that, okay), she doesn't know what she's talking about.
Oh, and if she doesn't understand that you should be congratulated and thanked for all the effort you put forth to try to help your husband, she should call Oprah's Doc Phil.
Remember, 50% of all nurses graduated in the bottom 1/2 of their class. :-)