Posted by Don W. (64.6.71.181) on January 17, 2001 at 09:40:59:
I've been in a cluster now for a month and (for other reasons) just spent 2 weeks in the hospital. While there I had doctor's orders for imitrex injections and lidocaine nasal spray.
Has anyone else found themselves seemingly continuously battling nurses in this situation? I was continuously told to try laying quietly in a dark room, leaving me almost screaming, "This is NOT a migraine!" Then there's the nurses who decide to psychoanalyze me during a headache. This was an actual conversation I had after getting my imitrex shot while I was waiting for it to kick in:
Nurse: So, what's happening?
Me: I'm having a headache.
Nurse: No, I mean what's causing it?
Me: (Starting to growl) No one really knows.
Nurse: Well, you seem to have a lot of these. Is something bothering you?
Me: (Very emphatic) THEY ARE CALLED CLUSTER HEADACHES BECAUSE THEY COME IN CLUSTERS!!
Nurse: (Backing off a bit from me) What can I do to help?
Me: Can I just be alone for awhile??
Then there were nurses who treated me like I was just wanting drugs to get high while I was there, even though I pointed to my chart, told them to check the records and reminded them that I never asked for narcotics and, in fact, when one kind doctor ordered a shot of narcotics for me I refused it. Then I'd explain that there is no "high" to imitrex.
Well, that's enough venting for now. I think if I ever have to go in the hospital again while I'm in a cluster I'm going to get a T-shirt that says "No! It is not a migraine.