Migraine update

[fireandearth]

I had an appointment with my neurologist yesterday. I've been seeing her for nearly a decade, and in the past I've noticed that she hasn't really been interested in discussing migraine triggering foods or behaviors. She mostly looks at my headache log and wants to give me more drugs. And honestly mostly I've been happy on my maintenance medications. I've been resisting her efforts to increase my medication dosages for several years now. She did introduce me many years ago to Singulair, which definitely had/has a positive impact, but she doesn't think being on fewer maintenance medications/lower doses should be a goal.

This time I brought her my headache logs and brought up the big (and surprise) impacts that experimenting with dietary changes had made and expressed interest in exploring that further. Her response was that it was "nearly impossible to identify food triggers" and that any improvements I see by changing my diet are "entirely due to the placebo effect" and won't last. When I asked about the migraine triggers I've known about for years she shrugged and shook her head.

So it's time for a new neurologist who can actually help me and is willing to take my experiences seriously. My maintenance medication prescriptions have all be renewed for a year and I am now completely sure it's time to find a new doctor, so the visit was worthwhile.

I did get a prescription to go back to my previous lower dose of Inderal/propranalol since increasing it last year didn't have any effect. In exchange I got an additional prescription for Elavil/amitriptyline to take in the morning as well as the ones I've been taking at night for years. I don't plan to take the new ones. Instead I think that in a couple of months I'll start shopping for a new neurologist who knows something about food triggers.


Does anyone have a good neurologist in DC/Northern Virginia/Southern Maryland who can work with me to determine food triggers and who doesn't just want to give me more drugs?

Comments

[reedrover]

My neurologist was very encouraging (in a quiet, non-pressuring kind of way) for me to take as few drugs as possible. And, as I've said before, I was very pleased with how he addressed my allergy-triggered migraines. So I called his office, figuring that if he didn't want to talk food journals, he would know who to call. From his office, I got the recommendation that you contact Dr. Leah Kroeger (pronounced Lee-ah Kreeger) - (703) 257-7180.

[fireandearth]

Thank you for the recommendation!

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

That sounds hugely frustrating, particularly from a long time doc. I hope Reedrover's suggestion pans out well.

[dreamtigress.livejournal.com]

I will add my hopes that you can find a doctor more willing to listen and work with you. I've just gotten to switch back to my former PCP, and didn't realize quite how much I'd missed him until our 'first' appointment last week. In 45 minutes, he asked more questions and got more accomplished for my care than a year of appointments at my former clinic. Having a doctor who listens, and treats you as an adult it wonderful!

[kushielsfire.livejournal.com]

I look forward to hearing what you find out!

[labrynthos.livejournal.com]

Well, that's annoying. I hope you can find someone better. Good luck!

[skill-grl.livejournal.com]

My boss goes to a practice that has helped her and her mother (or mother in law?). I'll get the info on Tuesday.

[fireandearth]

That would be helpful. Thanks!

[grum]

How infuriating. Good planning with the 1 last visit so you have a full year of refills to use while trying to find the replacement. I wish more of my patients were that forward thinking.