Headaches What Type of Doctor to See?

I would go to his normal doc, they can prescribe Imitrex, or there may be something new out there. That doc can then also recommend a specialist if needed, but get the drugs now...they help so much!

I am a migraine sufferer here--so much so that I am on disability because of it. So here goes. Go to a neurologist specializing in migraines. Get a referral and don't take no, let's try this first....

In the meantime--look at his diet. I personally cannot eat chocolate, alcohol of any type (sorry), and cheese. Try eliminating these because these are the most common triggers for migraines. When he feels a migraine coming on don't wait to take the meds--take it immediately. Put on sunglasses. I even have to wear them in a dark room. Fresh air helps me, especially when it is cold like now. Meditate--it does help in learning to control the pain. When you lay down, lay on your pack lfat, put ice on the back of your neck, there is research that shows that is one of the best things you can do. I also put ice on my forehead.

Do some research on the net and find out as much as you can about what is happening about migraines.

People will tell you to go to a naturopath. My neurologist is really great. He uses both herbs, vitamins and drugs as appropriate. He is at Group Health. His name is Dr. Scearce. He is nationally known as one of the best in the treatment of migraines. He is also a great doctors.

Some over the counter stuff that he recommends that I take and made a difference are: Petadolex (butterburr- but take only petadolex I get it at SuperSupplements) CoQ-10 and Vitamin B 2 -200 (I take Vitamin B complex). But I recommend that you talk to your doctor before you take these meds because migraines need to be addressed individually.

Next time your husband has a bad headache take him into the hospital, they can give him a shot that will relieve the pain and any nausea. That is one big advance that they have made.

Neurologist most definitely. A neurologist can accurately diagnose what type of migraines he gets and the best medication for the type of migraine. They also do a battery of tests to ensure there is no neurological (nerve) damage. Hope he feels better soon!!!

Adult Neurologist. Many specialize in migraines. Try to get a referral to UWA or Swedish.

Couple that with Accupuncture and your sure to get results that will either abort the migraine before it gets going or have a treatment protocol when he has one.

I know of a person who had migraine headaches and no one helped her until she went to a naturopath and had B-Complex in large doses and I think shots of B-Complex or at least B-12.

Also, migraines can be caused by a lot of different things. Try a cranio-sacrial massage therapist. Try to find a really good one - one that is gentle in touch. I have had a couple of cranio-sacrial massage therapist (a very elite specialty) and one had a rough touch and the one with the gentle touch has done me more good then even a chiro.

Good luck
N.

Neurologist, you may need to have a referal.. I have cronic migraines, but I now take beta blockers. It hs saved my life.. There is no over the counter meds that help.
I once was so ill with migraines, went to the Er and found it it was spinal menengitis.. That is how bad migraines feel.

Hi, I got migraines, really awful ones, for over 10 years. They would make me completely nauseated and I would end up throwing up over and over. You can go to a neurologist or migraine specialist and they do tests to tell you if you are getting migraines. Then they give you drugs to take. Not all work for all people. The medication did not work well for me and made me feel weird. I would get all stuffed up as well and thought maybe the two were related so I also saw sinus and allergy specialists. They did not help me any either! After talking to a friend who has a daughter with food allergies I did an "elimination diet" for 2 weeks. Then I started adding back in foods. It turns out I was getting migraines from the foods I was eating! They have all these msg-like ingredients in almost EVERYTHING these days. You husband can try this if he likes. I follow what they say on the "battling the msg myth" webpages. You can google it. Here is a list of the ingredients I avoid (http://www.msgmyth.com/hidename.htm). I also now avoid sulfides (in wine and a lot of dried fruit) and nitrates (in lunch meat, ham, bacon although you can find nitrate free stuff too). It's crazy but it worked! I have not had a migraine for 4 years!!!! I read that for a huge percentage of people who get migraines, this is probably the cause. Good luck to your hubby!

Hi Lenc,

I am so sorry to hear about your husbands migraines. I too suffer from them, so I know how horrible they are. I used to get them every day, and now get them only once a month or so.

There are prescriptions to treat migraines; I am on a few of them. A neurologist can certainly help you with medications and dosages.

I live in Bellevue, but I see a neurologist at University Medical Center in Seattle who is just amazing. His name is Dr. Eric Kraus. The phone number for the neurology clinic is ###-###-####.

You probbly need to start with your primary care doctor (if you have one) and get a referral to the the neurology clinic and for Dr Kraus. The clinic is in the hospital proper. If he doesn't have appointments available, the othe doctor there I would recommend is Dr. Patricia Oaks. I've seen her as well, and she is very good.

Good luck, and I hope your husband feels better soon! Feel free to shoot me a private message if you have any specific questions I can help you with.

M.

Migranes can be caused by allergies. Find out what he is allergic to and eliminate that from his diet. If it's the cat find it a new home. Your husband's health is more important than the pet.
Advil does nothing. When I had those wallbangers years ago I took ASPIRIN 1000 milligrams and it could get me up an running.
What stopped them for 17 years was the right homeopathic remedy. I don't get them anymore.

Start with a primary care physician, then move to a neurologist if needed. There are wonderful medications out now, that if taken on the onset, can almost instantly relieve a migraine before it becomes too intense. I've had migraines since I was 5 - they stink. Been to neurologists and the best advice I can offer to get to the root of why he is having them is to keep a diary of food and activities for each day. I did this and found that any foods containing msg triggered migraines for me. Also lack of sleep or too much sleep. Smells can bring one on instantly - I cannot wear or be around anyone with perfume. My migraines have gotten less frequent since having children, so I believe a big part is hormones as well. (maybe not so much for men) Try a chiropractor - I've heard they can really help if they are good. Best of luck and hoping you can all find relief!

has he always had headaches? He may want to go get his eyes checked. One of the biggest indicators of an eye problem is headaches and if one eye is better then the other it is hard for the person with the problem to notice. Excedrin works better for headaches/migraines then tylenol or advil. Also to see a specialist he will probably need to go to his regular doctor to get a referral for the insurance to cover it.

Well I do think you should seek out professional help if this continues and increases in severity - I know of a girl who had a brain tumor and disregarded the signs....
YET, I would like you to try this alternative approach and see if it helps. Give your husband (this worked for my daughter) give them daily the following:
Feverfew, Magnesium, B-2
Take all three of these twice a day - regardless of headache or not - it will help him not have headaches. If he does get a migraine (in addition to those items) take the maximum dose IMMEDIATELY of having pain of Advil (for example 2 of them) do not wait until it is full blown to take something, or it will be too late - at the first sign take the maximum dose. It will put it out that way.
Just keep taking those supplements above, they are completely safe (even for kids) and will help his migraines stop. It works !

If you don't want to buy the supplements individually you can buy it all in one product:

http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Migrelief-60-tablets/dp/B00...

When I was first diagnosed with my migraines I went to my reg doctor. He did a CAT scan to make sure there was nothing physiologically wrong then prescribed me Immatrex. At that time I was getting them so bad that I would wake up with it and go to bed with it and they lasted for DAYS. I still get them pretty bad but not as often.

I have tried Imatrex, Zomig, and Neurontin to help with my migraines. Your husband is correct in saying that Advil does nothing for these kind of headaches. The best remedy I have found is OTC migraine pills (exedrin or advil Migraine) a cool dark quiet room and a cold washcloth for my forehead.

The most important thing with any migraine meds is to take them at onset, not after it is full blown otherwise you might as well be taking sugar pills. These headaches (for me at least) are very debilitating.

Chiropractor. But, don't go to just anyone. If you have a FB account - ask your friends if they recommend anyone. I LOVE my chiro. I've seen him for everything, including headaches and got relief. No need to get on meds for this, if you don't have to!

Best wishes,
M.

Excedrine Migraine helps a lot! I actually have to take a preventive medication called Topamax nightly so that I don't get migraines! He needs to see the doctor, there are many good medications that he can get that he can take at the onset of a headache so that he can go on with his life. I have heard accupuncture can help also, but since my insurance does not pay for that I have stayed with the traditional medical practices.

Start with your regular doctor and go from there. I agree with the food elimination diet as a lot of migraines are food triggered. If he is getting them once a week is there something new he has started eating on certain days? (Going out to lunch once a week at a new place for example.) Here is a website with common migraine triggers - not just foods. http://uhs.berkeley.edu/home/healthtopics/pdf/triggers.pdf

Good luck and I hope he gets relief soon. Migraines are not fun.

I'd begin with his primary care physician.

You might also try to see an osteopath. Osteopaths (a DO - doctor of osteopathy) are neurologists, who complete the same training and schooling as medical doctors. DOs integrate musculoskeletal alignment into their treatment, making very gentle (you don't even feel anything) adjustments to get the body working properly again (muscles, bones, joints, organs, brain, emotions, etc.). It's a very holistic approach to health and I think people have had some good luck for migranes using this form of treatment.

I just spoke with Dr. Harold Agner, DO yesterday, he's in Bellevue and he shared lots of good information over the phone about what he does. His number is ###-###-####. If you look for one, be sure to look up Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, vs. Osteopath. My insurance company lists them separate and they show 'Ostepath' as something different than what I have described.