Have I displayed drug seeking behavior??

[elthia]

I really scared myself today.

I've been having debilitating migraines, that last 5-10 days. Horrible, nasty migraines with dizziness, tinnitus, stabbing pains, photophobia, phonophobia, diarrhea, and intractable n/v. Yes, I have been taking my topamax. Yes, I have started seeing a neurologist, and he started me on elavil and doubled my topamax dosage. I am actually having almost daily migraines, and I take Axert, if the axert x2 doesn't work then the sucker last a week, give or take 3 days. Phenergan po or supp doesn't work, zofran po occasionally works, I've lost 8 pounds in the past month from n/v, I have NO paid time off left or sick leave left, I'm probably going to have to file FMLA if I want to keep my job.

Insurance only pays for 6 axert a month. that translates to 3-6 migraines a month. I am having almost daily migraines right now. So I got very panicky and had a complete meltdown when I ran out when my pharmacy was closed yesterday( my pharmacy has limited weekend hours). Axert is $21.00 a pill in the US. My script was written for 15 pills a month, insurance would only pay for 6, so the pharmacy only filled for 6, and when I called this morning and requested the other pills that I would pay out of pocket for, the tech said I would have to wait because it was 3 weeks too early to fill the scipt. At the time of the conversation I was having an aura, and I told her that. I called as soon as they opened. I almost had a panic attack, I couldn't get her to understand that if the script was for 15 and only filled for 6 then technically I was still 9 pills short for the month. Well I finally got the pharmacist, who allowed me to pick up 6 more pills, but too late. It took 45 minutes to get them, took one, then later took another. Went to work and had to leave early because I was dizzy and puking my guts out. My head is just killing me.

I was so terrified of having another full blown migraine, I didn't think I could lose my cool that way. I was almost yelling at the tech. I need to get off the computer, it's hurting my eyes, thanks for letting me vent

[Kidrn911]

I am so sorry you have migraines. I suffer too. I have had a difficult time getting into a neurologist to get my refill. I was actually told to risk losing my job to take an appointment, which my job pays for the insurance.

[sherylchaynes]

Sorry about your really bad migraine, but have you tried finding out what triggers your migraine? I have migraine and they can be really bad but they are usually triggered by something I know I shouldn't have done or should have done.

I am really not a fan of drugs and so I really have to be literally at my witts end before I take somthing.

Good luck it finding a solution for your migraine.

[NeuroICURN]

Need to rule out arteriovenous malformation along with the other things mentioned.

You have my utmost sympathy.

omg...I can't believe I forgot to mention that! Thanks!

Also, thanks to whoever mentioned about the PFO...I've seen a LOT of people with PFOs, but never knew there was a link with migraines. I'll have to look more into that. See....you learn something everyday.

[Rnandsoccermom]

I feel for you! I've also had migraines since I was a young teenager. MD put me on frovatriptan recently and it has helped tremendously. I'm over 40 and I find they are getting bad again-hormones out of whack. I've been trying to get one for two days now-I just keep taking my meds to fend it off.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

omg...I can't believe I forgot to mention that! Thanks!

Also, thanks to whoever mentioned about the PFO...I've seen a LOT of people with PFOs, but never knew there was a link with migraines. I'll have to look more into that. See....you learn something everyday.

That's for sure, thanks to the poster with the link for PFO's.

[doe9181]

My script was written for 15 pills a month, insurance would only pay for 6, so the pharmacy only filled for 6, and when I called this morning and requested the other pills that I would pay out of pocket for, the tech said I would have to wait because it was 3 weeks too early to fill the scipt. At the time of the conversation I was having an aura, and I told her that. I called as soon as they opened. I almost had a panic attack, I couldn't get her to understand that if the script was for 15 and only filled for 6 then technically I was still 9 pills short for the month.

I used to be a pharmacy tech and if the prescription was written for 15 tablets and you were willing to pay out of pocket for the remaining after the 6, the tech should of let you. You had a valid prescription, It's just that the insurance company would only cover 6. This happened a lot when I worked. We would just fill the remainder of the prescriptions for cash if the patient requested. Perhaps the tech was new or maybe the laws are different where you live. I would mention this next time you are filling it though because it's worth a try. Hope you feel better.

[justme1972]

Not sure if this helps, but you also may want to see a dentist who has an oral surgeon also at the practice.

A friend of mine had crippling migraines for years until she discovered that they were caused by a jaw misalignment that a very minor surgery corrected.

[doe9181]

Also as Kunzieo suggested, a prior authorization might work. I have seen it work for many people before so it's worth a try. I would also try toradol or even relpax or one of the other migraine medications. And that ED needs to be shut down and the nurse that said you weren't getting Morphine from her should be fired (ok maybe not that extreme but at least disciplined). How could you call yourself a nurse and not treat a person's pain?:angryfire

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

Not sure if this helps, but you also may want to see a dentist who has an oral surgeon also at the practice.

A friend of mine had crippling migraines for years until she discovered that they were caused by a jaw misalignment that a very minor surgery corrected.

I havr heard of this....called TMJ?????

[KarenGeorgeBSRN]

Hi All,

Breaking an acute cycle is relevant; meaning a class II injected or IVP might have saved you from further pain and broken the cycle. If you do have NIP (nonmalignant intractable pain) find a good PM specialist in order your pain is treated properly; ERs are notorious for looking at the wrong side of medical care and interventions in regards to "any pain."

Peace,

Karen G.

Thanks for all the replies.

It's 24 hours after I took the first axert and still have migraine. I'm taking phenergan and aleve right now, wearing sunglasses in the house, and have called in to work.

I guess I'm just sensitve, cause with the last migraine I had, I had to go to the ED twice, on day 6 and day 9, and the staff treated me like crap.

On day 9 I had been having n/v for 7 days straight (by the way I have fired by family practitioner as soon as I got my neurology consult) and was having esophogeal spasms that mimicked angina. It was true chest pain, just not cardiac, and boy did it hurt. Scared my husband to death. He ran into to the ED yelling we need help she's having chest pain, the staff handed him a w/c and said, "we're busy, you'll have to put her in a w/c yourself. " Wheeled me in, I was grabbing my chest, breathing heavy, diaphoretic, moaning, and alternately vomiting, after which I would grab my chest again.

Staff recognized me from earlier in the week, when I was in for status migraine with intractable n/v, and it took over an hour to even have my vitals taken, and 1 1/2 hour to have an EKG done, and this is a hospital that had an empty waiting room. It was me and one other pt in the waiting room! My husband was getting ready to take me AMA from the ED to other hospital in town. Finally after a big ruckus, with the nursing supervisor involved I was triaged, back in a room, "treated", but I never did recieve any pain meds, I did get treated for migraine. Literally. Left in a dark room, no call light in reach, husband out talking to supervisor, not on monitor or even blood pressure cuff. Of course once the compazine kicked in and I stopped vomiting, the esophageal spasms stopped and the chest pain eased up. the MD and the staff treated me like I was faking the whole thing to get fasttracked back to get treated for migraine, and never even wanted to discuss the chest pain. My ribcage and chest was sore for a week, especially after hiccuping. How do you fake diaphoresis when you are under constant survellance? The sweat was literally pouring off me, the EKG tech had a hard time getting the leads to stick. I even overheard one of the nurses say "no way is she getting morphine from me." I never have asked for narcotics at this ED. The only medicine I ever requested was ZOFRAN.

I'm terrified of having to go back to that ED ever again. At the time it was happening I was terrified that the prolonged vomiting had either led to an elyte imbalance and cardiac dysrythmia or an esophogeal tear. It hurt that bad. When we can, we are changing HMO's so that we can recieve care at the other hospital in town.

[katie258]

Isn't it funny how migraines react so differently in different people? Personally I take two aspalgin ( aspirin and codiene), turn on the air con and go to sleep. It usually is resolved by the time I wake up. We also use IV paracetamol or toradol with good effect. I still remember my first migraine, thirteen years old and dry retching in the street, the treatment of choice then was morph and maxalon. Good luck with finding out what is causing all this pain.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

Not sure if this helps, but you also may want to see a dentist who has an oral surgeon also at the practice.

A friend of mine had crippling migraines for years until she discovered that they were caused by a jaw misalignment that a very minor surgery corrected.

I fortunetly went to a dental specialist for TMJ and was made a molded mouthpiece to wear at hs, and 6 weeks od intense oral physical therapy. That blew me away the knowledge the PT provider had and taught me to relieve the unimaginable muscles we have tucked away in tne mouth. The mouth piece helped so much.

I also suffer from esophageal spasms from whooping cough complications. And I hear ya about the "attitude" from the ER staff. Early on with the illness and no dx, I had collapsed at work. Went un diagnosed for 4 months, coughing so hard my rectum was falling out and vomiting, and the "FIRED NOW' Dr. wrote physchogenic ad a diagnosis in my hospital chart. Unbeleivable......

I wish you the best luck and blessing in finding a great neurologist, mine actually has a migraine HA clinic system set up to help the patients within the practice.

Peace Out

Sharona