Headaches, TPAPN.

Nurses Recovery

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I have started having these headaches and am not sure the cause. They are getting to where they are interfering with my daily life, lasting up to a couple days, even through the night. Last night I was having strange thoughts, seeing flashes of lights (only a couple times). I believe they are migraines. Thing is, I have never had this before. I am 40, no health problems and I take no meds for anything. The strange thing is, ibuprofen has not helped at all. I have never not had ibuprofen provide at least some relief for pain. I tried Excedrin Migraine as well and that just kept me up all night, awake with a headache.

So, I was thinking of seeing my doctor today. I never go to the doctor and have not seen one while in monitoring d/t no meds. My DOC is alcohol. I have done well to fly under the radar, not seeking medical help at times as I do not want to have to bring in all the Tpapn forms and have a doctor fill it out for prescribing me something like amoxicillin. But now, with 4 months left I think I am going to have to! I am hoping to try something preventative like imitrex or propanolol. I honestly don't know if I need a CT to rule out something. The strange thoughts I mention, are just like picturing the wrong thing in my head for the word I mean. For example, I was lying in bed last night thinking about texting my house "sup" but pictured it spelled soup and thought of chicken noodle. Does that make any sense? Am I losing my mind?? Any migraine sufferers out there? and if so, is that what it is like?

This post is all over the place I know. I guess what I am asking is, do I have to report every med prescribed? I really don't know since I haven't dealt with it. I have mentioned this before but I am on my 4th case manager in less than 3 years and have no rapport with her.

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I see a place in Affinity to add prescriptions. Is this the new process? Do I have to fax over an entire assessment form along with an Rx for something like Imitrex?? It is in the safe drugs class A list on Talbotts..

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Specializes in OR.

Sweets, you have to care of you, above all. Go see your PCP. See what they recommend. CT to rule out anything scary is none of any programs business. IF the need arises then notify your CM. I find it utterly ridiculous that we are frightened away from taking care of our own health needs. Tell me again how that has anything to do with monitoring or nursing or dignity?

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Yep, when I entered TPAPN, reading the absolute letter of their rules states that you must get ALL your docs to fill out that stupid form for ANY med they prescribe. In fact, I think they tell you your doctor has to fill out the form (the one that says you're safe to return to work, you're compliant with meds etc) even if they don't prescribe anything, for every single appointment! Even a dermatologist! I entered TPAPN with this "sees all, knows all" vision of TPAPN, and it took me two years to realize that they are not gonna know if I go to a doctor! Unless I tell them. They have way too much to do to bother our docs to see if maybe we've been in for an appointment and didn't tell TPAPN. (yes they have the contact info and we signed the forms saying they could share our info, but honestly they don't have the time for that). I eventually realized that, & I started going to doctors again. I never told TPAPN anything about any of my appointments though. I continued to tell them that yes, my PCP is Dr. XYZ, when in fact she'd quit practice and I haven't gotten another one. Because if I told them that she wasn't my PCP they'd insist on getting all that info on whoever my new PCP was, I was afraid they'd hound me on that, and on getting a new PCP .

I actually had a colonoscopy, with all of those sedation drugs, and didn't tell TPAPN. I had intended to ask someone on the day of the procedure to sign the stupid thing, but it was too hectic and didn't happen, and they gave me a list of meds I'd received, so I intended to fax that in if I ended up being selected to test...but I wasn't.

So my point is go see a doctor. Get your tests. Get your meds. TPAPN won't know unless you tell them. Now if the prescribed meds are on the Talbots's list of meds you can't have, you will have to tell them, along with getting your doctor to sign that form...but I bet if you take time you can def find a migraine med that is allowed on talbots list. And yes, technically that should be reported too, but I probably wouldn't bother to do, they aren't testing for any and all substances, if you take Imitrex, for example, I think that's fine. Now Klonopin is NOT. So you'll need to do your homework, or even print off the list and bring it with you to your appointment so you don't walk out with something you can't take.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

Yes, go to the doctor. I suffered migraines from my teens to my mid 20's. They would be so bad, they put me in the ER on more than a few occasions. I finally had a doc prescribe low dose beta-blockers (metoprolol). Let me tell you, this has been a life saver. I take them daily and if I feel a migraine (I get the aura) coming on, add a dose and top it off with 800 mg Ibuprofen. Knocks it right out.

As for the strange visual thoughts, I think you really need to bring all that up to the doctor. Sounds scary, but, could be nothing.

As Recovering & Cats both said, take care of you first!

Good luck!

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Thank you all for your responses. Sometimes it is just so overwhelming being in this program. I have to remember that I am just one of probably close to a hundred of people that my CM manages. I have only been selected for option 1 since like last spring, the cheapest of all tests. I have become so paranoid about testing, which is what they want, that I forget to use my common sense and medical background. I mean, really, a Benadryl for itching d/t bites or a rash is not going to show up 3 days later on an option 1, for example. It is very wrong that these programs are so cookie cutter. Someone who has a hx of alcohol use disorder should be able to take an antihistamine, assuming they weren't abusing IV Benadryl! What the heck..? Common sense.

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It is overwhelming being in this program!!! However, go to the Doc and if need be fill out the idiotic forms. You gotta take care of yourself

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Specializes in Critical Care.

For what it's worth, I took topamax During recovery from my eating disorder and coincidentally had no headaches. I actually was placed back on it for a couple months because I was getting migraines super bad. They were also related to stress. It helped immensely. Topamax can make your brain foggy for some. (Mine did the second time around)...and will often reduce your appetite/ pleasure in eating. ( I was on a highly monitored dose bc I was anorexic with VERY frequent binge and purge episodes that essentially fed into each other. This is a daily Med and is not a controlled substance.

Best of luck!

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Thank you. Topamax is what one of my doctors at my hospital recommended to try. Appreciate your input!

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