CT and Chronic Illness Clinic
#300902 - 02/27/07 04:59 PM
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Toady
Reged: 04/06/06
Posts: 1299
Loc: A small city, Northwestern Ontario, Canada
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I've had another "migraine" since Friday. These last few headaches haven't been my normal migraines - for one they are on the opposite side of my head than all of my normal migraines, and I don't get nauseated or sensitive to light.
Anyways, it really hit Saturday, we were away in Duluth - my eyes were swollen, the pain was from the top of my head through my face and down my neck into my shoulder blades and it was so bad I was pacing. I'm also having trouble focusing / seeing, and speaking clearly at times. Still had it Sunday during our drive home in a blizzard.
Monday I called the dr. and the receptionist got me in at 1:30. Off I go. He suggests it is not really a headache, but doesn't know what to call it. He prescribes an anti-inflammatory and says if it worsens or doesn't let up go to emerg.
The pharmacist wouldn't fill the Rx b/c I'm allergic to asa, and what he prescribed could cause a reaction. So I'm not taking anything! PAIN, PAIN, PAIN!!! I broke down and took 2 Tylonel and a Robaxacet (muscle relaxant) and went to bed last night.
Today, I fell over at work while I'm getting stuff out of the lower cupboards. Just a dizzy spell. And my head was still aching down my neck. I couldn't read the text I'm transcribing into an estimate, it kept swimming. And I couldn't talk to a client when they came into the shop - I didn't have the capability to make a sentence. So I called Thomas, and on his lunch he drove me to emerg. 3 hours later of sitting in a foggy stupor I finally get called. I know, I'm not in a lot of pain, I'm not bleeding, but for heavens sake!! Let me away from all of the people there with the flu, colds, etc!! I'm not germy and don't want any! I finally see a dr. He checks me over - did the stroke assessment actually. Hmmmm, puzzled him. He doesn't think it is a headache either (I just told him that!) But good news, he doesn't like what he is seeing and he has referred me for a CT and to the Chronic Disease and Illness clinic. (Didn't even know we had one!) Now, the clinic could be for the headaches, but it could also be for the IBS, which might be a good thing as my GI is basically useless unless I want a colonoscopy. I should go for my CT in the next 4 to 6 weeks - which here is an amazingly short waiting time. Once I have those results, I'll go to the clinic.
I'm just tired of having this "headache" every few days the last month or so. I am kinda getting my assistant back for all the sick time and time off for her kids - I went home early once, and today left to go to emerg. She had to handle things while I was gone whether she liked it or not.
Anyways, I'm long-winded and you're probably bored by now, so I'll sign off.
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Cassandra
Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like you've never loved before.
IBS A 20+ years, Chronic Migraines, Chiari Malformation (decompressed June 22, 2010), Brachial Neuritis, and ??? the list just keeps growing, but I'm still shiny side up! 
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Are you feeling any better now? That sounds scary. I'm really surprised that the doctor referred you to a chronic illness clinic for a sudden onset of new symptoms. Maybe things are different up there. I know that people are always saying how great Canada's health system is, but I just had a CT today -- two days after getting it scheduled. I think it's crazy how long you guys have to wait for some things.
I hope it's nothing serious and that you feel better soon.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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This sounds pretty scary. I don't know how Canadian insurance works but if you're covered when you go to a US ER or walk-in clinic maybe you should consider trying that and see if you get tests more quickly. It only seems fair - we take advantage of your great drug prices so maybe you can use our (presumably) shorter wait times for testing.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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I am feeling better thanks. Yesterday I felt pretty good - even the DH noticed I wasn't as pale and drained. Today I'm more tired and achy, but I probably shouldn't have gone to the pool last night - just too much for my system.
I already have my appt for the Chronic Illness clinic - it's on March 13 - wow!! For us that is phenominally quick.
The reason our tests take so long to get in - we have a doctor shortage here - big time. The city is at least 20 family doctors short, not to mention specialists. We have no neurologist - just one who travels back and forth from Hamilton. There was no hemotologist for the longest time. Our cancer clinic is loaded up. The hospital is almost always full to capacity. And without techs to run the CT and MRI, waiting lists are long if you're not critical. Sure, we have cheaper prescriptions costs, but first you have to get into the dr! My family dr is 73 years old and came back to his practice 2 years ago because of the shortage. I was on waiting lists at all of the city clinics for a dr when my previous on decided to just take maternity patients from now on. I was lucky to get this dr - and ironically he was my dr when I was little until he moved away and I had to change.
I'm hanging in there - I'm really curious to know what this Chronic Illness clinic is all about!
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Cassandra
Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like you've never loved before.
IBS A 20+ years, Chronic Migraines, Chiari Malformation (decompressed June 22, 2010), Brachial Neuritis, and ??? the list just keeps growing, but I'm still shiny side up!
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Well, I'm impressed for a change! It takes some pretty good drs to impress me. I'm used to being brushed aside by most drs who don't think 1. ibs is an illness or 2. a migraine is just a headache - take 2 tylonel and go home.
I saw 2 drs at the CIC today. The initial dr. did a total health history, family history and a physical check-up. She asked me questions like - do I get night sweats and does my pulse race. Yes!! I've been asking my gp about this for years - his reply - well, you are a woman and women have hot flashes! Apparently those are symptoms of on-coming migraines. She was extremely impressed at my diet, lifestyle and attempts to limit stress - diet, exercise and hypnosis. She said I have done everything that I can, and I have done it right. After the 45 min. consult she went and spoke to the other dr. and they came in with a plan of attack.
I am to take Propranolol, a beta blocker, every day for the next 3 months to see if it lessens the frequency or the intensity of my migraines. Plus they prescribed another drug for when I have the headache, a triptin med Maxalt. I was alright with not filling the pain drug as I don't have a bad headache today for a change. I'm still waiting for the CT and I have a follow up in June.
Does anyone else out there suffer migraines? What do you take other than OTC drugs. I've been living with mine for 15 years with only tylonel and now it stopped helping, hence the CIC clinic referral.
TTFN!
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Cassandra
Live like there's no tomorrow. Love like you've never loved before.
IBS A 20+ years, Chronic Migraines, Chiari Malformation (decompressed June 22, 2010), Brachial Neuritis, and ??? the list just keeps growing, but I'm still shiny side up!
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