G.p appointment

[Mary1959]

I have a g.p telephone appointment on Friday and I'm dreading it! He won't give me a face to face appointment as it's not classed as urgent, but it's very important to me. He just increased my propanol last time, which didn't help and have given me naproxen which make me feel sick. Can I insist on seeing a headache specialist? I'm also taking naratryptan, co codamol and fluoxitine for depression.

[Cat00]

If you are taking cocodamol many times a month the most likely thing he'll do is reduce the quantity to make sure you are not getting "medication overuse Headache", have they talked to you about that?They won't want to refer you if that is unresolved. As a migraineur you need to be using painkilling less than 8 days a month with only 6 of them being treated with a triptan.

Propranolol is often the very first med they go to as a migraine preventative, there are many many other preventatives you can try, I'm on my 15th for example. It may be they will be unwilling to refer you until you have tried at least 2 other preventatives aswell as the propranolol.

Are you keeping a headache/migraine diary?

[Mary1959 in reply to Cat00]

Thankful for your reply. The doctor have me naproxen to try and get me off cocodamol, but they make me feel sick and bad indigestion. I try to put up with pain as much as possible but I look after my dad, who is 94 and only had me, so I can't just take nothing. I have only actually had 2 preventative medications, but I've been on the same for over 20 years, so I'll ask g.p if there's another one. I've just started a migraine diary to see if a pattern emerges. I get angry that I'm on medications for migraines and depression but the doctor says I don't warrant a face to face appointment. Hope you're migraines improve, x

[Cat00 in reply to Mary1959]

I'm afraid if you are a migraineur you are very prone to medication overuse headache, you will be getting more migraines if you take painkillers on more than 8 days a month.I know what it is like to live in pain, I have chronic migraines, fibromyalgia, bladder pain syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia and more, I have 2 very young children and no help at home. But I still can't take painkillers on more than 8 days month. I have been doing this for 30 years. It just a reality for migraineurs.

Your doctor should have given you omeprazole with the naproxen to protect your stomach, this should happen with anyone over the age of 40.

[Mary1959]

So sorry to hear what you are going through, it must be really tough for you, it must be wonderful to live a pain free life. If I get a day without headache, I feel blessed. Thankyou for your advice, if I get any joy from doctor, I will let you know. I'm trying to cut down painkillers but it's very depressing when the migranes come on. I also have irritable bowel and depression, doesn't seem fair does it.