chronic migraine and dental care

[Breenas]

I have chronic migraine and struggling to access dental care as dentists are taking a deposit for appointments and when I miss the appointment due to migraine they claim it and request a new one on the next appointment booking. How are people managing this? I can’t always communicate due to my migraines, I feel penalised for being unwell. I am on social security to top up my income so can’t afford to lose so much money when trying to get treatments. What do others do about this? Why are they allowed to do it? My condition is classed as a severe disability but no disability charity is working on this healthcare accessibility issue.

[strongmouse]

I would write to the Dentist a letter explaining and asking them if they could make an exception given your circumstances.

Most dentists ask for 24 hours notice so that they can book another patient in or at least be given notice if you can't attend. Unfortunately there is shortage of dentists especially ones doing NHS care.

Migraines can be so debilitating. Have you seen your GP about them? I have had migraines for years but they are usually not severe, but I understand there are prescribed medications which can help.

[Breenas in reply to strongmouse]

Thanks for your reply. I have chronic migraine, that is a neurological condition that is not curable, it is a disability. Tried all available medications and treatments on NHS, waiting for new drugs to become available now.

I get migraines where I cannot speak/communicate. There is no way I can contact the dentists even an hour before the missed appointment on some days. With migraine between 65-82% of the time this means I miss a lot of appointments. That’s just the way it is but I’ve had NHS denstists refuse to accept me even on their waiting list when I explain my condition. I just feel like this is discrimination and for every missed appointment I have to pay £10. Which is a lot of money to me and if I’m trying to solve toothache issues like I am now, the appointments keep getting made and missed over and over. Once a week can be £50 per month! I’m struggling to access the care because of both time and cost now, waiting for following months so I can afford to miss more appointments. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[strongmouse in reply to Breenas]

That is really hard for you. Yes, I know that unfortunately migraine isn't curable, only that sometimes medication can help to mitigate some of the symptoms when taken at an early stage.

I usually get an aura when one is coming on and know that taking something for the nausea early on stops me being sick. Other than that simply lying in a darkened room until it has passed. I first had them as a child and I'm now in my 70s.

Sorry to hear badly you are affected by them. Have you contacted The Migraine Trust? They do have a helpline.

[Cb1963 in reply to Breenas]

You have my deepest sympathy on this, I used to get around 4/5 headaches/migraines a day the only salvation was my medication, I'm fact they were so bad my specialist recommended oxygen therapy, unfortunately due to having a gas fire it was impossible to have. My cluster headaches were absolutely dire, they are classified as

" suicide headaches " 😩 truly horrific and trying different medication after my original tablets were the difference between being here and not wanting to live 😞

I used sumaptrapin injections to stop a full blown onset and was given verapamil tablets, my original tablets topiramate stopped working, headaches/ migraines are classified as a disability and I hope your dentist can appreciate the difficulties that you face, I don't know if you've had a proper diagnosis from a specialist but I hope you try every type of medication available, I even had nerve block injections in the base of my neck, but after 3 attempts it didn't work out for me, I truly hope things will get better, best of luck!!!

[Breenas in reply to Cb1963]

Thanks for your reply. I’m so sorry you had such bad clusters. The longest I’ve had a migraine for was 14 days and honestly even on day 6 I was calling Simaritans to get me through as I was looking for sharp objects. I have been diagnosed and over the last 15 years I’ve had every treatment available to me. Now waiting for new ones to become available through the NHS.

[Cb1963 in reply to Breenas]

I hope you get a treatment that sorts these horrible migraines out, I never knew that headaches/migraines could be so intolerable, I was ready for ending it all, you have my deepest sympathy 🙏