Sister's doctor is quite unhelpful--can you help with this headache issue?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

She is at her wit's end. She was at a doctor's appt for a headache issue--and during the appt, he gets a cell phone call and spends 10 minutes on the phone with whomever. Not sure if it was reallly that long, but the doc did engage in a conversation on his phone during the appt.

Long story short, he claimed to not be familiar with her symptoms and essentially cast her off. In her view, he behaved as those she were making up symptoms.

Migraines seem to run in our family--but I guess this is something different she is dealing with.


She describes the problem as a gets sharp pains in the front of her head for 20 seconds, then it goes away while the rest of her head gets a headache. She commented that the doc never heard of "cramps" in the head, but I am unclear if this is what the pain feels like to her--or if that was a term he used in writing her off.

I gently suggested maybe a neurologist--but I have no idea if she requires a referral or if this doctor would even give her one.

Any thoughts as to what this could be?

 

[OceanAnnie]

Firstly, I would suggest visiting a different doctor. Clearly his phone conversation was more important than his patient. My doctor doesn't allow cell phones to be turned on during office visits. There are signs everywhere to that effect. Her doctor wasn't very professional. So he'd get the boot from me on that alone.

Secondly, if I were her I'd scrutinize the bill. He shouldn't charge her for the full time she was in the room. He was preoccupied.

Oh, and thirdly I'd be inclined to request a neurologist consult from a different doctor.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Time for her to go to a neuro. I have chronic migraines and have, on occasion, had the type of pain you're describing. It's probably nothing serious, but a neuro can do tests to make sure.

It seems inappropriate that the dr took the cell call during her appt, but who know what was going on...perhaps he really needed to. Of course he should have excused himself and taken the call in private and then explained it to your sister, but it's over and done, and I'd let it go.

 

[mickeyboat]

Definitely have her ask for a referral to a neurologist, preferably to a headache clinic / center. It may take a little while to get an appointment.

If this doctor was not able to make any headway, it's time to move on. He shouldn't have a problem giving her a referral. Did he try anything or give her any indication as to what he thought was wrong?

I recently had some headache issues, and my PCP was not able to diagnose or treat them. He had me convinced I had a chronic nerve condition and put me on meds that produced suicidal thoughts. After a couple of months of trying different meds, I asked for a referral. The neuro knew right away I didn't have the nerve condition, and after an MRI, realized I had a terrible sinus infection (which is what I asked my PCP to treat me for on my first visit).

Hope your sister finds some relief, soon.

Denae

 

[minkydog]

Oh, hell to the no! Totally inappropriate. If his house was burning down, okay. But just to have a conversation in your presence? Fail. Double fail if he was talking to or about another patient in front of you. Breach of confidentiality.

I had a OB that did this to me one time. One time. Took a call from his 14yo son and proceeded to talk to him for about 10 minutes, in Spanish, about school, futbol, getting a snack and doing homework. I guess he didn't think I could understand Spanish--I don't speak it well, but I can read and understand spoken Spanish a bit. Enough to know the content of his stupid conversation.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I have daily chronic migraines. I use massage therapy when I need to break the cycle. But one thing not mentioned is the teeth! I in the past have had headache issues when something was off with my teeth! Just a thought..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okie dokey--just found out she did see the neurologist. Geez. Not sure what she can do now. Maybe find another one?

 

[JR6ooo4]

Are you my wife's sister???

My DW went into the ER at day ten of her nonstop worst headache ever. in the past she has only had regular ones at regular times. Like once a month or less and not migraines ever.

It is terrible when five doctors have seen her, ordered tests and say "well, we can't find anything. if you feel up to it you can go home"

and she is crying at me saying that she still has this headache, the worst of her life. and even dilaudid does not help!!!

I hope they both find a reason for them, or at least they jsut stop, but very soon.

I would need to hear the topic of the cell phone conversation. if it is medical related then sometimes the doctors need to talk to other specialists when they are available. Imagine if it was your sister's doctor and he did not take the call he was waiting for, with the specialist's opinions of test results or something...

Mikeeee

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I can ask her--but it is somewhat irrelevant. The doc should have excused himself for this most important conversation.

If it was for something legit, I don't think she would have been so po'd. The phone conversation combined with his bedside manner made her feel that she was wasting his time.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I can ask her--but it is somewhat irrelevant. The doc should have excused himself for this most important conversation.

If it was for something legit, I don't think she would have been so po'd. The phone conversation combined with his bedside manner made her feel that she was wasting his time.

that is true. in fact her ER doc did take a call. but he apologized in advance of answering and then stepped away for the call. and again apologized on return.

very professional and according to DW very cute too.

Mikeeee

 

[teacups]

I went thru many years of debilitating headaches and saw so many doctors who couldnt help me. Tests, meds, shots... nothing helped. I could tell you what CURED them... but I dont want to offend any husbands. Let's just say this: Stress can do crazy things, and without even knowing it you can cure yourself by kicking the stress out.

Certainly not in every case, but I thank God that I found my cure!
Hugs to those who suffer from headaches. They are SO BAD and unless you've had one, you cant understand.

 

[LisaR]

I can ask her--but it is somewhat irrelevant. The doc should have excused himself for this most important conversation.

If it was for something legit, I don't think she would have been so po'd. The phone conversation combined with his bedside manner made her feel that she was wasting his time.

I think the bedside manner is the important thing. The phone call could have been life or death or totally unnecessary. It is irrelevant. The way he handled it is what matters and the way he treated her is even more important.

Unfortunately, I have always heard that the two hardest things to find a reason for are headaches and hives - the two things my son has.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

How frustrating! That Dr. was way out of live.

About the headaches....I get all kinds of headaches, including migraines with vertigo. 9 times out 10 it's because my Atlas (where the base of the skull meets the spine) is compressed. A quick trip to the Chiro. for a gentle tug on my head, followed by a short nap, clears it up! I know it's always that simple but I had chronic headaches, that pills wouldn't touch, until I happened upon this Chiro. who figured it out.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

I'm sure this is a stretch, but I feel like I should mention it. My best friend had the exact same headache - described it identically to your sister's. After various tests that showed nothing unusual (MRI, CT), her doctor suggested they test her for Lyme disease. Bingo. She had it. She never experienced any other symptoms of Lyme disease aside from the headaches.

Just throwing the idea out there. Hope your sister finds relief soon.

 

[pls5286]

Ok. As a suffer of a condition called pseudotumor cerebri, she needs a CT scan, MRI, and a spinal tap to rule out any possible underlying brain anomaly and possible increased intracranial pressure. KEEP PUSHING until you get you get a tap!!!!!!! I know they are uncomfortable, but they are actually theraputic to me.

 

[luvthatdisney]

Google icepick migrane or icepick headache - see if the symptoms are similar. I have them occassionaly and so does my DD. If I take regular allergy medication (Singulair) I do not have them. If my DD has one she will take an OTC allergy med (usually Clairitin) and they go away. They do not always go away this easy, but there is a name for them!

 

[englishteacha]

I've had headaches like that, so she's not crazy. I've suffered from severe headaches since I was 8. My worst ones are migraines (1-2 times a year) and sinus headaches. A bad sinus headache, for me, has pain in my forhead then it radiates back into an ache all through my head. I'm getting over a sinus infection now, actually. I've had to irrigate my sinuses and take Sudafed for several days but I'm starting to feel better. The doc wanted to try to clear it up without antibiotics if possible.

It might be a sinus infection that's causing this headache. I still sometimes have trouble determining if I'm having a sinus headache or a migraine because the pain is very similar.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Neurologists expect to diagnose and treat headaches of various types. I think you are correct, and you should suggest this.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Neurologists expect to diagnose and treat headaches of various types. I think you are correct, and you should suggest this.

Found out that it was the neurologist who did this.

 

[Disney Doll]

OK, as far as her doctor...

If the call was about a medical issue, then he/she should have said "Excuse me, I have to take this call and I wil be right back", stepped out of the room and apologized on return with perhaps a short explanation such as "That was a specialist from New York that I was waiting to hear from regarding another patient. Thank you for your patience". To sit there yakking on the cell phone while your sister sits there is unprofessional. If she likes this doctor, I'd probably say something to him/her next time I was there. If she doesn't care one way or the other, I'd find a new doctor.

She needs a neurologist. If she's been one and not gotten any satusfaction, then she needs to see a different one. Perhaps check with her local hospital(s) and see if there are any neurologists that specialize in headaches. She might also look in the local yellow pages and see if any MD specifically states specialization in headache treatment. A headache like that could be several different things...a form of migraine, a weakened blood vessel, an inflammation of the temporal arteries.

Tell her to pay attention to what's going on when she gets the headaches...what is she doing, what has she rceently eaten...stuff like that to see if there are any correlations she can make.