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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Another Great Doc


For the record, I have a very high opinion of Mayo's headache clinic out of Rochester. I called out there yesterday morning to leave a message for Dr Garza that this new med isn't going to work and to see if we could try something else instead. I was told that Dr Garza is out of town for the week but that the message would go to his secretary and she would find one of his colleagues to address my concerns. Of course I was a little nervous about this...you just never know what to expect when dealing with a new doc.


But - two hours later the phone rang and it was Dr. Robertson from Mayo. She was friendly, patient, and clearly very knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with migraines and all the medications involved. She took the time to look at the notes Dr Garza had written and she spoke about what he had laid out for a possible next step for me. Even more she took the time to explain that he likely thought of this next step because of the weight loss I had been experiencing and the other pains associated with my migraines. She explained very clearly how this next med will work, what to expect along the way and exactly what I should track in order for Dr Garza to make a good analysis once I'm at a therapeutic level.


I couldn't be happier with how this all turned out. I'm excited about the new plan and I'm just so relieved to feel like this headache clinic and the doctors in it are so excellent at what they do. To feel like I'm in such good hands...well there is no way to describe how it feels. I like my neuro doc here, but I've wasted years of my life trying medications at an ineffective dosage level. I don't know how much of her time is actually spent seeing migraine patients but I know she deals with people with all kinds of neuro conditions so it is not her focus. I believe she was doing what she thought was best, but I really need to be under the care of someone who better understands the less common intractable migraine patient.


I don't know how much longer we're going to live in this area but I'm feeling like maybe I should just stop going to the neuro here. I'm not going to deviate from the plan the Mayo docs are suggesting and unless they decide they can't treat me anymore because of the distance I really shouldn't need to have someone here. The only thing I can think of that she is presently doing that Dr Garza isn't is refilling my prescriptions for Bachlofen. But he could start doing that.

4 comments:

  1. A good doctor is more precious than diamonds. Hold on with both hands!

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  2. Personally...i think the more docs involved...the more confusing it is...for everyone!

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  3. Wow, I'm so glad to hear that! Both doctors sound amazing. I remember the article in the NY Times talking with Dr. Dodick of that same clinic and I was just so impressed. I've never seen anyone who specializes in any way in headaches (though mine probably aren't bad enough to warrant it) and I loved reading the pieces.

    Also, I was offered the Bachlofan or however it's spelled and decided not to take it (the side effects freaked me out)--I'm curious what you think of it! Has it been effective? Do you like it?

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  4. I love my Baclofen. The doc who prescribed it told me specifically to get it from Watson Phamacies, he said it makes a difference. I took the script to the pharmacy and they messed up and gave me the drug from another company and it was useless, but when I got on the right one it made a huge difference. I still struggle with muscle spasms and the pains associated but it is much better than it was before I got on Baclofen.

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