My friend developed migraines around her periods after a gynecological procedure. Prior to this she had like 1 migraine in her life (does have a family history) and after she's had pretty debilitating headaches with each cycle. Like can't function, but acupuncture seems to be helping.
Went to the first neurologist who spent maybe 10 minutes with her, blew her off and said this wasn't a thing. Basically the "you're nuts/all in your head narrative."
Saw a second neurologist who spent almost an hour with her, validated what happened, offered a range of treatment options, and came up with a plan.
It's absolutely fucking insane how different your experience can be with the US healthcare system depending on the physician you sit in front of.
🇳🇱
While I highly doubt the exam had anything to do with it and was clearly just coincidence I think its also obvious the migraines are real.
I cant imagine why the first doctor wouldnt treat the migraines while politely pointing out the exam is unrelated.
@tayfonay I suspect they just said that to placate the patient, but if I am wrong I would be curious to hear what disease they think the examination could have caused and how.
@freemo Placate the patient? Wow.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/202685
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1743919115010973
The use of high dose estrogen prior to the hysteroscopy likely led to the onset of menstrual migraines. They're not blaming the surgeon for anything, it's more a matter of this was a good environmental trigger to be paired with her genetics and other risk factors leading to "shit happens."
@tayfonay Yes as I said, if there is drugs involved then it makes perfect sense there is a link there. I thought they were talking about a visual inspection.
Yep. Not sure what the procedure was, but I had a gyno procedure which gave me debilitating migraines (the stroke-mimicking ones w/slurring of words, etc.).
My experience: I had migraines early in life but they were periodic and not debilitating... but then & age 19 my gyno gave me a hormone-based shot to treat my endometriosis. Within hours, I had the most skull crushing migraine of my life. After that, all my migraines were skull-crushing and they became chronic.
Oh it wasnt just a visual exam but there was medication involved... in that case, yea, makes perfect sense.
@VirginiaMurr @freemo oh man, I'm so sorry. This sounds so similar to what my friend is going to. Did you get treatment that helps?
Nothing helped much...tried over a dozen neuro-prescribed pills. I finally stopped trying when they tried to put me on a seizure med that, when you stop taking, it can *cause* seizures.
My mix of Excedrin, migraine topical ointment for the back of my neck, migraine patches for my forehead, & Icy Hot on my scalp (all OTC) helps more than any of the heavy--duty, scary-ass meds the neuro had me on.
They're still excruciating; but taking the edge of helps me stay functional.
@freemo The onset is related to the procedure, not exam, per the 2nd neurologist.