Neurologist appointment in a few days

I had one just over a month ago for migraines, when i went, a nurse took my BP, height and weight and gave me some sheets to fill in about how the migraines affect my day to day life and how often they happen/how long they last, then I saw the neurologist who asked about my symptoms and my medical history past medication etc then talked through the possible treatment options. He also put me forward for a clinical trial that will be available in my area in a few months.

Its going to depends on the area, the doctor, your symptoms etc as to what they do, but a first appointment will just be talking to you and finding out as much as they can about your symptoms and making reccomendations based on that.

Thank you, no MRI scan? My gp did refer me for a emergency appointment so hopefully my GP has written past info on me to him.

Not for me, because my symptoms didn't indicate any brain abnormalities, just normal, yet frequent episodic migraine which hasn't responded to medication my gp has offered. He did do a basic test of my gross and fine motor skills which could flag up potential brain problems.

It just depends on you and your symptoms, and obviously, the discretion of the doctor. This is just my experience

oh interesting, I have written down the medication I am currently taking, what I have taken and what I take sometimes. I also write the symptoms that I am experiencing. In regards to my headaches I cant really say when they occur.

what was/are your symptoms?

Its a good idea to keep a diary of when you have them and how long they last. it can be really helpful. I use an app on my phone called migraine buddy to track my symptoms, when they happened how often and for how long.

I get 8-12 migraines a month, usually the headache is on the left side of my head, over my eye, but sometimes on the right, if I don't take my medication (sumatriptan) they can last anything from 10-36 hours, and I'll be in bed for most of that, I'll feel groggy, nauseous, be sensitive to everything, I basically have to lie in a dark room with sensory deprivation and try to sleep. If I take my tablets, they do work 9 times out of 10 but they make me feel achey and tired, and I'm still getting them (although somewhat managed) much more often than I'd like.

I've had a few neuro appointments and they didn't do much. I've had MRI scans, which didn't show a much amount. Because they're at a loss what to do with me, (in short, I have a rare complex illness that no-one takes seriously, nothing really works and I can't take most of the drugs prescribed for it) I now have a referral to the headache clinic.

I've been under neurology on and off since 2011. I've had MRI scans and originally, they were concerned (as was I) about a neck injury that I had. I was then given an MRI because they couldn't decide what was wrong. It was then discovered that some of my brain was missing and because of that and something I had as a teenager, they investigated something else.

With me, it's mostly been chats and a few reflex tests and looking in the back of my eyes.

The thing is I dont get migraines, my headaches are all over my head not on a specific side. Its always constant, it never disappears it calms down but does not stop.

Hence why its hard to keep a diary, I have been off work for 2 months now. Still feel the same, and its getting really annoying. I was on tablets and they did not help, nothing what so ever. The CT scan showed anything but I am wanting an MRI scan to see if that shows anything. Did the neurologist give you any medication? Are you getting any better?

That doesn't neccessarily mean it isn't migraine, but its probably not typical migraine...

The neurologist has suggested something for me, I'm waiting for a letter so I know they've instructed my GP to prescribe, as they won't prescribe this without specialist instruction. He's also put me forward for a clinical trial of a new medication later in the year.

If you can try to keep a diary of how your pain levels change on a scale of one to ten over the day, and any other symptoms, that might still be helpful. The neurologist may well suggest an MRI, but the initial appointment will just be establishing what your headaches are like and how they affect you, a further appointment would be made for an MRI

When you keep a diary, see if you can also work out the triggers. I know that for me, bright lights and periods / women issues are triggers. Because of the medication I take, I can't take the pill for my periods.