Anyone Ever Gone To Er Or Been Admitted For Migraines?

[peterdw]

Hi,

Has anyone here ever gone to the emergency room or been admitted as an inpatient for migraines in Bangkok? I haven't had much success as outpatient, and am wondering what procedures they do in ER or with inpatients.

Thanks, Peter

[Sheryl]

I can't imagine any indication for hospital admission for migraine.

People with acute attacks do sometimes go to ERs, where you'll be given something to stop the attack, but that is just a temporary measure.

There are a number of good neurologists in Bkk specializing in headaches. The first step is to determine if it is in fact migraine as opposed to another type of headache or the result of an undiagnosed problem.

Suggest consulting either:

Prof. Anan Srikiathachorn

BNH Hospital

Wednesdays 5-6 PM only.

He is an Assoc Professor at Chulalonghorn (leading medical school) and heads up their headache clinic. Has published extensively on migraine in international peer reviewed journals.

or

Assoc. Prof Nijasri Charnnarong Suwanwela

Bumrungrad

4- 6 PM Modays & Fridays

Same affiliation as Dr Anan above

[kenny999]

I can't imagine any indication for hospital admission for migraine.

People with acute attacks do sometimes go to ERs, where you'll be given something to stop the attack, but that is just a temporary measure.

There are a number of good neurologists in Bkk specializing in headaches. The first step is to determine if it is in fact migraine as opposed to another type of headache or the result of an undiagnosed problem.

Suggest consulting either:

Prof. Anan Srikiathachorn

BNH Hospital

Wednesdays 5-6 PM only.

He is an Assoc Professor at Chulalonghorn (leading medical school) and heads up their headache clinic. Has published extensively on migraine in international peer reviewed journals.

or

Assoc. Prof Nijasri Charnnarong Suwanwela

Bumrungrad

4- 6 PM Modays & Fridays

Same affiliation as Dr Anan above

I have suffered with Migrain all my life, massive headaches and sickness when I was younger, but over the last few yrs I now only get quiet Migraines the only symptom is my eyesight goes blurry, I never get the headache anymore. I am now 55

[paulian]

I too have suffered from migraines all my life. I have not had much luck finding a decent neurologist in Thailand including in the larger hospitals or especially in the ER that I tried one time. So, I continue to take the medication I was prescribed in the US. They seem reluctant to give you or even have the proper pain medication for migraines. I use Zolmig 10mg tabs that is of course a prescription drug, however, can be purchased over the counter here in Thailand. It works, but are expensive. I still recommend you try and find a decent neurologist to find the cause of the headaches which many times is anxiety or depression and hopefully prescribe a pain med that works for you. .

[ktamp]

I went to Bangkok hospital Pattaya for a migraine after two days. Just walked in and saw someone in internal medicine. I got a shot of morphine and a shot of tramadol and migraine was gone. Had to wait an hour for them to monitor me, then they dismissed me with my driver.

[Learned]

What tests do they do to determine the causes of the headaches? I get bad headaches when I get too hot or over exercise or sometimes for no reason.

I went to see someone at Brumngrad and he said they were migraines but to me they don't sound like migraines. I gave up after that but would be interested to know what their cause is.

[Sheryl]

History taking and a basic neurological exam in the office are standard. Depending on the findings, CT or MRI may be indicated but usually not.

I would be wary of a doctor who did not seem to take his/her time getting a history and examining before daignosing headache type or treating it.

And if your experience tells you that a headache is something out of the ordinary, persist until you find a doctor who takes it seriously and dopes a proper workup. One of the members of this forum's wife had severe headaches which a neurologist dismissed as "stress" without doing a scan. Turned out to be a brain tumor. (Not that yours sounds anything like that -- in her case the headaches were agonizing and unlike anything she'd had in the past)

Was the doctor you saw a specialist in headaches? (it's a subspecialty of neurology).

[Learned]

I've always had these headaches so it is not something new that has occurred recently.

The doctor was from the neurology department. He asked me some questions then did a test where he pushed on my arms and I had to push them up or something.

Migraines are supposed to be debilitating, mine aren't that bad but they make life pretty uncomfortable and stop me doing anything too strenuous or getting too hot.

Would be nice to sort them out.

[TravelerEastWest]

I too have suffered from migraines all my life. I have not had much luck finding a decent neurologist in Thailand including in the larger hospitals or especially in the ER that I tried one time. So, I continue to take the medication I was prescribed in the US. They seem reluctant to give you or even have the proper pain medication for migraines. I use Zolmig 10mg tabs that is of course a prescription drug, however, can be purchased over the counter here in Thailand. It works, but are expensive. I still recommend you try and find a decent neurologist to find the cause of the headaches which many times is anxiety or depression and hopefully prescribe a pain med that works for you. .

Zomig is a miracle drug sadly it no longer seems to be available in Bangkok.

Do you know where it can be found?

[paulian]

I too have suffered from migraines all my life. I have not had much luck finding a decent neurologist in Thailand including in the larger hospitals or especially in the ER that I tried one time. So, I continue to take the medication I was prescribed in the US. They seem reluctant to give you or even have the proper pain medication for migraines. I use Zolmig 10mg tabs that is of course a prescription drug, however, can be purchased over the counter here in Thailand. It works, but are expensive. I still recommend you try and find a decent neurologist to find the cause of the headaches which many times is anxiety or depression and hopefully prescribe a pain med that works for you. .

Zomig is a miracle drug sadly it no longer seems to be available in Bangkok.

Do you know where it can be found?

No, do not know where it can be found in Bangkok. I purchase it when I need it in Pattaya on second road from a pharmacy on the East side of the road 1 block past where the Baht buses take you to Jom Tien. However, I would look the medication up and see if it's sold under another name perhaps in Thailand, although the meds I purchase say Zolmig on the package since I have used them since they were first offered, it has been out long enough to have a generic brand which may mean another name and a better price. Before Zolmig was invented, I used Imetrix, which I purchased at the same pharmacy under the brand name Imigran. That also worked well for me. My neurologist in the US prescribed Demerol kits for me. Demerol, normally given at the hospital, is the absolute cure for the pain. The kits contain a spring loaded hypodermic that can be self administered. I used that when all other meds fail. I assume you have researched Migraines for perhaps a cause. If you are actually getting them you would have no question as to what you have. There's a million pages on the illness. I get white flashes through my eyes before onset, at times. Blurry vision, vomiting and of course exception pain throughout my head normally. The pain normally starts behind one of my eyes and spreads. Different things probably work for different people as not all people will have the same symptoms either.

Other than medication, lying down with my head propped up in a cool room and a hot water bottle on my forehead helps. Fortunately, my episodes have lessened since I have retired from a high stress City job, however, I still get them when I get highly stressed or anxious about something. and .... as many posts have mentioned anything from a brain tumor to severe depression can be the cause. I have not read all the posts on this thread, however, I absolutely recommend you to find a competent neurologist to find the cause. I have had good luck with many health issues from Thai Doctors. However, knowledgeable Thai neurologists seem to be scarce for some reason. So, I would recommend trying to find a Western educated doctor for migraines.

[Sheryl]

There does not appear to be any brand of zolmetriptan licensed for sale in Thailand anymore.

Sumatriptan is available under brand name Imigran. That's pretty much it for this class of drugs.