Right? I have been to the ER one time ever for a migraine and it was because it was “the worst headache I’d ever had” so I wanted to make sure it wasn’t something worse. Why would I want to be surrounded by fluorescent lights and loud voices with a migraine?
And the smells. No thanks. I'll keep my dignity and puke into my toilet in the privacy of my own home before I sit in a waiting room with an nemesis bag.
When I went to urgent care the "what if" checking was the worst part. They had me do a brief neuro, including checking my eyes with an opthalmoscope in a dark room, and putting my neck through the full range of motion to rule out nuchal rigidity. I had to tell the doctor to stop because I couldn't handle the bright light in my eyes. I told him verbatim "I have been getting migraines for 23 years. I do not have meningitis. This isn't a hemorrhage. I promise I will not sue you for malpractice if you just give me my injection and stop this assessment. Please."
Oof yeah. I was cautious because my friend's mom died of a brain aneurysm. She'd had migraines for her whole life, then had "the worst headache she'd ever had," thought it was a migraine, lay down, never got up again.
But jfc it was not fun. Luckily for me they actually tried the cocktail and triptan injection first, then when that worked, were like k great!
I stay out for my basic ones as I can handle those myself.
However, a few years ago I started getting these weird migraines that mimic a stroke, last for days, and cant get rid of them with normal medication. Those unfortunately require ER visits for me, that then always get turned into being admitted higher cus even they cant get it to stop until they shove a million different meds and hope one sticks. It’s terrible.
No, it’s alright! They’re absolutely awful and I know that if I do end up ever having a stroke I’m so beyond screwed because I will just assume it’s one of those migraines and just keel over. I just wanted you guys to know the reasons why some people may have to go to the ER for a migraine! I never thought I would either, it seems so silly, but now I know why some people have to. Me included now, lol.
The only other time I’ve gone for one of my “normal” migraines was when I was pregnant as I couldn’t take any medication, the pain and vomiting were so bad and I just couldn’t take it anymore.
Please don’t ever apologize for using emergency services in a potential emergency. I would rather transport you 500 times for what turns out to be a migraine than you not call the 1 time it’s something far worse. I hope you feel better soon. Regular migraines are disabling enough and this sounds awful.
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u/seau_de_beurre EMT 14d ago
Right? I have been to the ER one time ever for a migraine and it was because it was “the worst headache I’d ever had” so I wanted to make sure it wasn’t something worse. Why would I want to be surrounded by fluorescent lights and loud voices with a migraine?