Well guys - I am notoriously bad for keeping you all updated - I am finding Twitter and Facebook are easier and quicker to update nowadays - but I promised you all that I was going to do this, SO HERE IT IS!!!
On Friday the 29th of October 2010, I was dispatched to my new neurosurgeon to see if I was a good candidate for an Occipital Nerve Stimulator (the implant for those of you who know what I'm talking about) Robs and I were dutifully early for my appointment, as we were VERY excited, having waited two years for this day!
The start of the interview, which was done by Dr. M's assistant, lasted for an agonising, but rewarding 90 minutes! Let me just say, that it was unbelievable to be afforded such a thorough interview on the NHS - we have sometimes LITERALLY been given 15 minutes!
We discussed the how's; whens; and wheres in GREAT detail. At first it felt like I had already done 'all this and that' - but it soon became apparent, that his assistant, was building up an anatomy of my Migraines.
After the marathon interview, we were ushered back into the waiting room, to wait for another half hour or so. And then THE MEETING with Dr. M happened!!!! I felt instantly at ease with him! He was such a kind; understanding man. He talked through my migraines and then uttered the words I had been waiting to hear for almost two years now: 'You are an excellent candidate for the Occipital Nerve Stimulator.'
The downside was, that my Primary Care Trust had to 'okay' the procedure - and the likelihood of that happening was VERY LOW! The PCT would probably ask me to have Botox first, as this would prove to be a much more cost effective option!
Robs and I were crestfallen - to have waited two years to learn this - and then have to wait to have the Botox injections, seemed almost too much to bear! You see, Botox has only just been licensed for use in headache on the NHS, in September this year! PCT's were reluctant to just 'dish the treatment out', as it was still quite a costly procedure (£660 every three months!)
Just when we thought that all was lost, he offered us the option of 'going private' - and paying to have Botox! Like someone sent by God; he had a private clinic, later on in the day - and he was going to be performing Botox on some other patients too and he would be able to fit me in!!
So off we trotted and came back at 17h00, and prepared for the 38 injections, that he would be administering. Lots of you have asked WHERE he does those injections, so I have attached a diagram below for you to check out!
Well it was not as sore as I had been expecting - but still painful! When we were finished, Dr M explained that it would take about 14 days to see the benefits - and then another course of injections 90 days later - to see some improvements in the migraines/headaches.
So far, I have seen a slight improvement in the severity and intensity of the headaches - so I remain optimistic. I will try and keep you updated with how things are progressing, but I make NO promises! LoL!
Ciao for now.
x
