Update: Philly

So this past Wednesday, I went back to the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia. It felt good to go back, since they deal specifically with headaches.

After talking to the doctors, and going over everything that's gone on since my last visit, they told me that they pretty much have two options left.

The first option is Botox injections. This option has been brought up before by many of my doctors, both here in PA and in Virginia, but because insurance didn't cover the medicine, I was unable to try the botox. I think the last time they checked, it was about $1500 a shot. Now however, the FDA has finally approved botox for chronic migraine treatment. So JHC is now in the process of seeing how much (if any) of the cost my insurance will cover. They feel that it shouldn't be a problem, since I meet all of the criteria, and other patients there with the same insurance are getting their's covered.

The next, and pretty much final option, if all else fails is what they call an occipital nerve stimulator. I think I've talked about this in the past, but they would surgically install a lead along my occipital nerve, and it would be connected by wires to a little box that would hang on my side. When I started getting a headache, I would push a button and it would send a little electric shock to my occipital nerve and stop the headache. The procedure is approved in Europe, but not covered here as of yet. They are however having great success with it in patients that have had it done. It's a very expensive procedure of course, which is why I haven't had it done, nor will be able to have it done anytime soon, unless insurances decide to start paying for it.

So anyways, that's about it.... right now I'm just waiting to hear back about how much my insurance will cover on the Botox. My next appointment, which will be when I get the injections is December 19th. Until then I'm pretty much just hanging in there, doing what I can to deal with the pain.