Hey, UT med students! Houston area! I could use your help with a patient!

[MaraCeles]

I'm just beginning my 3rd year, this is way over my head. Help a fellow student out?

The situation:

An acquaintance that I've known superficially for a number of years recently asked me for help. I've been aware that she's been having debilitating medical problems for the past year or so, but I didn't know the details--apparently, she is now in desperate need.

Her last doctor thought that she might have trigeminal neuralgia--but she no longer has access to these doctors. She's just fled Alaska to escape an abusive home situation, and she's moved in with friends in Houston--but she can't seem to find a specialist who will take her on as a patient. She didn't seem to know where to turn, honestly. So I've referred her to the TNA association, the Mischer Neuroscience Institute associated with UT, and to the BlueCross/BlueShield database (that's her insurance company), and I'm helping her get in contact with an internist in the meantime, but I'm worried about the long wait times that new patients sometimes have to deal with when they need specialist help.

She's been searching for a doctor who will take her on for the last three months, and she is getting very, very, very desperate. If she can't find someone soon, she's going to have to go back to Alaska, back to that abusive home situation--and she's heavily implied that she might take her own life if that happens.

I'm assuming you Texas med students know your network better than I do--is there any possible way that we can get this woman a doctor as soon as possible? Are any of you on good terms with faculty that could help?

(I hope this sort of post isn't against the rules; I did a quick skim through the usage policies, but I didn't see anything.)

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[MaraCeles]

Does anyone know a neurologist who might be willing to help? A pain management specialist? Anyone who is familiar in diagnosing and treating neuropathic pain? Anyone?

 

[fahimaz7]

Does anyone know a neurologist who might be willing to help? A pain management specialist? Anyone who is familiar in diagnosing and treating neuropathic pain? Anyone?

Carbamazepine is the gold standard for trigeminal neuralgia. It shouldn't be hard for her to get in with a pcp. No real reason to go see a pain specialist. 90% recover in 6 months, but it sucks in the meantime.

Neurotin, lyrica, and cymbalata are all alternatives, but haven't been investigated like carbamazepine.

 

[tiedyeddog]

I'm just beginning my 3rd year, this is way over my head. Help a fellow student out?

The situation:

An acquaintance that I've known superficially for a number of years recently asked me for help. I've been aware that she's been having debilitating medical problems for the past year or so, but I didn't know the details--apparently, she is now in desperate need.

Her last doctor thought that she might have trigeminal neuralgia--but she no longer has access to these doctors. She's just fled Alaska to escape an abusive home situation, and she's moved in with friends in Houston--but she can't seem to find a specialist who will take her on as a patient. She didn't seem to know where to turn, honestly. So I've referred her to the TNA association, the Mischer Neuroscience Institute associated with UT, and to the BlueCross/BlueShield database (that's her insurance company), and I'm helping her get in contact with an internist in the meantime, but I'm worried about the long wait times that new patients sometimes have to deal with when they need specialist help.

She's been searching for a doctor who will take her on for the last three months, and she is getting very, very, very desperate. If she can't find someone soon, she's going to have to go back to Alaska, back to that abusive home situation--and she's heavily implied that she might take her own life if that happens.

I'm assuming you Texas med students know your network better than I do--is there any possible way that we can get this woman a doctor as soon as possible? Are any of you on good terms with faculty that could help?

(I hope this sort of post isn't against the rules; I did a quick skim through the usage policies, but I didn't see anything.)

So, there are specialists in Alaska who could help...?

 

[just one]

IMO, I would start with finding a pcp. that shouldnt be hard or time consuming. You stated "they thought" she had trigeminal neuralgia. Since these situations are unique, start with a pcp and don't try to jump straight to a specialist. Also it definetly sounds like a psychiatrist would be beneficial. A good pcp will get you started in the right direction.

 

[MaraCeles]

She is already being seen by a GP who also treats depression--but the GP doesn't handle pain medication, and so has been referring her out for pain management. She has other medical conditions; it makes her a complicated case, and one pain specialist said that because she is on a lot of other medications, he can see why no one in his field had yet taken her under their care. Also, she has never received a firm diagnosis on her condition--someone would have to diagnose her and/or confirm the trigeminal neuralgia diagnosis while also managing her pain.

This is why I think she needs a specialist?

 

[GoSpursGo]

I wish you and your friend the best, and hope that she finds the help she needs, but SDN is not for medical advice or referrals.