“The best thing you can do to prepare for your visit is to have an idea of how often you’re experiencing migraine [attacks], be able to describe your symptoms, and tell your doctor if you think your current therapies are working or not,” says Adil F. Niaz, DO, a neurologist at the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute Headache Center at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey. “It’s understandable if you don’t have all of this information, but being prepared helps your doctor tailor your treatment plan going forward.”
Here’s how to turn each checkup into a more productive conversation and get the most out of your migraine care.
1. Note What’s Changed Since Your Last Visit
At follow-up visits, be sure to highlight what has changed since your last appointment — both improvements and setbacks. This includes:
- Changes in migraine attack duration, frequency, severity, or recovery time
- How quickly migraine attacks respond to the current treatment
- Whether recovery time is shorter or longer than before
- Any new symptoms, such as aura, brain fog, fatigue, nausea, or neck pain
- Any worsening of or improvements in existing symptoms
- Updates on medication effectiveness or side effects
- Effects on your daily life, including sleep, stress, and school or work demands
- Changes in your health status, such as being diagnosed with a new condition or starting a new medication to manage other aspects of your health
“Even subtle shifts can guide treatment adjustments,” says Dr. Niaz. Clear updates help determine the best next steps, he adds.
2. Review Your Medications and How Well They’re Working
Many people with migraine take a mixture of preventive, acute, and rescue treatments. During a migraine checkup, it’s helpful for your doctor to hear how all of these medications are working in real life. This includes:
- Which treatments help and how consistently they work
- How quickly treatments provide relief
- Whether symptoms return after treatment — and, if they do, how long after
- How often you rely on rescue or “as needed” medications, including repeat doses
- If you’ve missed or skipped doses
- If you’re delaying medications due to side effects or uncertainty about timing
- If you’ve stopped or avoided certain medications altogether
- If you’re experiencing any financial barriers, due to healthcare costs
“If a treatment works but interferes with school, work, sleep, or daily functioning, that matters,” says Niaz. “Discussion about medication use helps determine whether the current plan is effective, needs adjustment, or should be changed.”
3. Identify Your Biggest Migraine Challenge
Beyond the symptoms you’re experiencing, your doctor will also want to understand your overall quality of life and how migraine affects your day-to-day activities. This can include:
- Missed school or work
- Reduced productivity
- Difficulty keeping up with daily responsibilities
- Effects on mood, sleep, social life, and exercise
- Triggers that are hard to manage, such as hormonal changes, stress, weather shifts, or your work schedule
- Challenges affording the medications
- Concerns about side effects
- Trouble taking medications exactly as prescribed
If you’re dealing with multiple challenges, you don’t have to tackle everything at once. Start with what feels most disruptive right now, and focus on that. Remember, managing migraine is an ongoing process. “Migraine care works best when it reflects both medical needs and day-to-day life,” says Niaz. “These details help put migraine [attack] frequency into context and guide treatment decisions.”
4. Gather Your Thoughts
A little prep work can help you feel more confident during your next doctor’s appointment. Here’s how to get ready, plus tips for maximizing your visit:
Keep a migraine log. Track information around migraine attack frequency, severity, and symptoms, as well as how often you’re using acute medication and how well it’s working. You can then share this information with your doctor at your visit to help spot patterns and inform your care.
Come with a list of questions. Write down any questions you have for your doctor before each appointment, so you don’t forget to bring up what feels most pressing to you.
Get clear answers during your visit. “Don’t be scared to ask follow-up questions or request clarification,” says Niaz. “Your doctor is there to provide you with tools to treat migraine, but if you don’t feel comfortable with the plan, it is not a useful visit.”
Leave each checkup with a plan. Ask your doctor what the next steps should be, including how to address your most pressing needs and when to schedule your next checkup.
Go over situations that may warrant an earlier follow-up visit. Discuss when to contact your doctor sooner, rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit — for example, if you experience a migraine attack that doesn’t respond to medications, a sudden “worse than ever” attack, or other significant changes.
The Takeaway
- Preparing for each visit can help you make the most of migraine checkups.
- Be ready to go over how often you’re experiencing migraine attacks, what they feel like, and how migraine is affecting your quality of life.
- Also discuss how well current treatments are working and if you’re having trouble sticking to the prescribed treatment regimen.
Read the full article here
