| You have severe, debilitating headaches that | | | | headache organizations for professionals, not |
| cause you to vomit and huddle in a dark room for | | | | patients, and ask for the name of three or four |
| hours waiting for them to go away. Chances are | | | | specialists in your area. |
| they are migraines. The only way to know for | | | | Check with friends and family. The odds are |
| sure, and start on the path to managing your | | | | good you know someone with migraines and they |
| condition if they are migraines, is to be properly | | | | may just have a doctor they love. Another |
| diagnosed. | | | | good place to ask for a referral is at a local |
| The first step should always be your regular | | | | teaching hospital or university. |
| doctor. One out of every eight people suffers | | | | When you have a few names, call and find out |
| from migraines, so chances are good that your | | | | more about the doctor. Some good screening |
| doctor has seen someone who has migraines | | | | questions to ask the doctor are: |
| before. If your regular doctor does not feel | | | | * How long have you been specializing in headache |
| qualified to properly diagnose the source of your | | | | treatment and how often do you treat headache |
| headaches or discounts your pain, it may be time | | | | patients? |
| for a specialist. | | | | * Are you certified in your specialty (for doctors |
| Ask your doctor for a referral to a headache | | | | in the U.S. and Canada)? |
| specialist. If they do not know anyone, check | | | | * Do you belong to any headache-oriented |
| with your insurance company to see if they have | | | | professional organizations? |
| any specialists listed. If that doesn’t work | | | | * Do you participate in any kind of continuing |
| (or even if it does), contact your local medical | | | | education program to stay apprised of the latest |
| board. You can also try one of the major | | | | research on headache diagnosis and treatment? |