OK - Let's do the good news first. I applied for SS Disability back in May since I can't work anymore, mainly because of these darn migraines. Last week I got a letter saying my application had been approved, and yesterday my first monthly check showed up in the mail! 
Soon I should be getting my back pay (17months worth), which will be most excellent. I will actually be making enough to support myself, so I won't have to move. Yeah!!! I think the trick to getting approved on the first try is to flood them with as many sources of reference, going as far back as you can. I actually had records at my old primary care physician's office going back to 1978, when he first treated me for migraine attacks. I actually saw him a couple of times there this year, so you can't beat that one for a long association. I think I gave them at least 15 sources of reference to check (I even left out a few). Anyway, the strategy must have worked cuz - I'M IN THE MONEY!!!!I'M IN THE MONEY!!!......
OK - now for the sucky part. I finally got in to see what I thought was going to be the miracle neurologist. To prepare for my visit, I compiled a two page synopsis of my migraine history. I included: TYPE OF MIGRAINE, SYMPTOMS, CURRENT FREQUENCY, KNOWN TRIGGERS, ELIMINATED TRIGGERS, CURRENT MIGRAINE MEDICATION REGIMINE, BRIEF HEALTH SYNOPSIS, INITIAL ATTACK, FIRST TREATMENT, SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT, CURRENT DAILY MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIMENTS, MEDICATIONS TRIED OR USED (BUT NO LONGER WORK). After reading my synopsis, the DR said I had really done my homework, and there wasn't anything else he could think of to improve my situation. He said I pretty much knew just about everything he knew about migraines. He did give me a prescription to up my dosage of Topamax to 400mg, since I'm at 200mg now, but I'm not sure what his thinking was, because he says that his patients stay at 100mg. AAARRRRGGGGHHH.....I'm about to pull my hair out! At least he didn't charge me for the appointment. Now when the pain gets really bad, I'm still at the mercy of the clinic or ER for a pain shot. I'm still working on getting something strong enough to keep at home so I don't have to keep going out and waiting for who knows how long for a shot. Tuesday it took 3 1/2 hours at the clinic, and one time it took almost 8 hours at the ER. Talk about torture 
Guess I'm back to the drawing board on this one.
Anyone wanting a copy of my synopsis for reference purposes can gladly have one. Just email me your request, and I'll send it right back.
I'm finished whining for now,
Leigh Ann 