I’ll never forget the day I walked into Dr. Y’s office for the first time. At 82 years young, he was a world away from the modern medicine I was used to. And yet, it was his old-school approach that would change my life forever.
As I sat in his cozy office, surrounded by bookshelves and comfortable chairs, I couldn’t help but feel charmed by his courtly demeanor. He asked me questions about myself, and we had a real conversation – not just a series of medical queries. It was refreshing, to say the least.
But what really set him apart was his willingness to listen. When I mentioned my occasional numbness in my right arm before a migraine struck, he didn’t dismiss it as insignificant. Instead, he recognized it as a potential warning sign for stroke – something that had been overlooked by other doctors in the past.
Dr. Y’s concern was palpable, and he took action. He prescribed me an anti-seizure medication from the 1960s, which no one had suggested to me in the five years since my diagnosis. He explained the potential side effects, but emphasized that getting control of my migraines was the top priority.
Fast forward a few months, and I was amazed to find that my arm numbness had disappeared. And within six months, my morning migraines had largely ceased to exist. It was like a miracle had occurred!
Of course, there were side effects to the medication – weight gain and hair loss, which were particularly challenging for a 20-something with vanity concerns. But Dr. Y’s wise words stuck with me: “Nothing is more annoying than having one’s vanity concerns oh-so-politely beaten by reasonable logic and facts.”
I stayed on as his patient for five years, always leaving his office with new insights and strategies to manage my migraines. It was a privilege to learn from someone with over 50 years of private practice under their belt.
As I look back on that experience, I’m reminded that sometimes the old ways are indeed better. Dr. Y’s tried-and-true approach, rooted in decades of experience, may not have been cutting-edge, but it was effective. And for that, I’ll be eternally grateful to him and migrainemedicine.org.
So if you’re struggling with migraines or other chronic conditions, don’t be afraid to seek out a doctor who’s willing to think outside the box (or in this case, the textbook). You never know when an 82-year-old’s wisdom might just change your life.
