By: Dr. Michael Teixido & Kelley Lester-Garrett BSN, MSN, FNP-C

Susan Patton had no idea when she consulted Dr. Michael Teixido, Delaware’s leading hearing and balance specialist, that migraine could masquerade as vertigo, double vision, or sinus pressure. She, like many of Dr. Teixido’s patients, had consulted with other specialists without complete success. Her symptoms had compromised her quality of life for many years. Within weeks of starting a safe, low-dose, medication her symptoms disappeared.

Over the years, Dr. Teixido has encountered thousands of patients with atypical symptoms from migraine. “I used to have difficulty treating these patients because I was not familiar with the medications used to treat migraine. When I sent the patients to headache specialists, treatment was often withheld because the patients did not have standard, recognizable forms of migraine. Ten years ago, I resolved to learn to treat these patients myself. It has been one of the most gratifying ventures of my life.” Dr. Teixido now is qualified to offer state-of-the-art headache care, and has established headache care as a key part of his hearing and balance practice.

“At first, I was just treating my patients with balance problems related to migraine. Because migraine runs in families, I was soon treating family members of my balance patients who had headaches but no vertigo. Since the treatments are identical for both standard migraine and more unusual migrainous symptoms, taking on these new patients was no problem. I soon appreciated how common migraine is, and how few patients are adequately treated.” Dr. Teixido has taken up the cause of providing access to high-level specialty care for headache patients in Delaware.

More than 13 out of every 100 Americans suffer from migraine headaches, which are 3 times more common in women than in men. It is more common in mid-life when we are busiest with our families and careers. Half of migraine sufferers miss work because of their symptoms. Although these statistics may seem astounding, only half of migraine sufferers know that they have migraines. “Large national surveys have shown that most patients with migraine think they have sinus or tension headaches, and struggle for years using over-the-counter medications, like Advil, Tylenol, and Sudafed. Without an accurate diagnosis, their headaches may never go away and may even worsen over time. “

“Even patients being treated for migraines are often unsatisfied with their treatment,” says Dr. Teixido. “This is because the treatment may not take away all of the pain, does not work long or fast enough, or has too many side effects. Overall, only 15 % of migraineurs are satisfied with their current care.” Dr. Teixido believes excellent care can be provided to all patients with the right education and teamwork. Dr. Teixido has developed web-based materials to educate his patients. He has also partnered with Kelley Lester-Garrett RN, MSN, a nurse practitioner, to help provide the attention patients need to achieve exceptional results.

“Doctors are often too busy to effectively educate their patients about migraine. Under such pressure, patients are often sent away with medications, but no real understanding of their problem. This is particularly unfortunate because many migraineurs can be treated without any medication at all. Almost all our patients are amazed to discover how their own brains’ misbehavior can be effectively managed with simple self-observation and avoidance of triggers.”

Dr. Teixido is a Delaware native. He is the director of the Balance and Mobility Center of Christiana Care, the Cochlear Implant Program of Christiana Care and of the Delaware Otologic Medicine and Surgery Fellowship training program. He teaches ear medicine and surgery regularly at Thomas Jefferson University where he is Assistant Professor, at the University of Pennsylvania, at Drexel University as well as nationally and internationally.

Kelley Lester-Garrett BSN, MSN, FNP-C received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in 1992 and her Master’s Degree and Family Nurse Practitioner certification in 2008 from University of Delaware. She has worked in various nursing roles including: neurosurgical and medical intensive care, home care, and school nursing. Kelley has taught medical-surgical nursing at Neumann College. She is a member of the American Headache Society and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

For more information about migraine simply Google: Teixido Migraine

Dr. Teixido, MD, and Nurse Practitioner Kelley Lester-Garrett see patients at Suite 210, 1941 Limestone Road, Wilmington, Delaware. Call 302 998-0300 for an evaluation.

Publisher’s Note:

I cannot tell you how happy I am that I found Dr. Teixido! I suffered with dull headaches & sinus pressure for years, thinking that this was just something I had to deal with. When I also started having pressure in my ears & vertigo, I saw an ENT, but was told that there was nothing physically wrong with me. Thankfully, someone recommended Dr. Teixido to me. After seeing him for one visit, I felt relief to have a diagnosis of Vestibular Migraine. I never would have imagined that my symptoms were migraine because it was a dull headache. But having a diagnosis & a practice that specializes in this kind of headache gave me much needed hope that I would be able to find a solution to the ongoing pain & vertigo. He lifted a weight off my shoulders that there was a solution.

He helped me find a solution that works for me to relieve my symptoms. Thank you Dr. T for giving me relief from my headaches & vertigo! If you have been suffering from discomfort, vertigo, and/or sinus pressure, you owe it to yourself to go to Dr. Teixido & Kelley Lester-Garrett.
Stop Suffering!