Traveling for migraine surgery requires careful planning to ensure your comfort before, during and after the procedure. If you’re a new patient, the process begins with a consultation performed either at our offices, using Skype, or another form of telemedicine interview.
Our experienced migraine physicians will question and examine you to determine the cause of your migraines, and if you’re a candidate for surgery you can begin making arrangements for your procedure at the Migraine Relief Center.
Plan the date and time of your surgery with our office and obtain confirmation by email. It’s important to make sure you know where to go, and how far in advance of the procedure you should arrive. Are there laboratory tests required before the surgery? Do you need to be fasting ahead of your general anesthetic?
Request the price of your procedure and make sure you know exactly what is included. Find out ahead of time what is covered by your insurance, and make arrangements for any co-payment amounts or exclusions. We request payment at the time of your appointment for any items that are not covered by your insurance.
Determine the method of payment you will use to cover these costs. If you require a payment plan, this should be discussed well before making any arrangements for travel.
Calculate the costs associated with your travel and accommodation and consider how you will fund these. If you’re bringing a family member or friend with to help you, be sure to budget for them as well.
Some costs you will face include:
Our Houston office is conveniently located minutes from downtown and the Montrose area, which has a number of hotels, restaurants and other attractions in the area in case your companion has time to spare.
Traveling by air or car can be taxing for migraine patients, so if you’re coming from out of state or from more than a few miles away, plan to arrive the day before so you can have a good rest for at least 24 hours prior to surgery. Find out the distance and the route from your accommodation to both our office and the airport you plan to fly into.
Our Houston center, for example, is near both the George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) or the William P. Hobby Airport (HOU). If you’re driving from home, identify rest areas en route and establish where you can park at both our office and your accommodation venue.
In addition to regular travel supplies, some items that may be helpful after surgery include:
You would benefit from carrying a supply of your regular drinks and high-protein snacks, to help avoid dehydration or fluctuations in your blood glucose.
Find out how long you will need to wait before returning home, and make sure your accommodation can be extended if required. It’s important to inform your family doctor about your decision to have migraine surgery, and to arrange for your records to be shared with him or her. If you’re traveling by car, locate emergency care providers on your route in case you need help during the journey.
Schedule your consultation today to find out whether migraine surgery is right for you. For more information on traveling for migraine surgery, read our blog post on the topic.
