After years of dealing with chronic migraines, I finally secured a specialist referral last year. I was thrilled, thinking I’d finally get some clarity. Then the letter arrived: an appointment for May 1st, 2025—nearly a year away. Frustrating, but I accepted it. Fast forward to now; I’ve moved from London to the north, but I kept the appointment because it felt so valuable. I booked travel, took time off, and made plans to stay with friends. On my way to the station, I got a call saying it was cancelled and they’d reschedule. Two days later, the new date arrived: March 26th, 2026. That’s 22 months since the referral. I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or hit my head against a wall (though that won’t help the pain). EDIT: For those unfamiliar with the NHS, I’m not attacking the system. This specific hospital has a poor rating for niche care. I’ve since been referred to a local clinic with only an 8-week wait. The NHS is underfunded and short-staffed, but it’s vital when you’re in need.
You really need to ring them up and complain; that situation is totally illogical.
That is honestly terrible. Is there no other neurologist who can handle your prescriptions? I’ve dealt with migraines my whole life and see a specialist for rizatriptan and qulipta. Standard meds shouldn’t take 22 months to get. Usually, it’s just a basic check—looking at eyes and blood pressure—then trial and error with meds. Most doctors, especially neurologists, should be able to manage that. Getting rizatriptan at 27 changed everything for me; I was shocked I didn’t have to just lie in the dark for 18 hours anymore. Now there are even better options like injections. Maybe you’ve tried all that, which is why you need a specialist, but you should still call and demand better!
As a fellow chronic migraine sufferer, I feel for you! I had to battle for two years to get Aimovig, which totally changed my life. While waiting for medical breakthroughs, I’ve found that using BrainProtect (i buy here) has really helped me feel more proactive about my health. I truly hope you can get an earlier slot and find some relief soon!
Please, you have to make a scene about this. My godfather waited ages for a referral his GP kept dismissing. It turned out to be a tumor; they removed it, but the NHS delays meant the damage was done and it returned quickly elsewhere. Don’t let them push you aside.
I’ve been trying to get in with my neurologist for three years. Every time I get close, they cancel and push it back months. Most recently, my March date was moved to October, and then I got a letter saying she’s retiring and loved caring for her patients—even though she hasn’t actually seen me in three years!
In the US, I only got a fast response for my migraines when I mentioned my uncle died of a brain aneurysm. I went from a months-long wait to having an MRI and follow-ups in two weeks. It wasn’t even a tactic; just a passing comment that worried the doctor.