How should I prepare for my first doctor's visit for my headaches?

Prepare for your doctor's visit by gathering information about your headaches. Try to organize information describing your headache pattern and figure out what questions you need to have answered right away. Here are some hints to help you get started:

• Keep a headache diary for 1-2 months before your visit, if possible,
         and bring it to the visit.
• Try to summarize your past treatments for headache, noting what
         worked, what didn't, and which medications weren't tolerated
         well.
• Collect all of your current medications and be ready to bring them to
         the visit.- Get any old records that pertain to your past
         headache treatment, including the results of tests. You do not
         generally need to bring in the actual X-rays unless the doctor
         specifically asks to review them. Don't expect the doctor to
         review them during the office visit. Often she will review them
         after you leave if there are questions about your history.- Write
         down a list of questions that you want answered. Prioritize them
         by selecting three or four that are the most important for you to
         have answered right away.
• Visit one or more of the websites about headaches to get a general
         understanding about headaches.
• Sometimes it is helpful to bring in a friend or relative with you who
         can act as an extra pair of ears regarding the instructions and
         explanations.

Preparing for your visit in advance is the best way to make sure that your healthcare provider will have what she needs to best determine what's causing your headaches and what treatments are most likely to be helpful.