What does Dr. Meighen review at the consultation?
Dr. Michael Meighen does the consultation and evaluation himself. Your symptoms, health history, current medications and stress patterns are weighed together to decide whether the protocol fits.
A stress pattern is how much pressure you carry and how long you have carried it.
Why do your medications and supplements matter before a neck injection?
Some supplements can change how the body absorbs, breaks down or clears a medication. Others, such as ginkgo biloba, aspirin and vitamin E, can thin the blood, as warfarin does.
Federal consumer guidance advises bringing a list of every supplement and medication to each health visit. A clinician may also ask you to pause some supplements before a treatment. That choice belongs to the clinician, so do not stop anything on your own.
How is the decision made?
The decision rests on the whole picture. The protocol is not right for everyone, and the evaluation is where that is settled, with you part of the conversation.
Blood thinners, a bleeding problem, an infection at the site or a past reaction to a local anesthetic can rule a block out. So can pregnancy, some heart or lung conditions and recent thoughts of suicide.
Tell Dr. Meighen about a very slow heartbeat or a heart-block rhythm problem, and about a collapsed lung, a paralyzed diaphragm or severe lung disease such as COPD: the block can briefly weaken breathing on the treated side. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
What questions should you ask before agreeing to an injection?
Start with the evidence. A 2020 randomized trial in JAMA Psychiatry found greater PTSD symptom improvement with right-side blocks than with a sham injection over 8 weeks. The VA calls the evidence not conclusive, and Cleveland Clinic describes it as mixed.
Then ask about side effects. Common ones include a droopy eyelid or smaller pupil, a red or watery eye, a stuffy nose, a hoarse voice, trouble swallowing and soreness or bruising at the site. The arm on that side can feel warm, heavy or numb. They usually fade within a few hours.
Rare risks include infection, bleeding, nerve injury, a collapsed lung and an allergic reaction.
Using a stellate ganglion block for stress-related conditions is an off-label use. Dr. Meighen reviews the benefits and risks with you before anything is scheduled. Finally, ask what follow-up looks like after the two days.
What should you bring to the consultation?
Bring a written list of every medication and supplement, with the dose, how often you take it and why. Include creams, eye drops, vitamins and herbal products.
Add short notes on when your symptoms began, when they feel worst and what has helped so far. If you have recent lab results or records from another doctor, ask the team whether to bring them.
What happens after the consultation?
If the protocol fits, the right-side injection follows on day one and the left side on day two. Each injection is placed under ultrasound and followed by 30 to 45 minutes of monitoring before you go home.
You can read through the two-day protocol, step by step, and see where it sits in the nervous system reset phase.
Common questions
Should I stop any medication before my consultation?
No. Do not change or stop a prescription on your own. Bring your list, and let Dr. Meighen and your prescribing doctor guide any change.
Can I find out before the visit whether I qualify?
Fit depends on your full history, so the answer comes from the evaluation itself. A crisis is different: call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency.
Is the Reboot Protocol™ only for PTSD?
No. It is considered for stress-related conditions such as burnout, anxiety and PTSD, always after an evaluation with Dr. Meighen.
How soon can I start?
A new patient can get started the same week, after the consultation and initial evaluation.