Pacific Northwest Headache Clinic: Dr. James A. Moren, MD

In the past 15 years since I started to get chronic migraines, I have been repeatedly disappointed with the treatment I have received from so many doctors and other migraine specialist. I have felt for so many years that I was going to have accept living with migraine pain and missing out on so much. Dr. Moren was able to determine what type of migraines I experienced and take into consideration my other health issues. I began experiencing a dramatic reduction in my migraines with his recommendations and treatment. For the first time in over a decade, I am feeling incredibly optimistic about successfully controlling my migraines and reclaiming my active and creative life.
Nov 2nd, 2021

I came to see Dr. Moren on day 21 of a Migraine after seeing a neurologist, Doctor and going to the ER. He listened to me and came up with a plan. On day 23 I woke up migraine free!! Highly recommend anyone to him!!!
Aug 2nd, 2021

As a headache suffer of over 40 years and the last 10 years with daily headaches and trying just about everything you could imagine I was feeling that maybe there was no hope for me when my wife found Dr.Moren. So after setting up an appointment and going to see Dr. Moren it did not take long for me to feel that there was hope as this man genuinely has a desire to help people with their headaches .I have already referred this doctor to other people that we know that also suffer I highly recommend him to anyone. Thought it was time to give an update as it has been seven months since i first visited Dr. Moren . It would be great if i could report i am headache free but that is not the case . However i can report that my quality of life has greatly improved under his care . I have continued to see improvement and understand that having these headaches all of my adult life it is going to take some time but again i am so thankful for having found this good man . And again i highly recommend Dr. Moren
Mar 10th, 2022

My experience with Dr. Moren at the Pacific Northwest Headache Clinic for chronic migraine has been incredibly positive and helpful. I was able to get an appointment within a week of my initial request (as opposed to having to wait months to be seen as was the case with other local specialists.) Dr. Moran required an 18-page headache survey in advance of my first visit that allowed me to provide detailed information about my headache history, what I'd already tried, and what my hopes and fears were regarding treatment. At our first visit, he went over the information I provided with a fine toothed comb, asked detailed questions and REALLY listened to me. He also made sure that he addressed every single question and concern I had. I don't know that I have ever felt more validated, understood and supported by a physician. Based on my needs and requests, he ordered an MRI and set me up with new preventative and acute migraine medications that have given me both peace of mind and relief from chronic pain. His individualized attention and advocacy in navigating health care systems (not taking "no" for an answer when insurance didn't want to pay for needed procedures or medication for example,) meant that he followed through without relenting until I got the care I needed. I cannot recommend Dr. Moren highly enough. Being under his care has dramatically improved my quality of life.
Aug 21st, 2021

I first met Dr.Moren when he and his partner had a headache clinic at Island Hospital in Anacortes. I saw both of them several times over the course of the life of that clinic when the hospital, in its wisdom, shut down the one clinic that routinely gave life back to its patients. It was an unfortunate move for everyone involvedpatients, doctors, and hospital. Fortunately, Dr. Moren decided to reopen his practice in Bellingham and primary doctors in Anacortes are gratefully learning that they, once again, have a reliable source to send their migraine suffering patients to. Patients are able to connect with one of the two men who were able to educate clearly to their patients the physiology and pathophysiology of how the relatively new injectable medications - calcitonin gene related peptides - could actually manage and possibly terminate the suffering of those experiencing migraines. I did not know I had migraines. I did know that I had daily headaches that necessitated taking 8 extra strength excedrin on a daily basis. I had been sent to neurologists and specialists at the UW, usually a medical center that has extraordinarily good results, except in this particular area. I had imaging done, and tried any number of medications, and other treatments. I am daily grateful that Dr. Moren has kept himself up to date on the possible treatments for migraine sufferers, and was never satisfied with what I myself was satisfied with, a huge improvement. He kept trying different options until he hit upon the one that seems to work almost miraculously. He always takes the time to educate and to answer any questions that you might have - even if they have been answered in the past but you just cant quite remember the mechanism of how the medication works. I am immensely grateful that he chose to open a private practice when the local hospital shut down his department. On a side note, just to demonstrate his steady humanity. Once, as I was leaving to go to an appointment with Dr. Moren, I got a call from my granddaughters preschool saying she did not feel well and needed to be picked up. I told them I was on my way to an appointment and to please have her ready for me to pick her up within about five minutes. She was waiting for me and we headed to my appointment, which like every other appointment, included a lot of education and a check up as to how the medication was working. As we were preparing to leave Dr Moren said thank-you for making yourself available to care for your granddaughter, It never occurred to me that a possibly ill child would be welcomed as part of my appointment, and I cannot state strongly enough how much it meant that I was able to meet both my needs and the needs of my granddaughter at the same time. Dr. Moren knows migraines and he knows the reality of that sick child who may occasionally need to be a part of an appointment. He is a gift to the medical community and a gift to every individual struggling with migraines. My hope is that Dr. Moren may be willing and able to begin to educate more primaries about migraines so that fewer and fewer people continue to struggle with them to such an intense degree. So much work time is lost to migraines, so much positive energy is lost to migraines, and it is very possible that this lost time and energy could be vastly minimized, if not curtailed altogether. In checking his Bellingham address again just now, I realized that the Bellingham station is about two blocks from Dr. Morens new office, making it possibly for those who no longer do distance driving to still be able to be seen by, and cared for, by Dr, Moren. I cannot state strongly enough how grateful I am that Dr, Moren opened his Bellingham practice and that so many of us are now able to benefit from his expertise.
Aug 16th, 2021