3 Migraines in One Week - What's Going on Here?

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Today I woke up at 4am with my 3rd migraine in one week's time. After seeing some light at the end of the tunnel from going to the Diamond Headache Clinic, I need to know what is causing this setback.

I don't know if I am trying to do too much and I am overexerting myself or if it's the insomnia getting to me or if I am just plain stressed out trying to manage all my medical appointments and a home life. Since only yesterday I found out that my husband will soon be laid off from work, that probably put me over the edge and brought on today's migraine. Still, there is no explaining the last two, especially after going an entire week without one.

All I know is that if I don't show any improvement after I see the doctor today, I am going to lose hope. Oh yes, I still have my my physical therapy, psychotherapy, biofeedback, yoga, meditation and devotional time to cram into my day while I do the cooking and cleaning and as I try to work on my angel boxes and build a website for them. Time is of the essence now that we will need some additional income. Everything that I am supposed to do to relax is enough to stress me out more.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day. Maybe I can get my Spark on tomorrow.

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Just another busy day...EXCEPT

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

This morning I started out with physical therapy. Next I went grocery shopping. I am going to make a big batch of lean chili loaded with vegetables and beans tonight or tomorrow morning. Next I went to the craft store. A dear friend of mine is creating a friendship quilt and has asked me to make a square for her. This is the design I want to put on it.



When I get the square finished I'll post a photo of it side by side with this picture, and we'll see how well I do.

I made Gary his lunch and he came home with the EXCEPTION. Today his company announced that it is merging with another company headquartered in Dallas. The other company seems to be calling all the shots and has announced they will be consolidating all corporate and administrative duties in Dallas. This means my husband is definitely going to lose his job in the very near future, as the merger will be complete by the end of March. There is a meeting this afternoon to disseminate more info to the employees. I am crossing my fingers for a large severance package. This news will really put the brakes on my spending.

Gary really, really hates his job, so hopefully this is just an opportunity for him to find a more suitable workplace. I pray this is God closing one door and opening at least a window of opportunity.

I talked to a Diamond Headache clinic doctor today and he is giving me a combination of three oral medications to try to break my migraines at home. It's called a "triple shot" and that's what the doctors gave me IV when I was in the ER on Saturday. Boy do I hope the oral meds work. It would be so great to stop going to the doctor or ER every week. For now, though, I am happy that there is at least something that works for me now without knocking me out and leading to so much lost enjoyment of life.

I started biofeedback training here yesterday. Tomorrow I will start seeing my therapist again. I have slept well for the past few nights, so hopefully that means there will be no need for the "date rape" drug for my insomnia.

After such unexpected news, I went to the basement and worked out some of the stress. I have added 5 new yoga poses to my routine and am working on getting in more aerobics, but that's where I can easily overexert myself and trigger a migraine, so I am building slowly and breaking the aerobics up into spurts throughout the day.

Gary and I plan to run some errands tonight, I hope he doesn't come home so stressed out that he's unbearable to be around and that he still feels like going on the errrands.

Well, time to finish off a second load of laundry and start work on my quilt square.

I will ask everyone to please keep us in your prayers regarding my husband's uncertain job and career future. He is a computer systems analyst and is getting tired of that grind. I know we''ll land on our feet somehow. Maybe I can get my angel boxes on the web soon and that can be a little additional income through the hard times.

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Quote of the Day and commentary

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
~ Dr. Suess ~

That is the quote I posted in one of the forums today, This is one of the responses I got:

"Thanks, here I know I can be honest about where I am and not put on a 'happy face.'"

That mede me stop and think. Everyone on SparkPeople that I have shared experiences with has been so supportive, I do feel as if I can always just be myself and say what I'd like to say. I have never run across another social networking site that can hold a candle to Spark.
This site has made a tremendous difference in my life, and I can't imagine life without it.
As long as there is breath in me, I want to spread the Spark.

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Spirit in the Sky

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Today I had a migraine, breaking my streak of headach-free days. I had to go to the ER because my doctor's office didn't have my aborive medicine, Nubain, in stock yet. The ER was really busy so it took all day, but getting the Nubain there broke my migraine. Yay!


Since I shouldn't spend much time on the computer, I am going to just post these phots I took when Mom was driving me to Orlando at the end of my trip:







What does it look like to you?

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Migraine-free for an Entire Week

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

It has been so long since I have been able to say that; I can't tell you how happy I am. So is my husband and all my doctors. We are all doing the happy dance.


I saw my primary care doctor yesterday (along with a physical therapist, my sleep specialist, my psychiatrist, and my mother-in-law.) My primary care doctor is having the pharmacy order the drug Nubain that has aborted my last three migraines in the ER and the hospital. My insurance doesn't cover it, but the doctor and pharmacist are trying to push it through as "medically necessary." I say, "Amen!" to that. I have tried every migraine abortive there is and none of them work for me like Nubain does. It is an injectable that will replace my morphine shots. It leaves me drowsy, but functional and with no drug hangover the next day, unlike the morphine, which I had to sleep off for nearly 24 hours.

Speaking of sleep, I am still having major problems with insomnia, which can trigger a migraine. My sleep specialist raised my dose of Zanaflex that I take for sleep from 12 mg to 20 mg. I pray that it works, because if it doesn't my last resort is Xyrem and it is THE "date rape" drug. This sleep specialist requires the first dose of this drug to be administered in a sleep lab, so I hope I don't have to go there.


My physical therapy will be twice a week. On one visit they will manually work on my head, neck, shoulder and back muscles and trigger points and teach me exercises to do at home. On the other visit I will have a personal trainer working me out on Pilates equipment to build my core strength. I LOVE pilates and would like to one day get a Pilates Reformer machine for home, but they are quite expensive.


For now, I also have to see my psychiatrist once a month instead of every six months since the Diamond Headache Clinic made so many medication changes and wants me to be followed more closely. Speaking of the Diamond Headache Clinic, tomorrow I have a follow up phone appointment with my doctor there, and I have lots of questions to ask him.


Next week I also start biofeedback training and psycho therapy. My life will be full of medical appointments almost daily for the foreseeable future. However, I expect continued improvements in my migraines if I can keep up with all my therapy regimens. I have successfully added back my daily yoga, stepping, and walking now that I have returned from my extended vacation. I still need to work in the daily biofeedback practice along with some meditation and my devotional time, as well as work in strength training to my fitness regimen. I am going to be one busy girl!


I am also excited because I have an order for three more angel boxes from one of my customers. When I have (make) time, I must get them up for sale on the internet either on Etsy.com or my own website, or both. But would you believe I still have some unpacking from my trip to do, there are still Christmas decorations to be put away, the house to clean, shirts to iron, and the more shopping and cooking to do? I need a maid!



Well, hubby should be home any minute, so I better get ready to do some of that shopping at Costco this evening.

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