Woke up at 5:30, and dosed on and off before finally getting out of bed at 6:30. I watched the news for a bit and ate breakfast (waffles). I took a bath. I am extremely anxious about going to the hospital, so I packed some of what I need to go to the hospital, despite the fact that it might be a day before I go or it might be a week. I came downstairs and was going to go for a walk, but when I opened the door it was raining so I went into the living room and watched tv. Ate hot hard boiled eggs for lunch, waited a little bit and then ate some pumpkin roll.
All day was very anxious about the hospital calling. I want them to call and say that I can go as soon as possible. While I don't want to go into the hospital, I do. I want to go, and get the pain to stop. I read some threads online by people who went to Jefferson; most of them got IV Lidocaine (http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/news-44997-5.html). They were helped some. Their pain was brought down to a 2 or 3 and this lasted for a couple of weeks or a couple of months. If this can happen to me, I'm happy. A 2 or 3 is do-able. I am happy with a 2 or 3.
I watched some more TV for a while, then decided to take a bath to relax and try to sleep a bit, headache was bad. Took a Zyprexa to sleep... an hour later when I was not asleep took another Zyprexa. About half an hour later the headache center called me; I am going to be admitted to the hospital on Thursday. Finally an answer! The hospital will call tomorrow with details about what time and where to go and that sort of thing.
I then tried to go to sleep, thinking that now that I knew for sure when I was going I would be less anxious and be able to sleep. Still no luck so I gave up.
I went downstairs and read message boards about peoples' experiences at the inpatient headache center. Some people have had good experience, some mediocre... everyone says keep an open mind, especially your first time, and I am going to do that. Hopefully the stay will help me.
Went for a car ride with my mom, just drove around a bit-- swung by Burger King and got a milkshake that was my dinner because my stomach is feeling a little wonky. But we drove around and then when we got home, at around 6:45 I packed a little bit more. Then I took my PM meds at about 7 and got in bed.
AM vitamins taken, 2 Zyprexa taken over 2 hours in afternoon, PM meds taken, with Zyprexa
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday 11/29/2010: 8
Woke up at 7:00 today. Pain was a 7 when I woke up.Today was going to be quite a busy day, with three appointments, the chiropractor, pain management, and my psychologist, Liz. I ate Honeycombs for breakfast and took my AM vitamins. I took a shower to get ready to go.
At around 8:30 I got a call from Pain Management. This was going to be my initial appointment, a consultation to see what can be done. However, they have not received my records from the headache center where I am treated, so they needed to cancel my appointment. Apparently they need the records in order to have the appointment. I find this immensely irritating at both ends. I did call the headache center and ask them to send my records. Although they only had about three working days to send the records and they do move rather slowly there. Also, I find it annoying that I know what treatments I have had and I know what has been tried; why are the records so important if I know this? I can tell the doctor what has been tried. I am trying not to be upset about it and trying not to stew on it, it will get me no where but upset and feeling worse, but still I am irritated.
I went to the chiropractor and I also went to Costco during this trip. The chiropractor did not make me feel better like it usually does, but it also did not make me feel any worse. My mom drove me and then we went to Costco and looked around there a bit. I got some Christmas gifts for people there.
I came home and took a bath to relax a little bit. Then I was lying on the couch, watching TV, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, the mindlessness is good for these days. Called the headache center to find out what is going on with the hospital; am I able to go sooner or not? The scheduler called in sick today so we need to wait until tomorrow to find out. I find this again irritating. They have one person that is capable of scheduling? The entire setup just seems highly inefficient.
My pain level now is a high eight, I think because I am getting frustrated and am anxious about whether or not I will go to the hospital this week or next week, and I don't know completely what to expect when I am in the hospital. I am trying not to get upset or anxious about it, but am not really doing a good job at it.
I went to see Liz, my psychologist, and that was relatively eventful. I have not seen her for quite a while; I had to cancel my last appointment with her because I was going to the ER for a bag migraine. Shocker. I caught her up on what has been going on. I expressed my frustration with the headache center I am using. She asked if there are any others in the area I can go to and I said I am getting a referal to another one that is a little bit further away; I'll call this one Headache Center Number 2.
We also discussed my anxiety about applying to graduate schools and applying for jobs. My mom came in for a little bit of the session (she was waiting in the waiting room for me since I still am not driving) and talked about this with us. At that point she wanted me to apply for jobs that were a little higher in position, and apply for graduate school. While my mom was in the session we also talked about the fact that I often times get headaches when there are things that need to be done, like applying for jobs or graduate school, perhaps as a way to retreat and as an avoidance mechanism. My mom then left the session and Liz and I continued to talk.
It is very likely that my headaches are an avoidance mechanism, although I'm not really sure what to do about that since its not something I consiously do; I'll have to work with Liz on that. And I talked to Liz and then talked to my mom and we came to a compromise. I will apply to a couple of local graduate schools and one graduate school that I am interested in that is further away (about three and a half hours away), and I will maintain the job I have right now, because they are being so great about me needing time off for my headaches, and really, I won't find another job that is so supportive of that. So that takes a lot of pressure off of me, because I did feel very stressed I think about trying to find another job. Now I have school to think about, but not applying for another job, so I should feel considerably less stressed. I hope.
Liz also thinks I should see a psychiatrist.... She thinks it would be better for me to have a specialist controlling my medications rather than just a family doctor. I am going to print out a list of providers that are covered by my insurance and then take them to my next session so that she can recommend one. I think there is a psychiatrist at the hospital, although it probably makes sense to have one that I see on a regular basis as well.
When I got home from Liz' I was feeling not very well at all; around a 9. I took my meds, with a Zyprexa, had dinner, and went to bed.
AM vitamins taken, benedryl for akathisia, PM meds taken, with a Zyprexa.
At around 8:30 I got a call from Pain Management. This was going to be my initial appointment, a consultation to see what can be done. However, they have not received my records from the headache center where I am treated, so they needed to cancel my appointment. Apparently they need the records in order to have the appointment. I find this immensely irritating at both ends. I did call the headache center and ask them to send my records. Although they only had about three working days to send the records and they do move rather slowly there. Also, I find it annoying that I know what treatments I have had and I know what has been tried; why are the records so important if I know this? I can tell the doctor what has been tried. I am trying not to be upset about it and trying not to stew on it, it will get me no where but upset and feeling worse, but still I am irritated.
I went to the chiropractor and I also went to Costco during this trip. The chiropractor did not make me feel better like it usually does, but it also did not make me feel any worse. My mom drove me and then we went to Costco and looked around there a bit. I got some Christmas gifts for people there.
I came home and took a bath to relax a little bit. Then I was lying on the couch, watching TV, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, the mindlessness is good for these days. Called the headache center to find out what is going on with the hospital; am I able to go sooner or not? The scheduler called in sick today so we need to wait until tomorrow to find out. I find this again irritating. They have one person that is capable of scheduling? The entire setup just seems highly inefficient.
My pain level now is a high eight, I think because I am getting frustrated and am anxious about whether or not I will go to the hospital this week or next week, and I don't know completely what to expect when I am in the hospital. I am trying not to get upset or anxious about it, but am not really doing a good job at it.
I went to see Liz, my psychologist, and that was relatively eventful. I have not seen her for quite a while; I had to cancel my last appointment with her because I was going to the ER for a bag migraine. Shocker. I caught her up on what has been going on. I expressed my frustration with the headache center I am using. She asked if there are any others in the area I can go to and I said I am getting a referal to another one that is a little bit further away; I'll call this one Headache Center Number 2.
We also discussed my anxiety about applying to graduate schools and applying for jobs. My mom came in for a little bit of the session (she was waiting in the waiting room for me since I still am not driving) and talked about this with us. At that point she wanted me to apply for jobs that were a little higher in position, and apply for graduate school. While my mom was in the session we also talked about the fact that I often times get headaches when there are things that need to be done, like applying for jobs or graduate school, perhaps as a way to retreat and as an avoidance mechanism. My mom then left the session and Liz and I continued to talk.
It is very likely that my headaches are an avoidance mechanism, although I'm not really sure what to do about that since its not something I consiously do; I'll have to work with Liz on that. And I talked to Liz and then talked to my mom and we came to a compromise. I will apply to a couple of local graduate schools and one graduate school that I am interested in that is further away (about three and a half hours away), and I will maintain the job I have right now, because they are being so great about me needing time off for my headaches, and really, I won't find another job that is so supportive of that. So that takes a lot of pressure off of me, because I did feel very stressed I think about trying to find another job. Now I have school to think about, but not applying for another job, so I should feel considerably less stressed. I hope.
Liz also thinks I should see a psychiatrist.... She thinks it would be better for me to have a specialist controlling my medications rather than just a family doctor. I am going to print out a list of providers that are covered by my insurance and then take them to my next session so that she can recommend one. I think there is a psychiatrist at the hospital, although it probably makes sense to have one that I see on a regular basis as well.
When I got home from Liz' I was feeling not very well at all; around a 9. I took my meds, with a Zyprexa, had dinner, and went to bed.
AM vitamins taken, benedryl for akathisia, PM meds taken, with a Zyprexa.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday 11/28/2010:7.5
Woke up around 7, came downstairs and talked to my mom for a bit. I used my Posture Pump and did my exercises, and felt much better after doing that. My mom asked if using it every hour would make me feel even better. I don't know about that, but maybe it's worth a shot. I ate some waffles and then went back to bed for a while. Slept until about 9:30, then took a bath. Decided that my girlfriend now too needs to use the unscented shampoo and soap because the smell of the regular soap and shampoo on her, too close to me, bothers me.
I wandered around the house for a while, and went to bed for a while more, wandered around the house some more. Went for a ride to Target, got some stuff I needed there, like juice. Came home, looked through some stuff and mostly just passed the time. Ate HoneyCombs for lunch, a pulled turkey sandwich for dinner.
AM vitamins taken, PM meds taken with a Zyprexa around 7:30 pm.
I wandered around the house for a while, and went to bed for a while more, wandered around the house some more. Went for a ride to Target, got some stuff I needed there, like juice. Came home, looked through some stuff and mostly just passed the time. Ate HoneyCombs for lunch, a pulled turkey sandwich for dinner.
AM vitamins taken, PM meds taken with a Zyprexa around 7:30 pm.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Saturday 11/27/2010: 7.5
Woke up at 7:00 today. Came downstairs, got some coffee and did some dishes. Wrote a blog post for yesterday, since last night I was really tired and needed to go to bed as soon as I got home.
Wandered around the house a bit, got my medications ready in my med box for the week, which can be quite a job sometimes. Then my dad came downstairs and we talked for a while, about my doctors appointment yesterday among other things. The rest of my family, my mom, my brother, and his girlfriend came downstairs shortly, and we ate breakfast (corn pudding and half of a sticky bun for me), and talked for a while.
I took a bath, talked to my family for a very brief while, and then went to lie down for a while. I was flipping through a magazine, mostly looking at the pictures because reading is hard for me right now, and I fell asleep until around 1:30.
When I woke up I went to the gym and rode the bike there. I only rode for about 15 minutes, and then I was worn out, athough the little bit of exercise did make me feel better. I went to the store next door where my dad was waiting for me and then we went to Walmart and wandered around.
Came home, was in bed for a while, took a bath, then rode to Barnes and Noble and Marshalls and walked around a bit before coming home, eating a bowl of Honey Combs and then taking my meds and getting in bed and working on the computer for a bit.
Morning vitamins taken, PM meds taken with a Zyprexa.
Wandered around the house a bit, got my medications ready in my med box for the week, which can be quite a job sometimes. Then my dad came downstairs and we talked for a while, about my doctors appointment yesterday among other things. The rest of my family, my mom, my brother, and his girlfriend came downstairs shortly, and we ate breakfast (corn pudding and half of a sticky bun for me), and talked for a while.
I took a bath, talked to my family for a very brief while, and then went to lie down for a while. I was flipping through a magazine, mostly looking at the pictures because reading is hard for me right now, and I fell asleep until around 1:30.
When I woke up I went to the gym and rode the bike there. I only rode for about 15 minutes, and then I was worn out, athough the little bit of exercise did make me feel better. I went to the store next door where my dad was waiting for me and then we went to Walmart and wandered around.
Came home, was in bed for a while, took a bath, then rode to Barnes and Noble and Marshalls and walked around a bit before coming home, eating a bowl of Honey Combs and then taking my meds and getting in bed and working on the computer for a bit.
Morning vitamins taken, PM meds taken with a Zyprexa.
Friday 11/26/2010: 8
Woke up at 5:30 this morning, after taking a second Zyprexa at 1:30 this morning, at around a 7. Ate a lemon poppy seed muffin to take some Aleve not on an empty stomach.Took a bath and got ready for my doctors appointment. Went to the doctor to discuss the possibility of fibromyalgia. I had to have blood drawn to rule out other options, like epstein barr and mono and lyme's disease, and was referred to a local rheumatologist.
Ran to the apartment for some stuff and then came home. At the apartment I hit my head on the car door which increased the pain to an 8 for about 15 minutes. Everyone was getting ready for Thanksgiving at the house. Helped with the preparartions somewhat, and then people started to arrive. During the celebration. I had to leave to take a shower because the smell of my hairspray was bothering me, making my headache worse and making me feel sick. During the celebrations my headache moved from a 7 to an 8, and my whole back ached. We ate dinner (butternut squash soup, turkey, stuffing, corn pudding, green beans, pecan pie, butter pecan ice cream), and talked for a while. I took 4 more Aleve after dinner. After dinner I went upstairs to lie down for a little bit. I came back downstairs about half an hour later, feeling a little bit rested. I felt guilty not being downstairs with the family on Thanksgiving and wanted to come back.
After family left, we started getting ready to go to the Tuba concert. I was definitely going, even though my pain was at an 8. We all went, with all of our cold weather gear. We stood out in the cold, singing Christmas Carols, watched the tree lighting, saw Santa climb onto the roof of the building nearby. It was all very fun and very festive and I am very glad that I went. Afterwards we went back to our friends house. It was somewhere during standing out in the cold that my pain shifted to a 9. And at our friends house my eyes started going haywire blurry and feeling googly. My girlfriend and I were going to take my friends car and leave, but instead my family decided to leave and I fell asleep in the car on the way home, and then went to bed at soon as we got home, around 10:30.
AM vitamins taken, PM meds taken, with a Zyprexa.
Ran to the apartment for some stuff and then came home. At the apartment I hit my head on the car door which increased the pain to an 8 for about 15 minutes. Everyone was getting ready for Thanksgiving at the house. Helped with the preparartions somewhat, and then people started to arrive. During the celebration. I had to leave to take a shower because the smell of my hairspray was bothering me, making my headache worse and making me feel sick. During the celebrations my headache moved from a 7 to an 8, and my whole back ached. We ate dinner (butternut squash soup, turkey, stuffing, corn pudding, green beans, pecan pie, butter pecan ice cream), and talked for a while. I took 4 more Aleve after dinner. After dinner I went upstairs to lie down for a little bit. I came back downstairs about half an hour later, feeling a little bit rested. I felt guilty not being downstairs with the family on Thanksgiving and wanted to come back.
After family left, we started getting ready to go to the Tuba concert. I was definitely going, even though my pain was at an 8. We all went, with all of our cold weather gear. We stood out in the cold, singing Christmas Carols, watched the tree lighting, saw Santa climb onto the roof of the building nearby. It was all very fun and very festive and I am very glad that I went. Afterwards we went back to our friends house. It was somewhere during standing out in the cold that my pain shifted to a 9. And at our friends house my eyes started going haywire blurry and feeling googly. My girlfriend and I were going to take my friends car and leave, but instead my family decided to leave and I fell asleep in the car on the way home, and then went to bed at soon as we got home, around 10:30.
AM vitamins taken, PM meds taken, with a Zyprexa.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thursday 11/25/2010: 7
Happy Thanksgiving!
Woke up at 7:45, very dizzy with blurry vision. Ate cinnamon rolls and coffee for breakfast.
I talked to my mom a bit. My family is coming tomorrow for Thanksgiving, and after that we are going to the Tuba concert, which is where a bunch of tubas gather in the square of the local small city and play Christmas carols to start the Christmas season. My mom says if I am not feeling significantly better, like more of a 5, she doesn't think I should go. It is going to be loud and cold and I am going to be miserable there. However, I have never missed a tuba concert, and I will be miserable if I do not go. I would rather be miserable there and not miss it than be miserable here and miss it. I have already missed the opening to Harry Potter 7, when I have never missed an opening of Harry Potter because of this damn migraine, I don't want to miss something else that is important to me.
I took a bath and that made me feel a little bit better, like it usually does. I wandered around the house a bit, doing mostly nothing but somehow filling the time. Then I used my Posture Pump (http://www.posturepump.com/1000.aspx) from the Chiropractor. This nifty little thing helps put the curve back in my neck and stretches my neck out. I get some relief from doing this, which is always a good thing.
I think it is important to note that with this migraine I have been craving sweet, sugary foods. Cakes, ice cream, pastries, cookies, icings, that sort of thing in particular. I have tried to use fruit to satistfy my sweet craving and it does not work. I have also been excessively thirsty, drinking much more than normal.
Ate spinach souffle, mashed sweet potatoes and ham for dinner, and went to bed right after dinner, around 6:45, in preparation for the next day, a long day.
AM vitamins taken, PM meds taken, with Zyprexa. 4 Aleve taken in afternoon.
Woke up at 7:45, very dizzy with blurry vision. Ate cinnamon rolls and coffee for breakfast.
I talked to my mom a bit. My family is coming tomorrow for Thanksgiving, and after that we are going to the Tuba concert, which is where a bunch of tubas gather in the square of the local small city and play Christmas carols to start the Christmas season. My mom says if I am not feeling significantly better, like more of a 5, she doesn't think I should go. It is going to be loud and cold and I am going to be miserable there. However, I have never missed a tuba concert, and I will be miserable if I do not go. I would rather be miserable there and not miss it than be miserable here and miss it. I have already missed the opening to Harry Potter 7, when I have never missed an opening of Harry Potter because of this damn migraine, I don't want to miss something else that is important to me.
I took a bath and that made me feel a little bit better, like it usually does. I wandered around the house a bit, doing mostly nothing but somehow filling the time. Then I used my Posture Pump (http://www.posturepump.com/1000.aspx) from the Chiropractor. This nifty little thing helps put the curve back in my neck and stretches my neck out. I get some relief from doing this, which is always a good thing.
I think it is important to note that with this migraine I have been craving sweet, sugary foods. Cakes, ice cream, pastries, cookies, icings, that sort of thing in particular. I have tried to use fruit to satistfy my sweet craving and it does not work. I have also been excessively thirsty, drinking much more than normal.
Ate spinach souffle, mashed sweet potatoes and ham for dinner, and went to bed right after dinner, around 6:45, in preparation for the next day, a long day.
AM vitamins taken, PM meds taken, with Zyprexa. 4 Aleve taken in afternoon.
Wednesday 11/24/2010: 7
Woke up at 8:30, and had waffles for breakfast. Got ready almost immediately taking a shower and getting dressed to go out for some fresh air; I was antsy. I got a call from pain managment that my headache center had not yet sent my records to them and if they did not by my appointment I would need to cancel my appointment. This irritated me as I had called them and asked for the records to be sent.
I went with my girlfriend to pick up my records at my old pharmacy, and my new pharmacy. I also bought a birthday gift for my brother, since his birthday is next Wednesday and we will likely celebrate it over Thanksgiving. Then I went with my girlfriend while she got her haircut, just riding along, again, just to get out of the house. We went to my apartment to get the perishable items because again, I am staying with my parents for a while and it makes sense not to let things go bad at the apartment. I ate lunch at my apartment, kielbasa and graham crackers.
This excursion exhausted me and I took a nap once I got home. When I woke up I was very groggy and felt very horrible; my headache had increased from a 7 to an 8. But I had to leave to go the chiropractor. I did my exercises and was on the roller table and had my adjustment. I felt a little bit better after the chiropractor, less groggy, although the pain came back a few hours later.
My tremor was very bad today, and made me feel very anxious and antsy. My tremor is stronger in my left, dominant hand, but is also a tremble throughout my body today. My handwriting and ability to do things are being affected by the tremor. It's irritating me a lot and making me feel like there is something wrong, as much as the headaches make me feel like there is something wrong with me.
Also, I am having trouble finding the words I want to say. I know the word, but have trouble thinking of it when I want to say it. Obviously this is not as much of a problem when I am writing, because I have the time to think or can change what I want to say to better indicate what I am thinking. In speaking however, I often just stop or trail off because I cannot think of the ending to my sentence. People who I talk to frequently have noticed this in my speech and this is frustrating to me as well. I believe this is a side effect from my Topamax. Previously when I was on a higher dose (100 mg or higher) I had similar troubles. I guess it is just something I will have to get used to for the time being.
My good friend came to visit after dinner, and I sat and talked to her for a while. After she left, I took a bath and went to bed, around 9:45.
AM vitamins taken. PM meds taken, with a Zyprexa.
I went with my girlfriend to pick up my records at my old pharmacy, and my new pharmacy. I also bought a birthday gift for my brother, since his birthday is next Wednesday and we will likely celebrate it over Thanksgiving. Then I went with my girlfriend while she got her haircut, just riding along, again, just to get out of the house. We went to my apartment to get the perishable items because again, I am staying with my parents for a while and it makes sense not to let things go bad at the apartment. I ate lunch at my apartment, kielbasa and graham crackers.
This excursion exhausted me and I took a nap once I got home. When I woke up I was very groggy and felt very horrible; my headache had increased from a 7 to an 8. But I had to leave to go the chiropractor. I did my exercises and was on the roller table and had my adjustment. I felt a little bit better after the chiropractor, less groggy, although the pain came back a few hours later.
My tremor was very bad today, and made me feel very anxious and antsy. My tremor is stronger in my left, dominant hand, but is also a tremble throughout my body today. My handwriting and ability to do things are being affected by the tremor. It's irritating me a lot and making me feel like there is something wrong, as much as the headaches make me feel like there is something wrong with me.
Also, I am having trouble finding the words I want to say. I know the word, but have trouble thinking of it when I want to say it. Obviously this is not as much of a problem when I am writing, because I have the time to think or can change what I want to say to better indicate what I am thinking. In speaking however, I often just stop or trail off because I cannot think of the ending to my sentence. People who I talk to frequently have noticed this in my speech and this is frustrating to me as well. I believe this is a side effect from my Topamax. Previously when I was on a higher dose (100 mg or higher) I had similar troubles. I guess it is just something I will have to get used to for the time being.
My good friend came to visit after dinner, and I sat and talked to her for a while. After she left, I took a bath and went to bed, around 9:45.
AM vitamins taken. PM meds taken, with a Zyprexa.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Tuesday 11/23/2010: 7
Woke up today feeling okay, around a 7 for a majority of the day. I woke up around 6:30 this morning, after waking up at 4:30 and having a little bit of trouble falling back asleep.
I had scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast with coffee for breakfast. I got ready for the day, showered, got dressed, that sort of thing, and meandered the house a bit. Then I rode back to my apartment for a while, to pack a little bit while my girlfriend was in class so she could take me to the chiropractor in the afternoon.
At my apartment, I packed what I would need to stay at my parents longer, and what I would need for Thanksgiving. Then I talked to my roommate for a little while. My roommate asked me if I was planning on moving back in with my parents and this struck me. How independent am I ever going to be able to be? Am I always going to need to be close to my parents and need to be able to get to them quickly? Will I always be tethered down?
I heard from the headache center and I got more of the medication, Zyprexa, that makes me sleep, so that I can just sleep through the pain when it is really severe. Also, my neurologist is going to try to move up my admission date to the hospital.
I went to the chiropractor, and was with a different chiropractor, who does "deep muscle work" which is massage of the neck muscles. He instructed me that I really need to ice my neck when I got home, which I did. I also got something called a Cervical Posture Pump, which helps put the curvature into my spine. According to my chiropractor, the curvature in my spine was non-existant when I first started going.
I came home, ate dinner (tilapia, shrimp, and asparagus), and watched some tv before going to bed spent time on the computer before going to bed around 10 pm.
PM meds taken, with Zyprexa, AM vitamins taken. 4 Aleve taken in the morning.
A conundrum:
My chiropractor says that I will feel better when I stop taking all of the medications I am on. My neurologist says that if I increase some of the medications I am on I will feel better. Which one is right? The one thing they agree on is no pain relievers, like the dilaudid I get at the ER. But my chiropractor wants me off of all the medications, including the Topamax and the Verapamil. My neurologist on the other hand thinks I should increase the Topamax and quite likely the Verapamil. So who do I listen to?
I had scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast with coffee for breakfast. I got ready for the day, showered, got dressed, that sort of thing, and meandered the house a bit. Then I rode back to my apartment for a while, to pack a little bit while my girlfriend was in class so she could take me to the chiropractor in the afternoon.
At my apartment, I packed what I would need to stay at my parents longer, and what I would need for Thanksgiving. Then I talked to my roommate for a little while. My roommate asked me if I was planning on moving back in with my parents and this struck me. How independent am I ever going to be able to be? Am I always going to need to be close to my parents and need to be able to get to them quickly? Will I always be tethered down?
I heard from the headache center and I got more of the medication, Zyprexa, that makes me sleep, so that I can just sleep through the pain when it is really severe. Also, my neurologist is going to try to move up my admission date to the hospital.
I went to the chiropractor, and was with a different chiropractor, who does "deep muscle work" which is massage of the neck muscles. He instructed me that I really need to ice my neck when I got home, which I did. I also got something called a Cervical Posture Pump, which helps put the curvature into my spine. According to my chiropractor, the curvature in my spine was non-existant when I first started going.
I came home, ate dinner (tilapia, shrimp, and asparagus), and watched some tv before going to bed spent time on the computer before going to bed around 10 pm.
PM meds taken, with Zyprexa, AM vitamins taken. 4 Aleve taken in the morning.
A conundrum:
My chiropractor says that I will feel better when I stop taking all of the medications I am on. My neurologist says that if I increase some of the medications I am on I will feel better. Which one is right? The one thing they agree on is no pain relievers, like the dilaudid I get at the ER. But my chiropractor wants me off of all the medications, including the Topamax and the Verapamil. My neurologist on the other hand thinks I should increase the Topamax and quite likely the Verapamil. So who do I listen to?
Monday 11/22/2010: 8
Woke up at 8:30 today, feeling considerably better than yesterday, although still not great; about an 8/10. A high 8. I came downstairs and had some toast and coffee.
Had a chiropractor appointment today, and had an adjustment. He says my axis, the second vertebrae, is my major area of concern. Also, all the medication that I take is a concern and that I need to stop taking medication gradually and detox and I should feel better. I have increased chiropractic appointments this week because of the severity of my migraines right now; appointments Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I got a little bit of immediate relief from the adjustment. It brought my headache from the high eight to a low 7.
It is irritating or maybe somewhat interesting that an 8 isn't just and 8. There is a scale within a scale. No one really asks about it or acknowledges it, but its there, because a 10 point scale just really isn't enough to cover how you are feeling. I guess you could say I feel 8.6 but then people might just think you are being too picky.
After the chiropractor I was feeling a little bit better so I wanted to be out a little bit so we went to the library, where I got some DVDs and to Walmart and walked around to get some things that we needed. Spending just that little bit of time out was good, it gave me something to concentrate on, but it also wore me out very quickly. So we came home, and I was exhausted. I ate lunch; chicken tenders and spinach souffle with a warm chocolate melt, and then watched tv for a while.
For the afternoon, I didn't watch tv very much, but couldn't find much to do; reading isn't possible right now because I am having trouble concentrating and I have blurry vision, and the tv was irritating me, so I mostly just paced around the house.
Dinner was ravioli with meatballs and salad.
Went to bed around 7:30, exhausted.
Took Zyprexa to get good nights sleep, took pm meds, am vitamins not taken (not with me for the day).
Had a chiropractor appointment today, and had an adjustment. He says my axis, the second vertebrae, is my major area of concern. Also, all the medication that I take is a concern and that I need to stop taking medication gradually and detox and I should feel better. I have increased chiropractic appointments this week because of the severity of my migraines right now; appointments Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I got a little bit of immediate relief from the adjustment. It brought my headache from the high eight to a low 7.
It is irritating or maybe somewhat interesting that an 8 isn't just and 8. There is a scale within a scale. No one really asks about it or acknowledges it, but its there, because a 10 point scale just really isn't enough to cover how you are feeling. I guess you could say I feel 8.6 but then people might just think you are being too picky.
After the chiropractor I was feeling a little bit better so I wanted to be out a little bit so we went to the library, where I got some DVDs and to Walmart and walked around to get some things that we needed. Spending just that little bit of time out was good, it gave me something to concentrate on, but it also wore me out very quickly. So we came home, and I was exhausted. I ate lunch; chicken tenders and spinach souffle with a warm chocolate melt, and then watched tv for a while.
For the afternoon, I didn't watch tv very much, but couldn't find much to do; reading isn't possible right now because I am having trouble concentrating and I have blurry vision, and the tv was irritating me, so I mostly just paced around the house.
Dinner was ravioli with meatballs and salad.
Went to bed around 7:30, exhausted.
Took Zyprexa to get good nights sleep, took pm meds, am vitamins not taken (not with me for the day).
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, 11/ 21/2010: 10
Today I woke up at 4:40 am from the pain in my head. It was probably the worst pain I've ever had. At first I was only willing to be curled up in a ball but my girlfriend managed to get me to take a bath and get me calmed down a little bit and to see things a little more rationally. At least for the time being. I was at my own apartment, but my mom came and picked me up so I wouldn't be alone. I was feeling bad, but like I could survive on the way home.
At home, I felt like I was going to die. The pain I felt is indescribable, and the fact that there was nothing anyone could do was infuriating and making the pain worse. I was lying on the couch, crying hysterically, begging my parents to please do something. I asked if we could go to the hospital, but we could not; we have been to the hospital 4 times in the last 2 weeks and they have not been able to help me, they are not going to now. Their meds don't help and will most likely just cause a rebound headache. Can't we call my headache center and ask if I can be admitted sooner? Do they have emergency admittance? No, the date they have set for me to be admitted is the soonest date they can admit me. I need to be patient.
My mom did call the on-call neurologist at the headache center where I am a patient, and he called in a prescription for Zyprexa, for me to at least sleep through the pain. So I took the pills and slept, took a pill when I woke up to sleep more.
Normally, I do not get nausea with migraines, but I did with this one. I don't know if it was because of the severe pain, or because I was very upset, but I felt very sick to my stomach and did throw up once. I therefore did not eat very much, only hot hard boiled eggs and toast, and drank gingerale throughout the day.
My morning vitamins were not taken, evening medications were taken. Increased topamax to 100 mg (by 25 mg).
At home, I felt like I was going to die. The pain I felt is indescribable, and the fact that there was nothing anyone could do was infuriating and making the pain worse. I was lying on the couch, crying hysterically, begging my parents to please do something. I asked if we could go to the hospital, but we could not; we have been to the hospital 4 times in the last 2 weeks and they have not been able to help me, they are not going to now. Their meds don't help and will most likely just cause a rebound headache. Can't we call my headache center and ask if I can be admitted sooner? Do they have emergency admittance? No, the date they have set for me to be admitted is the soonest date they can admit me. I need to be patient.
My mom did call the on-call neurologist at the headache center where I am a patient, and he called in a prescription for Zyprexa, for me to at least sleep through the pain. So I took the pills and slept, took a pill when I woke up to sleep more.
Normally, I do not get nausea with migraines, but I did with this one. I don't know if it was because of the severe pain, or because I was very upset, but I felt very sick to my stomach and did throw up once. I therefore did not eat very much, only hot hard boiled eggs and toast, and drank gingerale throughout the day.
My morning vitamins were not taken, evening medications were taken. Increased topamax to 100 mg (by 25 mg).
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Saturday 11/20/2010: 8
Today is an 8/10 again.
I woke up around 8 am, feeling not good at all. Had a cup of coffee and wandered around the apartment for a bit. Took some aspirin in the morning because I felt like I had to try to do something. Went out to find some unscented shampoo, because when I tried to wash my hair with the normally scented kind I had, it made me gag and throw up. I managed to find an unscented shampoo and came home and rested, I was very tired from the outing. The weather was cold, but nice out.
Made some dinner, went for a drive around, just to get out.
Ate a burger for dinner.
Vitamins taken this morning, meds taken this evening.
I woke up around 8 am, feeling not good at all. Had a cup of coffee and wandered around the apartment for a bit. Took some aspirin in the morning because I felt like I had to try to do something. Went out to find some unscented shampoo, because when I tried to wash my hair with the normally scented kind I had, it made me gag and throw up. I managed to find an unscented shampoo and came home and rested, I was very tired from the outing. The weather was cold, but nice out.
Made some dinner, went for a drive around, just to get out.
Ate a burger for dinner.
Vitamins taken this morning, meds taken this evening.
The History
I suffer from chronic daily migraines.
This means essentially that I always have a headache of some varying degree. I am currently 22 years old and have had a headache roughly since I was 13. This gives me almost ten years of dealing with, coping with, and treating headaches. You might think I have the experience under control in ten years, but I can tell you, I do not. I have gained experience living my life by numbers; "How are you today?" "7." This of course means that my headache is at a 7 on a scale from 1 to 10.
There are many options for migraineurs. Either try to prevent the migraine, treat it once it comes, or both. In my case, prevention doesn't seem to work, although I am still trying, and treating it once it comes can be hit or miss it feels.
In the past for acute treatment I have tried:
Imitrex (pills, injections and nasal sprays)
Frova
Maxalt
Relpax
Migrazone
Migranal
Tramadyl
Ultracet
Midrin
Tylenol with Codeine
Fioricet with Codeine
Vicodin
Darvocet
I have tried preventative treatments in the past as well:
Inderall
Seroquell
Flexeril
Skelaxin
Lexapro
Effexor
Currently I have Topmax, Verapamil as preventative measures, and Toradol injections or DHE injections with nabumetone and compazine by mouth that I take.
At the very current moment I am in the middle of a very bad flare up of migraines. I am starting this blog to try to keep track of my migraines and make some progress, a place to keep notes on my thoughts on my headaches.
This means essentially that I always have a headache of some varying degree. I am currently 22 years old and have had a headache roughly since I was 13. This gives me almost ten years of dealing with, coping with, and treating headaches. You might think I have the experience under control in ten years, but I can tell you, I do not. I have gained experience living my life by numbers; "How are you today?" "7." This of course means that my headache is at a 7 on a scale from 1 to 10.
There are many options for migraineurs. Either try to prevent the migraine, treat it once it comes, or both. In my case, prevention doesn't seem to work, although I am still trying, and treating it once it comes can be hit or miss it feels.
In the past for acute treatment I have tried:
Imitrex (pills, injections and nasal sprays)
Frova
Maxalt
Relpax
Migrazone
Migranal
Tramadyl
Ultracet
Midrin
Tylenol with Codeine
Fioricet with Codeine
Vicodin
Darvocet
I have tried preventative treatments in the past as well:
Inderall
Seroquell
Flexeril
Skelaxin
Lexapro
Effexor
Currently I have Topmax, Verapamil as preventative measures, and Toradol injections or DHE injections with nabumetone and compazine by mouth that I take.
At the very current moment I am in the middle of a very bad flare up of migraines. I am starting this blog to try to keep track of my migraines and make some progress, a place to keep notes on my thoughts on my headaches.
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