Warning: I talk about menses (for any young-minded readers, who still think the body is gross).
My periods have become spaced out more. Five months ago it was 28 days, four months ago it was 26 (very short!), three months ago it was 32, then 38 and then this last one was probably about 42 days apart or so. The menses was normal, nothing strange other than the sporadic timing.
So what am I reporting?
This is the first period in two years that I've not had one migraine during the period!!
I should state for the record that a little over one year ago I was on the BCP to stop my period to stop my migraines. So I didn't have a migraine for that month, but the pill only worked a month or two until my hormones fought back stronger and the BCP didn't stop my period. But back to current events:
I'm on day five today; I should have had at least two big migraines by now. And nothing! What does this mean? I don't want to get my hopes up. But could this mean a two year hell is ending? My life will not revolve around my headaches? What will that be like? What did my life used to be like?
Time will tell.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Getting Better, I Think
My headaches are more mild and short lasting. I've even had a few head-pain free days, too, this past month.
I've noticed my head pain linked to neck strain quite a bit. I've been doing more neck exercises and this seems to relieve pain pretty quickly.
I've had a migraine this week for the past two days. Before I understood migraines, I wouldn't have called this a migraine. There was very little pain; no thumping and pounding, just occasional side of the head pain that only lasts a minute or two. This kind of thing happens every hour or two but goes away and doesn't get in the way of anything. Mostly I noticed a little dizziness two evenings ago and a little last night. The same funny feeling I get before I get vertigo. Also, both times, a few hours before I felt strange, I was very sleepy for a few minutes.
I'm going to start paying a little more attention to the sleepy thing. I'm not sure if this is a common symptom. I do know that I noticed ion days that I would get a migraine I would often feel this way, like all of a sudden I couldn't stay awake, earlier in the day. A sleepy spell. It only lasts a few minutes. My husband suggested that perhaps I should pay attention to that--go to bed early when that happens.
That's all I've got to report right now on my symptoms.
I think the butterbur twice a day increase, along with the other things might be helping since my headaches have decreased. I need to keep a calendar to be sure. Sometimes I overestimate my well days and it would be well for me to mark the symptoms I have, the severity of the pain, and any pre-migraine feelings I have.
I've noticed my head pain linked to neck strain quite a bit. I've been doing more neck exercises and this seems to relieve pain pretty quickly.
I've had a migraine this week for the past two days. Before I understood migraines, I wouldn't have called this a migraine. There was very little pain; no thumping and pounding, just occasional side of the head pain that only lasts a minute or two. This kind of thing happens every hour or two but goes away and doesn't get in the way of anything. Mostly I noticed a little dizziness two evenings ago and a little last night. The same funny feeling I get before I get vertigo. Also, both times, a few hours before I felt strange, I was very sleepy for a few minutes.
I'm going to start paying a little more attention to the sleepy thing. I'm not sure if this is a common symptom. I do know that I noticed ion days that I would get a migraine I would often feel this way, like all of a sudden I couldn't stay awake, earlier in the day. A sleepy spell. It only lasts a few minutes. My husband suggested that perhaps I should pay attention to that--go to bed early when that happens.
That's all I've got to report right now on my symptoms.
I think the butterbur twice a day increase, along with the other things might be helping since my headaches have decreased. I need to keep a calendar to be sure. Sometimes I overestimate my well days and it would be well for me to mark the symptoms I have, the severity of the pain, and any pre-migraine feelings I have.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Neck Exercises
Part of the plan prescribed by my neurologist is to decrease tension in my neck. He highly recommends the exercises in this book and states the effectiveness they have in many of his patients. He prescribed this to me a year ago, but I haven't taken it too seriously until now.
I know, non-compliant patient.
I am trying them now, in addition to the total compliance of the Co-Q10, Vitamin B-2 and Butterbur.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Chronic Transformed Miraine
I spoke with my neurologist on the phone today; this is how I do my appointments with him.
I have headaches all the time and have a hard time distinguishing the difference between tension headaches and migraines. One to two days a month I know I'm having a migraine and then the rest of the month I have headaches every day.
He told me I am having chronic transformed migraines and that I am to treat every headache I have as a migraine. Well...that takes the guess work out of it for me! I haven't been treating my headaches with any type of drug, except for maybe once or twice a week, and only using Alieve for those at that. Now I am to use my Migranal Spray, and if I still have the headaches after a few days I'll be using the prednisone taper.
On the other side of things, I'm increasing and adding back my preventative drugs/supplements.
Co-Q10 is back. I stopped taking it a few months ago because I didn't think it was doing anything. He told me that I'm not to stop the drugs he has me on but that if it isn't working, I may not be getting the level I need--so more drugs, not stop drugs.
Also, I asked about stopping the B-2: No; staying on them.
Butterbur is increased to 75mg, twice a day. I thought for sure that he told me in the beginning once a day; either way, I'll be increasing that.
Then I'll wait a month...
He said the "spot" headaches are probably referred pain from the occipital nerve being pinched. Back to that neck tension... My neck is a little tight, but not in pain like it used to be. I'll have to watch that and see if I notice a correlation between neck tightness and those "spot" headaches.
Let the pill swallowing, nasal spraying, steroid popping increase. Ugh.
I have headaches all the time and have a hard time distinguishing the difference between tension headaches and migraines. One to two days a month I know I'm having a migraine and then the rest of the month I have headaches every day.
He told me I am having chronic transformed migraines and that I am to treat every headache I have as a migraine. Well...that takes the guess work out of it for me! I haven't been treating my headaches with any type of drug, except for maybe once or twice a week, and only using Alieve for those at that. Now I am to use my Migranal Spray, and if I still have the headaches after a few days I'll be using the prednisone taper.
On the other side of things, I'm increasing and adding back my preventative drugs/supplements.
Co-Q10 is back. I stopped taking it a few months ago because I didn't think it was doing anything. He told me that I'm not to stop the drugs he has me on but that if it isn't working, I may not be getting the level I need--so more drugs, not stop drugs.
Also, I asked about stopping the B-2: No; staying on them.
Butterbur is increased to 75mg, twice a day. I thought for sure that he told me in the beginning once a day; either way, I'll be increasing that.
Then I'll wait a month...
He said the "spot" headaches are probably referred pain from the occipital nerve being pinched. Back to that neck tension... My neck is a little tight, but not in pain like it used to be. I'll have to watch that and see if I notice a correlation between neck tightness and those "spot" headaches.
Let the pill swallowing, nasal spraying, steroid popping increase. Ugh.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
mini headpain, auras and coping
It happened last night. I was getting the laundry ready for the machine and all of a sudden, pain on the right side of my head, about three inches wide. No warning.
The one thing auras have going for them is that they are fair warning. They're not always fun warning: who likes to be partially blind, partially numb, or having vertigo so severe it brings on vomiting? Those are the only auras I've ever experienced; I'm sure there are others.
All auras I've had are uncomfortable and even frightening, but auras give warning. They are concrete warning and a shout out for me to evaluate the day, determine if I should take the abortive drug, get that drug and take it as soon as possible. The reason for evaluating the day is because sometimes I have several headaches a week, but with only two allowed doses of the abortive drug a week. So if I don't have a commitment one day, and think I can deal with the pain okay, but I do have something critical the next day, and there is a chance of having another headache...well, I go with pain for that day. (This lifestyle has been much less frequent lately, but use to be the norm for well over a year.) But usually, the aura is not as bad as the headache, and if I take the drug right away, sometimes I can completely avoid any other pain. Sometimes I have to add other drugs to the mix to be comfortable. But the aura, for it's sometimes bum wrap, is not all that bad.
So last night I had one of those, what I call, "spot headaches." I still don't know if there's a name for it or not. But they come on without any warning, and leave just as quickly. They force me to stop and sit down. I've learned to close my eyes and take slow, deep breaths. I'm not as scared of them anymore. The breathing helps me to relax through it all. (Not that I am willing to try this for childbirth yet--I like those epidural blocks!) The gift I've been given is the ability to quickly relax, even though for a few seconds I panic a bit.
Fear is probably the feeling that trumps all other feelings when I have these headaches, be them "spot headaches" or full blown migraines.
Fear of not knowing how bad the pain is going to get.
Fear of not knowing how long this headache is going to last.
Fear of not knowing if I'm headed for a long cycle (weeks and weeks) of headaches, like before.
A tiny fear that these aren't migraines...though this is not as often: just when I'm being dramatic!
When I'm not having a headache, I often live in fear of getting one. Of being in public, or in the car driving, or at my daughter's school, and getting that hellish vertigo. In my mind, I've taken myself to those situations to deal with the anxiety. I logic myself through the hypothetical anxiety, realizing that people aren't going to judge me for getting sick. Everybody gets sick at one point or another. Though not pleasant to see somebody turn green, crawl on the floor or bump into walls, cling to those walls, or fall, sweat profusely and then hit the climax of the situation with vomit...well, it's not the end of the world. Vomit can be cleaned up, faces can be wiped dry, and as long as I have my purse, drugs can be administered. But still, it would be very humiliating. (I've only had that situation twice in front of people other than my family, and it wasn't the end of the world...just not ideal.)
So pushing past that fear... I just have to breathe. And try not to dwell in hypothetical situations. They aren't reality. At least, not yet. I'm so tired of fear. I'm working on pushing past that and trying to live not in the past, and not in fear of the future. Just to breathe and get through where I'm at, in the moment.
Another feeling I have is resentment. The "why me?" syndrome hits me, and if I don't watch it, it spirals into a small depression. I don't like to go there. I don't like others giving me pity just for the fact that it feeds into this "why me?" syndrome. It isn't a good place to go. There is no hope. I need hope. I need faith. So I pass over this thought quickly and deal with what I can do to help either change the situation (with drugs) or help buffer it (with quiet, calm, maybe even a movie if I can handle that). I also try to be analytical of my migraines through problem solving and communication. Not to say I don't cave, get overwhelmed, get emotional. I still do, I just try not to cater to this feeling.
And then there is the pain. How can I deal with the pain, get my job done, be nice to my husband and children and take care of myself at the same time? That is my biggest question. Often it is the "being nice" factor that goes out the door when pain steps in. I have a hard time being pleasant while in pain. I have this need to be cheerful, or at least courteous, and feel like a failure when I can't. And laying on the couch or in bed when life is happening around me...well I feel trapped. It's that control freak in me, screaming at the situation, screaming at myself for getting this headache in the first place. Yes, I know: ridiculous. I can't control getting a headache or not...but it doesn't stop me from wishing I could, or worse: thinking I can and that I should! Ha! Silly perfectionist.
And I know that it is silly expecting somebody in pain to be courteous. But truly, when the pain is common and gets to being chronic, one should try to learn to deal with the pain and be nice. It's just hard to do, is all. But attempts are appreciated, I'm sure, by my family, when I do try. And for me, this trying makes me feel human.
The one thing auras have going for them is that they are fair warning. They're not always fun warning: who likes to be partially blind, partially numb, or having vertigo so severe it brings on vomiting? Those are the only auras I've ever experienced; I'm sure there are others.
All auras I've had are uncomfortable and even frightening, but auras give warning. They are concrete warning and a shout out for me to evaluate the day, determine if I should take the abortive drug, get that drug and take it as soon as possible. The reason for evaluating the day is because sometimes I have several headaches a week, but with only two allowed doses of the abortive drug a week. So if I don't have a commitment one day, and think I can deal with the pain okay, but I do have something critical the next day, and there is a chance of having another headache...well, I go with pain for that day. (This lifestyle has been much less frequent lately, but use to be the norm for well over a year.) But usually, the aura is not as bad as the headache, and if I take the drug right away, sometimes I can completely avoid any other pain. Sometimes I have to add other drugs to the mix to be comfortable. But the aura, for it's sometimes bum wrap, is not all that bad.
So last night I had one of those, what I call, "spot headaches." I still don't know if there's a name for it or not. But they come on without any warning, and leave just as quickly. They force me to stop and sit down. I've learned to close my eyes and take slow, deep breaths. I'm not as scared of them anymore. The breathing helps me to relax through it all. (Not that I am willing to try this for childbirth yet--I like those epidural blocks!) The gift I've been given is the ability to quickly relax, even though for a few seconds I panic a bit.
Fear is probably the feeling that trumps all other feelings when I have these headaches, be them "spot headaches" or full blown migraines.
Fear of not knowing how bad the pain is going to get.
Fear of not knowing how long this headache is going to last.
Fear of not knowing if I'm headed for a long cycle (weeks and weeks) of headaches, like before.
A tiny fear that these aren't migraines...though this is not as often: just when I'm being dramatic!
When I'm not having a headache, I often live in fear of getting one. Of being in public, or in the car driving, or at my daughter's school, and getting that hellish vertigo. In my mind, I've taken myself to those situations to deal with the anxiety. I logic myself through the hypothetical anxiety, realizing that people aren't going to judge me for getting sick. Everybody gets sick at one point or another. Though not pleasant to see somebody turn green, crawl on the floor or bump into walls, cling to those walls, or fall, sweat profusely and then hit the climax of the situation with vomit...well, it's not the end of the world. Vomit can be cleaned up, faces can be wiped dry, and as long as I have my purse, drugs can be administered. But still, it would be very humiliating. (I've only had that situation twice in front of people other than my family, and it wasn't the end of the world...just not ideal.)
So pushing past that fear... I just have to breathe. And try not to dwell in hypothetical situations. They aren't reality. At least, not yet. I'm so tired of fear. I'm working on pushing past that and trying to live not in the past, and not in fear of the future. Just to breathe and get through where I'm at, in the moment.
Another feeling I have is resentment. The "why me?" syndrome hits me, and if I don't watch it, it spirals into a small depression. I don't like to go there. I don't like others giving me pity just for the fact that it feeds into this "why me?" syndrome. It isn't a good place to go. There is no hope. I need hope. I need faith. So I pass over this thought quickly and deal with what I can do to help either change the situation (with drugs) or help buffer it (with quiet, calm, maybe even a movie if I can handle that). I also try to be analytical of my migraines through problem solving and communication. Not to say I don't cave, get overwhelmed, get emotional. I still do, I just try not to cater to this feeling.
And then there is the pain. How can I deal with the pain, get my job done, be nice to my husband and children and take care of myself at the same time? That is my biggest question. Often it is the "being nice" factor that goes out the door when pain steps in. I have a hard time being pleasant while in pain. I have this need to be cheerful, or at least courteous, and feel like a failure when I can't. And laying on the couch or in bed when life is happening around me...well I feel trapped. It's that control freak in me, screaming at the situation, screaming at myself for getting this headache in the first place. Yes, I know: ridiculous. I can't control getting a headache or not...but it doesn't stop me from wishing I could, or worse: thinking I can and that I should! Ha! Silly perfectionist.
And I know that it is silly expecting somebody in pain to be courteous. But truly, when the pain is common and gets to being chronic, one should try to learn to deal with the pain and be nice. It's just hard to do, is all. But attempts are appreciated, I'm sure, by my family, when I do try. And for me, this trying makes me feel human.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Headaches, Headaches, blah, blah, blah
This blog is kept partly for the reader, but mostly for my records; so I can remember and keep note of occurrences and maybe trends.
I've had a lot of headaches lately. A lot. Tension or migraine, whatever I call them, I'm having them a lot. Four days a week, about, for the past month. No auras. Well, some dizziness and nausea. But no vertigo and vomiting, and certainly no visual aura (those only happen a few times a year).
I haven't let my neurologist know this recent change. Mostly because the headaches aren't stopping me, and they don't all seem to be migraines. I finally broke down yesterday and took my migraine abortive drug, Migranal. It took the edge off for a while. I found myself taking three aspirin a few hours later and then, 30 minutes or so after that, found total relief. Mostly, I don't take anything for my headaches; I just get through them.
I don't mean to be tough or anything; it's not like I enjoy pain. (I'm all about epidurals for child birth, and am a big wimp if my back or even finger hurts.) It just seems, most of the time, that it isn't bad enough to stop what I am doing, take a pill, or the spray, and relax. There just isn't time for that, and besides, I like to save drugs for important occasions.
Yesterday I had a task that needed performing in the evening; people were counting on me, so I took the spray. I'm glad I did; though for the first time I noticed with using this spray, that it delayed my reactions, my verbal sharpness, my alertness. I don't remember it having that affect on me before. I took a short nap, ate dinner and then took off for the evening. I was able to cope very well, had some relief from the pain and my alertness slowly, but surely, regained. (And like I said already, I took some aspirin a while after that, then felt full relief.)
It seems that all year, until this month, I've been doing so well. Maybe this is the result of the change of season. It gives me some hope to think that way. Like life will go back to how it was a few months ago, or even better, a few years ago (but nothing in between, please!). I need to see things getting better. I'm okay with hiccups, because life is all about that. But I don't want to get stuck in a pot hole.
I do need to be more assertive with my neurologist and let him know this change. I just don't know that it will do any good. Doesn't hurt to try though, right?
I've had a lot of headaches lately. A lot. Tension or migraine, whatever I call them, I'm having them a lot. Four days a week, about, for the past month. No auras. Well, some dizziness and nausea. But no vertigo and vomiting, and certainly no visual aura (those only happen a few times a year).
I haven't let my neurologist know this recent change. Mostly because the headaches aren't stopping me, and they don't all seem to be migraines. I finally broke down yesterday and took my migraine abortive drug, Migranal. It took the edge off for a while. I found myself taking three aspirin a few hours later and then, 30 minutes or so after that, found total relief. Mostly, I don't take anything for my headaches; I just get through them.
I don't mean to be tough or anything; it's not like I enjoy pain. (I'm all about epidurals for child birth, and am a big wimp if my back or even finger hurts.) It just seems, most of the time, that it isn't bad enough to stop what I am doing, take a pill, or the spray, and relax. There just isn't time for that, and besides, I like to save drugs for important occasions.
Yesterday I had a task that needed performing in the evening; people were counting on me, so I took the spray. I'm glad I did; though for the first time I noticed with using this spray, that it delayed my reactions, my verbal sharpness, my alertness. I don't remember it having that affect on me before. I took a short nap, ate dinner and then took off for the evening. I was able to cope very well, had some relief from the pain and my alertness slowly, but surely, regained. (And like I said already, I took some aspirin a while after that, then felt full relief.)
It seems that all year, until this month, I've been doing so well. Maybe this is the result of the change of season. It gives me some hope to think that way. Like life will go back to how it was a few months ago, or even better, a few years ago (but nothing in between, please!). I need to see things getting better. I'm okay with hiccups, because life is all about that. But I don't want to get stuck in a pot hole.
I do need to be more assertive with my neurologist and let him know this change. I just don't know that it will do any good. Doesn't hurt to try though, right?
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
tension headache?
My "tension headache" started this morning around 9:30. I felt like I was going to throw up. It hurt more on the left side. My stomach is upset still.
...sounds like these are migraines...but I can't tell.
There is A LOT of stress in my life right now. Things I cannot control. That usually upsets my stomach anyway (very good for weight loss...just kidding...sort of...)
Maybe just a tension headache.
Maybe a migraine brought on by stress.
I don't know what to treat this with. Alieve won't help. (sounds like a migraine!)
Perhaps I shall call in the guns (my neurologist and his nurse) to help with this problem. It's been going on since Sunday. I can tolerate the pain while having it. I can't, however, have much endurance or tolerance for a long term problem.
...sounds like these are migraines...but I can't tell.
There is A LOT of stress in my life right now. Things I cannot control. That usually upsets my stomach anyway (very good for weight loss...just kidding...sort of...)
Maybe just a tension headache.
Maybe a migraine brought on by stress.
I don't know what to treat this with. Alieve won't help. (sounds like a migraine!)
Perhaps I shall call in the guns (my neurologist and his nurse) to help with this problem. It's been going on since Sunday. I can tolerate the pain while having it. I can't, however, have much endurance or tolerance for a long term problem.
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