things have gone awry!

Shortly after posting earlier about what a great day I was having, a Migraine rapidly approached. To top it off, I had strange lower back pain and felt really bad, really fast.

Because of the muscle aches, I decided to go the Lortab + muscle relaxer route. It worked, but now I feel unpleasantly out of it and sad about the direction in which my day turned--before I got to my "should" list. I did go to the new Athens Farmers Market with my friend C., and I got that yard work done.

The last few times I've felt great, I've neglected to see that as a harbinger of a Migraine attack to come. As noted, I have the common prodrome side effect of "a sense of euphoria" before the headache begins. I wish I could just have euphoric feelings without the episode to follow.

I feel as if I'm making little sense; my fingers are typing more slowly than usual. Good ol' painkillers. You make me weak!

Thanks to Heather for the sweet thoughts--earlier this afternoon, she commented on how happy she was I was having a good day.

an atypical Saturday

I woke up at 8:30 this morning after seven hours of sleep. Last night I did some bookstore business duties with Amy, and by midnight we both had sleepy eyes that were crossing as we looked at our computer screens. A sign of a successful day?

It was so nice to go to bed exhausted from something other than a Migraine attack. Granted, I had to take two Maxalts yesterday to battle an obnoxious headache with uncomfortable side effects of dizziness. The Maxalt wasn't a lifesaver as usual but did take the edge off. I'm straying from my point: I got to work until I was tired! I didn't go to bed because it was time or because I felt sick. In the last month or so, this has only been the case about 1/3 of the time, so it's cause for comment.

When I awoke, my friend A. was still here. We talked a few minutes before she had to hit the road. I then had the energy to sweep the pollen-covered walkway and porch, trim back some trees that constantly encroach on my walk, and do a little bit of light housework. This is not like me, I tell you. The fun only ended after I swept part of an ant pile and then, by accident, ran the broom over my toes (which were bare in flip flops). The displaced ants sprinkled my toes, a fact I was only aware of once my right foot got intensely itchy.

It's a beautiful day outside. Not a cloud in the sky, I tell you, and the temperature is just right. (With Georgia weather, this could change any second--I'm sure by the afternoon I'll think it's sweltering. But I love it.)

Hope everyone else has a day as good as this morning has been!

Janet'http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifs WEGO Health spotlight

I was interviewed for WEGO Health's spotlight feature!

Check it out here.

May Migraine & Headache Blog Carnival posted!

Check out this month's Migraine & headache blog carnival. Here's the link. This month's theme is "Migraines & Exercise: How do You Stay Active?"

a package only a migraineur could love

Let us once again herald the glories of The Partnership for Prescription Assistance and the goods it has brought unto me!

Just yesterday afternoon I received a package simply brimming with Maxalt. 36 pills, in fact! These babies usually cost a little over $20 a PIECE, marking the value of my mail at over $700.

And how much did I pay for 'em? NOTHING.

Yippee. If you haven't already, check out the website to see if you are eligible--even if you don't feel as monetarily poor as I do and even if you already have insurance, there may still be plans that can help.

URGENT: a petition

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/migrainesCFLbulbs/?e

You can read the petition before you sign, of course. I have to run--just got back from 5 days out of town and am feverishly catching up on home life. But please, please be sure to give this petition a look, and sign it if you feel the urge. (Oh, I do so hope you feel the urge.)

trying not to care so much

Jenni over at ChronicBabe.com wrote a post recently that really hit home, so much so my eyes teared up in empathy several times.

I thought I'd share it here.

a new coffee shop experience

I'm at my favorite local coffee joint, Jittery Joe's (which is now opening franchises around, though the Five Points location in Athens shall never be beat!). Back when I used to visit Athens to see my sister or my friends, I'd come here. Once I moved here in 2004, I took up residence here a few nights a week to do research, to work on grad school papers, and to socialize.

Things are different now. I finished grad school two years ago and hardly visit cafes nowadays. I brought a bunch of books and references for the article I should* have done already, but instead I'm sitting here thinking of how things have changed.

1. I ordered a decaf coffee and didn't put any sugar in it. This is the new Janet who's trying to only have caffeine when she needs to kick a faint Migraine out of the picture.

2. I am google searching for information on Migraine and drug side effects instead of trying to surreptitiously visit social networking sites to waste time.

3. My forearms and hands feel numb from the Imitrex I had to take a couple of hours ago before my evening job began. I can't type as accurately or as quickly when my fingers feel drugged.

4. I'm afraid I don't have the concentration and procrastination-fueled fervor that once accompanied coffee shop trips and waiting 'til the last minute.

5. I'm stealing glances at the girls who are working behind the espresso machine. One has hair down past her butt. It's beautiful and shiny and it's a difficult hairdo to pull off, but she does it! I know I could never have this hair, as it would weigh on my head. The other girl has her blond hair in a high ponytail--this style, which took me quite a while to master when I was young, is now not in the realm of possibilities for me, as after ten minutes the scalp and head pain would drive me crazy. Even releasing my hair from such a constraining hairdo leads to aches when my hair suddenly bends in a different direction. This all leaves me wondering what I'll do when I have to put my hair up in an up 'do for my friend's wedding Saturday. Aah!


*A great post I read somewhere recently discussed the need to have fewer (if any) shoulds in your life. "Oh, I should be working. I should call my cousin. I should do the dishes." These seemingly obligatory duties weigh on us more and more when what we could be doing is focusing on what we have been able to do and what we have accomplished. The original piece I read was more eloquent, but I can't find it!

money money money

I never, ever wanted to put ads on my blog or anything else (my clothes, my house, etc.) that I love. However, it has recently come to my attention that putting ads on this blog could generate some revenue, however measly, for me. And as I'm about to be "between jobs," as the vaguely defined phrase goes, I could use some dough for living expenses.

I want to wait and make sure this won't turn anyone away. I want to know if you'll still click on my posts--if not, screw the advertisements! I love the feeling of community and reassurance I get by writing this and don't want to lose any of my virtual support group.

What are your thoughts on this? If you yourself have a blog, I ask you this: do you have targeted ads posted? Is it worth it?

Thanks.

April Pain Blog Carnival Posted!

The April Pain Blog Carnival is now posted at How to Cope with Pain. The entry I provided is one several of you have probably read before, but I thought it was the most appropriate April blog post for the contest.

Take some time to peruse this well-organized, helpful website! Maybe you can participate next month! (Information is posted on the blog carnival page if you are interested in writing next month.)

Thanks!