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!

Migraine & Headache Poetry Contest WINNERS announced!

You may have read about Health Central's Migraine & Headache Poetry Contest here on my blog or somewhere else on the net.

Yesterday, the winners were announced! I haven't gotten a chance to read the entries yet (all entries remain on the page; winning entries & honorable mentions are highlighted and listed for you) but am excited to do so!

Click here or on the title of my post to see the poems.

Did you know that taking time out to pursue creative activities decreases your stress and can therefore lead to a decrease in Migraine frequency?

unsolicited advice

I've found the more I learn about Migraine disease--what it is and what it is not--the stronger my tendency to deliver unsolicited advice to strangers and friends alike.

Just tonight, a friend mentioned "headaches from acute sinusitis." My first instinct was to respond with, "Did you think they were sinus headaches? Did your doctor say they were? Sinus headache is actually not a valid diagnosis. You could be having Migraines."

My friend (and former professor) has been getting terrible, debilitating headaches more and more in the last couple of years. One of her nicknames is "The Human Barometer." All we informed migraineurs know this is a huge indication she's probably suffering from Migraines: debilitating pain that makes her sensitive to ordinarily tolerable stimuli, getting awful pain each time the barometric pressure shifts? A self-diagnosis of hypoglycemia because the pain rears its ugly head each time she misses a meal? She sure sounds like a candidate for Migraine disease diagnosis.

I've eagerly pushed for her to see her doctor to discuss a possible Migraine diagnosis, but, last I heard, she wasn't buying my argument. I felt I was physically restraining myself from pummeling her with a long list of signs and indications that one might be getting Migraine attacks. I tried to keep it easy, but I wanted to cry, "I love you! I hate that you're hurting! I think I know the first step to getting you better: figuring out for sure what you have!"

My sister has been getting Migraine-like headaches recently. Her over the counter painkillers aren't fitting the bill, and when she describes the headaches they sure do sound like Migraine. With a family brimming with Migraine sufferers plus a history of childhood headache, she sure is built for adult Migraine disease. But, as yet, she's not gotten a diagnosis. I want to force her to go to the doctor to figure this out; if it is Migraine, there's probably an acute treatment she can give herself when in pain. She doesn't have to suffer!

I always stop myself. I hate sounding preachy. This is one of the reasons I have proclaimed myself "The Migraine Girl"--I feel sometimes I am speaking from the standpoint of someone whose whole mission is to cut down on Migraine frequency and severity for myself and others. I want to spread the word, to share the gospel. But, in truth, a lot of people don't want to hear it. And I should respect that.

I wonder if anyone reading this has had trouble with this: seeing the signs in other folks but not wanting to go off on your Migraine disease diatribe.

Anywho. That's all.

fluorescent lights as a Migraine trigger--a list of resources

1. The Irlen petition, which currently has over 2,000 signatures. We need to get it more widespread! As I mentioned before, I have tried to contact Helen Irlen to see if she'd be willing to have me, someone, anyone! host the petition on a bigger scale so more people could see it. She didn't get back to me. The petition includes three other resources, which I've listed right here:

http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php?p=157
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7170246.stm
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23000203-5006301,00.html

2. ABC News article entitled "Major Headache? 7 Common Migraine Triggers." Lighting, including fluorescents, is the first item on the list.

3. A Washington ABC affiliate's brief article & newscast called "Dealing With 'Lightbulb Migraines'."

4. MyMigraineConnection's story, "Migraines at Work? Check the Lighting."

5. "No Joke, Bulb Change is a Challenge for U.S." by Claudia Deutsch at The New York Times.

6. U.K. paper The Daily Mail story called "Energy-Saving Bulbs 'Can Cause Migraines,' Warn Experts." Definitely look at the comments that follow the story!


7. Energy Star CANADA's page describing Canada's legislation to improve bulb efficiency--interestingly, they are doing what one of my fellow bloggers recommended, which is requiring a minimum level of efficiency per bulb and not requiring that citizens use CFLs only. In the FAQs, they dispute the idea that the new, rapid-cycling CFLs will affect Migraineurs. They mention that new CFLs eliminate "the perceptible flicker" associated with headaches. The problem is just that: to many Migraineurs, the flicker isn't readily apparent to the eye but is far from "imperceptible" to the brain. Chalk it up to our overall heightened sensitivity, but CFLs can and do trigger Migraine attacks.

8. Check out the following excerpt from what I take is a Sierra Club blog written by a "Mr. Green." Here you'll see Helen Irlen (yes, of Irlen fame!) remarking on the bulbs' side effects as well as his response. I've included that excerpt here, but the whole page is interesting to see.

MAJOR HEADACHES

Hey Mr. Green, While we understand the nation's quest to better the environment, and we agree that much of the outcry regarding mercury in compact fluorescent lightbulbs is overzealous, we do want to point out another issue with CFLs that many people are not aware of. In the United States alone, 49 million people suffer physical effects from energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. For individuals suffering from Irlen syndrome, a perceptual processing disorder defined largely by sensitivity to light, fluorescent lights trigger headaches, migraines, stomachaches, fatigue, eyestrain, anxiety, and irritability. Fluorescent lights can also negatively impact the immune system, literally making these individuals sick. Energy conservation is an important goal we should strive to achieve, but individuals who are sensitive to fluorescent lights need the option of incandescent lightbulbs in their homes and work environments. So we ask that you remain open to incandescent lightbulbs as an alternative for individuals suffering from Irlen syndrome and the physical difficulties triggered by fluorescent lights. --Helen L. Irlen, executive director, Irlen Institute International Headquarters, irlen.com

Hey Helen,
This is news to me, but a number of readers share your concern. Any proposed legislation mandating more-efficient lightbulbs should take the possible health effects into account. The LED lights mentioned by the EPA's Wendy Reed may provide some relief in the future as well.
Environmentally,
Mr. Green

9. More from Ms. Irlen regarding oversensitivity, lighting, etc., especially as it relates to autism.

10. This Irlen.com page has a whole list of resources, some of which deal with fluorescents' effect on sensitive individuals. Here's another that's migraine- and headache-specific. Finally, some brain research. I didn't look through these articles, but there may be some good information in 'em. The Irlen page has other useful tidbits; look through and see what else you find!

a pain in the neck

My neck has been killing me for the last two days--for the several days before that, it was just really stiff and moderately sore. OOWWWWW! My jaw's been driving me crazy again, too, and my back feels strained. Wah, wah, wah.

I'm wondering if the massage I had two weeks ago screwed it up somehow, though usually massage helps. Has anyone had the experience of having a massage hurt more than it helps? I can't get comfortable at night because, no matter where I put my head on the pillow, my neck aches and throbs.

Boo hoo.

yippee for prescription assistance programs!!!, or, FREE DRUGS

I've been enrolled with success in the GlaxoSmithKline's Bridges to Access Program. There's information on it here: http://www.bridgestoaccess.com/

I can get my Imitrex for free from them (as I understand it) after I send in the bulk of my paperwork, which my advocate (an assistant at my neurologist's office) helped me fill out. For now, I'm enrolled for two months and can go into my favorite retail pharmacy (my local Kroger, where I love the people) and get a 60-day supply. The initial 60-day supply is accompanied by a $10 copay per fill, but that's about 1/10 as much as the Imitrex would cost me normally!

Already I'm in the Together Rx Access program. That's the program with the least amount of hassle, but it's just a discount program that offers cuts but not ones as big as 90% off the regular price. It'd be of more use to me if I didn't belong to Bridges to Access already, as the only drug I'm currently taking that is on the Together Rx Access list is Imitrex--and I can get that for [almost] free!

Finally, I applied for my free trial of Maxalt. All it takes is a printer and a couple of stamps--one so you can mail the form to your doctor to request a prescription for 3 Maxalt pills, and one so you can include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for your doctor to send you the prescription and forms back!

In the works is a plan for me to get free (or cheap) Maxalt, too. I forget which program covers that, but my doctor has sent in the paperwork to the proper recipient by now, I'm sure. I can't say enough about The Partnership for Prescription Assistance Program (PPARx). I'm so much more calm when it comes time to take a triptan, not nearly as stressed as I usually am for fear of wasting my money.

Go sign up! I make very little money, but you can make a fair amount (not a HUGE amount) and still qualify for these programs.

scalp/hair pain

I sometimes feel extra sensitive on my scalp when I'm having a Migraine; without a doubt, I am a girl who can't stand to have a regular ponytail in for more than a few minutes because of the aches that come as a result. During and right after a Migraine, I've been known to feel scalp pain.

But this is different. All day the crown of my head has ached as if I had a ponytail pulling on it--but I hadn't put my hair up at all when the pain started. The pain is all around the roots of my hair and is exacerbated by my pressing on my ultra-sensitive scalp. It's truly a strange sensation, especially since, as I've said, I didn't have a ponytail in, nor am I having a Migraine.

A cursory Google search gave me some leads when I looked up "scalp pain" and "hair pain," but I'm doubting I have the ailments (other than Migraine) mentioned as possible reasons for scalp pain.

This post is mainly for myself in the case this continues--it'd be nice to be able to tell my neurologist when it started and how it felt.

Does anyone here feel this same sensation sometimes?

missing out on all the fun

My friend just called me from the Okkervil River show. One of my favorite songs of theirs, "Our Life is a Not Movie or Maybe" (which plays when you visit their site) blared through my cell phone speaker, peppered with high-pitched screams of delight from the audience and some whistles.

You see, I was supposed to be at that show. L. bought me a ticket a month or so ago as a birthday gift, and I was thrilled by the fact that I was really into BOTH bands--the opener (Okkervil River) and the headlining act (The New Pornographers). This evening, I did some yoga stretches for my neck and then took a warm shower, telling myself this was a recipe for a good evening. I'd taken a nap earlier in the day to have extra reserves of energy at my command so I could stay out late and still wake up early for work tomorrow. I did everything right.

After my shower, I wanted to creep into oversized jeans and a hoodie for comfort; instead, I put on an equally comfortable but cute dress in an effort to convince myself I was feeling better. See? Look at me! I have mascara and a dress on, plus some earplugs in my pocket to boot. Surely I'm going to have a great night out!

Went to dinner. Tried to park downtown in a [free after 6 PM] metered spot but had no luck. When I went to my ol' trusty backup free lots, I was alarmed to see that BOTH of them now charge $5 to park. Frustrated and inordinately enraged (was that me or the steroids that wanted to crash the cars in the parking lot?), I drove back through the city streets 'til I found a spot. I wanted so badly to honk obnoxiously over and over to assert my premier position as another guy tried to deftly slide into the spot I'd been waiting for for a good sixty seconds, but I refrained and kept it at a light tap. Oh, I was ANGRY. Far angrier than I should've been, I realize. I tend to get fed up easily when I'm not feeling well, when I'm out of control--I'd bet the "extreme irritability" that comes along with the steroids for some people didn't help. (Last night I nearly had a temper tantrum in the middle of the night because the damned sheet kept getting tangled--I wanted to rip the stupid thing off the bed and burn it. 'Roidy, much?)

So there I was. I parked, took a deep breath, and walked to meet my friend C.--I was now 15 minutes late. We hopped restaurants a few times 'til we found one with no wait, and, after a strange coughing attack (my throat has felt weird lately), I sat down and eagerly awaited my sub sandwich.

It was at that point it hit me. I was exhausted again. My 45-minute outing had zapped my energy. I'm sick of sleeping, sick of lying down, sick of being inside my house. But going to a loud rock show was going to be a silly move, most likely. In any case, there's no way for me to see which one would be the better option in reality, to go to the show or to skip it--I have to choose one path with every decision I make and there's never any knowing what could have been. Maybe the show would've had me relaxed, jumping up and down, and feeling better. And maybe the crowded theater, the loud music, and the high-pitched cheering would have been a recipe for disaster.

L. came to where I was sitting with C. and hung out for a couple minutes. She has always been so loyal and so good to me regarding my Migraines. "I don't want you to go if it's going to make you feel bad," she said, and having her support allowed me to officially bail out, guilt free. I've known her for years now, and instead of getting more frustrated at my self-set, self-preserving limitations I make as time goes on, she's more understanding and less apt to pressure me to do something my body can't handle.

As I walked past the theater on the way to my car, I heard another favorite song ("A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene") playing from the stage. I paused. I peered in at the stage and saw the small figures bouncing to the sound of their music. The trumpets joined in.

I kept walking, the sounds of the music echoing off the small city block. As soon as I climbed into my car, there was someone else waiting to take my spot.

Migraine & Headache Poetry Contest

For all you wordsmiths (or even those of you who haven't tried your hand at it before), check out this contest! Entries are due VERY soon--April 21, this Monday.

Give it a shot--you've got nothing to lose but a little bit of stress. (Writing helps a lot, you know.)

what gives?

I'm nearing my second day of the steroids. Granted, I took my first set of pills last evening around 8:30, so really the first and second days' worth of 'roids have only been in my system for a little over 24 hours. (Gross--did I really just write "'roids"?) But still--what gives!?

There's so much pressure in my sinuses, neck, and head. My neurologist (or rather, the assistant who always calls on his behalf) instructed me to not take any of my regular acute or rescue meds, so I feel screwed right now. It's been years since I've had to suffer through a Migraine attack this long.

I must have become more wimpy over the years, cause I just can't take it anymore. In high school and college (especially college), I pretty much went triptan-free. (I was diagnosed and given Imitrex when I was 21, about to start my senior year at college.) Before the diagnosis, I would have to muddle through the pain and side effects for up to days at a time. Now I can't let one go one for long before reaching for my emergency kit. Perhaps having an official name for my disease made it more real for me--I realized I wasn't just nursing a recurring, frustrating headache--instead, I was treating symptoms of a serious, life-altering disease.

This afternoon my beau and his friend dropped by for a bit, and I had a good hour or so of feeling okay--no major pains, but still a general sense of uneasiness and weakness. I made sandwiches and cut up fruit for dinner, but that seemed to be the last straw--as soon as I took my last bite, I was ready to lie down again despite my utter boredom with my bedroom at this point. A few hours later, I reemerged from my room for a warm bath. Using this pain-relieving ointment I got recently on my neck and upper back proved to feel amazing when combined with the warm bath water--I felt as if my neck was both chilled and warm at the same time as the hot water splashed on the ointment. It felt goooood. But the respite the bath allowed me was brief, and I got up and tried to do a couple of things before feeling bad again. Had a nice conversation on the phone with one of my best friends, but the last ten minutes or so became a struggle as I tried to sound chipper despite my head's throbbing.

I'm not sleepy. I've been sleeping so much. Sitting up hurts; lying down hurts. I can't take medication other than the steroids I'm on for three more days or the daily meds I pop. No Imitrex. No Maxalt. No mind-numbing Lortab.

When will this kick in? Am I continuing to get new Migraine attacks because of stress and the omnipresent Georgia pollen, or is this the same Migraine continuing its awful journey?

I guess I'll try to convince myself I'm tired again. The last few nights I've fallen asleep listening to guided visualization tapes and/or NPR podcasts (This American Life, Radio Lab, and Selected Shorts are my favorites).

Goodnight.

help is on the way!

My neurologist called in a cortisone pack, and my dear friend and neighbor A. is going to pick it up from the pharmacy for me. Apparently I take varying doses of the drug for five days in order to break this awful cycle. I must tell myself it WILL work.

I am drugged up on 15mg of Lortab, but all I have from it are the side effects and not the pain-free cottony feeling. This pisses me off, cause now I'm closer than ever (during this attack, at least) to throwing up any second and my head still feels as if there are little people in there squeezing my brain matter and refusing to let up.

Ugh.

I'm not sure why I keep updating my status. I guess it feels good to vent to people who know what I'm going through. I hope to return to a more hopeful, healthy person soon. For now, I'm going to try to close my eyes until the meds arrive on my doorstep. The great news is that they cost only $4! I love my Kroger pharmacy, I'm not going to lie. They may be a big fat chain, but the people who work there are very helpful and caring. That's a nice comfort, esp. when I feel most pharmacists might be annoyed by a pain-ridden, drugged-up girl who has to make three back-to-back calls with questions because, in her haze, she keeps forgetting to ask something else.

Confusedly yours,
me.

pain that woke me from sleep

For the first time in many months, I had such a bad migraine headache last night that I woke from sleep as soon as the Lortab wore off (around 5 AM). I called off work last night and lay on the couch, listening to radio show podcasts and watching stupid TV (after having dimmed the screen as dark as it would go and putting on sunglasses!). When my boyfriend came over after work, he encountered a girl lying on a couch in PJs with a washcloth over her face, a heating pad on her back, a TMJ dysfunction FaceCaddy around her neck (it had fallen), and a guided imagery CD playing on the computer. The heating elements had been turned off for awhile, and he commented that I was burning hot. He found the thermometer, took my temperature, and discovered I was hovering at 97.5 despite my hot, hot skin and face.

As I mentioned before, this has been a record week for BAD headaches. I'm used to going through times where there are a few minor ones and one major one in a week, but five big ones in six days is making me feel like I did brief periods years ago. AAAHH! I'd scream if it didn't hurt so much.

Because I've gone the forbidden route and taken three triptans already this week, I was too nervous to take another last night. Had one Lortab (7.5) mg and a snack before bed to absorb it; at 5 I woke up and took two more. Now it's 9:33 and the achiness seems to be returning despite the continued tingling effect of Lortab.

Lots of this has to do with stress, mainly stress from a neighborhood situation. I'm voluntarily on the board and have recently been pummeled by a series of emails and requests that give me WAY more responsibility than my body can take; the thinly-veiled personal insults aren't exactly helping either.

Let it go...let it go...let it go.

My neck hurts. My head hurts. I want to give up.

easy on the eyes web search

Try this: blackle.com

A google-powered search engine with a black screen & white writing. Millions of kilowatt hours are saved if you can use this, as brighter, more colorful screens use much more energy. Plus it's great for people who are light sensitive! Results come up on the black screen, too, but once you click on a link you're back to the normal web.

April Headache Blog Carnival posted!

This is always an exciting, helpful day out there in the world of headache disorders. Take a look at the page, which is chock full of different folks' perspectives regarding Migraine disease and other headache. This month's carnival focuses on coping well with Migraine disease & headache.

http://somebodyhealme.dianalee.net/2008/04/coping-strategies-april-headache-blog.html

herbal supplements, prescription assistance, etc.

Here's something I wrote in response to a query on a new health community site I love, http://www.wegohealth.com/
It's about the herbal supplements I've heard of as being TRULY helpful for Migraine, not just recommended by some person you ran into one time at the supermarket. Of course they're not helpful for all people, but it's worth a try!

************

My neurologist (who's pretty prominent) as well as many other acquaintances' doctors recommend a few different vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements for migraine care.

1. Petadolex (a mixture of butterbur, B2, and perhaps one other thing--I forget what) is a daily supplement you take to help diminish the number of attacks and lessen the pain and side effects that accompany the attacks you do have. (http://www.migraineaid.com/) I buy mine through a shop on Amazon because it's cheaper there than anywhere else I've found.

2. Vitamin B2, about 400 mg/day. (This is approx. 23,000 the RDA--but that's the amount they recommend! Gives you wonderful energy.)

3. Magnesium, 500mg/day

Chamomile, mint, and feverfew are also frequently recommended.

As far as the expensive triptans go:

My doctor tells me that Imitrex will be going generic "later this year." Great news! I don't know the specific date. And look here to see if you qualify for prescription assistance programs--even if you have insurance you might be a candidate for one of the many programs offered! https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

I can't recommend this program enough, and I've only heard back from one company so far! (Waiting for my doctor to sign the forms so I can start getting cheap to FREE meds!)

Take care, and good luck!

The Spoon Theory

I have used very similar analogies in the past, but this author, Christine Miserandino, uses spoons as a metaphor for the limited amount of energy she has each day as a sufferer of lupus.

Reading this, I teared up at several points. It reminds me of something I once wrote regarding how I have to plan each step of my day and contemplate every little decision, always hyper-aware that an everyday occurrence could be the trigger for my next Migraine.

http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/the_spoon_theory/

Check it out. I think anyone reading my blog will find it a good, sad, realistic read.

fifth time's a charm...right?

I've had the worst streak I've had in awhile. Sure, there've been days I've had some mild pain day after having been icky for a while prior. But today marks the fourth day in a row of having a moderate Migraine headache--and since I'm not supposed to take triptans more than two days a week, I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. (Sorry for the cliche--can you blame a half-wit like migraineous me for not coming up with original witticisms?)

You all saw how I bitched (justifiably, I know--thanks for the reassurance!) on Wednesday about that sudden Migraine headache. I had high hopes that I'd filled my quota for the week then, but no such luck.

Flying into Virginia Thursday was uneventful, but as soon as I was in the car headed from the airport to my our hotel, the sure-fire symptoms began. Took half of an Imitrex (despite the label's order not to split them, I figured I'd cut the 100mg pill and take around 50 mg, thinking that'd be enough to kill the headache) and lay down. The pain was mostly gone in an hour or so. The next day, Friday, I woke up with a headache again but pretended it wasn't there. After all, it was a spa day for my cousin, my aunt, my mom and me! Surely a massage and a facial would heal me right up. Wrong. The pain got worse at lunch, post-spa, and I popped the other half of that Imitrex.

I took a nap at my aunt's and woke up feeling headache-free but extremely groggy and antisocial--not good when there was a casual dinner party over here and I was trying to be much more animated than I felt. (I failed my own test.)

Today I felt bad again but couldn't break the rule even further--after all, Friday marked the third day in a row having a triptan, and I couldn't face the possibility of a rebound headache by taking another triptan. So...I took a nap, my third one in three days. Woke up feeling rested, but the pain returned and is sitting here now, running up and down the left side of my neck, behind my cheekbone, and behind my left eye. An old, obnoxious acquaintance setting up house once again.

I'm traveling. The weather is fluctuating greatly here in VA, and my period ended today. The pollen and allergens in the air are icing on the cake.

I can't wait to feel good again. I realize I ain't got nothin' on the chronic daily headache or Daily Persistent Headache folks, but man! I've had quite enough!

Migraine & travel

Tomorrow morning--ahem, THIS morning--I'll leave my house early to drive to the airport in rush hour traffic. My mom and I are flying to Virginia together to spend some time with my aunt and my cousins; it should be nice.

Despite my intense, feverish addiction to travel, I often dread the first day of it. Getting up on time, worrying that I have neglected to pack something, not sure if I'll make it to the airport in time, sitting under fluorescent lights in the gate area, the air pressure shifts in the plane, etc., etc.--all of these factors combine and, more often than not, result in a Migraine attack.

For this trip, I didn't follow step one of my own advice, but I think I'm doing well with the rest of it.

Tips for traveling migraineurs:

1. Get organized a couple of days before you go. This way, you'll feel less stressed regarding the packing process and will remember to add forgotten items, as you'll have more time to realize you've not packed them. For me, counting out all the pills and vitamins I'll need during the trip (adding on an extra day's worth for good measure!) is the first step I take. Too often I've been on vacation and reached for the medicine bottle only to remember it's still in my cabinet hundreds of miles away!

2. For people like me who know fluorescent lighting is a trigger: If you're staying in a hotel or with friends/family, ask your host about the lighting situation. Will there be fluorescent lights at the hotel? Request incandescent bulbs IN ADVANCE or else your home away from home won't be as comforting and healthy as you'd like. Will there be fluorescents at your friend's or family's house? Ask them if they could pick up a few incandescents on their next shopping trip--you'll pick up the tab. And remember: always have your eyewear to protect yourself from unavoidable lighting!

For those of you with phonophobia and/or trouble sleeping: bring earplugs! You never know what will be happening around you, and missing out on good sleep will drive any person crazy--and it will make it more likely you have a migraine episode.

3. Have all your medication packed in your CARRY-ON bag. In the rare chance your luggage is lost or delayed, you can't afford to screw up your schedule, especially since your normal life routine has been shifted around for the day.

4. Have abortive meds nearby--in your pocket or in an easily accessible part of your carry-on bag. No worrying that you have to wake up the snoring man next to you in order to get your meds from the overhead bin--just keep them very close! Even if you don't have an episode, you'll be comforted by the proximity of your salvation.

5. Tell yourself (and your traveling companions, if applicable) you have Migraine disease, and tell them when you're nearing your limit or when you won't be able to participate. Don't eat foods that are on your list of triggers just because a very charming hostess has offered them up to you. Don't go to the amusement park if a long, hot day in the sun will make you sick. Be honest with yourself so you can best enjoy your free time, and don't try to pack in too many things without scheduling in some down time.

6. Carry some granola bars or other healthy snack with you to combat low blood sugar. Most of us know by now that skipping meals is a sure-fire migraine trigger for most. Keeping a snack or three in your purse or carry-on bag could very well save you from having a Migraine attack when you're rushing to and fro and have no time to get a meal.

I'm sure I could ramble on, but I'll leave it at that. I was going to write another post for this here Migraine Blog Carnival, but since I'm leaving in a few hours' time, I have travel on my mind.

Speaking of that, I need to take my own advice and remind myself that it's time for bed. ;)

GRRRRRR: a pointless rant

Ow. My head is stuffy and it hurts. I sat under fluorescent lights for hours yesterday and today doing work, hatted but with little benefit. My head feels full of cotton. There's throbbing pain between my eyes. I am sleepy. I am mad. I have so much to do.

Love from a girl who sounds like she's 7 years old when a Migraine attack's coming on.

the face of rejection

That's me, all right. With renewed hope and energy, I applied for an insurance plan yet again a few weeks back. Last week an agent from the insurance company called me to talk about the medications I am on now (as well as the ones I have taken for the past three years). I was honest and straight-forward while also telling the extremely helpful agent how much this would change my life, to actually have insurance again. I told her how I hadn't even had to fill my triptan prescriptions yet because of all the free samples my doctor gives. I told her how I'd weaned myself off of some expensive drugs months ago and had no interest in starting them again. I assured her that I was still taking measures to prevent Migraine attacks, but that instead of being expensive pharmaceuticals, they're herbs and vitamins I pay for out of my own pocket.

She spoke as if I would be covered. I assume that tone is easier to take, rather than beginning each explanatory sentence with, "If you are chosen as someone we'll cover, then this is how it will work..."

I had high hopes. I thought that THIS time it would work. My hopes were diminished a bit when she ended the call by saying, "All right, Janet, I'll report all this information to our underwriters and get back to you." Underwriters look at the number of meds and the various diagnoses you have. In my experience, they don't really factor in how badly someone could be helped by insurance--that would chop their profits in half, I'm sure, were they to accept those that needed it for frequent care.


In any case, I got a letter back on Saturday afternoon, indicating that the decision was made by the underwriters almost instantly. After all, they must have sent the letter the day I spoke with the agent, given the turnaround time. The answer? NO. The reason? A history of chronic Migraine disease and various prescriptions medications on my record prevented me from being approved.

Duh, that's why I need it.

I've been putting off watching Michael Moore's Sicko since I've been pretty sure it'd really piss me off. I think I'm ready to be really angry about this. Maybe I'll rent it this week.

GRRR!

The King of Migraines

I've read about Elvis having had severe Migraine problems before; I've read on reputable health websites that many of the drugs found in his system during the autopsy were treatments (both OTC and not) for his Migraine disease.

This article, though nearly a decade old, tells how the medical community and reporters found out about Elvis's health information.

http://www.migraines.org/new/news9904.htm

Interesting. Sad.

(photo courtesy of www.elvispresleynews.com/ElvisMedicalReport.html)

dilated pupils, anyone?

Only recently did I stumble upon a strange phenomenon: I am of the belief that my pupils dilate when I'm having a Migraine attack. Has this happened to anyone else?

Here's a photo of my eyeball taken when I'm feeling fine.

Here's a photo taken IN THE SAME LIGHT
when I'm in the midst of a Migraine attack.

to assuage my omnipresent guilt

Couple of things:

1. I have been getting the most amazing, encouraging comments from lots of you who read this. I can't tell you how much it means to me to open my blog and see that I have new comments. You all are wonderful; we're so fortunate that we can support each other in the midst of our frustrations.

That being said, I have to admit something else: I feel terribly sad/guilty/anxious each time I get a new comment and don't acknowledge it. The feedback keeps me going in the worst of times, but I can't get it together to write back to everyone who's commented. (And no, it's not because there are millions and millions of comments, it's just that I'm tired. Or lazy. Or busy. Or headachey. Or all four.)

So let this be my thanks to you, people who read and comment and people who read and move on. Thank you.

2. And speaking of of thanks, I decided on a new thing that could help me cope better with that whole guilt issue I mention here and in previous entries. THANK YOU CARDS! I have only written three or four cards to employers and a couple of local friends--after that I just got pooped. But writing a quick note to say thanks to those who are supporting you just makes you feel all warm and mushy inside. And imagine how the recipients will feel! I have friends who feel as if they can't do enough for me; they get angry with themselves when they can't take care of me as much as they want to. They become irritated by the fact that there's no cure for this. These friends will especially love to get a quick thank you note.

Thanks for being there for me.

Thanks for helping me out.

Thanks for lending a kind ear.

Whether or not I'm in pain, it's such a comfort to know I can turn to you.

All that jazz. You get the drift. So if you're someone who wants to make someone's day (or at least their hour), grab some preprinted thank you cards (having them say "thank you" already saves you time and energy--making your own is good, too!) and write some quick messages to friends next time you're watching a movie or sitting on the porch.

Goodnight.

Love from the girl who can't stop sneezing! Stupid allergies...

good morning, migraine girl

Just another morning here. Omega-3 (fish oil), 4 B2 pills,

500mg of magnesium, a multivitamin, and a sinus pill + Naproxen to
combat the weather (those last two are rare bonuses!).

creativity and migraine?

I'm going to write an article for a weekly paper about the relationship (or lack thereof) between disorders such as Migraine disease, bipolar disorder, depression, etc. and creativity. If anyone has any feedback they'd like to give, I'd love to read it!

Thanks.

Have a migraine as we speak, so I'm going to lie down again.