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My Theraspecs Story

Since I was a pre-teen I have struggled with migraines. I would be overcome with nausea, dizziness, and what felt like supersonic hearing and aversion to lighting. For years, every time I walked into one of the local stores, I would have a migraine and be very ill by the time I left the store. I told my mother over and over again that my eyes felt funny, and that everything was flickering. I would struggle with the shadows on the road near areas with trees, flickering, or the sunlight flickering from beyond an obstruction. In school I was never happier than when the lights were off and we could work peacefully. I enjoyed the night time as a peaceful break from the sunlight, often working out, or socializing after the sun went down. As a young adult, I started to realize that my aversion to bright lights, clubs, and concerts was not normal in comparison to my peers. I hated going places where lights flashed. I often would turn down social events due to the lighting, or leave early once recognizing that the lights would trigger a neurological meltdown (migraine) for me.

I kept hearing about a pair of glasses that would help alleviate the stress on my eyes and the flickers in the florescent lighting. As I was still in graduate school I decided to save my pennies. Once I ordered them (the stellas by Theraspecs) I was so very happy that I had taken the time to save my money. They are worth every penny! The stores and other places that I had avoided are now open again for me to explore. Hospital lights are less strain on my eyes, and most importantly my place of work is more comfortable. The glasses literally relax my eyes, and shield them from those flashes and bright lights that used to trigger migraines. I carry them with me wherever I go, and I’m not afraid to wear them if the need be. I was at first self-conscious, but when talking with others, they often ask if they can try the glasses on to see what they are like! They are great quality, and even me who normally destroys sunglasses has kept mine nice for about a year now.

The glasses have been a life-changer for me. I have never felt so very loyal to any product I have bought. For those who struggle with lights, this is a product that cannot be passed by!

For more information on Theraspecs please check out the website at http://www.theraspecs.com/ 

I have not been paid for this story- I was inquiring about my bent glasses (freak accident with my rear) and they asked about my story! :)

The Moment...

(minor meltdown moment)...So, I had one of those moments today. I went to a Doctor appointment - and groaned as I got on the scale, and sighed as they took my blood pressure..Once that moment is over I hop up on the Doctor table and don't think twice about it. Appointment goes on, and I get ready to leave - make my follow up appointment and they hand me a packet of paper. I stuff it in my bag and head back to work.

I get to work, pull the paper out to put it in the "to file" pile, and I'm stopped by the following words....

Order: Dietary Counseling Diagnosis: Morbid Obesity....

gah. ugh. blech. crud. MORBID? How did I get to MORBID??

I should be around 170lbs to fit my body type and height. Let's just say I have 110lbs to lose. Ekk. Seems like a tall order, but never in my life have I been this heavy. I know it's been a heck of an Ohio winter...but I need to rally my insides and make this change.

Hopefully, I can make some changes without throwing my headaches and migraines for a loop. Time for advice......what do you do..what nutritional advice do you have for migraines? I'm open and ready for suggestions! At 28 years of age..this is not the path I want for myself...

Botox #2

Botox round two was yesterday! Afterwards- I made it to the local Target, felt nauseous and decided to stay a while until it let up a little. Thankfully I was able to make the 1.5 hour drive home with no problems! I was somewhat cautious when I got home because the first time I was very ill for the rest of the day- but I was able to get some homework and housework done before tiring out. 

Today I woke up with a monster of a migraine. I had made much anticipated plans with a good friend of mine and decided I was going to IM some torridol and Reglan and suck it up. Made it through the day with her (and very glad I did) but I'm thinking I'll be chilling on the couch and watching the Buckeyes play some football tonight in a less than excitable manner. 

I still have my PICCles (or PICC line) for the time being as there may be an immediate need for an IV Infusion before the Botox does it's magic. I was happy with the results from my first Botox so I am ecstatic about the possibilities with the second dose! 

I downloaded a blogger app to my phone so I hope to continue more informal fun updates like this is the future!

Breaking the Stigma of Chronic Pain…Slowly

Meet one of the newest loves of my life...Rocko...aka Rocket!

So today I had a follow up appointment with my neurologist. I had a number of things I wanted to talk to her about, and get her opinion on. The biggest thing that I have been struggling with (aside from the neuro systems and pain) has been extreme tiredness and generalized fatigue.  My depression scale today was a 17 (compared to last month a 13).  Mood-wise I feel much better, but my neurologist believes that my extreme fatigue is a result of my depression.

I know..I can’t believe I admitted it – I’m suffering from depression. It’s such a stigma – that I could simply cheer up and “be better”.  I suffer from depression as a result of my chronic illness. The migraines that have taken over my life, are now also taking over my mood, emotion, and inner motivational drive. I force myself up, I manage through the day, come home exhausted, and start over again. My mind moves a mile a minute with things I want to accomplish, but my body says no.

The stigma that depression is just something that can be fixed isn’t true. Just like migraines its different for each person, complicated by medications, dosage, constant changes to said medications and a battle of try and see if it works.

I have been fortunate that the Botox treatment I received June 13^th seems to have reduced my overall migraines by almost 50% - but unfortunately it has not helped the severity or most of the nero symptoms that go along with it. My neurologist also prescribed me some medication to help with the fatigue, and we are working on a dietician that can help work with my GERD and IBS in a way that avoid triggers and helps me feel better.  I feel blessed to have those few days back into my life, and hopeful that I can keep improving and fighting against it!

While depression may seem like a dirty little word, or something that should remain unspoken – please remember, as the commercial says “depression hurts”. My addition is, please do not allow your loved ones to suffer, and most of all….support them. There are many of us who are not drug seekers, not attention-seekers - but ordinary people put into extraordinary circumstances. We want to feel normal, we want our migraines to go away, and we want to enjoy life to the fullest – join us in the fight!

Post Botox Treatment

Well it has been a little over a month since I have received my Botox treatment! The first few weeks were a little rough as my body adjusted (body aches in example). However, after about 6-7 regular to above regular pain days I thought for sure this was never going to work and prepared my arsenal in hope of better days ahead. After  the first week I slowly started to notice that my migraines were less frequent and less intense!

I have also been working hard to maintain my diet, exercise, and level of stress. July 4-9^th I had the biggest test so far of my treatment. 240 people, 5 days, 4-H Camp! I took all the possible supplies I might need, and prayed hard that I would not need them. Through rain, a little thunder, and humidity my health was trialed, but I survived without a large migraine or more than a little loss of function.

My job is often high-demanding this time of year with camp, and then followed directly by our judging for 4-H projects. I was delighted to find that I wasn’t plagued with migraines, but just a post camp sinus infection and double ear infection. Since then I have been feeling “slower” than normal, but my pain is limited. I feel like I’m beginning to see what it might be like to have my life back!

I was able to help raise a little over $200.00 for the CMA group. I felt accomplished sending that check to them! I’m hoping to find more ways to support the CMA group and help document my journey through migraine treatments.

I am somewhat anxious about how It will be as the Botox wears off before my next treatment. I’ll be sure to continue documenting my journey on here and with the others from the CMA group. 

I Recieved Botox at the Age of 27

I often feel like I have been through all the medicines known to man-kind when it comes to managing my migraines. I have tried preventatives (before the migraine starts), abortives (after the migraine starts) and medicines that aren't even initially promoted as migraine drug originally!

Many of the medicines I have take make me tired, sleepy, foggy and affect my system as a whole. I don't like the way that I feel, but I keep trying the medicines that my neurologist suggests. So my neurologist suggested that I try Botox. 

So how does the Botox work? I found this small snippet from this website that explains it better than I ever could! "BOTOX® blocks chemical changes on nerve endings. To treat chronic migraine, BOTOX® is injected into muscles of the forehead, the side and back of the head, and the neck and shoulders to produce a partial and temporary chemical “denervation” of the muscle. This causes the muscles to be too weak to contract. The dosage used to treat chronic migraine is very low since the muscles injected are small." 

The side effects are minimal, the treatment has little effect on my body (other than an inability to raise my eyebrows quite the same) and it literally took 5 minutes for them to inject my head. So what is the catch? The road to get there, through the insurance company had to have a whole lot of information in order to approve converage (it is approved for migraines through the FDA). 

1. I needed to have chronic migraines. Meaning that I have to have 15 or more migraines a month. 

2. I needed to fail 3 or more preventative medicines from at least 2 classes (the three being antidepressent, seizure medicine, or blood pressure medicine). 

1. I definitely have chronic migraines. I suffer from 18 or more a month. 

2. I have failed a number of preventative medicines. Just to name a few, (topimax, inderol, verapamil, cymbalta...). In fact, I often tease that I can give lots of information about any of those drug because I am  very much so one that needs to know about what is going into my body. 

On Friday, I sat in my neurologists office and for the first time I left feeling happy (a little stingy-feeling also) that maybe for the first time since I was 12 years of age I may have the start of a handle on this whole migraine thing. I say it in the office with my hands clasped rightly, concerned about the amount of pain I was about to endure. I had read conflicting reports, and in turn decided to stop reading and just go for it. It was fairly painless, although I will admit the most pain came from the temple of the forehead. Afterwards - it seems to be that my biggest change has been an complete inability to furrow my brow. Slightly amusing, I just hope I don't need to be mad at anyone in the future.

I came home from the procedure, slept for about 7 hours and then a full night following afterwards. I did have some minor flu-like symptoms (normal for the first 24-36 hours) - and one really crappy migraine the following morning - but today has been wonderful, with little pain, and an ability to enjoy the sunshine on my drive instead of hiding from it!

I will try to update more as I go through this process. They say 1 week I will notice positive changes, and 4-6 weeks until it is steady and working well. The best news is, I only need the procedure 4 times a year! and within a year I could have a 90% reduction of migraines! -- here's the being healthy, working hard, and maintaining a lifestyle that is most positive for my migraines.