If you see a whole thing - it seems that it's always beautiful. Planets, lives... But up close a world's all dirt and rocks. And day to day, life's a hard job, you get tired, you lose the pattern. - Ursula K. LeGuin

Friday, July 11, 2008

All Clear

My migraine has finally lifted. On average I take migraine medication 3 times a month (of course I record it but not in an excel spreadsheet - yet). I've made a lot of sacrifices to get it down that low, including giving up caffeine, oral contraceptives, and severely restricting my alcohol intake (I can no longer drink tequila--my favorite--or red wine and I can't over do the white wine or Guinness. There are times where I can't drink at all).

Even with all these restrictions I had to take 7 pills this month. I don't like taking pills and often put it off, hoping its not really a migraine, which of course is one of the worst things you can do with migraines. I know many people who suffer far more than I (all women) and have far more restrictions but it still sucks. I also know that my biggest addiction I will never give up and that's work - which requires being in front of a computer screen or reading loads of text. Neither of those are good for migraines.

But really what amazes me most of all is the feeling when it is finally gone. I can be symptom-free, usually from medication, but still know it's there, lingering. Migraine is described as a headache but is so much more and if its around for too long I start to get used to it. I start thinking this is just how I am and then it lifts and I'm suddenly able to be myself again.

So once again, today I am all me.

6 comments:

MoxieMamaKC said...

Ugh! You poor thing. My husband has terrible cluster headaches (similiar to migraines) from time to time. He's gone through a whole pharmacy worth of drugs trying to find what works, but he ended up just limiting caffeine, no alcohol, stays away from all smoke, etc. He still has them really frequently and found that Excedrin Migraine works better than any prescription he tried. My uncle had great luck with acupuncture, but my hubby's skeptical...Hang in there, you have my sympathy.

Insane Mama said...

I get the cluster headaches, but lately thank god! and I hate taking medications, I rarely take anything anymore besides tylenol. I hope you are migraine free for a long time

Miss Feisty said...

So glad you are feeling better. I sometimes get migraines & I agree they are THE WORST!

And you poor dear, I simply can not imagine life without tequila!!!

Anonymous said...

That's so true. No tequila is torture. But I do hope you keep getting better. Take care!

Debz said...

welcome back!

"There are times where I can't drink at all" that statement made me go "AARRRGGHH!! NOT THAT _ ANYTHING BUT THAT" ;)

TitleTroubles said...

I understand all too well what you mean. I can't make myself give up caffeine, though. And I can handle a little tequila. At least, that's what I tell myself. I'm glad you're you again. It feels like when I migraine leaves I regain access to a part of my brain that it was blocking.