MHAM Blog Challenge, Day 9: Mama Mia

How does living with Migraine or another Headache Disorder impact your financial situation?

When I first started taking Imitrex for migraines in high school, the generic wasn't available yet, and I was sometimes going through all 9 tablets in just a couple weeks. This was not only an expensive problem, but the doctors and my parents were on my case a lot about taking less. Once I went through the ordeal of cutting the horrendous amounts of caffeine out of my diet, the daily migraines drastically decreased, and I was able to take them with much less frequency.

Somewhere along the line (I don't really remember why), I was switched to Treximet. Actually, I think I may have been part of a guinea pig circuit that I wasn't really aware of, or my doctor at the time was cutting deals with her pharmaceutical rep. In any case, Treximet was so expensive, and it wasn't really any different from taking Imitrex. Granted, I wasn't eating all of these costs - most of my support came through my parents and insurance, but it's still something I wish they wouldn't have had to take deal with.

Now, for the past year or so, I'm on generic Imitrex, and it's wonderful. I mean, the actual drug is gross and still takes just as long (or longer) to work as it ever did, but at least I can justify the cost, and even pay for it myself!

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June, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is issued by FightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

MHAM Blog Challenge, Day 5: Temple Grandin (my choice)

Many of us have wondered to ourselves, "Must you live so loudly?" How do you cope with phonophobia?

One of the biggest reasons I avoid large house parties is the massive amount of noise created by them. I tend to get certain levels of anxiety when I’m in crowds; hearing too many conversations at the same time, trying to make sense of all of them. And of course, anxiety leads to stress which leads to headaches.

But I generally don’t mind avoiding large parties, since I prefer to sit in quieter atmospheres and have more meaningful conversations with people. But working the concert / event industry sometimes makes it difficult to find the happy balance…

I’ve found that if I avoid alcohol at these parties and events, I’m much better off (for multiple reasons). I also make myself go to "x amount" of events / parties per month, even at the risk of a headache / migraine. This way, I'm still going out, seeing people, and getting an adequate amount of social time, and can feel like I've done more than be a hermit every night. The "x amount" is based on the number of Imitrex I have handy - I try to take it as little as possible. 

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June, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is issued by FightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

MHAM Blog Challenge Day 4: Just Keep Swimming

How do you keep going in life when Migraine or another Headache Disorder deals you a difficult setback?

It's hard sometimes. I remember having bad migraines (particularly when I was younger) that were so bad I thought it would be easier if I could just somehow be dead - the pain wasn't worth living anymore.

But I've gotten past those feelings, mostly thanks to prescription meds and figuring out how quickly I should be taking what I need. And really, it's the meds that keep me going during those rough patches, otherwise I wouldn't even be able to step outside, much less get out of bed.

Knowing I have friends and family who care, and a community of fellow sufferers and supporters out there also is a great help, all the time.

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June, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is issued by FightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Back to the Drawing Board

It was a looong weekend, and I'd like to think that's the reason for this weird headachy - migrainy thing I woke up with too early this morning.

But I have no idea.

I remember that it was summertime last year when I was waking up with these really terrible throbbing headaches that were different from my typical headaches / migraines, which is similar to what I'm dealing with now. Rather than pain on one side of my head and neck, the pain is spread across my forehead and the base of my neck, and in full swing. But oddly, it's more easily controlled by something like Excedrin, and usually doesn't require an Imitrex (thankfully).

Maybe it's something to do with the weather? I had headaches my first few days in Key West, but once I adjusted I felt great.

I've been "diagnosed" with tension headaches nearly my entire life (who's to say what they really were / are?), and this type of pain matches the description of one. But it also coincides with a few symptoms of cluster headaches, which I've never really looked into, so I'm not really sure.

I think it's time to go back to the drawing board with this daily / nightly experiment (the one that never really happened in the first place, ha!), and figure out what I can avoid during the day and especially before bed.

What are some things you do in the evening and at bedtime to avoid waking up with a headache?

Post-Vacay Blues

Ugggh. I think my brain is telling me I should've stayed in Key West.

Our last morning in Key West, I woke up completely headache free for the first time in months. Our first morning back home (despite how depressing it was to wake up in dreary Minnesota), I was again headache free. Two whole days without the aid of any kind of pain reliever. I haven't pulled that off in years.

And I felt good. Proud that I had beaten a major obstacle. A sense of better health and healing, whether it was true or not.

Then Saturday morning happened.

It wasn't that bad. I let it slide. Blamed it on bad hydration practices or too many bad foods the day before.

Sunday came. Slightly worse. But Saturday had been a long day. And PMS was on the rise.

Today. Migraine all day - until I finally caved and took Imitrex, anyway. Hard telling what the cause may be.

I may never beat morning headaches, but I have to beat the daily Excedrin. It's killing me - mentally and physically.

If it's a caffeine withdrawal, I can do that. I don't mind having a cup of coffee or tea first thing every morning. I'm also looking into more topical relief, like the use of essential oils. Hopefully, they are affordable and worth it.

Maybe it is a climate thing. Hopefully, I can move somewhere warm soon and put this all behind me. Let my liver heal up a little bit.

Maybe I'll just go be a hermit, selling seashells in Key West. Who's with me? :)

Until then, I'll just keep plugging away...

Any suggestions and support would be greatly appreciated :)

My Story, Part 2 (the uphill climb)

I think the cover of Heal Your Headache is what initially captured my attention, and David Buchholz seemed to know exactly what I was going through. The first I thing I learned was that I needed to cut caffeine and fix my diet (surprise!), and eventually, my headaches would become manageable.

After cutting my high caffeine intake cold-turkey and living through the worst (and only) withdrawal-related, three day migraine of my life, I took Buchholz's next suggestion. I went back to the doctor for preventative medications and received Topamax (later to become my worst enemy).

For a couple years, I did okay. Everything seemed to be going well enough. Then, when I transferred schools, things started acting up again. I restarted the battle with Excedrin, and saw my Imitrex counts rise again. Finally, after my first senior year, I saw a neurologist.

The neurologist helped with nothing. He put me on a higher dosage of Topamax and gave me cortisone shots (aka occipital nerve blockers) in the back of my skull and neck in an attempt to relieve the tension. Soon after, my periods became incredibly irregular, my hair started falling out, and the headaches seemed to be getting worse. Now what?? Ignoring what the neurologist recommended, I cut the Topamax and continued to see a chiropractor. I haven't seen the inside of a neurology clinic since.

It was said chiropractor who seemed to be doing me the most good. After transferring schools, it'd been a year or so before I settled down and realized I should start seeing a chiro again. Not only did she adjust my spine, she worked hard to ensure I was eating well and staying as stress-free as possible - key elements to staying happy and healthy.

For a while, I was feeling pretty good - despite my complaints of jaw pain. It was my mother who suggested I ask my dentist for ideas. At a routine cleaning, I told my dentist of my jaw issues, and he referred me to another local dentist who specialized in TMJ problems. I learned that not only was I grinding my teeth on a nightly basis, but my bite was also misaligned. This was causing my jaw to overwork itself, and jaw problems can lead to headaches. 

There's one more shorter chapter to this story. Click here to continue on to Part 3, or here to reread Part 1.

My Story - Where it All Started, Part 1

I remember getting occasional headaches as far back as kindergarten, back when a simple, crushed aspirin did the trick. Gradually, the headaches became worse - both in frequency and intensity. By my freshman year of high school, I was checking the "has frequent headaches / migraines" box on school registration forms. 

Soon after, I began seeing doctors for headaches and was diagnosed with "tension headaches." I was being prescribed everything under the sun that had been known to "prevent" and "cure" headaches. Nothing seemed to do the trick, so I self-medicated. 

With no regard to my liver, I began taking OTC pain relievers on a daily basis (mostly Excedrin). When headaches got particularly bad, I took a prescription Imitrex (or Treximet, I can't remember). On top of this, by my senior year, I was scheduling my day around my trips to the vending machine for a bottle of Mt. Dew. Waking up with headaches every day, my daily breakfasts consisted of a dosage of Excedrin Tension Headache washed down by a swig of Mt. Dew, maybe followed by a donut from the gas station on my way to school. But I was seeing a chiropractor and a reflexologist regularly, and doing all the right things! Why was I still getting headaches and migraines every other afternoon? (hmmmm...)

Regrettably, I must admit here that I did begin to use my headaches as a crutch and excuse. I can't count how many afternoons I left school "ill," or failed to come in until midday. People knew me as the girl who always had a headache, and I used that to my rebellious advantage. Note: Since then I've learned I don't need an excuse to do things I don't want to do :)

By my freshman year of college, Excedrin was no longer doing the trick, and I couldn't afford (physically and financially) to keeping taking so much Imitrex. Before I re-visited the doctor, I made a happenstance visit to the local library. I happened to have a headache that day, which for the first time in a long time, I was attempting to fight sans drugs. After learning I was battling my millionth and first headache, my favorite librarian (bless you Demi!) dashed straight to the self-help and health sections. She brought back a pile of books, one of which stood out to me more than the others. Despite the pain in my brain, I went straight home and ate it up.

This is getting too long, so I've decided to break it up into a few reading-friendly sections. Click here to continue on to Part 2...