TMI ... And Not Really Horse Related

4/6/2018

You might remember that I recently wrote about suffering from migraines. As of yesterday, I've had some form of a migraine for five straight weeks. To say my quality of life has suffered would be a massive understatement.

Some days, I've had to choose whether to ride for a few minutes, work on that stupid class I am taking, or cook dinner. I absolutely couldn't do more than one. And even choosing one of those things made my migraine worse. I've spent many nights huddled on the floor bawling my eyes out because my head hurt so bad.

A non-headache day!

I've been keeping a headache journal per the neurologist's recommendation, and Tuesday night was kind of the last straw. I hit a 9.0 on the headache scale - 10.0 is where I truly look for a permanent exit. Had I not been going to see the neurologist early Wednesday morning, we would have gone to the emergency room.

As it was, the neurologist had me admitted anyway. I spent the better part of Wednesday hooked up to various fluids and drugs as my husband hovered in the background alerting the nurse every time the machine beeped out a warning.

No headache here either.

I went to work on Thursday mostly headache free, but it's still there hovering slightly. The neurologist doubled my meds, but there have been some side effects already. I see him again in a few weeks.

I tell you this story only to explain why I haven't been able to watch the videos of my lessons with Chemaine Hurtado from last Saturday. I took Izzy off the property and had a BRILLIANT ride on him. He was AMAZING. Not only that, but Speedy and I finally figured out how to ride the three loop serpentine while maintaining the canter lead. That's one of the trickier movements from Second Level Test 3. We've even done it at home without Chemaine coaching me!

Migraine hovering this day, but we did it!

So, forgive me if my blog posts get a little weird or if no post appears. I am trying to keep it all together, but it's been challenging. And of course, the whole time I was laying in the ER with needles jabbed in my arm everywhere, all I could think about was the show next weekend.

Migraine or not, I am going!

Addie link

4/6/2018 08:24:44 am

Oh no! That sounds awful! I went through something vaguely similar several years ago. For about nine months my pain was between a 6 and a 9 on the 10-point scale. It's a really special level of awfulness that I think only other chronic-pain-havers can really comprehend.

You're doing a really good job hanging in there. I'm rooting for you!

Bakersfield Dressage link

4/8/2018 07:27:28 am

I am feeling back to my normal self - thank goodness! I didn't realize how depressed and worthless I felt until I started feeling better. This has been a horrible month for sure. :0)

Val

4/6/2018 11:03:18 am

You are a real trooper for keeping up with everything and working.

Have you been tested for Lyme disease? I was treated in 2010. My only symptoms were chronic headaches and fatigue. I am not sure if doctors test for it as routinely on the west coast so I though it was worth a mention.

4/8/2018 07:28:43 am

I haven't, but I am going to mention it to my neurologist when I see him next. If the migraines were new, I'd be more worried. I've had them since I was a kid, but all of a sudden they've become more frequent. It would be great if we could pinpoint a cause. :0)

Exploringdressagebiomechanics link

4/6/2018 12:00:31 pm

Migraines are the worst. I have had them for 40+ years but thankfully am down to 1-2 per year. Really they are the worst. One of the best explanations by a neurologist I ever read was that anyone can get a migraine but everyone's threshold is different. For example stress, or lack of sleep, or the wrong food might set one person off but for another person it would take all of the above PLUS other factors to even have a mild migraine. This helps a lot when trying to figure out triggers. Anyway, you have my sympathies and good luck in finding what some of your triggers are and/or finding the right medication.

4/8/2018 07:30:08 am

My triggers are hormonal changes (Hello, Aunt Flo!) and stress. The doctor thinks that something got stuck when I got the migraine at the end of February. Let's hope it doesn't happen again! :0)

Alanna

4/6/2018 08:48:07 pm

Wow. That sounds terrible. I'm so sorry you are dealing with that.

4/8/2018 07:30:35 am

Thank you, Alanna. :0)

Miriam

4/6/2018 10:57:49 pm

Hi, I am so sorry! Have you looked into Low Carb/Keto? It has helped with my migraines by reducing them to bearable headaches or even just a weak "aura". I think the elimination of Grains plays a big part in my wellbeing. All the best!

4/8/2018 07:32:03 am

I haven't done that, but food doesn't seem to be my trigger. I'll certainly run that idea by my neurologist though. I do best on a diet high on protein, so it wouldn't be too much of a surprise to find that carbs cause my headaches. :0)

4/10/2018 06:09:30 am

Yes, I have read that migraines are kind of extra slow epileptic seizures. If this is the case a high fat low carb diet seems worth a try as it helps with epilepsy.

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage