Thursday, April 24, 2008

Oh, for a slice of pizza......

Since moving to Florida, our amount of eating out has seriously decreased and I am not really sure why.  I enjoy cooking meals at home and many of days I enjoy not having to leave the house.  But for some odd reason over the last couple of weeks, I have been craving a Hawaiian Style Pizza, you know what I am talking about....Canadian bacon/ham and pineapple......only thing is that no one in my family cares for it, in fact, my friend Judith is the only one that will ever splurge on one with me.  Well.......after a visit today with a neurologist, it looks like I am going to have to wait a very long time before I even (if I do then) consider having a slice of Hawaiian Style Pizza or even a slice of Pepperoni pizza.  


Many of my fellow readers/friends, know that I battle with migraines, ALOT (up to 4 a week some weeks) and I have for several years now.  I have truly learned to deal with them and I have let them control my life instead of me controlling them, which I wonder if this is truly possible, though I am told that it is.  Since our move last year, I have put off and postponed seeing a neurologists here, I think I am developing a fear of doctors  ( I know that there is a phobia word for this but I do not care to Google it right now).  I have paid visits to the Urgent Care and on my several trips to Ky, I have paid visits to my neurologist there and he has taken care of me. 


When I went in for my yearly check up last week, my doctor questioned me amount my migraines and felt like they could be somehow related to my estrogen levels.....Great I thought this may be a simple fix that a lot of doctors have overlooked.  He said that taking estrogen orally can cause a fluctuation in the levels that my body is receiving (which by the way for those who do not know, I have no ovaries....FYI, I am not taking estrogen for the fun of it.).  Needless to say, he switched me to a patch that will help keep my levels constant.  My simple prayer was let this work and I was reassured by my doctor that this will either work immediately or there will not be a change.  Also, my doctor did refer me to a neurologist. one that he would see, if that's to make me feel better, however the earliest appointment was the end of May.


Five days passed by and not one migraine, I did not feel great but I had not one migraine, which in reality, I have went up to a week without migraines before so I should not have gotten my hopes up but I did.    On the sixth day, it happened...... a migraine...... on the seventh day, I received a call for the neurologist's office asking if I would like to come in on Wednesday, there was a cancellation, PRAISE GOD!.......then on the eighth day (the day of my appointment) another migraine.

Here's my outcome from the doctors visit a.......

THE THREE STEP PLAN
1. Proper sleep
2. Diet
3. change in my Medication
Step one, is easy compared to the others, I need to not stay up late scrapbooking!

Step two, is going to be a challenge, that is where my pizza comes into play, I knew I should have splurged last week on my Hawaiian Style pizza.  You see for this plan to work I need to go on a Low Tyramine headache Diet, which basically means most every food group has a limit.  Like that sandwich that I love to order at Steak and Shake, I can forget it, 4 of the 5 ingredients I can not have.  I have a two page chart that list the items, allowed, use with caution and avoid.  Oh and pizza.....well mozzarella, pepperoni, bacon, and ham, all are on my list of things not to have.  NO to pickles, olives, nuts, anything with MSG, anything with nitrates or nitrites added, soy products,aged cheese, pizza, canned soups, certain fruits and the list goes on......

Step three, is going to be or should I say can be a nightmare for the next 4 to 6 weeks.  Since my migraines are so frequent, my body has absorbed a lot of migraine medicines, which can aid in a rebound effect on my migraines, meaning that ........ well, its almost like I am adding fuel to the fire.  Which is really hard to explain.  So step three and my doctor said that this should HELP, is to stop taking my migraine medications at the onset of a migraine, which has happened.  He wants me to stop everything except for the daily preventives for the migraines. He has placed me on steroids for a week, which should help with any onset of migraines.  The key, is he has added an additional migraine preventative and over time get my body back responsive to the migraine medications.  Which means that I could possibly live the next several weeks in bed with a migraine. 

GAME PLAN....... is to make it where I only  have 1 to 5 max a month!! He did tell me that I will always have migraines but hopefully I can take control of them.   

How do I feel......very overwhelmed!  I need prayers!  I am tired of suffering with the migraines and I am sure that my family is tired of me suffering, even though they know the routine.  I am already exhausted thinking about everything that I need to take control of NOW.  Not gradually, NOW!  My head is pounding from the migraine that I have now had since Wednesday morning, I am nausea, wide awake and my mind is not slowing down.  I've already broken step one, I should be asleep however if I can't take anything to ease the pain then I can't sleep.  Lord, I pray that this works!!  Please say a prayer for me and I am sorry for everyone whom I have bored with this post.

12 comments:

Deaton, party of 5 said...

Bless your heart. I'm sorry to hear about your headaches and didn't know about your suffering with them =(. Prayers for your strength friend!

Emma's Mommy said...

I knew you suffered with migraines, but I had no idea that they were that bad. I have always had a problem with migraines myself, but I don't think they are anywhere as bad as yours. I get maybe 1 or 2 a month (and sometimes not even that) and they only last between 24 and 36 hours. I will keep you in my prayers that your "3 Step" plans begins to work sooner than later. I hope you were finally able to get some sleep last night. I'm praying :-)

Valerie said...

Praying for you!!! Those do seem like hard steps to follow. I know that the Lord blessed you with a drs appointment because He knew you needed it now. He is also able to give you strength and coping skills to deal with the pain. I am so happy that you shared this post. Now, we can all be praying for you.
GO TO BED!!! (even if you just lay down, your body is getting rest)

The (Almost) Amazing Mammarino said...

Carla,

I am so sorry you've been struggling with this! I will pray that the 3-step plan WORKS and QUICKLY!

Lots of love!!!!!

P.S. If it were me, I'd really struggle with Step 1! I am so bad about that!

Do I Dare Blog? said...

I'm sorry that you are having to deal with this! I wish that it would go away for you!! As another person who suffers from them, my prayer for you is RELIEF!! I know that God is faithful and will hear all of our prayers. Thanks for letting us know what to pray for for you! We love you! JP

Lisa said...

I know how miserable migraines can make you feel. I have also been avoiding the neurologist for a while now. I pray that your three-step plan really works for you so you can get back to living your life. The last migraine I had was after eating at Shogun, so I guess I have to give that up,too b/c of the msg.I will pray for God to give you comfort and healing! Now get some rest!!

Kate said...

Praying for you. I hope it works too! So sorry to hear that you're suffering. Love you!

4 females and a fireman said...

Think positive! If this works, you can once again enjoy life without the fear of headaches. HOW EXCITING! You are a strong person and CAN DO this! I have faith in you. You are in our prayers! Love you!

4 females and a fireman said...

I finally did the tag thing. Tell Phillip he has been tagged. HA HA!

Lisa said...

You've been tagged again!

mommy of girls said...

Sorry you are still struggling with migraines. I had them a LOT in college...but once I cut out the red dyes, nuts, and many other things off the list mine have nearly vanished completely. Maybe 1-4 a year now. Hopefully this will help you take control over yours. Get some sleep!!!

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