i suffer from migraines. thanks to a genetic make up, i, like other members of my family suffer from migraines and stomach issues. i love genetics, its one of my favorite parts of science. i find genetics an amazing, but self explanatory and simple form of science. you have the genetic dna of your family, the good and the bad. in this case i'm referring to the bad. migraines.
migraines are not fun. seriously. i've had some of the nicest (and shittiest) people say, "i get a lot of headaches too, i know how you feel," not quite. it started with sinus headaches, that would eventually turn into migraines. so i went to an ent, (ear nose and throat specialist), apparently there were issues in the ent area, so i had surgery. nope, not a fix for the migraines, they had no warning sign anymore. you fixed the sinus' which was my warning sign, and the migraine's came with a vengeance. i was forced to go to a neurologist. eek- sounds scary. not so much. a doctor is a doctor, i'd rather go to a specialist than a gp and i love my gp, my gp is brilliant, forgetful, fun loving, sweet, and brilliant. but, i'd rather go for a specific issue to a specific specialist. wouldn't want my dentist checking out my cervix at my yearly gynecological exam. weird.
neurology- now that's a science! the brain is an amazing organ. i find the functionality of the brain to be fascinating. always have, more so when i started working with special needs students. i digress, as usual. anyway, i went, she was and is great. scan, after scan, nothing seriously wrong with me, nothing that is causing my migraines other than good old fashioned genetics. neurologists and headaches though are kinda of annoying doctors appointments, you get homework. you can't just get a script and be out, you have to keep a journal. i now need to journal not just when i get a headache, but what time of day, the weather, what i ate, my cycle, where i slept, how much i drank, my stress for the day, exercise and so on. it's a lot. but i also get a prescription for migraine medication to take as soon as i feel a migraine coming on.
i do my homework and take my pills which work like a charm, except- i need to sleep when i take it, because it makes me dizzy, and violently nauseous. prescription 2, makes my face go numb, and also makes me dizzy and nauseous, and i can't seem to fall asleep after taking it. prescription 3, winner, winner! thank goodness, but she breaks the news to me.... no no, don't cry for me, i'm not dying or nothing, i mean, we're all dying, but there's still nothing on the scans causing the headaches relax yourselves. she says that due to the severity of the headaches, and the frequency she recommends something to take daily that will help ward off the migraine, but i'll still get them, hopefully not as much though. <YAY! let's all stand and cheer!> why didn't she think of this sooner?! here's why. the medication they provide patients who suffer from extreme migraines is one of two types; anti-seizure or anti-depressants. you're thinking, not a big deal, however, have you read the side effects on both of these types of drugs? haha. they could be a comedians bit for cryin' out loud.
i think and discuss with my husband and mom, and decide to go for it. why not. anti-seizure meds, here i come. honestly, what are the chances that the side-effects actually happen...
side effects include: a tin taste to carbonated beverages. not a problem for me, the only carbonated thing i drink is beer. tingling in the fingers and toes, you know like the pins and needles feeling when you lay on one side for too long. those two are the most common side effects. i'm good on both of those. the most serious of side effects, glaucoma- so my doctor says if i start to have trouble seeing, stop taking the meds, and call her immediately. ok. i'm good (so far, knock on wood).
one side effect is seizures. this is my favorite. an anti-seizure medications' side effect is seizures? really? hahah. awesome. it didn't happen at first, but every now and again, late at night, i have small tremors in my hands. these tremors fall under the seizure category. awesome, you had to see me at a recent concert standing there trying to enjoy some music and not have everyone around me notice that my hand looked liked it was dancing to it's own beat.
but, the cream of the crop side effect is... drum roll please... word recall difficulty. awesome. we are all getting older. we have word recall difficulty as it is. we are adults (in age, certainly not in maturity on my end), we try to remember and do tons of things everyday. i am no exception to this. i used to make lists for everything. now, with this medication, i make lists for my lists. RB says that my word recall doesn't seem to be any worse, but my colleagues at work have noticed a definite um, um, lack of sharpness that i might have had before. now, it might be age, it might be the meds, it might be both, it might be psychosomatic, either way, it makes for some interesting days and conversation.
i don't get headaches as often anymore, but when i do not have words to describe them, if a staple gun, screw driver and an axe got together and had a party in my head, i think it would be a better option than my actual headaches. no two headaches are alike, that's for sure.
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