an update, at last
I don’t know why I haven’t been blogging — I”ve had time to, just no desire. It seems that I too often have bad news to share instead of GOOD NEWS!
There is goodish news on the headache front – my appointment with Nearby Fantastic Headache Specialist (NFHP) finally came around. This was for a 2nd opinion. So at last I go to see her – I had only seen her once before, a couple of years ago. I loved our appointment, and felt good about going back to see her and work with her! However, her next available appointment was 6 months away. To me, that’s 3 months of wasted time.
Follow me on this really quick: it takes 3 months to have a real trial of a migraine prevention drug. So then the next 3 months until I could see her would be wasted. I realize this is assuming the prevention drug won’t work — but let’s be honest — more than 4 years so far of ‘not working’. So I’m not being pessimistic, I’m being realistic.
So this was the impetus for me heading to the Chicago clinic in the beginning – not being able to see my NFHP. Feeling like I needed better care than I was receiving. SO.
I finally got to meet with my NFHP and the appointment went really well — not only was she listening to me, she was asking questions and UNDERSTANDING. She has migraines as well. Hallelujah. Something that I really liked was that we’re getting (slowly) off the medicines that aren’t doing anything to help. She believes in doing one thing at a time – I also have found this is important. Otherwise, if something works (or makes something worse), you don’t know which med it was.
All this to say I feel more comfortable with her – my NFHP – than I did with my Chicago specialist. I’ll refrain from listing the things I didn’t like about my Chicago specialist. That’s another post in itself.
So that is the good news about the headaches – I feel better about seeing this doctor. The bad news is that I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night. This is the deal – every night – I get to sleep, this always takes a while. Then I wake up 4 or so hours later. After getting back to sleep, it’s touch and go. I’m waking up, I’m tossing and turning. All morning. Until I give up and get out of bed.
And so. Onto the other, New Problem.
The new problem is back pain. Since December, my back’s been hurting again. This is an old injury, again another post in itself (maybe this is why I didn’t want to blog, too many long stories?). But it’s been under control for NINE LONG YEARS with Pilates. I do Pilates mat exercises every morning, I was trained nine years ago on the reformer, etc. It was great.
After on and off physical therapy that wasn’t working, I was referred to an orthopaedic specialist. He took an Xray and then decided he wanted an MRI for more detail – an MRI shows nerves, muscles and bones whereas an Xray (obviouslys) only shows bones.
So the MRI comes back and showed what he thought we would find. I have a herniated disc – that means it’s bulging and the disc itself is torn. The disc fluid is leaking out and causing inflammation because the body’s antibodies are attacking the fluid.
Tomorrow I have a cortisone shot, and my physical therapy exercises and Pilates exercises have been adjusted accordingly. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Filed under back pain/problems, headaches, migraines, nonsense, pain | Comments (7)My husband has a blog!
Well friends, my husband has (finally) debuted his own blog! I’m pleased
You can find him at http://blog.spencerkellis.net/. Check out his new corner of the internet and enjoy the photo he links to in his newest entry. Awesome.
Filed under Uncategorized | Tags: spencer | Comments (6)
