Creating my future, one miracle at a time

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How is your mom?
February 21 at 10:45am ·
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She's up and down (or back and forth?) She's still having cluster headaches, which are preventing her from sleeping at night, and slowing down her recovery. The actual incision/aorta replacement seem to be healing as scheduled, but she is... still swollen in her upper body area, has vision trouble, dizziness, weakness, and of course the cluster headaches which in and of themselves are debilitating. She really still can't be by herself, but I had to come home for a couple of days for a Dr. appt and my mammo, both of which have already been re-sched. more than once. We are going to see how she and my dad do on their own with some help from MammaSmith.

Still fighting the good fight on the headache front.

I didn't ask for a specific list, and I guess I should have, but I was just stuck 42 times today to do all the standard allergies tests, and I'm negative on everything.  I am VERY not allergic.  I have non-allergic rhinitis.  Which, honestly I could live with if the sinus headaches weren't so often triggering the migraines.

Oh, the allergist did prescribe me two nose sprays, an antihistimine and a topical cortisone, which, between them will probably help me breathe at least.

Part of me was hoping there would be allergies, and I'd have an excuse to free the doggies and get all hardwood floors!  Ah well.  I told that to the doc, and she said, "well, they're irritants, still. I wouldn't hurt." But I'd have to have a stronger argument than "wouldn't hurt."

My doctor also drew a boatload of blood last week, and checked everything she could think of, including D & Calcium, (folate for sure, I'm not sure about the other B's) and again, they're fine.  The only things off were expected: low iron and protein and low thyroid.

She was about to recommend Topamax when I reminded her I was already on Lamictal, which is similar, and although I take it for the bi-polar, it, like Topamax, is often prescribed "off label" for migraines.

I really love all the brainstorming that all my friends and family are doing for me, and trust me, I'm trying everything! I've learned to just accept all their ideas with the grace that the support is offered in, even if they speak to me as if I were 4, and had never heard of migraines or triggers.

I see a neurologist at the end of the month. Allergist today, and I've been bugging my GP and Chiropractor to death for months, literally.  The only thing I haven't tried yet is Acupunture, and if you know a reputable one, I'm there.  (yes, I've tried all the acupressure points.)

The sinus stuff is irritating, and the sinus headaches and the rest are bad, but they are triggering migraines, and the Bastards at BCBS will only let me have 9 Maxalt a month, and it's gotten so bad that it only works about half the time.

It's demoralizing.  I need a haircut, and I'm afraid to make an appt., because I never know what the day will be like.  I almost called in sick today to the allergist, but I loaded up on Excedrin and caffeine and put on my dark shades and sat there with my teeth gritted.  I guess all that practice being a mommy no matter what was good for something.