Tuesday 11 July 2017

Popping

Yes, even at this age I would suffer from migraine attacks
As you know I have been suffering from headaches lately. But to be honest, it hasn't been a recent problem. I remember my childhood with several severe attacks. Once there was a school skating race on a local pond and I felt terrible. After the races we were supposed to visit my paternal grandparents and the only thing I remember is feeling awful. I even visited a doctor at the time. X-rays were taken of my head (?) and my father was told that if the problems continued, my tonsils might need to be removed. I think the problems ceased for a while, because I never got them removed.

As a teenager I don't recall many episodes, although there have been one or two. I can't remember any attacks in my time in Yugoslavia, Italy or France, but once I moved to England, they came back, probably exacerbated by the amount of coffee I was drinking. Ever since I have had troubles. 

Yes, I have seen doctors about it. I even got prescribed medication. I was 23 and using beta-blockers. Which did help, but I stopped using them after a while, because I felt that I was too young to be on life-long medication for something that wasn't life-threatening. I was young and foolish. 

And then last week I got the sore throat, then the sniffles, then the blocked sinuses and then of course the headache and I had to call off work. Again. And enough was enough. Talking about seeing my gp would not be enough, an actual visit was in order.

This morning I saw my gp and told her everything. She listened, listened some more and in the end I left with a prescription for 3 (THREE) different drugs to be used for different types of headache. I also have to keep a headache diary, filling in all sorts of things from when it started, when it stopped, what medication, did it help etc. And then in two to three months we will evaluate and see whether it would be advisable to send me on to a neurologist (although I also think a throat, nose and ear doctor would be useful because of the sinuses). 

So, a step forward. Even if it will mean popping pills every evening to try and prevent headaches and then there will be other pills to be taken in case of a headache daring to raise its ugly head anyway...

19 comments:

  1. Mara I'm so glad you saw your GP and it surely sounds like there is a plan in place. I think keeping a diary is a wonderful idea...did she mention also noting any different foods you might have had each day. I have heard some foods trigger migraines too
    Good luck Hugs madi and mom

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  2. Good for you Mara! Congratulations for taking the first step towards freedom from migraines.

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    1. If only I could bring it down to four a year I would be happy!!

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  3. I'm glad to hear you've got a doctor taking this seriously and I'm sure between you both, you'll find a way to control these nasty headaches
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  4. Hopefully you are now on a good track for some relief and I hope you will find the cause in time. I also hope that the medications will help in your time of need.

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  5. Hari OM
    Well, I suppose it is not a first step really, as I know you have taken many others before this one... but to have a GP actually listen and to offer options and to ask for some proper feedback from you the patient - well that's all good in my book!!! Here's hoping... YAM xx

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  6. We can't imagine dealing with recurring headaches like that! We hope you get improvement!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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    1. Well, imagine getting hit over the head one day a week and recovering from that for three days. You might be close. Then again, perhaps better not get hit over the head: it hurts!

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  7. I remember getting migraines as a child. I found the best thing for me is a good chiropractor. Hope you feel better soon.

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  8. It sounds like she really did listen, and she has a plan. So that's good, eh?

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  9. Met die middeltjes die op de foto staan krijg je wel een best paard plat. :-) Succes...en dat het het begin van DE oplossing mag zijn!

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    1. Het gaat me niet om paarden, het gaat me om mijn hoofdpijn. Die moet plat...

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    2. Als het met die paarden lukt, dan verwacht ik zeker succes met jouw hoofd; dat is tenslotte een stuk kleiner. :-)

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  10. Headaches are no fun so I hope you can get some relief from them with the meds.

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  11. I hope this will help, I know from my neihbour how awful it is, she has to stay in a dark room when she has her attacks.

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  12. Crikey Mara ..... I'm so glad you've found a Dr that listened and hope there is some help for you finally. My daughter is a chiropractor. She has successfully helped a lot of migraine sufferers. Chester's Mom said a chiro helped her. If this GP doesn't help maybe giving a chiro a try might help.

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    1. First we are going to list when I have headaches and what type they are. Then we will have a look at what can be changed or what should be done. But a chiro is an idea I will certainly keep in my head...

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  13. Hoping for the best of results with this new approach.

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!