Tag Archives: Migraines

Animals, Chronic Migraine, Dogs, GSD, Occipital Neuralgia, Pets, Surgery

The Noggin’ Chronicles Part 7

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04-18-23 / Tuesday

Next week, I go back to work. I’m not quite sure my head is ready for everything, but I need to rejoin the land of the working class. I really miss the camaraderie in my squad as well as the many puzzles I have to piece together to do what I do. I wish I could say this has been an “enjoyable” time off, such as a vacation, but it hasn’t been absolutely horrible like the recovery of a few other surgeries I have undergone.

My head is still numb in parts and there are other parts that have an indescribable pain, especially when bending over trying to pick up something from the floor. My knees prefer a boycott of the action, but I’ve been getting a few “squats” in so I suppose that’s something. As the occipital nerves that have been decompressed and “relocated” reactivate, it’s my understanding that it will be “uncomfortable,” but I don’t know yet if it will actually hurt. Who knows if that makes sense? This surgery doesn’t make sense, yet it does.

The surgeon has recommended physical therapy, but I’m doing the gentle stretches and massage on my head on my own right now. I’m hoping it’s enough to keep the scar tissue at bay as I tend to have hypertrophic scarring. He’s also prescribed a compounded topical medication to help things. It’s supposed to arrive here tomorrow. I’d do a happy dance, but that kind of movement is discouraged.

Hubs says the incisions look good – one is healing particularly well and the others are coming along. Tonight will be a “weekly” picture night so I can see for myself what’s going on. It’s one thing to feel my head ( or not in some places) and to have him tell me so, but it’s another to see it for myself. Unfortunately, the mirror in the bathroom doesn’t work well for such an inspection because I’m horribly nearsighted and can’t get close enough for detail. The pictures allow me to zoom in and critique my cranium’s job of healing. And let’s face it, sometimes we just have to see it for ourselves.

04-19-23 / Wednesday

There are some days I have to wonder about the recovery process. Tonight, I feel like crap, but I’ll get to that.

This morning I felt pretty decent and went for a “slow” walk between 1/2 – 3/4 of a mile. Hubs had our GSD with us and then a couple of strays decided to join the party, so it was definitely a slower pace than my typical walking speed.

The two interlopers on our little walk today. Fortunately my GSD is used to small dogs. And after a friendly introduction, the little black Pug seemed to fall in love with Rory.

And in all this time, I don’t know if I’ve ever introduced you to my pups. We give the dogs “titles’ on their first birthday as their personality has really come through by then. Hubs’ big baby is a German Shepherd Dog (GSD) named Rory the Conniving. (Or just plain Rory.) She’s 8 1/2 years old and has hip dysplasia, but she’s hanging in there. She’s one of the best dogs we have ever had. She’s smart as can be and she knows just how to use her big brown eyes to get Hubs to do anything she wants.

This is my favorite Pic of GSD: Rory the Conniving with me last year. She was snuggling with me during a migraine.

And while I’m at it, I may as well introduce you to the mutt who makes Rory’s life a nightmare, Gigi the Incorrigible. She’s a Heinz-57 of Boxer, Pittie and Lab to the best of our knowledge. Gigi was a birthday gift from Eldest to Youngest and somehow in the mix of things, I became her person. She came by her title honestly. Until the great windstorm this year which demolished the trampoline (which also took out the cable lines in the backyard,) Gigi would do some dog-parkour, rebound off the trampoline over the 4 foot fence and make a run for the border like her tail was on fire. We used to have to tether her when she went out, then we got an e-collar. We haven’t shocked her. The vibrate mode makes her stop and the tones make her return to the back door. However, we haven’t had to use it since the trampoline is no more. (A win for everyone but the Grands.)

I took this the day we got back home from Dallas and she was happy to see me. And yes, this is their normal sleeping arrangement on the bed when I’m resting.
Gigi likes to lay all the way down me and give me hugs however, she didn’t quite get her legs where they were supposed to be and THIS happened and was actually caught on camera.
When they aren’t vying for attention or “arguing” with each other, this is a common sight.

Ok. Back to my regularly scheduled programming… the Noggin’. It hurts. I’m not sure how to explain it. It’s in the area in the “middle” of where all the incisions were made, the Bermuda Triangle of my head. It was / is bad enough I’ve literally been laying in bed for a few hours with ice on it. Despite the ice, Hubs said it “possibly” looked a little swollen, but it’s hard to tell because my hair is staring to grow back in. Additionally, I had to take a pain pill. I hate taking them, but the Tylenol wasn’t working. So it’s been kicking in while I’m working on this, which is not only an update, but a distraction from the pain. I’m truly praying there’s not an infection or something brewing. That’s the last thing I need as I’m scheduled to go back to work in less than a week as all the paperwork is done concerning FMLA and everything else. Sigh….

Anyhoozles… I’m going to call it a night and pray my Noggin’ feels better in the morning. Meds are definitely kicking in. Sweet dreams… ❤ ~Celeste~

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Health, Healing and Hippos

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Apologies for the length, but I wanted to share some of my medical story. I pray it will help someone today.

My first “migraines” were all abdominal and appeared at 14 along with “womanhood.” I missed weeks of school at a time and I couldn’t explain that the pain was more than “cramps.” (Enter 4-5 years of naproxen.)

My first “head” migraine hit in college and I was so sick a dear friend basically picked me up off the floor at the radio station and took me to the ER where they admitted me. I really felt like I was going to die. The pain was 10/10 and I was 🤮🤮🤮 non-freaking-stop. They did an MRI or CT scan and the entire right hemisphere of my brain was lit up like a Christmas tree. That I remember. There’s other stuff I don’t, but I was there for 2 days. They loaded me with fluids and pain meds and dad brought me home where I had the weirdest “morphine dreams” ever.

Example (embarrassingly admitted, but still makes me laugh…) Jamey Karr, Greg Wheeler, David Le Blanc, David Kilburn, Paige Burrough Ballard, Lani Clark, Brian Frank, Mike, Carla, Tommy, and a few others were all eating out at Blackstone’s. But it was like a scene out of Tombstone and the guys were all in western wear. Paige, Lani, Carla and I were having a discussion about men in chaps.😜Next thing I know they are riding off into the Panhandle sunset on pink hippos. That’s right. Pink hippos. And even now the more I think about it, the funnier it gets…

Phew… back to reality.

For almost a decade and after two kids, I was still migraine free. Those were pretty decent years (aside from female problems that I no longer contend with and IBS, which I do.) Then in 1998 🤯 official diagnosis. I’ve had migraines ever since, but they’ve morphed and changed over time.

I have been on and off preventive meds for years. I even had a couple of years that were just manageable headaches. (But as a ⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ —do NOT take Excedrine migraine heavily… that ended up with a very painful bowel bleed and a lengthy hospital stay because of it. Excessive NSAID use is no joke.)
Then in 2015 🤯 I was diagnosed with Occipital Neuralgia (which I’d never heard of, but have become nearly an expert) and Pudendal Neuralgia (I’m not going into this one.) Apparently my entire CNS is a mess. Fast forward til last week and a half…

I had 4 ER visits in May and June. The pain was intolerable and like many other chronic pain patients, I deal with some depression. I was literally down and out on the 4th visit. That last bill was a whopper, but the ER doc on call was actually a pain management doctor who gave me a couple of nerve blocks I hadn’t had before (and I’ve had more than a few.) My migraine dropped from a 7-8 to a 5 instantly and was at a 4 at discharge. It stayed a 4 and after a good nights’ sleep (something new) I woke up with no migraine or ON pain. I seriously thought I was out of my mind. I hadn’t had a true pain-free day in months (years???)

So… I’m now seeing a pain management specialist, finding a new neurologist here in town (not a fan of the one assigned) and throwing in alt “meds” that help – vitamins, essential oils, massage and going to go to a chiropractor when I get the all clear from the tests and nerve blocks that will be done.

I know weather triggers the ON and migraines – as does lack of sleep. I have certain foods I’ve totally cut from my diet as well. Those are an almost instant reaction. (One of the many reasons I don’t like to go out to eat is I like to know what’s in my food and the consequences are truly dire if I don’t stick to a pretty regimented diet.)

I wanted to share this because I don’t want anyone to give up on ANY problems they have – whether mental, physical or spiritual. There ARE answers out there and you may need a multi-disciplined approach. The doctor I saw last week was “feeling around” my head and neck. I had lost about 75% of lateral movement (didn’t notice because of constant pain) and my head and neck were really swollen. So… 4 new meds (a couple are just short term anti-inflammatory etc) and my dear hubby could actually see some curve in my neck again.

There are many options out there, but research, the right doctor and patience are huge.

I’m broken, but not shattered, and while it sounds hokey to some, I really feel like God is helping to mend the cracks and imperfections in this mortal shell. There have been many days I’ve asked myself if this whole thing is actually a test from God (think modern day Job.) I don’t know. But what I do know is in casting the burden to Him and sharing a bit of my story I hope I might just help someone else. I feel for the first time in years that I’m in a path to victory and to God alone will go the glory for bringing the people into my life that even just by being a friend is healing to me. Thank you for being there. Pink hippos…

Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’…