Migraines, Weight Loss and More

From Saturday, March 08, 2008

WARNING: Personal material inside. If girl stuff freaks you out or you don't want to know, don't read.

I've had migraines for years. I believe the first one was around 14 years old or so. They have almost always been menstrual (starting and stopping with the menstrual cycle for those that don't know) and the very very rare one outside of the cycles. In the last year I haven't been having cycles because of my endometriosis. I pretty much just take my birth control every day of the year. With the exception of the occasional 6 week spotting because of being late by a few hours on the pill a few days in a row, things are generally good and for the most part, no headaches. Except recently. I've had a few non menstrual migraines in the last 6 months. It's rare and I really thought nothing of it.

This last period though, which was an oops...I ran out of meds, happened 18 days ago. I started my migraines on time but never stopped. So, I have had a consistent migraine for 18 days now, since Feb. 18. The intensity has fluctuated and such but it's constantly been there.

I was in and out of work intermittently which is really bad because each time I miss work is an incident. If they are linked and I don't go back to work in between, no big deal, they count as one, but I had a doctor whose Nurses said he would sign paperwork saying I was out because of headaches. When he got the paperwork to sign he decided not to, he didn't feel right about it. It really pisses me of because I'm not getting paid for the time he will be signing for, just saving my job. It's bullshit.

On the other hand I've been seeing a Neurologist. I'm hoping she will take pity on me and will sign the papers for me instead and help me save my job. It's just so ridiculous. I guess they feel I'm trying to scam people or something. My regular doctor is out having twins so she's not around to sign the paperwork for me.

Anyway, I don't see any pounds lost on the scale but I see it in my face and my body. I get nausea with the migraines and don't feel like eating a great deal of the time. It's a great diet. Go ahead try it. :/ The neurologist gave me a drug called Topamax which has a weird side effect of making people lose weight for about a year. My mom lost around 80 pounds or so on it. It's an migraine preventative and it works for depression in some people and for others it helps compulsion disorders. It's a freaky little drug. I'm the 4th person I know on it. All for different reasons, heh. Now if only it could regulate my sleep there wouldn't be any issues. :D

Before these migraines my overall health was getting way better. It has been awesome. Only reason I would feel like calling in is lack of sleep and I can work through that. I think they are getting better now that I've stopped going in to work all together though. The lights at work would make me break into a cold sweat and I would just get so sick. The headache would get super intense it's crazy. At the rate the intensity is going down though I might be better by Tuesday. Wootles.