Drive Your Health in 2015

Recently, I was asked by Judy from the American Recall Center, to contribute a health tip to be included as part of their Drive Your Health in 2015 campaign.

I thought about my own experiences, and decided that the thing that has helped me the most throughout my battle with my health, is changing doctors - in particular with regards to my nervous breakdown.

The doctors I initially had during that horrible time, were both neglectful and incompetent.  They had me drugged up to the point that I couldn't even walk in a straight line without someone holding me upright.  I was a zombie on the outside, but on the inside, I was an anxious mess just wanting to crawl out of my own skin!  I became suicidal at that time.  It was the absolute worst time in my life.

Somehow, in my fragile state, I managed to find the courage to change doctors.  I changed my GP, my Psychiatrist and Psychologist.  I was terrified, but it was the best thing I could have done.  I truly feel that I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't have sought out the team of doctors I have now!

So, that being said, the tip I decided to contribute to the campaign is this:

"Don't be afraid to change!  If you are unhappy with your doctor, or feel uncomfortable with him/her, don't be afraid to make the change.  Find a doctor who will give you the time and care you need & deserve."

You can visit the American Recall Center website at www.recallcenter.com

Seven Things All Chronic Pain Sufferers Are Sick of Hearing

When you suffer from chronic pain, or any other chronic illness for that matter, there is guaranteed to be a list of things you are sick to death of hearing.  Whether it be a well meaning friend or family member, genuinely just wanting to help, or a complete stranger who just thinks they know it all - we've all been there, smiling politely and nodding our head as we listen to the same pieces of (usually well meaning) advice.

I don't know about you, but I have days where it all just gets a little bit too much.  Those are the days that I feel on the verge of tears and all it takes is one comment from someone, to send me running out of the room sobbing like a baby.

So here's my list of the usual culprits.

1. "You probably just aren't drinking enough water."  It's true - water is super important for so many different reasons, and yes, dehydration can cause headaches.  So yes - I do drink enough water, and it doesn't make one ounce of difference to my pain levels, whether I drink no water, or three litres.
2. "Have you tried (insert endless suggestions here)?"  At this point, the answer to this question is almost always yes!  It's been fifteen plus years of this and I've tried pretty much everything there is to try.  And when I haven't, it's usually because I either can't afford it, or can't try it because of medication interactions etc.  For example, I'm unable to take any drugs in the Triptan family.  But yes, apart from that, if it exists and it's available to me, I've probably tried it.
3. "You shouldn't be taking so many painkillers."  Gee, you don't say!  Believe it or not, I don't take them because they're delicious - I take them because without them, I can't function.  I can barely function with them!  So until you've walked in my shoes, just hand over the pills and keep the judgement to yourself.
4. "You need to get out and exercise more.  Get some fresh air, you'll feel better."  Oh if only I had known that's all I had to do!  All this time, all I had to do was breathe in some fresh air and I'd be fine (sense the sarcasm).  Believe me, there is nothing I'd love more than to be able to go for long walks or even runs with my dog, or join a gym, or have a personal trainer - but you try walking, let alone any other form of exercise when your head is pounding.  Sometimes even just taking a normal step causes my head to split and it feels as though it's going to explode!  And yes, fresh air is lovely and I am out in it whenever I can be - I love it - but when my head is splitting, the last thing I want to do is be in sunlight or have any kind of breeze rushing around my head.
5. "My friend had that and she did this, so that's what you should do too."  Please realize that every person is different!  What worked for your friend is fantastic, and I'm so happy for her, but if I tell you it hasn't worked for me, then please leave it alone.  I'm open to trying anything that could help - I'll try anything once, but if it doesn't work for me, then it doesn't work no matter how great it was for your friend!
6. "It can't be that bad, you're still smiling!"  This one really hurts.  I pride myself on always putting on a brave face and a smile, even when I feel like curling up in a ball.  So when someone uses that one thing that I'm proud of against me, it really breaks my heart.  Apparently putting on a smile means my pain isn't bad enough to be relevant.
7. "You shouldn't drink alcohol, or coffee, or eat certain foods."  Okay.  I realize that these things can be major triggers for headache and migraine sufferers.  I don't doubt that.  However, after all these years of being this way, don't you think I've already explored what my triggers might be?  As I said before, everyone is different.  What is a huge trigger for someone else, is not necessarily going to be a trigger for me, and vice versa.  I have tried multiple times over the years - under the guidance of different doctors - to cut out certain foods, drinks and products.  I have detoxed, gone on strict diets, cut out all alcohol and caffeine of any kind, and then re-introduced these things gradually, to try and identify which, if any, may be triggers for me.  Not one thing made any difference - not even a little bit!  I have gone gluten free, dairy free, fructose free.  None of those made a difference either.  Besides that, my pain is present twenty four hours a day.  It doesn't just appear when I have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee - and it doesn't get any better or worse when I do or don't have those things.  So yes, I appreciate that alcohol and caffeine are two of the most well known triggers in migraine sufferers, but I have been down those roads more than once.  At this point, I know my body, and I know that my one cup of coffee a day and my glass of wine every few days, has no effect - good or bad - on my pain levels.  So please stop making me feel guilty for it!

As I mentioned earlier, the majority of these comments, questions and suggestions, really do come from lovely people who genuinely mean well.  They want to see me happier and feeling better, and I appreciate that from the bottom of my heart.  I didn't write this post to offend any of the "culprits", or to come across as ungrateful.  In fact, if no one ever offered me any advice or asked me any questions, I'd probably feel that no one cared - so I'm very lucky to have so many people around me who do!  But those who understand will know why I wrote this - it's purely an outlet, an alternative to letting out a huge, deafening scream when the frustration sets in and it all just gets a bit much.  We all have those days, don't we?

Botox - The Appointment Has Been Made

Over the years, I have tried a countless number of treatments for my chronic headaches and migraines.  From different medications, chiropractic, physiotherapy, osteopathy, naturopathy, Chinese medicine & massage, acupuncture, acupressure, different diets & detoxes, vitamins & herbal remedies, hormonal treatments - and I'm almost positive there are a few other things that I've left out.

So far, nothing has worked!  Nothing has given me even a little bit of relief, and my frustration is getting worse and worse as I get older.  I've had all the tests and scans done, and it seems that because there is nothing  visibly causing the pain, doctors just don't want to have to deal with it - it's too much hard work.

In all honesty, I've become quite the pessimist when it comes to this.  I've stopped getting excited about new treatments, because I'm just plain tired of the disappointment when they don't work!  It's much easier on me emotionally, to just assume that nothing is going to work - that way there is no disappointment.

One of the latest treatments available these days, is Botox.  It is made available to people who suffer chronic migraines - so in other words, headaches occurring on 15 of more days per month, with at least half of those having "migrainous features".  I spoke to my doctor about trying it, as I am certainly eligible going by that description.  She agreed and has arranged a referral for me to see a neurologist about trying the injections.

The Botox is injected into various points around the head and neck, by a specialist who is trained in this particular treatment.  The results are quite hit and miss, from what I understand.  I have read stories of people who have had their lives changed by these injections, but then there are also many stories of others who have had little, or no results.

Of course, me being me, I'm going into this expecting nothing.  No expectations, equals no disappointment.  But I do hold out a tiny bit of hope, that maybe this will help in some way.

The appointment has been made for mid January, so I guess we'll just have to wait patiently and see!