Living with Migraines

I have been logging my migraines on my iPhone, so I haven’t been writing here as a result.  I thought I’d check in.  I had a few days last week where I had a headache that wouldn’t break, but eventually it decided to let me be.  I also had a few weeks in August that were pretty bad off and on for no apparent reason.  But right now things are OK, and I’m grateful for that.  I’m exercising regularly and hoping to keep stress levels in check.  Just need to keep sugar levels in check too and that will help.

First a little bit of data entry:

April: Maxalt on 4/11 first thing, Frova 4/12 at bedtime, Maxalt at noon on 4/18
May: Frova on 5/1 at 5:30 pm and Maxalt at 8:30 pm, Maxalt on 5/6 at 10:30 a.m., Maxalt on 5/16 at 2:45 p.m., and Maxalt on 5/23 at 9:30 a.m.

That makes two migraines in April and four in May (so far, hopefully that is all).  April looks pretty good!  I thought May had been better until I went back and looked at my notes.  I’ve been working hard on improving my diet as well as walking more for the mental health benefits.  It’s all a learning process, but I feel like I’ve made some good strides (ha ha) in making the improvements I’m aiming for.

I see my doctor in a couple of weeks and try to keep track of when I have headaches, take meds, etc. so that I have info to share.  March is turning out to be a pretty bad month. Tension headaches are turning into migraine, or so it feels.  I thought I’d recap my past three months for myself and take a look.  The number(s) in parentheses refers to severity of pain from 1-10 upon taking meds as well as when I took meds.  “Morning” nearly always means I woke up with the migraine.

JANUARY:

Maxalt taken on Th. 1/8 (3-4, evening),   Sat. 1/10 (5, morning), Th. 1/29 (4-5, evening)
Frova taken on Sat. 1/17 (4-5, morning)
Period 1/15
Rx taken four times.

FEBRUARY:

Maxalt taken on Tue. 2/24 (4-5, morning)
Frova taken on Sat. 2/7 (3-4, morning)
Period 2/19
Rx taken two times.

MARCH:

Maxalt taken on Tue. 3/3 (3-4, evening), Fri. 3/6 (2-3, morning), Th. 3/12 (4-5, evening), Th. 3/19 (4-5, morning), Sat. 3/28 (6-7)
Frova taken on Th. 3/19 (evening, preventative), Wed. 3/25 (5-6)
Tyenol Tue. 3/24 (evening), Fri. 3/27 (evening)
Period 3/23
Rx taken seven times.

I take ibuprofen and tylenol occasionally (rarely) too but don’t have those recorded for the most part.

I had to take a Maxalt yesterday morning and I’m not even sure what brought on the migraine.  In any event, it went away and I’m glad.   I had one about 4 days ago too and the Maxalt helped then as well.  Hmmmmm…. I need to go pick up a refill today.  Am hoping no problems with insurance this time around, like I faced back in December.  I go to see my doctor next month for a check-in.  Things are pretty much status quo, I guess.

Ugh.  I woke up this  morning feeling really awful.  Sometimes I think it’s the worst when I’m waking up, eyes still closed, slowly coming fully awake and realize that I have a migraine.  It’s a terrible way to start the day.  I took a Maxalt and dozed on the couch for an hour or two, and that helped.  I was able to get up and get going, and I just took it pretty easy today.  The Santa Ana winds kicked up yesterday and into today, and I’m sure that had something to do with the headache.

In other news, my prescription reimbursement saga continues, as my paperwork was denied.  Insurance seems to think that I filled my prescriptions twice because Longs sought approval for my prescriptions, even though I never picked them up or paid for them.  So now I need to write a letter of appeal.  Such a pain.

I needed to take a Maxalt last  night.  After a long day of driving, sitting, fluorescent lighting and too little water plus caffeine in the afternoon, I think my body said ENOUGH.  I took the Maxalt in the evening, still felt kind of so-so after a few hours, but feel better today for the most part.  First one for January - with any luck it’ll be the last one too.  Wouldn’t that be super?

As I wrap up my vacation, I’ve been feeling pretty good.  I’m rested, I’m eating fairly well, I’m exercising and I’m not overly stressed about anything.  I’ve worked out at home a few times and gone to ballet twice, with plans to go again Friday night.  Tomorrow I’m up bright and early for a trek to L.A., but I’ve got my clothes picked out and the coffee ready with the timer set, and I’ve showered tonight, so I shouldn’t have to get up too early, all things considered.  Just earlier than I have been the past three weeks. ;)  The only thing troubling me physically these days is my skin - it’s breaking out like crazy, and it’s really bothersome to see.  I don’t know if that is a harbinger of more trouble this cycle or not.  I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

It’s been a good start to the year so far.  I’ve done some exercise both days and have felt pretty good, too.  Yesterday DD and I went for a walk - not a long one, but a walk nonetheless.  I love vacations where I can sleep in and stay up later.  I’ve tried not to go too crazy indulging in lots of high fat and high sugar foods, though I have indulged some.  ‘Tis the season. :)  I’m waiting for my reimbursement check to arrive for the prescriptions I had to pay for last month.  It would be nice if it would get here before I have to pay the credit card bill, but any time will do, as long as it comes.  One more week of vacation for me, though Thursday is a work day and I have some work-related paperwork to fill out before the thirteenth as well.