we are amazing
Hi Everyone - Thanks for the big response to my question! It truly is amazing what we all can do if we have to. And how often these headaches come at the most inopportune times - weddings, exams, holidays... But somehow, if we must, we keep on keeping on, with headaches that would drop most people where they stand! We really are amazing! I'm happy to have survived a killer migraine Friday night into Saturday. I had to go "cold turkey" cause I was pretty sure it was a rebound headache. I get those so easily. Could only take Phenergan suppositories for the incredible nausea and vomiting. Seems lately that if I start vomiting with a migraine, I just don't stop! Sometimes 4-6 times before I can drag myself to the fridge, get out the Phenergan and have it kick in. Does anyone else have this repeated vomiting?? Just adds to the gruesomeness! And another thing - why do they call these migraine "headaches" when really they are a total body phenomenon??? Sheesh!! Hope everyone is feeling well for the holiday! Love, Corinne
Hi Corinne, I can relate to what you described, having the horrible nausea and vomiting. I also have severe phonophobia and photophobia, besides the awful head pain. I feel the same way you do--I have often referred to migraines as a "full body phenomenom". When people just refer to migraines as "headaches", I think that then the general public does not understand just how horribly debilitating migraines are. Mine are also accompanied by forgetfulness and short-term memory loss. Does anyone else have these symptoms? Yes, migraine definitely is a "total body phenomenom". Take Care, Laura
Hi Laura - Yes, I can definitely relate to the photophobia and phonophobia. I too get a kind of "brain fog" with a migraine, get easily confused over simple things and develop a dyslexia-type thing where I turn around numbers. It's weird, and I have to be really careful if I'm trying to work while having a headache and am writing medication orders for patients in the hospital. I'll triple check myself then check again! Take care, Corinne
My worst-ever migraine included five hours of throwing up, not continuously, but it was that long between the first and last time and I never knew when the next time would be during that five hours. I didn't post anything last week in case I jinxed it, but last Monday and Tuesday were completely migraine-free for me. I had had exactly two days without a migraine since last November 4th, one in March and one in April, so another, let alone two in a row, was a welcome break. Looks like I paid for it, though. I had a terrible one start last night that still hurts. Other than dragging myself out of bed to feed the dogs and take them out, I was in bed from 10pm Saturday until 6pm tonight. However, since I recently had some migraine-free days, I'm hopeful that there will be more...and soon. Jeff all can do if we have to. And how often these headaches come at the most inopportune times - weddings, exams, holidays... But somehow, if we must, we keep on keeping on, with headaches that would drop most people where they stand! I had to go "cold turkey" cause I was pretty sure it was a rebound headache. I get those so easily. Could only take Phenergan suppositories for the incredible nausea and vomiting. Seems lately that if I start vomiting with a migraine, I just don't stop! Sometimes 4-6 times before I can drag myself to the fridge, get out the Phenergan and have it kick in. Does anyone else have this repeated vomiting?? Just adds to the gruesomeness! really they are a total body phenomenon??? Sheesh!!
In a message dated 09/05/1999 8:36:08 PM Central Daylight Time, zencorinne@... writes: Hi Corrine, this is the very reason I am no longer working! Can you imagine making a mistake with IV meds like atropine, morphine, epi, or trying to trach a pt when in the midst of an aura. I truly miss being out there on the streets saving lives but the risk of a mistake on my part is just not worth it!!! I almost cry when I hear or see an ambulance responding to a scene. Hugs to all, Jan
Hi Jan - Were you an EMT? I can imagine that you had to work in emergency situations while having migraines - that must have been tough! But sounds like you miss it alot. I seem to be lucky in camparison to some people on the list - I have a wonderful bunch of colleagues who are quite supportive. If my headache gets too bad or the brain fog sets in, they cover for me. I try to reciprocate whenever I can. The one thing I hate doing though is calling in sick at 6:00 a.m. after waking up with a migraine! I guess my boss knows I don't do it lightly and is pretty understanding. What I sometimes do is tell my boss I can't be in at 7:30 a.m., but I'll get in as soon as I can, which is usually early afternoon. I think he appreciates the effort anyway. Take care, Corinne
In a message dated 09/06/1999 1:40:17 PM Central Daylight Time, zencorinne@... writes: Hi Corrine, I am EMT, EMT-I, MICT (mobile intensive care technician..fancy letters for a paramedic LOL) I do miss it terribly, love being out there, love the adrenalin rush, love the saves!!!! I'm one of those that they call a "hand holder", it's amazing how you can ease someones fears and bring down they're bp just by talking to them. Are you a Dr.? I think I had asked this before and if you replied I probably had brain freeze from migraine or a blonde moment LOL. I hope that this note finds you pain free and enjoying a wonderful Labor Day! Hugs from Jan
I hate doing it too even though I'm the boss. If I have a headache when I go to bed, I set the alarm early enough that I have time for medication to take effect by the time I have to really get up. If I don't need it (too seldom the case) I get the double pleasure of no headache plus going back to bed for a while! Molly
Hi Jan - I'll bet you are a great EMT - knowing the clinical and technical side of the work and also being a hand-holder. I agree, it's so important. I am a Physician Assistant mainly working in surgery but also cover the medical floors on occasion. I always make it a point to stay beside the patient during the time they're still awake in the O.R. People try to hide it, but I think most people find it one of the most stressful moments in their lives. I hold their hands - appropriate touch is really helpful. I'll never forget one older patient, about 80 years old, having a fem-pop bypass. Old merchant marine, had all these tattoos. As everyone else in the room was busy setting up and the anesthesiologist was drawing up his meds, I went over to be with him and gently rubbed the back of his neck and shoulder a little. He opened his eyes and looked at me and said..."No one has touched me like that for 20 years" ... "ever since my wife died". This man had been in hospitals so frequently, poked and prodded 100 times, but had not received any nurturing touch. It broke my heart, but helped me to really appreciate how important just a little touch can be. I worked overseas for 9 years on the Thailand-Cambodian border with Cambodian refugees and while there I used to watch and marvel at their traditional healers. One thing that they used alot was massage and when I eventually came home, I went to massage therapy school in Baltimore to add a more holistic dimension to what I could do. Now I have a part-time massage therapy practice as well. I like the contrast, assisting with high tech surgery on one hand and doing very "low tech massage" on the other. There's definitely a place for both. I'm sure you must have SO many stories, being an EMT out on the front lines. I really admire you guys! It must be wonderful - the saves, making such a difference. Do you think that you may one day be able to return to work? From reading some of your posts, it sounds like you definitely have a challenge with the migraines and other related problems, like the trigeminal neuralgia (is that what they call it in your case - or like tic doloreux?). Do your docs have any ideas how to manage that? As if migraines weren't bad enough on their own! Hope you have a good pain-free week - Hugs back to you! Corinne
nI Tend to refer to migraines as `migraine attacks` sort of like asthma attacks, because so many people just think yo can take an aspirin and get rid of a headache. I don't vomit as a rule, though feel like I'm going to often enough, but my hearing can be messed up, as is my concentration and cooordination. Not much fun. Eve -- Okay, so what's the speed of dark?
nOh, someone else reverses numbers! I do that routinely with a migraine, so have taken to keeping all sorts of phone numbers in my computer, just in case I (or someone else who can't bother to look them up) needs them. in my household I am usually asked for someone's number, sometimes though I've never known it before, when my husband is fully sighted and could look things up quite easily. It's quicker to rely on my memory, except during a migraine when I have to go upstairs and look the number up. Oh well. I guess old habits die hard on his part. Eve -- Okay, so what's the speed of dark?
In a message dated 09/07/1999 10:13:11 AM Central Daylight Time, zencorinne@... writes: What a wonderful thing that touch is...so healing emotionally! This gentleman probably still remembers you or if he's gone now, probably remembered you until the end. I remember one incident involving a 4 y/o boy who had been hit by a car riding his bike. The Fire Dept arrived first on the scene, which is normal...when we arrived I went straight to this very frightened little young man and heard one of the firefighters state "geez, another hand holder". Considering the chain of command, I turned to this idiot and stated very loudly "I am the paramedic and this boy is now my patient, you many leave now". Didn't make me very popular but he did humble himself enough to apologize to me. As far as your other question regarding my returning to work, I do hope to someday. I turn 40 next week and am hoping that the episodes get fewer and fewer so that I can go back out there. According to my Nuero, the "hits" I get along the trigeminal pathway are not considered tic doloroux or trigeminal nueralgia....it's just a part of complicated migraine. May I ask a question of you? I administer my nubaine/phenergan injections at home and since I have to much pain in my thigh if I go this route, I inject in the hip. The problem is I leave a HUGE lump that lasts for weeks, could it be because I am twisting around to see where I am injecting so that I can pull back on the plunger to make sure I get no blood? It's very frustrating. Would it be best to inject in the abdominal muscles? I realize that you can't give medical advice over the internet but you can e-mail me privately if you wish. Hugs from Jan
Jan, You are "good people"! Idiot is too nice a term for that jerk. I recently got cable TV and have watched several episodes of a program for Birmingham Children's Hospital in England. The doctors, nurses and staff of all kinds treat all of the patients and families respectfully and with great care. Not only is it nicer emotionally for everyone, but it is also better medicine. A well-informed and nurtured patient is easier to treat, more compliant and often has a better outcome. Aren't we all the same? A little bit of understanding and knowing that we aren't alone in our medical journeys makes us better patients too! Molly
nJan, are your trigeminal problems on the same side as the migraines normally are? I've started having problems, but on the opposite side, but it started after dental work, so thought it was related to that. However the pain is still going on, even though there are no more dental problems and from the way things look there shouldn't be any pain. I'm beginning to wonder if the dental work has triggered off something else which will now join in with the migraines, if you know what I mean, and I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else. Sorry if this is a bit disjointed, blame the pain, okay? Eve -- Okay, so what's the speed of dark?
nI can't agree more with your comments about the need for patient care, and care for the patient's family. I've had more than enough firsthand knowledge of being a patient's mum, and we need support too, particularly if our kids are seriously ill. Looking back it's the caring staff who stand out in my memory, the ones who were concerned for us as well as our son. And I'm sure that sort of caring takes it out of them, too. Eve -- Okay, so what's the speed of dark?