Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Doctor's Appointment Nov. 10
If anyone actually follows my lovely blog, and by lovely I mean somewhat scattered but overall not terrible... I'm taking a quick break for about a week, but I'll try blogging later next week. I have an important doctor's appointment Nov. 10 and I'll try to blog beforehand or around that time. (sorry for the teaser)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Abilify
I had an appointment with my neurologist yesterday. He put me on Abilify, a drug for bipolar disorder. He said it's also used at a smaller dose for headaches, and it helps with stress and muscle tension but doesn't make you drowsy.
See how tiny it is? I put it by a penny. I just remembered my computer has a camera on it, so I can take pictures for this blog! I don't have a digital camera...weird, I know. Sorry it's a little blurry.
I started taking it this morning and didn't have any noticeable side effects. It must be strong though because my neuro is having me take 1 mg (the pill is 2 mg, so I have to split it) every 3rd morning for 3 doses, 1 mg every 2nd morning for 3 doses, and then 1 mg every morning. VERY gradual!
Also, I asked my neuro about Migraten and feverfew. He explained that he doesn't think they would help with my headaches which are more tension than migraine. I had TWENTY headaches last month (part of it was from the Naproxen rebound headaches), and he said that with the frequency and type of headache I have, it wouldn't be enough to help. That makes sense. I can still try it though - he said it won't interfere with my other medications (I'm still on 5 mg of Bystolic also). I looked at the Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods, and both had migraine pills with feverfew, magnesium, riboflavin, etc. but no Migraten. They're all pretty expensive in my opinion (about $30 for 60 pills), but I may try them at some point.
See how tiny it is? I put it by a penny. I just remembered my computer has a camera on it, so I can take pictures for this blog! I don't have a digital camera...weird, I know. Sorry it's a little blurry.
I started taking it this morning and didn't have any noticeable side effects. It must be strong though because my neuro is having me take 1 mg (the pill is 2 mg, so I have to split it) every 3rd morning for 3 doses, 1 mg every 2nd morning for 3 doses, and then 1 mg every morning. VERY gradual!
Also, I asked my neuro about Migraten and feverfew. He explained that he doesn't think they would help with my headaches which are more tension than migraine. I had TWENTY headaches last month (part of it was from the Naproxen rebound headaches), and he said that with the frequency and type of headache I have, it wouldn't be enough to help. That makes sense. I can still try it though - he said it won't interfere with my other medications (I'm still on 5 mg of Bystolic also). I looked at the Vitamin Shoppe and Whole Foods, and both had migraine pills with feverfew, magnesium, riboflavin, etc. but no Migraten. They're all pretty expensive in my opinion (about $30 for 60 pills), but I may try them at some point.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Healthy Eating
I've pretty much always tried to eat healthy, except for a brief time in college when I realized that I could use the money on my dining card at the campus convenience stores and get as much candy as I wanted, but that ended when I graduated. But, there is always room for improvement.
After doing some reading and researching, I've realized that I have a long way to go. I make well-balanced meals and try to eat fruits and veggies and cook from scratch, and the MSG issue helps - it's in a lot of processed foods, so I avoid most of them. Some things I need to start doing are eating more fresh produce from the local farmer's market, buying organic foods like hormone-free meat and milk, and limiting my intake of refined sugars and white flour. I LOVE me some starches, but overall, I don't think I'm going to have a hard time doing this.
So why am I doing this? Because I intend to win my War on Headaches. Eating healthy and exercising, which I've also been working on, pretty much seem to help any health problem, including headaches.
And a quick note on $$$ - I know organic things cost big bucks, but I believe that it's worth a try, at least for a few months, and if it does help my headaches, I won't have to spend as much money on neurology visits and medications.
I just found this really cool blog that relates to this - check it out if you want to give it a try.
P.S. - Not to go total eco-friendly, tree-hugging on you, but I'm also going to gradually use up my beauty products and start buying all natural stuff too (deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, makeup, etc.). Here's a good link: Cosmetics Database
After doing some reading and researching, I've realized that I have a long way to go. I make well-balanced meals and try to eat fruits and veggies and cook from scratch, and the MSG issue helps - it's in a lot of processed foods, so I avoid most of them. Some things I need to start doing are eating more fresh produce from the local farmer's market, buying organic foods like hormone-free meat and milk, and limiting my intake of refined sugars and white flour. I LOVE me some starches, but overall, I don't think I'm going to have a hard time doing this.
So why am I doing this? Because I intend to win my War on Headaches. Eating healthy and exercising, which I've also been working on, pretty much seem to help any health problem, including headaches.
And a quick note on $$$ - I know organic things cost big bucks, but I believe that it's worth a try, at least for a few months, and if it does help my headaches, I won't have to spend as much money on neurology visits and medications.
I just found this really cool blog that relates to this - check it out if you want to give it a try.
P.S. - Not to go total eco-friendly, tree-hugging on you, but I'm also going to gradually use up my beauty products and start buying all natural stuff too (deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, makeup, etc.). Here's a good link: Cosmetics Database
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Food Diary
I've decided that since my stupid insurance doesn't cover nutritionists (WHY??? Is obesity not an epidemic? I'm not obese but I'm just saying, you think they'd want to cover nutritionists and that in turn would reduce visits to other doctors for diseases that result from obesity - oh wait, then they wouldn't get as much money), I'm keeping a food diary. I'll track what I eat for a few months, and write down my headaches, which I already do, and then analyze it myself. If I don't find any trends, I'll show my neurologist or maybe see a nutritionist and pay for it myself.
If you want to find out more about keeping a food diary, see what About.com says about it.
If you want to find out more about keeping a food diary, see what About.com says about it.