Sleep tight…
Hello.
Sorry I haven’t been updating. And I’m sorry I haven’t been visiting your sites. I have been thinking of you all alot and wondering what’s going on in your lives.
It has been very busy here socially. But what sucks is that although we’ve had alot of plans to do fun things, we’ve only gotten to do some of them. I have bouts of insomnia and I also get migraines. Since the start of October, I’ve had six migraines thus far. Its only the 10th! The insomnia has been kicking my butt every night for well over a month now. Unfortunately, Seth has had a total bitch for a mommy. And my hubby has had to pick up alot of slack around the house. While I am very grateful to him for helping out, I feel guilty. The insomnia and migraines have controlled so much of my life over the years — especially in 1999, 2001, and 2004. Those were tough years. Those were the years I averaged 9 to 12 months of chronic migraines. During those times, I had anywhere from 15-25 migraines A MONTH.
And now I’m wondering if I’m approaching another one of those chronic migraine time periods? Will my pain and insomnia govern yet again my and my family’s life? Frankly it makes me cry.
I hope to do a sleep study at some point. My body just feels so screwed up. I’m thinking this is the main culprit for the migraines.
So sorry to not be keeping up. And sorry that this post is so down. I promise I won’t post until I have a happy or funny story or photo.
Hope you all are well. And I’m thinking of you guys!
Jen on 10 Oct 2006 at 10:32 pm #
I’m so sorry you get migraines. I’m a fellow insomniac, so I know how much that sucks, but I think migraines are worse. Migraines and insomnia? Holy crap. I would cry every day. And all night, too.
I hope a sleep study can help you figure out what the cause is. The two probably are related.
Have you tried sleeping meds? I’m assuming you have, since half the world takes sleeping pills nowadays. I used to have Ambien, and it knocked me out, but it also made me super groggy in the morning (which wore off after about an hour, as opposed to being super groggy all day after not sleeping at all). My Rx ran out about 2 years ago, and for awhile I just used OTC stuff, like Tylenol PM. Lately I’ve been taking the OTC meds every night though, and STILL not sleeping sometimes. I think it might be time for me to up the ante… ugh, I just kind of prefer only feeling super groggy once every few weeks when insomnia gets me, instead of every day.
I am so envious of people who have no trouble sleeping. I hope you feel better soon.
Kristin on 11 Oct 2006 at 12:30 am #
oh wow…Lisa, this is just terrible! 15 to 25 migraines in one month?
Is there anything you can take for the insomnia? Something to just knock you for 8 good hours? Would that help with the migraines?
Feel better.
K.
Linlee on 11 Oct 2006 at 12:31 am #
I hope you start to feel better quick! I hope we are still on for the pumpkin patch.
Tori on 11 Oct 2006 at 1:05 am #
God…
I am worried for you Lisa. I know several people who suffer from them. Presumably you’ve tried everything…. acupuncture, allergy tests….
Are you grinding your teeth? That can cause them too. I got one of those hideous guards to stop my from grinding my teeth out by night and migraning by day.
Also get head and neck massages….Poor poor you.
Is this hormonally related? Try Noni-juice every day. It’s gross but apparently balances everything out and prevents a lot of hormonally challenged problems…
Want to come over and press your thumb pads for you and mop your brow!
Cagey on 11 Oct 2006 at 1:15 am #
Oh damn. DAMN.
Hang in there. Thinking of you………
Anonymous on 11 Oct 2006 at 1:19 am #
I suffer from headaches–not migraines but what they’ve deemed Chronic Daily Headache. I do get migraines about once a month, but have a bad headache nearly every day when not controlled by medication.
I did the sleep study, and it was useless in my case. I tried blood pressure meds, pain meds, migraine meds, and sleeping pills. Whats helping is an anti-seizure medicine called Topamax that I take daily. My headaches have decreased fewer than one a week, and the migraines have become practically nonexistent.
I hope you find some help. I know how you feel and it sucks.
Stephanie A. on 11 Oct 2006 at 1:21 am #
Poor you. I am so sorry to hear that your migraines are back. Take good care of yourself and when you’re feeling better we’ll go out to celebrate!
Anonymous on 11 Oct 2006 at 8:09 am #
I feel for you, I do. I am all too aquainted with les migraines; there are few things in life as painful. I wish you well. Magnesium daily is what keeps me upright…
I am sorry to hear of your suffering. Fingers crossed that the sleep study is a revelation…
Reba on 11 Oct 2006 at 12:11 pm #
That sucks. I hope you find a solution and feel better soon.
Suebob on 11 Oct 2006 at 1:10 pm #
I’m so sorry to hear about your migraines, and I hope you find a solution. I had a friend that had developed a milk allergy that caused hers. I know there are a million reasons for them, but I thought that was something most people might not suspect.
Becky on 11 Oct 2006 at 2:31 pm #
awww i’m sorry! i hate not feeling well and i can’t even imagine what its like to have migranes! get better soon!
Grim Reality Girl on 11 Oct 2006 at 3:43 pm #
So sorry! Feel better!
I’m saying a prayer for you — I know chronic pain and sleep problems so I feel for you! My migraines improved after my heart issue was fixed — have they checked your heart? Hate to be the voice of fear, but it there is a tie to migraines and heart defects. The great news is that many heart defects can be fixed without open heart surgery these days — since my surgery I have maybe one migraine a month vs. having them every day.
Good luck! My sleep study is this month — we have way too much in common!
melissa b. on 11 Oct 2006 at 4:06 pm #
Oh honey!
Sarah on 11 Oct 2006 at 6:46 pm #
My mom had migraines like that when I was growing up. To give you a little glimmer of hope: I barely remember it. I remember all the fun times we spent together more than I remember the days she had a migraine. In the end, my mom’s migraines became less frequent as time passed. Nobody knows exactly what happened but now she gets about two or three a month instead of nearly daily. Good luck with your migraines; I hope that whatever magic was bestowed upon my mom gets passed your way too. Best wishes!
Heidi on 11 Oct 2006 at 7:11 pm #
Oh god…that’s awful.
But don’t feel bad about posting something like this. We’ve all been wondering what you’ve been up to.
Please keep us posted.
Praying for your Prodigal on 11 Oct 2006 at 8:38 pm #
OMGoodness! Get to a neurologist immediately! I have suffered chronic migraines since I was 15 years old….that’s a l-o-n-g time! There are so many treatments available now that were not then. I currently get relief from Imitrix. Started using it when it was only available in self-injection form. Now it comes in handy packets of pills…no more trying to give yourself a shot while you are in the middle of the worst pain ever.
Imitrix is just one of many med’s that have recently become available. Any neurologist worth their weight in gold…will know what is right for you. You may even be able to contact your family physician. But don’t suffer through that many migraines each month without some medical involvement. There isn’t any reason to suffer so any longer. At one time, Dr’s believed some women just have headaches….that nonsense has been stomped out.
I hope you find some relief soon–migraines are debilitating. Is that a word? Hmmmm….just checked with the Thesaurus…yup, it’s a word…and the right one too! I hope you find just the right medication for relief.
Diane
reformattingmybrain on 11 Oct 2006 at 10:25 pm #
I’ve just started reading your blog. Your little guy is adorable. I decided it was the perfect time to comment as I too suffer from migraines. Tests after my first trip to the doctor revealed I have Graves Disease, which they believe is causing all my headaches, since I don’t take medication for it, I go through very rough times trying to control everything. It’s very frustrating and painful. Migraines are NOT fun to live with - get to the doctor and get some relief
carrie on 11 Oct 2006 at 10:52 pm #
I am so sorry Lisa, about the migraines and insomnia (any chance you’re drinking red wine whilst socializing? - you’ve probably heard that one before!). I can relate and I only hope that you can find some way to interrupt this “cycle” of headaches. Sometimes though, a dark, quiet room and a case if Imitrex is the only thing that will do the trick!
-Hang in there!
Carrie
ps. My boys got really good at being quiet and watching a little movie when their mommy had migraines (still are)!
carrie on 11 Oct 2006 at 10:54 pm #
ps. don’t try the nasal spray version of Imitrex - you WILL gag, trust me!!!! ;0)
Carrie
Kirsten on 12 Oct 2006 at 1:07 am #
I have no advice (or assvice) for you at all. I had migranes one month when I tried to change birth control and it was PURE HELL and I didn’t have a kid then. I can’t imagine what you are going through. And insomnia on top of it? Oh Lisa, I am sooooo sorry. I’ve had a sleep study (I used to have sleep apnea and had surgery to fix it). Anyhow, is that the kind of sleep study you’re talking about? Please don’t feel like you need to respond. Just curious.
I will be thinking of you and saying a little prayer for you too. I hope things get better soon!
Christina_the_wench on 12 Oct 2006 at 11:53 am #
*hugs and prayers of peace and sleep for you*
Anonymous on 12 Oct 2006 at 3:00 pm #
I hope those nasty migraines start to go away soon - I’ll keep my fingers crossed for ya.
I hope you feel better!
Pendullum on 12 Oct 2006 at 5:19 pm #
I used to have very nasty migraines that would take me out for days… and I can feel your pain… as I lived through them…
Mine were caused by an annoid blockage of some sort… Had an operation to clear the blockage and I now suffer from only one every four months that lasts for about two to three days… But boy, when I get one… Look out…
I feel for you. It is such a horrible affliction… I hope they clear up soon…
and you are in my thoughts…
sunshine scribe on 12 Oct 2006 at 6:08 pm #
Oh no. This sounds awful. I am so very sorry to hear about the migraines and the insomnia. Hang in there. We are thinking of you and sending all our get well vibes your way!
Pattie on 12 Oct 2006 at 6:08 pm #
Lisa,
That sounds just horrible! I have never suffered from a migraine so I can’t relate. But they sound truly life altering. Any idea what causes them?
I would think that between that and insomnia, who wouldn’t be a little cranky?
I know I would.
I hope you are feeling better soon.
Don’t worry about blogging or visiting. Take care of yourself. We’ll all still be around. That is the beauty of the on-line community, right?
Jaelithe on 12 Oct 2006 at 6:23 pm #
Oh, I hope you feel better soon! I had been a little worried about you after you didn’t post for so long.
It seems like a lot of people in our area have had an uptick in their migraine suffering lately (this is entirely anecdotal evidence from the population of “people I know who have migraines,” mind you, but still). I wonder if it has something to do with the change in seasons?
Anyway, can I do your laundry for you or something?
Hulai on 13 Oct 2006 at 4:17 am #
oh i feel your pain. i suffered from insomnia for a long time, still do sometimes. Drs have never really been able to help me, but they can help!
My whole family suffers from migraines. I hope you get to feeling better! Lord knows I can relate!
katrice on 15 Oct 2006 at 2:39 am #
I found your blog through Christina the Wench. I also have migraines, chronic headaches that aren’t migraines, and insomnia. It turns out that I have fibromyalgia. Knowing the cause helped my peace of mind quite a bit. And a liquid multivitamin, of all things, has helped with my symptoms a lot.
I hope you feel much better!