neurological pain | the start of a good life

Tag Archives: neurological pain

Health Update for May 2017

Happy end-of-May dear readers! I’m typing this out on my back porch with Lady laying just inside the open door and Abby running back and forth between me and the bone in the yard and OH in the living room. It’s a good evening so far.

fightinglymemigraines

Migraine app notes: I had 10 attack days lasting average of 68 hours. I had 2 attack free days. I took 56 clonidine ( 4 more than last month) They happened 50% of the time from 12 pm to 6 pm. Average pain is 7.5, which is pretty good. Supposedly I’m sleeping around 8 hours a night, migraine or not. ha. If only. Top 3 aura/prodrome are muscle stiffness, fatigue/achiness and weakness. Top 3 triggers are neck pain, too much activity and lack of sleep.Top 3 symptoms are neck pain, jaw pain and aches. Frequent start positions are the same, temples, jaw, eyes, base of skull. Soaking my feet has helped a lot this month

Overall Health/Treatment: Up until this past weekend the neurological pain (aka Fibromyalgia) and all was terrible and I was pretty much on the couch. I had some bursts of energy but not until recently did it ease enough that I felt like getting up and doing something. I struggled with anxiety/guilt a lot as well. Focused on adding in/increasing supplements to support this poor body. The evenings are the worst, no matter what I try. I’ve been going to bed in a lot of fibro pain and migraine, just praying I’ll be able to sleep.

notes: 4-28-Migraine was worse today. Aches eased until evening- went to dog park and made dinner then they increased in my calves bad. Barely able to keep migraine down today. Nice to have some energy and the brain fog lifted but the pain’s wearing me down. Have had some muscle twitches today

4-30- today has left me bone- weary. Even the movement of my tongue hurts my jaw. The all-over aches have eased a little, but the cramps are little shivers that regularly run through the base of my feet. Bad migraine today. Wasn’t aware of what was going on around me for a while. Nap helped but body is SCREWED up. Tomorrow is going to be a day of loving on it.

5-1 upping St John’s Wort to 3 a day
5-2 fatigue but made it out for errands. Felt better in afternoon. Less brain fog. Aches eased but calf self-flexing. Flutterings on left side of stomach. Back seized up
5-3 felt good, just fatigued. Vogel appt. Kidneys were smooshed down onto my back/leg muscles. Body was achy all day afterward. Migraine flared around 8pm and never eased. Awful evening
5-4 back still stiff. Felt pretty good in am, able to accomplish a few things again today. Fatigue and achy and pre-cycle kept me from feeling well and relaxing fully. Tried to nap. Electric blanket helping. Upped petadolex to 2 a day. Joint pain in arms again the past three days
5-5 noticing more energy in the am and early afternoon, even with fatigue.
5-8 left calf has started self-flexing again. Migraine isn’t receding as easily as it has the past few days. Fatigue isn’t as intense the past few days either. Upped petadolex to 3/day on the 7th.
5-10upped ashwagandha to 2/day. Migraine settled in early afternoon and wouldn’t recede till about 7pm, still present just not as intense. Left calf mini cramping. Slight cramps in feet too
5-12. Ran out of liquid iron. Felt decent till later evening, feet/calf cramping increased and front of neck started hurting.
5-13 added B complex.

dr appt 16th. gonna try a nutrient IV. starting noni fruit, fibronol and something else. acupuncture seemed to help the headache and some of the left calf cramping. had a bit more energy walking out. found out the ‘beads’ i’ve been taking (phosphorous, belladonna, pulsatilla, gelsimium) are sugar pills that are lactose (!!!) no good. could be causing problems.

5-20 started iron again

5-22 upped ceanothus to 2 drops a day. Felt pretty good most of the day. Best I’ve felt on a Monday in months. Migraine didn’t kick in fully till late aft. Aches and joint pain were minimal till late aft.

May is Lyme awareness month

Sleep: I’ve had to be more diligent in rotating between Theanine and Melatonin lately. Nightmares were causing serious problems. The Fibro pain flares up in the evening and it’s been the main cause for troubles sleeping. It’ll wake me up with an intensity that feels like it’s trying to come out of me. Rather irritating for sleep – the electric blanket helps but not much when it’s that bad.

Memory/Brain Fog: Trying to remember things from just four years ago was a struggle. 4 years. sigh. The fog has lifted (that’s a song isn’t it?!). But now I’ve added disassociation to my list of symptoms. So. Ironically, now that the fog isn’t so much of a problem, I’m not connecting to the moment – but I can feel that fact. I know when I’m not aware of what’s going on around me. Sigh.

Vision: I got my glasses straightened so that I’m able to wear them again and that has helped. Vision hasn’t been as blurry even without them lately but my eyes are straining a lot, I notice that I’m squinting more.

Dizziness: Now that I’m watching salt intake, this has eased again.

Joint Pain: As you already know – this has been bad. As I’m sitting here my left calf is self-cramping, even though I’m trying to keep it relaxed. When it settles into my arms/shoulders, I go a little crazy. I can’t handle it. Crocheting/handwriting has to be in spurts because it hurts.

The two on the left show the pain that tainted even my wedding day. BUT. If there’s anything chronic pain has taught me, it’s to smile anyway. Laugh anyway. Enjoy every moment that you can. (plus, I had to really bend my knees so my mom could actually fix my veil which was really funny….)

Fatigue: This was very bad most of the month but has also eased. It’s still prevalent. It’s just not as…demanding. It’s still one of the main issues I want gone.

Weight Gain: you guys. I lost 1.6 lbs. I made a rule that I can’t eat after 9pm that I stuck to until this past week. And I didn’t lose any weight this past week. I’ve been stricter on no cane sugar as well. So. I’m going back to my rule asap.

Mood: This came back with a vengeance. I’d been struggling with it for about a month before I even realized how messed up it was. Anxiety/guilt was always just under my good mood – making it easy to not face up to what was going on. Disassociation came in – making even appreciating the beauty of blooming flowers around me impossible. This eased this past week although I have continued to be a little more inclined to tears – thankfully only when I read or watch something sweet or sad. I haven’t cried because of the pain since the beginning of the month.

Bladder: yes. This is a problem too. Thanks Lyme. Honestly, this has been a problem for yeearrrs but it’s increased just enough that I started paying attention to it, and mentioned it to my dr, this past month. Going to the bathroom more than 10x a day just isn’t normal folks. (how did I survive when I wouldn’t use a public restroom?)

~It’s been another rough month so I’m so thankful that I’m getting a bit of a break right now. Going to Dr. V, my local body-worker who is amazing has been such a wonderful thing for my body. (now if only insurance covered it) Dr. A is excited about what we’re going to try next. I must admit that I’m not excited yet but more just… hoping. Trying to hold onto the hope.

~I had a bit of a realization today. It’s hard sometimes to tell people that certain pains have eased, or that you’re having a good day because, let’s face it – my good day isn’t theirs. I feel like when they hear ‘such and such has eased some’ they hear that I’m HEALED. Honey, I’m far from that. I’ve still got these little buggers that are determined to take over my body. They are still stealing little bits of who I am, away from me. I”m guessing that this is a common fear of people with chronic illness but I’d love to hear from some of you to reinforce this idea.

What do you find hard to tell people about your health?

~Laura

Tags: chronic fatigue, chronic migraines, chronic pain, eating healthy, fibromyalgia, health, health update, lyme disease, neurological pain, symptoms of lyme disease, tmj

Comments 3 Comments
Categories health

Health Update – April 2017

28 Apr

I’ve a feeling that this one is going to be LONG folks. I’m going to try and keep it from being so, but you might want to grab a cup o’ tea first. (yes, I have My Fair Lady on the brain)

Migraine app notes – I’ve had 12 attacks, lasting 56 hours. I had no attack-free days. My average sleep is still 7 hours, but honestly this doesn’t track right this month. I’ve had a ‘devilish of a time’ sleeping lately. I took 59 clonidine (20 more than last month). they happen 59% of the time between 12pm and 6 pm. Average level is 7.7. Top three aura/prodrome are fatigue/achiness, muscle stiffness and weakness. Top three triggers are neck pain, too much activity and interrupted sleep. Top three symptoms are jaw pain, neck pain and fatigue. Frequent start positions are the same.

Overall Health/Treatment: It’s been bad folks. BAD. Neurological pain (what I’ve been calling aches/tense) has spread from my calves/feet up to my shoulders/arms. Sleep is difficult and sporadic. The aches seem to be worse when my migraine is less. Still hitting hard in evenings. Possible some of it is flare up from seeing a new doctor for my TMJ. Treating for Babesia and Bartonella. A lot of tears and prayers and video games this month.

Notes from the month:

4-2 – late evening – severe calf cramps/tense and all over body achiness. heated blanket doesn’t seem to be helping. keeping me awake. migraine non existent. fatigue has been present all day, despite a short afternoon nap

4-4 Bad aches again tonight. Curious if they started when I started the ceanothus in the evening again. Debating going back to just taking it am and lunchtime and seeing if the aches recede at all. Felt good today until later evening. Took one clonidine early aft and then in evening but migraine never got bad. Later evening back of skull was like my nerves were on fire and eye sockets hurt. About an hour later, it had calmed down.
-4-17 . The aches started easing over the weekend, except for late sat night. Still present with some cramping. Migraine kept down with clonidine. Major fatigue today, unable to do much but be on the couch. Feel clearer mentally. possible the antibiotics are helping, aside from fatigue/aches, I’ve been better

– 4-20 Dr A today. Gonna treat me for babesia/Bartonella. Going to finish copper and then go off. Gonna get on B complex again. Started back on ceanothus this evening, one drop. Fatigue, body aches, blurry vision, migraines= all severe this past month. Finished and off of doxycycline. No heavy metal toxicity, just a little lead. Bad brain fog all day.
4-22 — left side achy/cramps including back and arm/shoulder. Migraine stayed calm but present.
4-24 — aches last night made it hard to sleep, even with melatonin. Started taking st. John’s Wort today, 1 pill.

4-27 — Slept good last few nights. Upped St. John’s Wort to 2 a day. aches have eased minimally. Brain fog has eased a little.

Migraines: They only hit a level 10 a few times which is such a blessing. Overall they have responded well to treatment.

Digestion/TMJ: digestion is funky but not awful, I’m rather used to it now. TMJ – I’ve been to see the ‘jaw doctor’ as I call her, 3 times now and have 2 more scheduled. She knows about LYME and has a wide base of knowledge. Curious if my aches have started easing a bit because of the bodywork she’s been doing. Jaw still hurts bad but I can tell a difference in range of motion in hips, arms and neck. Bad side of it is the front of my neck is sore, making me feel like I’m gagging. Have started icing to help. Encouraged that this can be resolved and get rid of at least the TMJ, would be SO nice.

Sleep: Even with melatonin or theanine, sleep has been elusive. It was worse in the beginning of the month – started listening to an audiobook just to help pass the time.

Memory/Brain Fog: Brain fog has come back with a vengeance. Memory…. is still a struggle.

Vision: Still blurrier than they should be. But, my glasses are bent so I can’t wear them, I’ve gotta get some new ones asap.

Dizziness: This has kicked up. Got dizzy on the elevator last weekend. fun stuff.

Joint Pain: This disappeared for a week or so but it’s come back in my elbows, wrists and fingers. UGH. Go away, I don’t need you.

Fatigue: I don’t care what else I’m dealing with – or not dealing with – fatigue is a constant companion.

Weight gain: yep, it’s started again. Only a few pounds but !!!!!!!

It’s been a very rough month, full of reasons that I have to move, even when I’m working with no spoons. Ugh. As important as I know doctor appointments are, I admit to wishing many times that I could just stay home on my couch.

I wrote a post on pain keeping you up at night a few weeks ago, go check it out! If you want to follow me on instagram – I do regular updates on how I’m doing and share lots of happy puppy pictures.

Tags: babesia, bartonella, chronic migraines, easing migraine pain, fatigue, health, inflammation, late stage lyme, lyme disease, migraines, natural treatment for lyme, neurological pain, symptoms of lyme disease, tmj