(no subject)

[morwen]

I have been back at work since last Monday. Not by any means back to normal functioning, but I had got to the state where I thought it was best to try. I have trying to take it a bit easy, mind, avoiding the normal rush hour. They have moved me into a quiet part of the office on Monday (having put in a couple of partition walls), which is helping so much.

I have not updated much. So, I have been continuing to not take any painkillers - I think the last I touched was some ibuprofen late in January. I went to a private neurologist a bit before that, and was told more or less the same things as the first neurologist had said, but he actually explained stuff, and agreed that diagnostic tests ought to be done. I am now waiting for another NHS appointment to try and persuade this one of that.

That happens at the end of March. By then I will have not taken any NSAID or opiates or over two months, which should rule out side-effects from frequent use of those as a cause of the new symptoms. I have a small stock of sumatriptan which is magic, but I am also trying to avoid using more of twice times in any seven day period, because the internet thinks those can also cause medication overuse headaches. Right now I would love dearly to take one, but I have only 2 left and I already took ones Thursday and Saturday. Maybe I could try a codeine: it has been a long time.

Because it's those new symptoms that are continuing to really scare me. The phasing out and the feeling of shifting pressure inside the head and eyes, possibly circulatory related. As this continues I have been able to get a better handle on what triggers it. Lying down is a killer, and so is closing my eyes, or not thinking about anything. I still have no idea about what might be doing that. Google suggests sinusitis, which is another thing to add to my list of things to be worried about, might be another autoimmune thing, and would also explain why the virus I had early in Jan really knocked me out.

Additionally, would you believe it, my joints hurt a lot more now that I'm not taking any painkillers. Shocking, eh.

Comments

[supermouse]

Just in case it's any use at all: I've found that sucking strongly-flavoured sweets distract me from very bad head pain. Mint makes me sick, but cinnamon and very sour sweets help. You might enjoy different flavours.

Relaxation also helps me, but I had to be taught how to relax while in pain, and try different techniques until we hit on one that worked (what works for me is to clench and relax every muscle group in turn while thinking 'You don't have to do anything special, you just have to be there, and breathe.') It's about the same level of effectiveness as taking two aspirins - a very mild effect. It does, however (for me), stop the first twinges from building into the full horrors of pain-fuelled despair and, if the pain gets bad enough, not wanting to live any more. I hadn't realised that the emotional not-coping and anxiety was caused by the pain as a known side effect - I had just put it down to poor mental health or lack of moral fibre or something.

[morwen]

not wanting to live any more. I hadn't realised that the emotional not-coping and anxiety was caused by the pain as a known side effect - I had just put it down to poor mental health or lack of moral fibre or something.

Well, that's good to know.