The Beginning

My experience with migraines began just over two years ago. Never having experienced an actual migraine before, I felt at a loss. What had begun as what I thought was a headache coming on, I took some Tylenol and went on with my day. By the time I got home, my head hurt so bad I felt like I could barely see straight, I was dizzy, the light was enough to make me want to just cover my eyes and wait for it to be dark, every little noise felt like shards of glass going into my ears, I was nauseous, and all I could think about was laying down when I got home - but, I am a mom of a little boy who at that time was two years old and needed me. 

It didn't dawn on me at first that this could be a migraine. I figured I was coming down with something, I do work in health care after all. Maybe I'd caught something, and it was making me feel Ill and giving me this horrible headache.

A few hours later, I was on the couch, reduced to tears and curled up in a ball from the pain. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, but I knew this was nothing like I had ever experienced in my life. I felt helpless that night, my son knew I felt bad, and he wanted nothing more than to make his mommy feel better, curling up with me on the couch while I was there - wondering what was causing this pain.

My fiancé called me that night, on his lunch as usual, and immediately rushed home and loaded me and our son up in the car and took me to the ER. He had never seen me this way before, and knew something wasn't right. Nearly five hours later, tests, bloodwork, etc. later, which all came back clear...the ER doctors told me I had experienced a "severe migraine", gave me 3 shots of medicine (thankfully, these helped), and sent me home with orders to see my family physician within a few days. 

After following up with my physician a few days later, he prescribed me a PRN medicine in case it happened again, and I went on my way.

A few weeks or so went by, and it was there again. But in between there, I had experienced several headaches, but never anything as severe as that night in those in between days, until that day a few weeks later. Unfortunately, this cycle continued, good days...and bad days. The PRN med was only nine pills, and $50 bucks each time. Less than six months later, I was back in my family doctor, something had to be done.

I walked out with a referral to see a neurologist. My mind was racing, I've always been relatively healthy, minus the minor illnesses (colds, etc) and sinus issues. This couldn't be happening.

I went to see her less than two weeks later. She reviewed my results from when I had been in the ER, we talked, went over what had been happening, and I left with orders for blood draws, and prescriptions for a twice a day medication and a PRN medication if I needed it, and to follow up in 6 weeks. 

The medication helped somewhat, but I was still getting bad days, just not as often at first. On the next visit, the medication was increased. I am awaiting now on my next follow up visit. I still have the bad days. 

Recently, I read an article in my local newspaper, of a local woman, who like me - suffers from migraines - although she was much worse off than me, so it makes me thankful for my situation to be as mild as it is right now, but it worries me if mine continue to get worse if I will end up with bad days as bad as hers were. She discovered a foundation that she credits for saving her life - and ending her bad days, by way of diet. This has opened my eyes to many things, and has me researching so many things. Maybe the answer to her migraines - is also the answer to mine?? 

This is the story of my journey, of hopefully finding a life without migraines, as well as a journey into new things for my family along with this journey, of canning, and learning homesteading.

If her story could help me, and does help me, I hope her story, and mine, along with sharing my journey, can help others.