Sunday, August 8, 2010

The Fight Continues...

Last weekend I had a terrible migraine attack.  Well, when I woke up Monday morning, it was still there.  I had tried all my meds in my cabinet, plus the ones Dr. E. called in for me on Sat.  I did my usual ice routine in the dark.  Nothing was relieving the throbbing, pounding pain.  These headaches tend to feel as if someone is inside my head twisting and banging on my brain while intermittently stabbing it.  Nice and graphic, eh?  I also couldn't seem to get a handle on my blood pressure, even after a double dose of my Corgard.  Obviously pain elevates BP.  Anyway, as soon as I woke up on Monday morning, I called Dr. E's office to see if I could get in and maybe get a shot of Toradol or something to get the pounding to go away.  It had to stop as I needed to return to work on Tuesday!  So they scheduled me to come in at 240pm.  After a hellacious hour wait in the waiting room with bright lights and a blaring tv, I got taken back.  Don't migraine specialists think to make their waiting rooms more suitable for migrainuers?  By this time I was back to wanting to die.  I was crying, feeling so helpless and defeated as always.  Nothing takes this pain away!  I re-explained the events of the entire weekend, the pain, the vomiting, etc.  I also made mention that in 3 weeks I have had a 13 lb weight loss.  I am sure due to meds, pain, vomiting, anxiety, etc.  Well Dr. E. and his ARNP bluntly said..."You look sick."  Well no shit!  So I was sent over to the hospital and admitted (very relunctantly on my end I might add).  For 5 days.  Diagnosis: Status Migrainous, Hypertension and Dehydration.  Finally something was being done.  Even if it was the day before I was to go back to work and "normal living".  So while I was there, I received IV hydration, and a plethora of IV medications such as Potassium, Decadron, DHE, Depakote, Morphine, Zofran, Ativan.  I also finally had a lumbar puncture done.  Although, results were send out, so still pending.  The second to last night I was there, a cardiologist was called in because my HR was dropping to the 40's and some arrhythmia's were showing up on my telemetry monitor.  Go figure.  I had an echocardiogram and everything was stable.  I do have mitral valve prolapse, but have since childhood.  My medications were changed and I was discharged Friday afternoon.  Yesterday I was a freaking basketcase.  I could not stop crying!  I am assuming it was medication related.  I like to think it was anyway and not just me completely falling apart.  Today is a much better day and I am "getting by."  Still had a headache yesterday, not so much today. I am going to see my new primary care physician tomorrow morning and I think I am going to take the step to ask for a referral to a new neurologist.  I need that new set of eyes and ears.  I can't continue on this path.  I am tired of fighting.

3 comments:

Migrainista said...

Oh Jessica I'm so sorry that you have had such an awful week. I'm thinking about you and hoping you will have some answers and better days ahead this coming week.
Hugs

WinnyNinny PooPoo said...

Have you ever tried indomethacin? No reaction to it is normal, surprising relief of pain with it means you have an indomethacin resonsive headache. I was given (I think) 50 mg IV as a trial and it was the only thing beside steroids that helped the pain.

Decadron makes me emotional if I get a high enough dose. Very sorry your headache decided to make itself your #1 priority.

Jessica said...

No, I have never tried Indomethacin. Maybe I should request a trial of it. So far, nothing else is helping. Still have had a headache since being discharged Friday.

It's funny you say that about the Decadron. Maybe that's why I kept crying! Haha. I had a huge dose!