Migraines? Hello.

I haven't had a migraine headache since I was in high school.. or should say HADN'T had a migraine since high school.

Last Friday, on 08/08/08, I got a doozy of a headache. It had been kinda coming on for a few days. I tried taking different things, but nothing seemed to help. Finally, on Friday morning, it started to get REALLY bad. It was the worst headache of my life, by far. I called my doctor's office in the morning, and they took forever getting back to me. I finally was able to find out by late afternoon that my doctor wasn't even in the office that day! Augh. They sent me to the ER.

I made the decision not to go all the way across town to the hospital where I had my DS surgery and instead went downtown here which is like 5 minutes from our new house. They had never even heard of the duodenal switch there.. ever. I also had the wonderful experience of not only being seen by a resident.. but she had ANOTHER doctor with her who was also a resident. It was his FIRST DAY EVER in the ER.. he was nice enough to inform me of that. Wow, are you kidding me right now? I can barely function with this headache, and you are sending me this guy? Greaaatttt. I guess everyone has to learn sometime. Ugh. He was nice enough.. and he did clearly go to the MSU College of Human Medicine.. so points for him there.

They were actually worried about something called pseudotumor cerebri that can happen after weight loss surgery. It happens when pressure builds up and causes the intracranial pressure to also be higher. The cure is a lumbar puncture. ACCKKK. When they said that, I was instantly even MORE stressed. John wasn't with me.. my niece Heather was. That is definitely the next best thing to having John or my mommy with me.. but I seriously wanted John there with me at that point. They also wanted to get a CAT scan. Fine, I am a pro at those now.. and skinnier so I am not all worried that their machine is going to break.

They ended up trying a combination of Compazine and Benadryl to see if it really was a 'common' migraine headache. Thankfully, the CAT scan was negative.. and the medications made the headache go completely away. I was SO relieved. They put me to sleep almost instantly. I hadn't slept well as it was with the headache I had been having for days.. and finally with the relief of the headache, I was OUT. Heather had to leave to go pick up Ken from work, so my MIL came to sit with me until I was done and took me home. They gave me a prescription for Vicodin to take in case the headache came back.. I was just informed today that Vicodin actually can cause rebound headaches! WHAT?! No wonder it hasn't been working!

I called my PCP again today, and she ended up prescribing Compazine and Benadryl for me to take at home to see if I will get the same relief. I am hoping so. I started to get a headache today again as well. It probably doesn't help that I am also dealing with this sunburn. I will be waiting until this evening to try the Compazine/Benadryl combo. I can't work while taking that stuff, for sure. Vicodin, I can muddle through with it as long as I don't have to drive.. but that Compazine is some serious business.

On another note.. I made an appointment today for Gwen and I to go and get our hairs cut on Saturday morning. I am looking forward to a change.. and I am tired of seeing all my long hair falling out. I will post pictures afterward!