This past week rapidly became a blur. I previously mentioned my migraine. It came, it went, it returned, it stole three days of my life.
I have had one other major migraine in my life, and it was nothing like this. I had no idea a headache could become so bad and scary. I visited two doctors in two days, I received various shots and meds to clear it up, and I was forced to return to regular life earlier than I was really ready, because as everyone knows, mama ain't allowed to be sick.
Between the pain and the meds, three days became a blur of sleep, fear, unbearable pain, more fear, preparations for my death (yes - I was quite sure that I was having an aneurysm at one point, and I made a list of instructions for Joe in the event of my departure....maybe a little dramatic, but it seemed a good idea at the time), and by the time I came to, late on Tuesday, I realized that time was passing quickly and without mercy. I forced myself to attend a yoga class Tuesday night in order to prepare my body for the marathon of work that sat around waiting for me to regain consciousness.
Come Wednesday, I needed to be prepared to take over 100 sixth graders to a camp on Lake Martin for a day of outdoor games and team building. This is a field trip that I love each and every year. I love canoeing with the kids, I love watching their faces as they triumph the zip line or the treacherous water slide, and luckily, this year was no exception. I went equipped with an emergency pill in my pocket, and I was thrilled that I didn't need to use it. The ride on the bus back to school got a little loud and long and excruciating, and I was so sure I would have to come home and collapse, but I managed the stamina to power through.
I have found that in the days following migraine recovery, I find myself walking on egg shells. Every loud noise, every unusual food, any additional stress - I keep wondering what will be the trigger to put me back over the edge. I spent most of that first day back in my sunglasses even though it was an overcast day, mostly out of fear that someone would see the terror in my eyes.
Migraines ain't no joke, y'all.
And the treatment I received has made me start to really wonder....how vigilant with doctors does one need to be to find out what is causing problems? It is starting to completely bewilder me as to how doctors identify rare diseases and cancer and other disorders. Do they really have to be looking for it? Does the patient really have to believe they have something specific before doctors go looking for it?
In the end, I was diagnosed with rebound headaches. This is something that can happen when you have spent too much time trying to ignore daily headaches with medications - specifically over the counter, aspirins or ibuprofins, even worse if that drug has a little caffeine. I have spent years swearing by an excedrin migraine and a coke. The combo of those things gives me the caffeine and sugar to help me perk right back up. Maybe in the end, I was doing something close to making myself drunk to relieve pain. We all know that caffeine and sugar are bad for us, but if it makes you feel better, then where's the harm? I guess that's what heroin users say, too, right?
And do you know who determined that I was having rebound headaches? Yep - that would be me. I suggested this diagnosis to the first doctor I saw, and he totally ran with it. No brain scan, no MRI, no looking in my eyes or ears, no touching my skull to find pressure points, no nothing. Just me. Saying I might be having this. And there ya go.
I should have gone to medical school. Or maybe not. Apparently I can diagnose just about anything with a couple of google searches. Maybe the doctor should be paying me a consult fee....
Anyway, long story short, between losing three days of my life and spending close to 12 hours (from departure to work to return from work) in a work-like setting (well, that's a loose description considering I was on a beautiful lake side camp), my obligations came tumbling down on top of me.
The bills needed to be paid. Papers needed to be graded. And most important of all, Auburn themed outfits for the kids needed to be sewn. They had their first spirit day last week, and I winged it with an orange shirt for Jacks and an Auburn dress for Nealy that fit her last year, which now works as a tunic over shorts for this year.
I had purchased navy blue gingham the weekend before to attempt to amend this problem, and almost an entire week later, that gingham was still sitting in the bag in which it was purchased.
Which means, Thursday night was a blur. I turned on the Friends on Nick and Nite marathon, and I got busy cutting and sewing. Unfortunately, I was rushing. The tension on my machine was not appropriate for the thinness of the gingham, and I was too tired and ready to be done to care. Here's what I came up with......
I made Nealy's armholes a little too small because I've been making them too big on all her other pillowcase dresses. The seams on all the pieces are dodgy at best. I so hope to GOD that no one looked closely. And what you can't see in the picture is the little Aubie patch sewn onto the bottom hem of Jacks's pants. I found that little Aubie in my grandmother's sewing box. There was a time when she and my mother used those Aubie patches to cover up most holes and stains and tears on our clothes. These days, those patches cannot be found in stores anywhere because Auburn University controls all trademarked clothing, and to sell something that can be sewn onto an unapproved garment is strictly against the rules. So here I am, outing myself to all the world and whatever copyright gestapo might be out there reading - I sewed a vintage Aubie patch, which is decidedly aged and yellowed in places, onto a pair of shorts for my son. A pair of shorts that I will have to cut up and remake sooner than later due to the hems that look like hills and valleys. All for the sake of day care spirit day.
War Eagle, y'all. The things I do for school spirit. And to avoid dropping $100 on school gear at the local bookstore.....
(oh, and in case you didn't hear, Auburn won again this week. Once again by the skin of their teeth. They sure like to keep things exciting. Or nerve wracking. It's a fine line. WDE!)
I have had one other major migraine in my life, and it was nothing like this. I had no idea a headache could become so bad and scary. I visited two doctors in two days, I received various shots and meds to clear it up, and I was forced to return to regular life earlier than I was really ready, because as everyone knows, mama ain't allowed to be sick.
Between the pain and the meds, three days became a blur of sleep, fear, unbearable pain, more fear, preparations for my death (yes - I was quite sure that I was having an aneurysm at one point, and I made a list of instructions for Joe in the event of my departure....maybe a little dramatic, but it seemed a good idea at the time), and by the time I came to, late on Tuesday, I realized that time was passing quickly and without mercy. I forced myself to attend a yoga class Tuesday night in order to prepare my body for the marathon of work that sat around waiting for me to regain consciousness.
Come Wednesday, I needed to be prepared to take over 100 sixth graders to a camp on Lake Martin for a day of outdoor games and team building. This is a field trip that I love each and every year. I love canoeing with the kids, I love watching their faces as they triumph the zip line or the treacherous water slide, and luckily, this year was no exception. I went equipped with an emergency pill in my pocket, and I was thrilled that I didn't need to use it. The ride on the bus back to school got a little loud and long and excruciating, and I was so sure I would have to come home and collapse, but I managed the stamina to power through.
I have found that in the days following migraine recovery, I find myself walking on egg shells. Every loud noise, every unusual food, any additional stress - I keep wondering what will be the trigger to put me back over the edge. I spent most of that first day back in my sunglasses even though it was an overcast day, mostly out of fear that someone would see the terror in my eyes.
Migraines ain't no joke, y'all.
And the treatment I received has made me start to really wonder....how vigilant with doctors does one need to be to find out what is causing problems? It is starting to completely bewilder me as to how doctors identify rare diseases and cancer and other disorders. Do they really have to be looking for it? Does the patient really have to believe they have something specific before doctors go looking for it?
In the end, I was diagnosed with rebound headaches. This is something that can happen when you have spent too much time trying to ignore daily headaches with medications - specifically over the counter, aspirins or ibuprofins, even worse if that drug has a little caffeine. I have spent years swearing by an excedrin migraine and a coke. The combo of those things gives me the caffeine and sugar to help me perk right back up. Maybe in the end, I was doing something close to making myself drunk to relieve pain. We all know that caffeine and sugar are bad for us, but if it makes you feel better, then where's the harm? I guess that's what heroin users say, too, right?
And do you know who determined that I was having rebound headaches? Yep - that would be me. I suggested this diagnosis to the first doctor I saw, and he totally ran with it. No brain scan, no MRI, no looking in my eyes or ears, no touching my skull to find pressure points, no nothing. Just me. Saying I might be having this. And there ya go.
I should have gone to medical school. Or maybe not. Apparently I can diagnose just about anything with a couple of google searches. Maybe the doctor should be paying me a consult fee....
Anyway, long story short, between losing three days of my life and spending close to 12 hours (from departure to work to return from work) in a work-like setting (well, that's a loose description considering I was on a beautiful lake side camp), my obligations came tumbling down on top of me.
The bills needed to be paid. Papers needed to be graded. And most important of all, Auburn themed outfits for the kids needed to be sewn. They had their first spirit day last week, and I winged it with an orange shirt for Jacks and an Auburn dress for Nealy that fit her last year, which now works as a tunic over shorts for this year.
I had purchased navy blue gingham the weekend before to attempt to amend this problem, and almost an entire week later, that gingham was still sitting in the bag in which it was purchased.
Which means, Thursday night was a blur. I turned on the Friends on Nick and Nite marathon, and I got busy cutting and sewing. Unfortunately, I was rushing. The tension on my machine was not appropriate for the thinness of the gingham, and I was too tired and ready to be done to care. Here's what I came up with......
I made Nealy's armholes a little too small because I've been making them too big on all her other pillowcase dresses. The seams on all the pieces are dodgy at best. I so hope to GOD that no one looked closely. And what you can't see in the picture is the little Aubie patch sewn onto the bottom hem of Jacks's pants. I found that little Aubie in my grandmother's sewing box. There was a time when she and my mother used those Aubie patches to cover up most holes and stains and tears on our clothes. These days, those patches cannot be found in stores anywhere because Auburn University controls all trademarked clothing, and to sell something that can be sewn onto an unapproved garment is strictly against the rules. So here I am, outing myself to all the world and whatever copyright gestapo might be out there reading - I sewed a vintage Aubie patch, which is decidedly aged and yellowed in places, onto a pair of shorts for my son. A pair of shorts that I will have to cut up and remake sooner than later due to the hems that look like hills and valleys. All for the sake of day care spirit day.
War Eagle, y'all. The things I do for school spirit. And to avoid dropping $100 on school gear at the local bookstore.....
(oh, and in case you didn't hear, Auburn won again this week. Once again by the skin of their teeth. They sure like to keep things exciting. Or nerve wracking. It's a fine line. WDE!)
3 comments:
I think their outfits are adorable! So talented you are!
GIRL, I feel you on the migraines. Mine are hormone induced and I get them at least every month (if you catch my drift!). Excederin migraine and a mainlined coke is my rememdy too. I prefer that over the prescription stuff cause I can actually function on it instead of having to go back to bed. Then when I think I am all better it comes back fiercer than ever. Will you be my doctor since mine can't figure mine out????
Hope you feel better soon, babe.
You need a Mom's Day Out like nobody's busy-ness. Don't you have a spinster cousin nearby who can take you to a matinee?
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