Personal update

I feel as though I must apologize as my last personal update was a bit of a pity party. That happens from time to time. I get discouraged when hopes for a successful treatment don’t go as planned. It’s a big job managing a chronic illness.

Not long after that post I experienced another “storm” of recurring attacks for 4 consecutive days. A doctor’s visit stopped the “storm” with my favorite cocktail (Toradol, Benadryl, and Phenergan). It also netted me a new Rx for Diamox in the hope that it would prevent weather-triggered attacks. I am thrilled to report that it has worked. I do still get attacks, but not from weather fronts. This has resulted in a significant drop in the frequency and severity of migraine attacks.

The combination of Diamox and Neurontin has proven to be too much for my body to process. I experienced a few weeks of fatigue, brain fog, and nausea before talking to my doctor about reducing the Neurontin (as it doesn’t seem to be doing much good anyway). Ever so slowly I am weaning off the Neurontin and rediscovering my brain. The combination of Diamox side effects (reduced appetite, diuretic, and taste alterations) and reduction of Neurontin has slowly turned the scale in the right direction while still maintaining an average of only 8 migraine attacks a month. It’s still more than I’d like, but it’s a good start.

I also had a second round of Botox. This one was injected in my forehead (no more wrinkles!) and back of the head. I’m getting good results, although certainly not a “miracle cure”. The first set of injections (temples) has worn off, so I am getting more attacks with pain in my eyes. The doctor told me to expect this. In 3 weeks I go back for a full set of injections to all 3 areas. If all goes well, we will talk about surgery in the fall.

Diamox and Botox are helping. I still have to watch my triggers. There will be no skipping meals, staying up late, eating junk food, or walking through perfume departments at Macys in my future.