Home Infusion with peripheral IV

The Set-up

Here’s whats going on.  My episodic migraines have once again morphed to essentially daily headaches.  I put up with this for a couple of months hoping for the best.  You know ……… against all odds, this nasty shit will just slither away under the same door it snuck in.  But of course that hasn’t happened, so I heaved a big sigh and made an appointment with my ever-patient headache specialist.

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Livin’ the Life …….. with migraine

To prevent or reduce frequency and severity of headaches:

Nail parlor.  A smelly place.  Don’t go there!
Puerto Vallarta, Mex. during the Day of the Virgin de
Guadalupe.  Crowded and noisy but outside.  I can
tolerate crowds for a little longer outside.
  1. I ……. eat regularly, always carry food (fruit and nut bars) and water
  2. Eat good “clean,” real food, very little packaged stuff.
  3. BREATHE! I don’t do this too well.  I tend to take little tiny breaths, and then, when I can’t stand it any longer and am beginning to turn just slightly blue around the lips, a big gulp of air.  Not good.  You can do better.
  4. Always carry abortive and pain meds with me.
  5. Always carry earplugs, sun glasses and/ or specially tinted lenses available from http://www.axonoptics.com and https://www.theraspecs.com
  6. Always carry a neck pillow in the car, plane, train, etc.
  7. Exercise: walking and yoga regularly, swimming and biking whenever possible.
  8. Rest when I need to.  I believe in naps when you need them – though not all the time.
  9. Communicate: blog, talk w/ my friends, husband, sons, etc. Keep in touch.
  10. Keep in touch w/ my son who also has serious migraines; although, thankfully, they’re not as bad as mine.  We share tips.
  11. Avoid loud, noisy, densely packed situations.
  12. Avoid “smelly” places (cigarette smoke, chlorine, nail parlors, chemical fumes of any kind).
  13. Limit screen time and choose to watch TV, movies, etc. that don’t over stimulate me.  Use tinted lenses.
  14. Schedule my life’s activities to suit my tolerance level.
  15. Try to pay attention and be aware of how I’m feeling so I don’t wait until things get bad to “take action.”  Don’t beat myself up if I don’t “get it right.”
  16. Make regular visits to my mental health therapist to help me unload and come up with new ideas.
  17. Continue to do things that are really important to me and that I enjoy:  art, taking care of my grandson, hanging out with friends and family, traveling, spending time in sunny places, reading good books, spending time outdoors.

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