As mommeyof2 asked me, "What, did you dye your hair blonde or something?" No, but I might as well have. I did something yesterday that I totally know better than to do. I was so proud of myself for actually cleaning house while the boys were at Mom's Day Out. I sprayed Clorox Bathroom Cleaner with Teflon in the shower and then went to work cleaning off the counter and cleaning out my closet. I went to pick up the boys and got home and thought that the floor of the shower still looked bad (I hadn't wiped it down yet.) I thought I'd add a little umph to it with some Clorox Clean-Up. Where was my head? I mixed cleaners. I *so* know better than that. I would take a deep breath, scrub, then take another deep breath. It smelled horrible, which should have been a hint and a half that it was not so good for me. (Are my biology friends shaking their heads yet?) First of all, my shower should have *never, never, never* needed that kind of a cleaning. That's shameful. Secondly, you'd think that I would listen to warnings.
I coughed all night. Then today, as the day progressed, I started feeling worse and worse. I was convinced that I was coming down with bronchitis. I took Cameron to the doctor today for his bronchitis and mentioned it to Dr. P's nurse. She said that if it's not better tomorrow, I might want to check with my doctor. Well, tomorrow is Saturday. So, I made a quick call to my doctor to just "check in." He wanted me to come in for a chest x-ray. Holy crap! A chest x-ray? All I could think of were my lungs and throat being eaten away by acid. I scrambled quickly (for the second time this week) and went to the clinic. The chest x-rays were clear but he said that didn't mean I didn't have some complications from the cleaning fluids. He gave me a prescription for an albuterol inhaler and sent me on my merry way. Man I feel stupid. My ignorance yesterday cost me $20 for the co-pay and $10 for the meds. Now we are trying to figure out if the culprit on the wicked bad indigestion is the Topamax or the toxic fumes I breathed in yesterday. If I could kick my own butt right now, I would. Big Dummy!
Dang, I used to be smarter than this. Did the kids do this to my brain cells or the husband? Maybe a combination of both?
By the way - - my bathroom sparkles! At least I've got something to show for my ignorance.
Friday, September 22
Migraine Help On the Way?
For those of you that know me well, you know that I've suffered from migraine headaches for about 13 years. (Not 13 years straight. Off and on. 13 years straight and I'd have to be in a "straight" jacket!) Recently, I've started having trouble with my vision and my regular doctor referred me to a neurologist. I couldn't get in until a week from today. (This was several weeks ago.) I got a call from my neurologist on Wednesday saying that they had a cancellation, could I be there in 45 minutes. After a quick call to Mom and a speed shower, I went to the clinic.
I *loved* the doctor! I waited maybe five minutes in the waiting room, and five minutes in the examining room after the nurse left. Then he spent about 30 minutes with me. He was incredible. I didn’t feel like a crazy person. (Most doctors look at me like I’m a nut job when I mention the word migraine. I think the ones that do have never had one and totally don’t get it.) Anyway, he did a neurological exam and I guess I checked out fine.
Then we discussed treatment options. Wow! I have to say that this area of medicine has really changed. Before, I was told that I couldn’t take Imitrex because of my “reaction.” I described it to him and he said that it was absolutely normal and that when regular doctors prescribe it, they don’t explain (and probably don’t understand) what the medicine will do within 15 seconds of taking the injection. To make a long story short, it worked for me before and I get to use them again. Hooray! Then we discussed prevention. There are three primary medications they use for prevention. I’ve tried two of them and now it’s on to the third. The first two are blood pressure medications and antidepressants. The antidepressant I took made me a complete zombie and I vowed never to put that poison in my body again. He said they have better meds for that now but I liked the sound of the third option the best. It’s called Topamax and is an anti-seizure medication that is used in lower doses for migraine prevention. I have to work my way up to the full dose over three weeks. I’m a little more groggy today than normal but it’s not unbearable. There are a few side effects, two of which I’m noticing after just one dose. One is that soft drinks all taste flat. Strange, huh? I’m going to miss them, but it’s definitely worth the sacrifice. Another is loss of appetite and the craving of sweet things. Well, after two doses, I can say without hesitation that the loss of appetite is due to *everything under the sun* giving me indigestion. The doctor said I’ll probably lose 10 – 12 pounds the first month on the medication. Can’t complain there. He also said I might have some trouble remembering dates, phone numbers and just trivial stuff. I told him that’s what my Palm Pilot was for!
We’ll see. I’m hoping for the best. He said that most migraines are brought on by “holiday stress.” Basically, a change in your routine. So if I sleep late on Saturday, take a nap on Sunday, go on a long weekend or those kind of things it can trigger a headache. The last thing he told me that I found quite interesting was that migraines tend to change every ten years. I told him about my visual problems and he said that those were a “precursor” to a pending headache. Hopefully that will stop now. I also suffer from hand tremors (like my dad and brother have and my grandmother had.) This medication is supposed to help with that.
I’m sure this is *more* than you could ever have wanted to know. But if you’ve got a friend who has trouble with these, you can pass the word along.
I *loved* the doctor! I waited maybe five minutes in the waiting room, and five minutes in the examining room after the nurse left. Then he spent about 30 minutes with me. He was incredible. I didn’t feel like a crazy person. (Most doctors look at me like I’m a nut job when I mention the word migraine. I think the ones that do have never had one and totally don’t get it.) Anyway, he did a neurological exam and I guess I checked out fine.
Then we discussed treatment options. Wow! I have to say that this area of medicine has really changed. Before, I was told that I couldn’t take Imitrex because of my “reaction.” I described it to him and he said that it was absolutely normal and that when regular doctors prescribe it, they don’t explain (and probably don’t understand) what the medicine will do within 15 seconds of taking the injection. To make a long story short, it worked for me before and I get to use them again. Hooray! Then we discussed prevention. There are three primary medications they use for prevention. I’ve tried two of them and now it’s on to the third. The first two are blood pressure medications and antidepressants. The antidepressant I took made me a complete zombie and I vowed never to put that poison in my body again. He said they have better meds for that now but I liked the sound of the third option the best. It’s called Topamax and is an anti-seizure medication that is used in lower doses for migraine prevention. I have to work my way up to the full dose over three weeks. I’m a little more groggy today than normal but it’s not unbearable. There are a few side effects, two of which I’m noticing after just one dose. One is that soft drinks all taste flat. Strange, huh? I’m going to miss them, but it’s definitely worth the sacrifice. Another is loss of appetite and the craving of sweet things. Well, after two doses, I can say without hesitation that the loss of appetite is due to *everything under the sun* giving me indigestion. The doctor said I’ll probably lose 10 – 12 pounds the first month on the medication. Can’t complain there. He also said I might have some trouble remembering dates, phone numbers and just trivial stuff. I told him that’s what my Palm Pilot was for!
We’ll see. I’m hoping for the best. He said that most migraines are brought on by “holiday stress.” Basically, a change in your routine. So if I sleep late on Saturday, take a nap on Sunday, go on a long weekend or those kind of things it can trigger a headache. The last thing he told me that I found quite interesting was that migraines tend to change every ten years. I told him about my visual problems and he said that those were a “precursor” to a pending headache. Hopefully that will stop now. I also suffer from hand tremors (like my dad and brother have and my grandmother had.) This medication is supposed to help with that.
I’m sure this is *more* than you could ever have wanted to know. But if you’ve got a friend who has trouble with these, you can pass the word along.
Wednesday, September 20
I'm Officially A "Real Mommy"
I went to church tonight, went by the pharmacy to pick up some medicine and then came home. I was greeted at the door with a "guess what Justin did tonight." My walls. My beautifully, recently painted (with color I might add) walls. There are now great big black circles on my walls. David had just bathed Justin and was working on Cameron. The bathtub crayons were up high but must have fallen down. Justin retrieved the black one and the living room wall was his canvas. I figure that once you've had your walls colored on, you're an official Mommy! I'm official.
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