Several of ya’ll have been asking for “more often” and “more detailed” updates but I figured I would wait until after my appointment this morning, to write a novel. It’s been 6 months since this all started [ http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/10/08/6-months-later/ ]
On the scope of all that’s happened since that fateful April morning [ http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/04/08/its-not-a-head-achy/ ], I’m doing spectacularly better. However, compared to the last several days, ever since this weekend, my head has been hurting… let’s just categorize it as, “enough it interferes with my life & back to looking for something to make it stop.” I’m not trying to start a panic because my head actually hurts on/off all the time, but I don’t necessarily verbalize, it would be like complaining all the time AND, I do think I have improved and become more tolerant. For the past few days, the pain has been more on, than off, and enough that just plain tylenol isn’t doing the trick. I tried “real drugs” over the weekend, alas… “real drugs” just don’t work on me, never have… they kinda do the opposite.
To be honest, YOU probably wouldn’t even notice that anything is wrong with me, because all along, I have been walking and talking. HOWEVER, just because I SOUND convincing, does NOT mean that I am correct (especially with numbers and dates/times). Trust me, I am wrong A LOT. Ya’ll have also commented that my typing/language has improved. It certainly has, but I also have learned to use spell check a lot faster than before (and I NEVER used it before because “I know better than spell check!”, at least… I used to!). My language skills have greatly improved but I still get stumped on recall. Once I have “remembered” something a few times, it sticks, but if I haven’t encountered something, I have to pause and really search for it (and usually, I need help with a reminder). It seems so much better because I’ve already broken the curve, I have encountered enough obstacles that I can remember more than I have forgotten. (not sure I’m making sense) Since my head has been hurting for a few days, those closest to me (spending the most time with me) have noticed that my speaking/language is ? slower (maybe stuttered is the right word). I notice that my vision is not as “crisp” on days my head hurts (or when I don’t sleep well). AND… right now, this second, I am taking A LOT LONGER to type and making tons of mistakes and it’s REALLY IRRITATING/FRUSTRATING. YOU don’t see that, but I do. If you were in the room, you’d hear me talking to my computer 😉 (actually, hollering at my keyboard would be more accurate 😉 ).
When we first started talking to the neurologist this morning, he was already indicating that he’d like to get an updated scan of my head (last one in May) [ http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/05/31/friday-night-dates/ ]. But after talking with us more (Jeff went with me because, as I have indicated, I am not necessarily saying the right information), he ordered an MRI for “soonest” (not emergency, just not next month). He also suggested that I should NOT try to work back into “things that are loud” and refrain from aggravating my head. Loud certainly is not the cause of my clot, nor would it make anything worse, but it’s obvious, that exposure to loud noises is not assisting my recovery. I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t attempted it though and birthday dinner with friends was definitely worth the attempt! [ http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/10/05/birthday-dinner-with-jaime-100513/ ]
To recap, I was taken off the anti-seizure meds [ http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/08/21/change-in-meds/ ] during my last neuro appointment the end of August. I’m convinced those meds were not helping with the vision (or actually making it worse), they were making me very dizzy and not helping with sleep. Earlier on, I was taking Fiorcet (it’s a migraine med) but it has caffeine in it, so that too was interfering with sleep. I haven’t taken that in months. He prescribed another medication (previously failed as an anti-depressant but had the side effect of helping those with head injuries… at low doses). So basically, if you are wanting to keep track, I am taking Thyroid meds (remember… no thyroid [ http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/09/17/thyroid-ultrasound-091713/ ], Xarelto (this is the anti-coagulant, because I cannot take coumadin/warfin [ http://blog.scottsontherocks.com/blog/2013/05/22/officially-a-coumadin-failure/ ]), and the anti-depressant thing for my head/sleep. FYI, ever since I started taking that, I have been sleeping much better! I also attribute better sleeping habits with a lot of the improvements that I have had. I feel like I can say that because when I don’t sleep… I can’t get much done because my head hurts and vision is not as good… and saying that I am “irritable” would be an understatement 😉
Today, we discussed all the different drugs I’ve tried and decided to go back and retry the Fiorcet during the day. I’ll have the MRI whenever insurance/imaging get together and make an appointment (within a few days). Then, go from there.
Overall, I’m doing so much better and have tried to get a routine of getting something done everyday (like dumping out a drawer 🙂 ). If my appointment had been last week, I’d have told him, I’m definitely on the right track. But the past few days… and today in particular… have changed that assessment a bit.
I’m sure I have jumped all around and probably confused ya’ll. Feel free to ask questions! I’ll keep you posted on the MRI. In the meantime, “shhhhh, be vewy, vewy quiet…” 🙂
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