Posted by Selene (208.216.49.243) on November 05, 1999 at 19:55:40:
Thanks so much all of you for your info and thoughts. I had 30 minutes of uninterrupted thinking time this afternoon with a nice loud white noise background (MRI, no results till next week).
I guess because I've had my ha's for so long (20 years?) I just don't pay much attention to them anymore - I'm so used to being in pain periodically, it fades into the background. If I can't sleep, I nap the following afternoon. It's only when the major attacks come on (I figured out they were every six months this year) that I really start complaining.
But your questions and comments, and all the great links and past posts here, got me to look at them differently, and now I think maybe my doctor isn't such a quack afterall (admittedly, I do have a tendency to mistrust most doctors). Even just reading the Kip scale stimulated some new thoughts.
Perhaps my headaches have been 'responding' to aspirin so well because they just go away on their own in an hour or two (whoda thought?). I think I got into the aspirin routine, because the daily drivers can and have graduated into the major spook monsters and I'm a little paranoid. I thought if I controlled the small pains, the big pains could be avoided. Not that I've ever particularly noticed that, mind you, but we all have our own little denial universes.
I realized in my meditation chamber (aka, MRI machine) that if I were taking something so my head didn't hurt every day for a week at a time, then when a big one hit, I'd know it, could take the big boy medicine, and perhaps I wouldn't have to spend a day hiding in my house. This is assuming that any of these wonder drugs helps, but it at least makes me feel a little better about trying them.
So, again, my thanks. You gave me the opportunity to revise my perspective and feel a little more proactive about my situation. If you don't mind, I'd like to hang out awhile and keep the learning going.
And Linda, I sincerely hope if you're reading this you have experienced some relief. I can't believe you were reading and posting while under attack and I appreciate your contribution.
Selene
PS - Dr Seuss was terrific and I love the idea of the shroom party, especially if it would offer some respite. If cancer and glaucoma sufferers can get marijuana legally, then mushrooms for CH ought to be next!