Posted by Kathi (152.163.201.214) on September 13, 2000 at 17:04:12:
In Reply to: STRESS posted by jamina on September 13, 2000 at 15:42:53:
NOTHING will convince me that this isn't some type of brain chemical "shift" or imbalance...whatever term sounds the best. When I'm in an episode, SOMETHING is different. I wish I could articulate it but I just FEEL it. Even during the pain-free moments during an episode, there is a funny "pressure" in my head and I feel weird (okay...weirder than usual) I think there is alot in this hypothalmus-circadian rhythym thing. Why else would they be so cyclical and somewhat predictable. All I know is, after 15+ years, I just know that strange feeling...I can feel them coming a mile away. The week before the episode, my neck starts to cramp up. I get funny twinges in my neck and temple. My heart skips beats alot and I feel like I'm not myself...lethargic and spacey. Then when it's gone, I sleep like the dead for two or three days. The knot in my neck leaves eventually and all the things that triggered an attack during an episode cease to bother me. Saturday afternoon I sat a pig roast. Between the cigars, the coals for the fire, the loud band and screaming kids...I was fine. Two weeks ago, just the smell of sauteeing onions threw me into an attack. Stress doesn't make a damn bit of difference.