Happy Now beautiful souls!

I decided to shift gears a bit to talk about migraines. I have been suffering from a migraine episode for the last six months…yes, one migraine for six months.

Being in a “pain/dis-ease” experience for this long allows me a chance to more deeply understand the flow of the migraine/treatment episode and how it effects the various aspects of my life. Honestly, this will benefit myself potentially more than you. I have been able to be consciously aware of unusual symptoms and warning signs to allow a chance to mitigate the pain before it becomes too much. I am practicing “Mindful Migraines.”

Before I jump into to what’s being going on, literally in my head, let’s take a closer look at migraines in general.

Approximately 37 million Americans suffer from migraines. It is not “just a headache.” Migraines, of which there are multiple types, are a debilitating phenomenon that has multiple symptoms affecting multiple systems of the body.

Types of Migraines include: Chronic Migraine, migraine with and without aura, Vestibular Migraine, Abdominal Migraine, Hemiplegic Migraine, and Menstrual Migraine.

Migraines trigger an inflammation of the membranes enveloping the brain, which can result in a peculiar sensation of discomfort in one’s hair. This inflammatory reaction often impacts one side of the head, giving rise to an intense, pulsating pain that commonly manifests at the temples, forehead, behind the eye, and extends downwards to the jaw and neck region.

Vision, due to sensitivity to light, can be limited or blurry. Blindness, typically in one eye, can also occur. Some sufferers experience vertigo and dizziness since migraines can impact the area of the brain responsible for balance. Additional symptoms include sensitivity to sound, nausea and vomiting, seeing auras, sinus congestion, and watery eyes.

Living with chronic migraines can be a challenge, but it’s a battle I’ve faced head-on for over three decades. These intense headaches have resulted in numerous hospitalizations, showing just how severe they can be. I first experienced the unforgiving grip of migraines during my teenage years, prompting me to seek help from countless doctors in search of relief. Even as I pursued higher education, the frequency of my migraines remained relentless, with 4-5 episodes occurring weekly. The constant pain, accompanied by nausea and other debilitating symptoms, made it difficult to carry on with daily life. I was prescribed various preventative medications, hoping to gain control over these excruciating episodes, but unfortunately, success was elusive. In fact, the side effects of these medications often outweighed their limited benefits. It seemed like a never-ending cycle of trying different medications, only to experience disappointing results.

The pain medication proved to be highly effective, yet it did come with some unwanted side effects. Regrettably, on occasions when I failed to promptly take my pain medication, the intensity of the pain would trigger bouts of vomiting. Consequently, this pattern often landed me in the hospital due to severe dehydration from the relentless migraine-induced vomiting. Throughout my hospital visits, I received intravenous fluids, stronger pain medication such as Demerol, and anti-nausea medication. Although Demerol provided significant pain relief, it invariably induced further nausea and vomiting, creating a harsh cycle to break free from. Following my discharge from the hospital, I would endure a day of grappling with the lingering side effects of the various medications administered.

During that challenging period, I found myself relying on pain medication up to 4-5 times a week. Although it provided temporary relief, it soon became apparent that I was surpassing the recommended dosage. Unfortunately, this resulted in a range of bothersome side effects such as fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, and more. It was clear that I needed to find alternative solutions to manage my pain effectively.

It required extensive personal research, numerous visits to various specialists, and a strong determination for improvement to successfully achieve a higher quality of life. Thankfully, I have rarely required hospitalization for my migraines in the past 15 years.

Which brings us to today, one relentless migraine for the last six months. Let’s start with how this began back in April of 2022.

It began with intermittent nerve pain and neuropathy. After approximately two weeks, a range of additional symptoms manifested themselves. These included partial blindness in one eye, facial paralysis on one side, impairment in speech and cognitive function, temporal disorientation, muscle weakness and spasms. It is worth noting that there was also a transient occurrence of a migraine headache.

Fortunately, upon thorough examination, my physicians and ER doctors determined that it was not MS or Parkinson’s. Instead, it was revealed to be a reactivation of the Epstein-Barr Virus, which is responsible for causing mono. It is important to note that EBV can lead to a variety of complications when it reactivates repeatedly. In my case, I have experienced two reactivations within a span of three years, each requiring a recovery period of approximately 10-12 months.

My doctors now believe the EBV caused an uptick in my migraines as well as developing Hashimoto disease.

I went from having Migraine with Aura and Occular Migraine to additionally having Vestibular and Hemiplegic migraine all at the same time- for 6 months.

I am currently experiencing pain, numbness, tingling, dizziness, blindness/blurred vision, nausea, sound and light sensitivity, and cognitive issues daily as it is believed I am in an intense migraine cycle.

Last week I received a Tordol injection to attempt to break the cycle. I should know in about two weeks if it worked.

So today (and most days) I relax. Lots of water and fresh greens to help detox my system. Minimal auditory and visual stimulation. ( it’s taken me 2 days to write this.) By practicing mindfulness I can learn the clues given by my body as to the onset of the migraine episode. I choose to use the term “episode” or “experience” rather than saying “migraine attack.” Using the word attack can fire up the flight or fight response potentially triggering anxiety over the coming migraine. By seeing it as only an episode or experience, we give ourselves over to the knowledge that it is short lived, will be over soon and we will be OK.

“This too shall pass.” ~Persian saying

Mindfulness and a consistent Reiki practice allows me a deeper connection with my body’s cycles. I am more aware of the triggers and more prepared to endure the episodes. Reiki lets me tune in more completely to the erratic energy shifts that occur during a migraine. I am able to dial back the pain and return to my breath. This practice is one of the main reasons I have not required hospitalization more than once or twice in almost 15 years. I am so grateful for what the gift of Reiki has brought to my life.

To all beings suffering from any pain, my thoughts and prayers are with you. May you be blessed and may you find healing.

Namaste

For more information about Migraines, please visit https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201