Wishing For Relief

The Evening Primroses are Blooming

My front flower bed is a shambles this year because I haven't had the energy to put out new annuals. However, the evening primroses that I established a couple of years ago are branching out and taking up more space. Thank heavens it is a native plant (or weed!) and very hardy!

Not a very good evening. The Headache is on an upward swing. Can't sit still, and so nauseous I don't know if I can keep any medication down. Not wanting to go to an ER - I live so very far away from everything, and these late night exacerbations make it difficult to find someone to go with me. I absolutely hate having to wake people up in the middle of the night just to go sit in an emergency room and wait just so I can get pain relief. If I don't have a ride or a driver the ER will not medicate with anything strong enough to stop The Headache. What a delimma!

Figuring on renting a car and driving to Cleveland this Sunday. My old Ford won't make many more 16 hour trips, so I'm going rental. I'm dreading the drive, but it's the most economical way to go - didn't have enough advance notice to get cheap airline tickets. Depending on how I feel, may stretch the drive over Saturday and Sunday. I am going to keep checking ticket prices but right now it would be over $2400 for my brother and I to fly, and I can't justify that expense.

Home Again!

No Rechargeable Battery for Me

Back from Cleveland, with no wires in my head. The trial lead was easy to remove, and it only took a few minutes. I was surprised at how long the piece they had implanted was - about three inches long. Didn't feel like that under my skin!

I talked with the study representative and with the P.A. who removed the lead about my trial experience. I did find out I AM eligible for surgery, that the trial was considered successful, and I WON'T get a rechargeable battery implant. :( At the beginning of the trial I was told that I could be given one of six models of implants, but the implant study rep said, no there was only one model. That seems much more scientifically valid, with less variability. She just didn't say what model!! I guess that's why the study guarantees lifetime replacement surgery for the batteries for its participants.

Got a great cabbie in Cleveland. He charges a flat rate from the airport region to the Clinic, or vice versa. Since I was in no hurry to get back to the airport and the meter wasn't running, he took me on a quick scenic tour on the way back. We drove through a park built in the late 1800's - a curving greenway with sculpture gardens all through it. I found out that the Rockefeller family came from Cleveland and that Bob Hope was from Cleveland. I haven't fact checked the cabbie, so I am just repeating the tour monologue!!! I'm keeping his number for the next trip!

Turbulent flying on the way home. I tried to switch to an earlier flight but they were booked up. For some reason, every time I fly into Memphis there is a great deal of turbulance right at the airport. Is it me, or is it Memphis?

The Headache is pretty strong this evening, as I had to drive from the airport to home and didn't dare medicate too much. I'm planning on working a full day tomorrow if I can! It's sticky and humid and hot so I've turned up the air at home so The Headache won't get worse.

One Less Trip to Cleveland

April 15th appointment to be covered by Phone

Yeah! Score one for me! Lilly the study coordinator checked with the study sponsors and I don't have to travel to Cleveland next week. I am so glad I didn't make plane reservations ahead of time this time.

Lilly said she will give me a call next week and ask some questions, and then review my headache log online. I sure hope I pass! The last few days have been lousy. I am missing work today and have taken a combo of trammadol, benedryl and phenergan so I hopefully can avoid going to the ER.

I setup an appointment with my PCP to get a shot of toradol this Thursday. I hope to hold out until then, because that is my cheapest avenue. I'm on such a tight budget this year since this is year two of only being able to work part time. The Belly does not like the toradol and I think The Headache is not responding to it very well, but I want to give it one more try.....

On the Way to Cleveland in pursuit of ONS

Wish me well

The Headache has subsided a bit. Have some pain killers for the plane if things get out of hand - per my doc ask 'em for a hit of the strongest whisky they have and take one of these with it! :) I think if I have to take one I will skip the whisky. I will probably nauseous enough without airplane liquor on top of it.

He also gave me a couple of days of prednisone The Headache is behaving itself. Yeah!!!

Bad Headache Day #11 & 12 2009

On The Road to Cleveland

Yesterday is mostly a "lost" day. The Headache roared back, but I was able to make myself sleep through most of it. Subsequently I don't remember most of yesterday, and today The Headache is still making itself known. I look at this as a good prospect for my journey which I will try to do starting in the early AM tomorrow morning. Thirteen hours of driving - but I will probably be up at 2:00 AM anyway because The Headache will INSIST.

I found a lovely picture of Cleveland on the internet and am using it to illustrate why I probably won't be blogging for a few days (unless I have the patience to blog in the lobby of the hotel at the communal PC). Luckily I had enought Marriott points to get a couple of nights free just outside Cleveland proper. Yeah, traveling too much does have an advantage! That's about $400 in hotel room cost I am saving.

My initial enthusiasm for going has waned because last Friday was a reminder of how bad this headache can get. I fear being caught somewhere without any means to get to an ER or Urgent Care AND get back. Have had this issue before - if you drive yourself your options are extremely limited for pain relief. Hopefully with yesterday and today being my "bad" days for the week - I am OK until Saturday/Sunday.