Sunday, January 27, 2008

Interior Design (and Life Update!)

I have some exciting news! I've signed up for an Interior Design class! The class starts this Tuesday and runs 8 weeks at the University of Calgary. We don't have an interior design degree available in Calgary, but there are certificate programs available at various schools. I've decided to take the U of C class because they have a very cool Visual Design certificate available, where I can take courses in photography, art, and interior design.
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I'm so excited!
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The bad news is that my headaches have been brutal for the past week. I was trying a new drug, which seemed to work at the beginning, but which caused insomnia as a side-effect. For the first couple of weeks, despite the lack of sleep, my headaches seemed to remit a bit. Then, the lack of sleep (4-5h per night) caught up with me and last weekend I started having brutal headaches. All this week I've had migraine activity and had 5 visial auras (visual disturbances which last about 20 minutes each), one on Tuesday, one Wednesday, two Friday and one yesterday! On Thursday night I woke in the night with an excruciating migraine on the left side of my head. That was the worst of it, but I've had moderate migraines all week.
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These conventional migraines are uncommon for me. Usually I have what they call "chronic daily tension type headache", which is an entirely different category of headache, but believed to be part of the same spectrum. These may range from mild to severe, with severe ones about once a week or every two weeks. Most days, I have a moderate headache which varies throughout the day, becoming worse at times and better at times.
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Occasionally I have conventional migraines, especially with searing pain in my right eye. But it almost never comes with a visual aura, and never becomes "full-blown" as they say. I have only had two auras in the past two years, and this week I had five, so you can see why I am troubled! My regular headaches can be severe but they feel totally different from a migraine. The pain is all over the head, diffuse, and is a dull sickening pain. My migraines are very sharp and pointed and generally sit in my right eye, or behind my eyes, or in my face.
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So....as you can guess I've stopped taking the new med to try to get my sleep, and headaches, back on track! But this drug, since it affects serotonin, should not be stopped abruptly. Rather, you work your dosages down slowly. I did this for 2 days, taking half a dose, but then I said "screw it!" and stopped cold turkey on Friday. Well, I'm now having flu-like symptoms, which my pharmacist says are withdrawal! I'm aching and sore all over, my neck is so stiff I can hardly move it, and I just want to sleep. Plus, I still have a bad headache. Last night I didn't sleep well, but I hope as this drug gets out of my system, I will return to "normal".
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I just want my life back...my same old headaches, please! I have learned to live with those (if you call it living) , but cannot handle them PLUS migraines PLUS visual auras, PLUS insomnia and feeling exhausted. I want me back!
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I will see my neurologist again in a few months. Until then, I will hobble along on the old meds and live with my regular headaches, which seem almost like a fond memory compared to last week!
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Sorry I am not visiting your blogs much. I feel like hell and just can't sit at the computer. Even this has been too much!
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I do miss you all and wonder what you are up to! I promise I will catch up soon, and see what you have been doing. Until then, thank you for your sweet words and thoughts. You are darlings, and your sentiments mean so much when I am feeling so crummy!
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See you soon!

10 comments:

  1. Take thee to thy beautiful bed, Terri, and sleep the sleep of the blessed.

    I'm very excited about your good news! How wonderful to learn more about the things that you love...

    Backing out slowly now...shhhhhhh...

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  2. Anonymous1:19 pm

    My dearest,

    You are such a trooper! Take care of yourself and no worries about blog visits. I cannot believe you even posted, but I am so glad you did!

    I am thrilled by your decision to take courses in what you love. Your life (and ours) will be all the richer for it. And you have put one foot on the path to a new life!

    xoxo
    Melissa

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  3. Congratulations on your good news! That seems a perfect course of study for you. Now, as Vee said...off to bed with you! Take care.

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  4. I admire you, even when you feel bad you have the gift to spread joy around you!
    Take care.

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  5. Hi Terri, Congratulations on the upcoming Interior Design class. I bet you will get an A+ in that class.

    I'm sorry about your awful headaches. I do hope you feel better soon.

    xo Calie

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  6. You poor soul...I truly hope you will get some peace from those awful headaches soon.

    Been thinking of you and crossing my fingers...

    Oh, and I am sooo excited for you about the new direction...who knows wha the future might bring!!

    Linda
    xoxo

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  7. I'm very happy that you're taking the interior design class. That's exciting!

    Please take good care of yourself. Migraines can be a terrible thing. I know alot about chronic pain and it is difficult to carve out a normal life when 50% of your brain cells are tied up in pain management. (At least that's how I try to describe it to my family). My son suffers from a rare form of migraine that totally disrupts vision and eye/hand coordination.

    Can you move up your appointment with the neurologist? I wouldn't want to wait a couple months for some resolution.

    Like Vee said, create yourself a fabulous bed and crawl in.

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  8. I hope you get back to your old self soon.

    Good luck with the interior design course.

    Racheal x

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  9. Oh, wow. You are making your dreams come true! I am very excited for you. Your love for interior design is obvious in your writing. In my humble opinion, I truly believe that this is your calling.
    I hope that sleep brings some relief for you. Be well.

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  10. Love your blog and pictures - such exquisite taste you have - glad you were able to find a good 8 week class. I pray your migraines stop messing with you.

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