First topic message reminder :

So, it's been a while since I've posted...I'm a little overdue...

I'm back at school, which I love...but my body has decided to revolt against me actually getting anything done, which isn't good. Let me rewind and explain a little...

September 5th - All was well. In fact, it was amazing! I'm a philosophy major...and a Thomas Aquinas junkie! This was the day of the philosophy department's annual Aquinas lecture (the religious studies department has one in the spring). One of my professors, who is the Thomas Aquinas chair in philosophy, invited me, along with a couple other students and another professor, to have lunch with the lecturer (who had just come in from Scotland...I'm in Indiana, USA, just in case you didn't know). We sat down to a wonderful lunch off campus around 11:30am. We were back on campus by 1pm, because several of us had another philosophy course at that time. However, by 1:30, my head was EXPLODING and my nausea was beyond intense. I ended up skipping my next two classes, going back to my room, taking everything I could (including DHE, Zofran, Cyproheptadine, and Aleve) and lying down for about 1.5 hours. When I woke up, I thought I had actually gotten the headache under control. I went to work for about an hour, and then off to the Aquinas dinner and lecture, which started at 5. I was talking to people at the lecture until about 11:30pm. When I got back to my room, the minute I started to relax the tiniest bit, I started throwing up...for several hours.

This was the second time EVER that I was actually throwing up with a headache. And it happened every night for 2 weeks, until I managed to get enough Zofran into me to calm it down. However, that same day, 2 weeks later, I came down with one VERY nasty cold, which lasted about a week. Then, the day my cold let up, I started with the throwing up again.

To add onto all of this, on October 2nd, I was just sitting in a chair, waiting for class to start, when I got a sharp pain from my lower back into my right hip. I didn't think much of it at the time. Got through class and a meeting, went to my room and took some Aleve, biked over to Notre Dame, had dinner, went to Four:7 (a Catholic fellowship I'm on leadership team for and play in a worship band at), biked back to campus, and went to bed. The next day, I woke up in severe pain. I somehow managed to get through the day, but came back to my room and collapsed into bed. Then, Thursday, October 4th, I woke up in excruciating pain, almost unable to walk. I missed my 8am and my 9:30am classes, but managed to make it to work at 11. However, by 12:30, I was pretty much crying because I hurt so much. My boss saw me (and VERY long story short) ended up taking me to the ER where I was diagnosed with sciatica and put on bed rest for 3.5 days. Well, other than getting very behind in my school work during that time, nothing much happened while I was on bed rest. But I was still very nauseated from my headache.

Well, finally, I made it to Fall Break. Over break, I saw my primary care physician and discovered that my pelvis was out of alignment, which is why I was dealing with the sciatica. She put my pelvis back into alignment and put me on some steroids. The next day, I saw my migraine doctor to get my 4th (and probably last) set of Botox injections. He said that if these don't make a significant difference that we are moving onto something else.

I came back to school a week ago, and things seemed to be going well. But then Tuesday I started with the flu. Wednesday, my sciatica started acting up again (I had finished the steroids Tuesday morning), and Wednesday night, over a 2 hour period, my head went from a 10 on the pain scale to about a 16. I've done everything I can think of to make the make go away (or at least ease) but nothing has helped at all. It's now Friday afternoon and I don't know what to do to get through the weekend.

I'm behind in every class I'm in (I'm taking 6 this semester, because I'm insane), my back hurts, and, most importantly, my head is killing me. My vision keeps blurring/doubling and the nausea is crazy. Oh, and I didn't mention earlier, but I haven't taken any daily meds since September 5th, because every time I try to take them, I just throw them back up. I'm miserable and I don't know what to do. Frankly, I'm 99% sure that a spinal tap is in order, but I don't know if the ER will do one for me, and I don't have any doctors here in town (the joys of going to school 6.5 hours away from your doctors...urg). My parents have no suggestions for me (and they probably just want me to shut up about it all already). My boss is truly concerned, but I doubt she can do anything either.

I just want to curl up and die...the pain is too much. HELP!!

Peace,
~Heather~

I've been on acetazolamide, 1000mg twice a day. But really, it's not doing much, if anything. In the past year and a half, I've had 5 spinal taps...this last one, they removed the most (12 CC's of fluid). I also don't have anything for pain management. It's really hard to deal with this day in and day out. I, by myself, have thought about surgical options…but the problem is that my doctor still thinks this is just migraines…I mean, I’m technically dual diagnosed with chronic migraines and IIH…but it’s like, he never checks the IIH…and I’m not supposed to see him until January. And when I saw the neurologist about it, she thought that the IIH was under control. I don’t know anymore.

As far as the ADA and school is going, well, since the weekend just ended, nothing really got done about it. I just spoke to our disabilities specialist here at the school, though, and it doesn't appear as if she’s going to be much help. She’s like “Well, talk to your professor and try to set up an appointment with the dean of academic affairs to talk to her about what is going on.” I just don’t know anymore.

Headache is worse today than yesterday…actually, it had me up for quite a while last night. I just feel so screwed right now.

Peace,
~Heather~

have you tried Lasix? it really helps me. and I have seen data about Lasix and Diamox working together synergistically. maybe you can ask your neuro to call it in for you to try?

I have not tried Lasix...I can ask about it...though I don't know if it may interact with other medications I'm on...freaking page and a half of medications...*sigh*

Peace,
~Heather~

So, I have emailed my professor to ask him if we can talk after my class tomorrow (which isn't until late in the day...class is from 3:30-4:45), so I'm hoping that goes well. I've also emailed the dean of academic affairs to see if she and I can meet sometime later this week.

Headache got really bad today...got through 2 hours of work and almost 2 hours of studying when I decided to get lunch because I thought getting some food would help the headache ease some...on my way from the dining hall to my room (where I needed to pick up a book before heading to class) my dad called. I got back to my room, sat down on my bed, and immediately said to my dad "I have to go...call you later!" and hung up...ran to the bathroom and got sick...I know it was from the headache because I'm not sick, like flu-sick, or anything. I gave myself an injection of DHE, called my dad back to let him know what had happened, emailed my professors to let them know I wouldn't be in class, and laid down for about an hour and a half. When I got up, I felt a little better, but the pain is still about an 8/10.

The rest of the day has been spent at a therapy session with the therapist here in town followed by dinner with friends. Then I came back to my room, had a conversation with another friend, and I've been relaxing for a little bit. I'm currently listening to Christmas music (my Christmas season extends from Halloween until my birthday (March 2) - so a solid 4 months!!) and I just finished a very brief but VERY helpful (emotionally, at least) texting conversation with my therapist from back home.

Now, on to finishing a paper, completing a take home exam, doing accounting homework, and reading for management class...

I can do this...I refuse to give up...I know sometimes it seems like I'm giving up, but I'm too stubborn to really give up. I want my college degree, and ultimately a successful life, too much!!!

Just asking for good thoughts for the rest of tonight and my up-coming meetings with my professor and the dean of academic affairs.

Peace,
~Heather~

Sending you healing thoughts and loads of strength.

Don't give up Heather!! Good luck with your talk with your professor [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] hope it goes well!!!