Well this entry is going to be a little different than my normal entries
what makes this one different is i actually have something to write about
yesterday i got the worst migraine of my entire life at about 6pm
I tried taking my pills and using my heating pad but nothing worked by 7pm i thought i was going to die because it hurt so bad, i felt like i had so much pressure in my skull that it was going to crack.
I decided, with help of my mother, that i needed to go to the hospital. My next problem was that i was the only one in my apartment. so at 7:09 i called Meghan and asked if someone over there could take me to the hospital and thankfully this guy she was studying with someone who drove me there. When we got there Jessica and Brittani were already there. Meghan had filled Hannah in and she was finding someone to fill in for her at work and then drove over to the hospital.
some of the questions they ask on the form they make you fill out are hilarious, even with all of the pain i couldnt help but laugh, they asked me where i worked, what my mother's maiden name was, and (my personal favorite) my religious preferences..ahh good times good times.
they took me back fairly fast and after we got there, examined me then took me to a room, Meghan cam with me
the doctor examined me then had them start an IV and take some blood for tests and they gave me a shot of phenegrin, some saline(to push it down) and some benedryll (for i dont know what)
they sent me for a head CT to check for tumors, thank God there were none and it looked normal
my tests came back normal too
the doctor came in to tell me all this then told me she had something really serious to talk about, she told me that a big thing they worry about when someone comes in with a migraine that hit out of no where that is this intense and is not like any migraine they have ever had they worry about cerebral hemorages (at this point i freaked out) and then she told me that the only way she could test for it would be to do a lumbar puncture (if i was freaking out before, i completely lost it here) i asked if i could wait for my dad and Hannah called my mom.
My mom didnt want me to have the procedure but she spoke to the dr, then called dr. miller and she spoke to the doctor and they all decided i was having it, but they said i could wait for my dad.
at this point my head hurt SO bad that it hurt to touch my head, lean my head on my pillow, lay a facecloth over my eyes, squeeze my eyes shut in pain, my teeth hurt, my eyes hurt, my ears hurt and was scared making all of this a million times worse.
my dad came and Hannah left to go back to the apartment.
About 20 minutes later they were getting ready to do the procedure. I started feeling really sick so they gave me another anti-nausea shot, had me take my capri's off and preped me for the procedure.
in order for them to do this i had to curl up in the fetal position as much as i could, curving out my spine as much as possible so the bones would be as far apart as possible and i was not allowed to move. me being terrified of needles, i was so scared and unhappy about this procedure that i was crying and shaking, i knew i had to calm down but knowing that they were about to stick an epidural size needle into my spinal chord i could not become calm. My dad started feeling sick so he had to leave (poor dad).
they washed my back and felt around pushing really hard for the place that they needed to stick me then stuck me a bunch of times with a needle filled with stuff that numbed my skin, i hate that stuff it burns really bad
i cannot even describe to you what the lumbar puncture felt like, all i can say is it is the worst and most unusual pain i have ever felt. the doctor could tell i was freaking out so to try and relax me she had asked me what i like to do (she asked me before the actual procedure while the numbing stuff was kicking in) so during the puncture she kept telling me to think about my favorite book and pretend i was reading it. So i tried, i still felt the pain but i tried to think about about the scene in The Truth About Forever where Wes comes into the library and the other girls working there were telling him that Macy couldnt answer his question because she was new and then after a while he asked them the question, it was about where something was put when they packed up the catering stuff the night before and the girls felt so stupid. then Macy answered and Wes told her that he wished she could come help with the catering that day and after thinking about it she jumps over the desk and leaves with him. it did help calm me a little but like i said, i still felt the pain
they took the fluid and i had to lay on my back for half an hour and they gave me a shot of morphine.
the doctor came in half hour or so later and told me that there was no blood in the fluid so it is not a hemorage and the tests were all normal on the fluid BUT they always test the opening pressure when they do this procedure and mine came out to be about 36, the pressure is only supposed to be about 20. This made her think that i have this thing called pseudotumor cerebri which does NOT mean i have a tumor. it means that my brain is producing too much spinal fluid causing too much pressure. This could also be the reason that I get so many migraines.
in order to diagnose it i have to go to the eye doctor and have them check for elevated discs behind my eyes. she gave me the medication that i would have to take if i do have it so i alread started taking it. it is weird cause it makes my fingers tingle.
my back was still hurting and the pain in my head moved from a 10 to a 5 so they gave me one more shot of morphine and let me leave.
that was at about 12ish
my dad took me to walgreens to get my perscription adn he bought me some some fruitloops and milk and granola bars since i have to eat with my pills(to help prevent and reduce the tingles)
then he took me back to my apartment and left to go home.
SO...i feel much better now, the fluid they took out reduced some of the pressure
my back hurts from the lumbar puncture so i have to try to either sit up straight or lay down. i cant really bend over or pick up anything heavy. they dont want me driving so i will have to take the bus or something on tuesday to make up my bio exam that i couldnt go to today. then my brother and dad are going to come and pick me up to come home for the summer. I am about to e-mail work to let them know what happened just in case i have to start working later than planned.
but for the most part i am ok, i know i dont have any tumors in my brain or a brain hemorage and hey, the pills i am on reduce my appetite, i could only eat half of my sandwich and i had to force down my broccoli cheddar bites (which were freakin awesome!)
mom says my back will start feeling better soon, i just have to try and take it easy.
i know i have said it a million times to the people this is directed towards but i cannot say thank you enough to all of you, i am so thankful for having such amazing friends. I love you guys!
well i better get going on that e-mail i may just end up calling them cause it is much simpler..lol
i hope you all are doing great!