Away! And some Botox, too.

Hi all, sorry I haven't been at it lately. I don't think I mentioned it in any previous posts, but in late June I had Botox injections to help me control my current intractable migraine. I was prepared for the worst, actually - I think we all are in a situation like Botox, where you receive 31 shots in one sitting (into sore, tender points throughout your face, temples, neck, and shoulders) and the majority of patients receiving these injections report back that after the injections they trigger into one of the worst migraines they can remember having. I sailed through the injections (getting piercings and tattoos kind of prepares you for this situation, even though I usually get both for fun and not medical reasons - who knew?), and afterwards I worriedly asked about the potential for migraine because I had a 4-hour drive home ahead of me (with my lovely mother-in-law helping me, of course). My specialist gave me an anti-emetic (I'm not sure which one, probably Zofran), and a Toradol injection, and I was free to start my journey home.

The next day I had considerable muscle pain, but nothing more than that. The day after that - nothing. No migraine. No head pain of any kind. Silence. Merciful silence.

I panicked, I really did. I Googled the heck out of Botox for migraine, and finally, after sifting through the countless news articles on just how much it helped migraine sufferers, I found an article about how a few people got immediate relief from the injections, and no migraine afterwards. Well, I always knew I was the weird one, but this relieved me. Not so weird this time! Hah! Still in the minority, though. It's funny how no migraineur does anything by the so-called migraine "book." I am glad that the terrific specialists in this area of health recognize that and work so hard at dispelling myths and the "standard" protocol treatments for their patients. There are no "standards" for these types of chronic pain patients whatsoever. Each of us is a puzzle to be unlocked.

I am still having breakthrough migraines, however, and I was advised on this by my doctor. However, I had such an overwhelmingly great response right off the bat to Botox that I'm hoping the next set, which is supposed to build on the first, will help me even further. I am still experiencing terrible menstrual migraines, but the Botox is helping them to some degree. They respond to medication now, when they didn't before, or the medication would work for a couple of hours and fizzle out.

Unfortunately, later in July my mother had her beloved Miniature Schnauzer, Gabby, put down. I went with her, as I loved the dog as much as I loved anyone else. I am still maneuvering around a broken heart, but it gets easier everyday. Gabs had diabetes, which is common in Mini-Schnauzs, but I also lost my best friend and Miniature Schnauzer Sassy at the same age - 9 - to kidney failure likely caused by undiagnosed diabetes as well. Gabby fought against the diabetes hard for about a year and a half, but she had a stroke eventually and not only was she already blind, but she also lost her hearing. So she had no joy in life, so we set her free. It's still so painful to think about, let alone write about. Of course, the stress of this set off a chain of migraines, but there are some things you cannot avoid.

I have also started a new blog based on my favorite movie, The Fifth Element. It can be found here: Leeloo's The Fifth Element Repository. I am thinking about writing an unofficial guide to the film, based off of the decade-plus research and fanaticism I have devoted to this hilarious, colorful, quaint little film based on the idea that love conquers all. Writing a book might take some time, though, but I look forward to seeing just how brave I am to actually take this on as a project. I'd originally envisioned a website, but the blog kind of changed my mind. And it's fun for me to work on, too - The Fifth Element is definitely one of my more favored things in life (thank you Luc Besson!!!).

Not only that, I have been drawing again as well. I usually crank out a couple of pieces a year, if I'm up to it, but this past August alone I put out two works and I'm in the process of setting up another couple of pieces.

I am also writing for a new migraine project, and you can visit it here: Teri Robert's Migraine Warriors. She is currently collecting stories for this ongoing project. Please visit the site and see how you might be able to contribute too! We want the world to see what migraine really is.

So I have a lot on my plate right now, actually, thanks to Botox...And I am accomplishing things. So that's good - very good, and I am glad to see a positive spin on one of my posts for once. For once, I have hope. I still have dark days too, but I can see life again. Real life.