The Five Categories of Migraines

I suffer from live with migraines. Migraines are not to be confused with a really bad headache. Migraines are migraines. There's no defining them any other way.



I have come up with a sort of scale system to categorize my migraines. I call it MC1-MC5. It is short hand for Migraine Category 1 through Migraine Category 5. Think Hurricane categories. Because, we all know, a migraine can feel a bit like being hit by a hurricane.



Before getting into the categories, I have to explain the difference between a headache and a migraine. With my migraines, I have a few "tells" that let me know one is developing. With a headache there are none of the "tells" just a headache. And, just a headache responds to OTC medicine.



So, what is a "tell"? I have many as I'm sure most migraine sufferers do. Here I'll list some of mine, and the one that I don't experience. A sharp pain in the hinge of my jar, a tingling under my scalp in the "headband" area, pressure behind the eye socket (usually only one eye socket is effected), pressure between my eyes; as in the bridge of my nose area and sharp pains in and around my cheek bones.



And then there's the aura that people talk about. I do not get the aura. The best way to describe this is to call it a vision distortion. Sometimes people can see wavy lights in their peripheral vision. From what I've read, within thirty minutes of the aura, the migraine begins. This is listed as the most common "tell" of an oncoming migraine. I'm not sure why I don't experience this "tell", but I've been told my migraines are unusual and they also don't respond to migraine medicines. I know, I'm obviously, medically weird. As expected.



So, that being said, I can get into the categories now and you'll understand what I'm talking about when I say "tell".



Let's start from the least severe and work our way up.



MC1:
This is when you have a tell going on and then shortly after your head starts to throb. You've tried OTC medicine and it will not alleviate it. You move on to prescription migraine medicine and with one dose it goes away. It helps to drink lots of water. Generally you can continue your day without the effects of the migraine interfering. The difference between a MC1 and a regular headache is the tell being present and the medicine used to alleviate it.



MC2:
You've had a tell, your head is throbbing, OTC medicine is not working and neither is the first dose of prescription medicine. You can somewhat function in your job, or the world, but it's starting to effect you. Some effects are trouble concentrating and blurred vision. A second dose of Rx meds helps, but not make it completely go away. Eventually you make it through the day and can go to bed to "sleep" it off. Generally you wake the next day without a migraine or any headache.



MC3:
All of the above for MC1 and MC2 happen, but no amount of medicine is alleviating your pain. You can't function well at work or in your daily activities. You need a dark room, absolute silence and a cool rag splashed with lavender or peppermint. An MC3 will be accompanied by trouble concentrating, slightly slurred speech, nausea and blurred vision. Sometimes to the point of not being able of driving safely. Your head feels too heavy for your own shoulders and you can feel the veins pulsating through your scalp. Sleep is the only answer. Sometimes you wake the next day with a slight headache, but OTC meds will work to alleviate the headache.



MC4:
The main difference between MC4 and MC3 is the vomiting that occurs with MC4. The nausea that you felt with the MC3 is intensified and actually makes you physically sick. The pain is so intense that the only way to alleviate it is by vomiting. No amount of meds are helpful. Water, dark rooms, silence or sleep will not help put off the inevitable; puking your guts out until there's nothing left. After heaving your stomach contents, you have less pain, but it is still there and you have an immediate reflex to sleep. And sleep now! I have actually fallen asleep beside the toilet before. No joke. Upon waking the next day there is usually a headache remaining but it is not anywhere near as intense. It's usually about a MC1. Water is your best friend. And food, because your stomach is empty.



MC5:
And, that brings us up to a MC5. The mother of all migraines. This is the one you never want to come to town. MC5 is the MC4 plus you end up in the Emergency Room. The reason you end up in the ER is simple, dehydration and pain. It takes an IV bag (or two) and a shot of Demerol to end this type of migraine. Earlier on in my migraine life I visited the ER on a regular basis, even once when I was out of town, but since then I have figured out ways to keep from suffering from the MC5. The main way to stay out of the ER is by drinking lots of water. When the first tell begins, before you ever feel your capillaries pulsating, drink water. Don't chug it, just take a sip here, a sip there and so on. I've found that room temperature water goes down the best when you are starting to feel the effects of a migraine coming on. I don't know why, but it's just something that works. The day after a MC5 you will definitely have a migraine hangover. I've had one last for five days and had to take strong prescription pain medicine such as Vicodin.


MC3, MC4 and MC5 are all debilitating to your day. Don't expect to do anything the day any of these categories come into your life, except cope.



Alright, now that I covered the categories of migraines, I thought I might add some things over the years that have been known to cause migraines for myself. These aren't the same for everyone, but if you suffer from migraines and you are not sure what is causing them, maybe you should check out what you are eating or your surroundings.



Here's my trigger list:
Aged cheddar
Lunch meat
Soy foods
Hot dogs-or any food that contains nitrates
Some citrus foods
Chocolate
Excessive amounts of caffeine (This is because caffeine dehydrates you)
Wine
Secondhand smoke
Some cigars
Strong perfume
Flashing lights
Too much direct sunlight (Yes, this one sucks. I really enjoy the sun)
Dehydration
And STRESS. Just FYI, stress is listed as the number one cause of migraines. Although I believe dehydration is.




Here is a list of other triggers known to the migraine world, but none of these seem to bother me.
Nuts
Avocados
Alcohol (except wine effects me)
Citrus juice (weirdly I can drink small amounts of juice, but not eat very much citrus)
Marinated, pickled or fermented food
Peanut butter
Sourdough bread
Broad beans, Lima beans
Figs
Raisins
Papaya
Sour cream
Bacon
Menstrual cycle



Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is strictly my opinion and information I have gathered on my own migraines. Do not replace your own physicians advice with any of my experiences. Seek professional help.



Adios Muchachas,

Mel

100 of my Favorite Things

In honor of my birthday, (32nd according to my 6 year old) I decided to make a list of my 100 favorite things. These are in no particular order, but my kids said I HAD to put my Faith and family at the beginning. So here it goes. 

My God~his son and the Holy Spirit all in one, my husband, my kids, my parents, all other family, good friends, the Atlantic ocean, Chips and Salsa, The University of Notre Dame, books, absolute quietness, music, sunny days, a clean kitchen, Christmas hymns, first snow of the year, tall boots, traveling, love letters, NASCAR, giggling, dogs, the USA military, TV dramas, my quilt, Coke Zero, Rum (and both of the two previous together), steak, vacation, lounging  poolside, hot tea, lifting weights, Shockers Basketball, Taylor Swift, Antiques, the beach, sleeping, reading, pianos, mascara, the color green, all levels of football, Holy communion, shirts that talk, my kids sports, ear buds, Asics shoes, sunglasses, homemaking my kids Halloween costumes, Pinterest, QT Pineapple Green tea, putting my feet on the dash while Jed drives long distance, High heels, the Green Bay Packers, sappy romance novels, a jeep with no top or doors and really BIG tires for mudding, Netflix, Holy Week church services, writing, Febreeze, tubing on the lake, Venti white chocolate mocha from Starbucks, staying up really late to finish a novel, sleeping in, hoop earrings, air conditioning, toilet paper, Isotoner gloves, patio sitting by my fire pit, my iPad mini, my iPhone, the smell of used books, moscato wine, photography, sledding, TJ MAXX, Directv, DVR, Shock Top beer with an orange slice and cold glass, humor, texting over talking on the phone, Instagram, fresh-clean towels, Birthday parties, bike riding, hoodies, big screen TV's, popcorn, concerts, Libraries, my children's individuality, red hair, shopping, coloring, giving gifts, flying in airplanes, fishing, my husbands smile, my tattoo, praying. 

Now, those being said, this is not a list of the only things I love, just my 100 favorite. 

Disclaimer: This list is subject to change based on the day, hour, temperature outdoors or my mood at the time. 

Love to ya'll,

Adios Muchachas,

Mel

New Year, New You! Blah, blah, blah...

My New Years resolution is not going to be a diet or exercise routine that I will ultimately fail at. I mean, why continue to torture myself year after year with the same old weight loss goals, right? I can't even remember my weight loss goals from last year, how am I supposed to keep them? I know, but my new goal is brilliant I tell you, and here it is: I will make a new plan to de-clutter my life instead. If I de-clutter I'm sure to lose weight, right? Some of the de-cluttering will have to be physical work, after all. 

 Well, that's the plan. 

 So, how long until I fail? I'm being optimistic here, but I give it until July 1st. And, actually, I'm not going to be calling it a failure if I make it to July. But, if I somehow, by a miracle only God himself can provide me, do I manage to finish de-cluttering my life (Which, no one can ever really "finish" because, let's face it, clutter will always arise in new forms) then I will be calling that: goal accomplished. 

 Now don't get all, "C'mon Mel, you have to have a little Faith in yourself." Believe me when I say, this IS me having Faith in me! I have zero reason to feel I can do better than 6 months because I have zero results from past projects. Except I did complete my reading goal of 2014. Yep. I wanted to accomplish reading 100 books in a year and I finished it just 3 days shy of the deadline!!! Actually, I ended up reading one extra! <gasp>

So, my new-found feeling of so called faith in myself comes from this particular part of me that managed to make my reading goal. (But really, it's not me who accomplished this goal. Yes, I physically read those books, but God made it possible. He had me sitting a 2 hours worth of practices almost every night of the week throughout most of the year. And, THAT was a huge reason why I accomplished the goal.) 

 Since I'm on that accomplished goal high right now, I shall lay out the definition of "de-clutter my life." 

"De-clutter" meaning to me: 

 1) My house is clean and cleared of all visible "clutter" 

2) Physically I feel less weight (even if the scale says otherwise) 

3) Mentally I feel more relaxed 

4) Emotionally I feel free 

5) My husband can tolerate me and still continues to love me 

6) My kids are still alive and containing all of their body parts 

7) My dog is housetrained kind of potty trained 

8) I've refinished my Great Aunt's antique hutch that has been sitting in my garage for 1 1/2 years now 

9) I've refinished the two antique chairs that are also sitting in my garage (These are the "major" projects on my radar) 

 And 10) I finish writing one of the four book projects I've messed around with for the past 4 years. Even if I don't ever self-publish or get published by any random company out there, especially Harlequin or Penguin books,(because let's face it, THAT alone would be the ultimate dream come true and I would be allowed to die young if need be) as long as I "finish" one of the four storylines and I can personally say I finished one in 2015 it will be wrote down as accomplished. 

So, there you have it. My 2015 goals. Pretty lofty goals now that I see them on paper. I'm actually already feeling kind of overwhelmed by them. Okay. I can do this. I will do this. I am woman hear me roar. (Or something like that mantra) 

Focus. Okay let's break it down. 

Numbers two and three are only going to happen if I accomplish numbers one, eight, and nine. Number four will happen when I finish number ten. Numbers five and six will hopefully be intact throughout the year. And, we should really just completely strike number seven from the list. after all, you can't teach an old dog new tricks, or so I'm told. 

 I'm feeling better about it now. 

 Time for a latte and starting on number one. And that's a skinny latte, if you're needing to ask. Hey, baby steps here. 

Adios Muchachos 

 Mel 

 P.S. Here are a few pictures of some of the items on the list of ten. I will not be showing a pic of the clutter or the antique furniture, not because I don't want to, but more because I don't have pictures of them. These are the said dog, Cupid, my happy kids and loving husband.