Migraines 2015

Me, once the worst was over... Big throbbing veins either side of forehead still evident

So this week was FUN. I say 'FUN', I mean 'STAB ME IN THE HEAD IT WOULD BE LESS PAINFUL'.

I posted previously about migraines last year, after a particularly nasty spell took me away from the blog for days.

This week my vile, throbbing,head was mixed with a flare-up of IBS, something that Jane from BBB suggested may in fact be stomach migraines (I'm looking into that). WHO knew that was even a THING? 

Anyway, whilst I'm now on Day 4 of the fading symptoms/hangover I thought I'd update the little list of things that have helped me... and as always, please leave your suggestions below for fellow sufferers. Migraines were a gift to me after I had my first child, previous to birthing out the sproglets, I never had so much as a flutter of a headache. Swines. 

What helped?

• Warm showers. Letting the heat gently pound the back of my neck while standing in the dark bathroom was strangely soothing.
• Bananas - as always. You really need to eat when you take things like Sumitriptan (well I do anyway), and bananas also give you a potassium shot. I know they are not the highest potassium-containing foodstuff, but when you can barely move you're not about to cook up a sweet potato/bean/spinach casserole. People who try and preach to migraine sufferers that there are foods with higher potassium levels than bananas are missing the point of what being incapacitated by your throbbing, stabbing head actually means. *digresses, goes back to post*
• Water - tons and tons of water. Sparkling for me, normal water makes me more nauseous when the head is killing.
• Magnesium supplements - to ease the throbbing and relax the muscles - and the brain ache!
• Ubiquinol - I mentioned this in my January pillbox post and hadn't taken it for a few days - as most people say CoQ10 helps, this could also have been a factor... *never goes without again*
• The Dark - obvs.
• And.....

these gems. Or should I say 'Chewing' - and then say these gems...

I bought these Bounce balls a couple of weeks ago to snack on during those days when I'm running around and don't want to resort to grabbing rubbish on the go.

I hid them* from my older boys (the weight-lifting, body-building, food-hoovering duo) under my bed and completely forgot about them. This week, during the flare-up, I dropped my pillbox on the floor and whilst scrambling around in the dark and swearing like a navvy I found them!

Turns out these things are a GODsend. The chewing works wonders (who KNEW?) and they give you the feeling of being full up so you don't have to worry about taking meds/feeling nauseous. I wish these had been around when I was pregnant...one a day at lunchtime meant I wasn't hungry so could focus on just getting rid of the headache...

Anyway, that's my little tip for the migraine crew. If you suffer from them, I hope it helps, if you don't suffer from them, try wrapping gaffer tape around your head really tightly 6 times, then stabbing yourself repeatedly behind your right eye for 6 hours, and remember to vomit intermittently. :)

Oh and I got the Bounce balls from Whole Foods, but I'm sure you can get them in Holland & Barrett etc... 

*Yes, I hide food from my children. When your kids eat 6 chicken breasts 'as a snack' after getting back from the gym because they're 'starving' and then say 'what's for dinner?' you'll hide food too. 

I also hide beauty products, clothing and remote controls when necessary. 

New Year, New Plans

2012 was an amazing year for me. For the first time in my life I made a list of things I was determined to achieve by the end of the year. It had 5 major things on it. I completed 4 of them before the Autumn and number 5 is in progress as we speak. 

I finally get the old saying 'Fail to plan, plan to fail.'

So I'm doing it again this year. I'm not making resolutions, I'm making plans. 

I'm not exactly superstitious - but I am (surprisingly I know) intensely private. When I passed my driving test last May only my Husband and Mum knew what I was up to. I didn't even tell my kids. Nearly everyone I know said 'Bloody hell you kept THAT quiet.' I do. I keep the big things under my belt.  This year's list has another 5 big things on it. I'll report back in a year.

What I don't mind talking about are the plans for healthier living. 

I'm pretty huge on the anti-inflammatory diet these days - I have a predisposition towards inflammatory diseases on my Mother's side and with every passing year I'm more aware of the importance of taking care of myself. Not just for me, but for my family. If I don't function at my best, my family don't function at their best. That's the reality.

I've already made quite a few changes progressively in the past few years:

When I do drink, I only drink red wine - and have done for years. I wouldn't dream of drinking beer (bloat city and sugar = inflammation and fat) and spirits are over-rated. 

No fizzy drinks. I may, once a month (you know!) have a can of fat coke - and enjoy it. But that's it. 

No chocolate. This one is easy - I'm not a big lover anyway so don't miss it. Ditto biscuits. Meh. 

So the changes I'm implementing/adding this year to my current lifestyle are: *deep breath*

No alcohol. I did this last year from Jan-Apr and didn't miss it. It's surprisingly easy. I drank at the end of April for my son's 18th birthday - he's 19 this year - I figure it's not a 'big one' so I'll be fine to carry on! I'm not sure how hard and fast I'll be - maybe until my holiday in July, maybe until the Summer gig season in June (Bon Jovi AND Bruce touring?!) maybe I won't fancy it at all - who knows? But drinking as par for the course during the week/weekends? No.

Ditto Champagne at events. Goes down easy, hits the head and stomach hard. No.

Also - a nice trick your body plays on you the older you get - that second glass of wine? Up. All. Night. I'm not kidding. I need my sleep.

Even less sugar. I'm already doing quite well but I'm going to be even more vigilant about it. Sugar = inflammation.

To continue drinking shedloads of water. I already do this. Consciously. I'm going to continue to do so.

Eat even less white foods. I'm doing ok cutting out pasta and now only have whole grain rice - but bread - I am still partial to hot buttered toast on occasion. Working on it.

The big one for me? Crisps. Wave a Ready Salted Kettle Chip in my direction and I'm up quicker than Westlife in a key change (2.19 into it) . They are my crack and have to go completely. I can't just have one. Impossible. Complete and utter salt addict and they are the one thing I can mindlessly pick at while watching tv/blogging/chatting. My name is Caroline and I am a crisp addict. 

No. They have to go.

Supplements. The big ones. I'm always asked what I take so:

Fish oil - I already take a minimum of 3000mg a day. I try and take anything up to 10,000mg a day. Working on maximising it as often as possible.

Zinc - I take 15mg a day. 

Vitamin D - I am a sun girl and undoubtedly suffer when it disappears - like now. I take 2000 iu units a day. 

Others to be thrown in when I feel I need them:

Floradix - I'm anaemic, so when I have a noticeable slump, I step it up.

Magnesium - in the evenings to help me relax and sleep.

B12 spray - I use this a LOT. I've escaped any winter cold thus far - coincidence? Maybe. I'm not taking any chances.

(Make sure you've done your research for what suits and won't suit you  if you want to start taking supplements)

And there you have it. (Some) of my New Year's Day rambling/plan/list.

Wherever you are celebrating New Year's Day I wish you the best of health and hope your plans come to fruition in 2013.

Oh! I forgot one last one. 

Wear sparkly, nicer shoes. I am a comfortable size 9 (11 US) and I live in trainers. Sod it. Bring on the nice shoes (sometimes).

Ok. That's it.