migrainesandarrhythmia

I haven't updated in a year, and, man, everything has changed. So much. So much for the better. I am so thankful that neurologist said his pain was "too much" and that "we [could] do better." Because we absolutely could and had an amazing breakthrough with G.I. All this time, I thought Jack's nausea was from the migraines and maybe he was having abdominal migraines. The G.I. ran bloodwork without any clear conclusions. Jack had an endoscopy to check for damage to this throat, celiac disease, and other intolerances. Everything came back normal and appeared correct. She prescribed him an acid reflux medicine to see if it would help. It kind of helped some, but not that much. This all took place around the end of March/early April 2022. At the end of April, I called the G.I. to say that he was doing a little better, but maybe a different medication would help more. Y'all. Don't stop pushing for better. Don't stop advocating for your kids. The G.I. c...

"We can do better than that." The neurologist leaned toward Jack with concern in her eyes. "That is too much." Three or more minor to moderate migraines a week. Two to three days home from school a month with a severe migraine to the point of tears followed by a constant moderate migraine for three to four days straight. Nausea ALL the time. And no pain medicine worked. It _is_ too much. The neurologist increased Jack's preventative medication and prescribed him a triptan migraine abortive for those really bad days. We have a referral to a specialized headache clinic at CHKD Norfolk for May 4 and also a referral to a GI specialist for his nausea.  It _is_ too much. I hate seeing Jack have to suffer through the trial and error of trying out different medications and doses. We are making progress, and I'm praying we can keep getting him better and better. From my own chronic migraines, I know not to get my hopes up too high; however, I think seeing a specific ...

 Jack said to me this morning, "I've been feeling depressed lately." And then he started to cry. I asked what was making him sad--school? The weather being cold (too much time indoors without adventures)? Fights with his brother? He said he didn't know. I told him that he wasn't alone and we'd figure it out together. It is tough getting Jack to school each morning. He never really seems to feel well in the morning. The migraines are down to about a bad one once a week, but he still experiences other symptoms, like nausea. And depression is a symptom as well. Jack fought hard against depression last winter through summer. Around July, he started to feel better. His new medication from this fall has helped a lot, but we aren't there yet. The neurologist had said Jack could take it twice a day, but we were trying just once at night to see if that would be enough due to his heart. I take the same medicine and just at night. I'm hoping taking it in the morn...

Highlights: The school year has gone well with minor migraines and bad nausea at night. Jack has missed some school from being sick, but nothing like last year when he was missing two days or more a week and also coming home early most days due to migraines. He has still been getting migraines, though, so we recently switched his preventative. He says it is working even better. It has only been four days, and I'm hesitant to call it a success yet. I'm praying this new medicine will help him be able to play soccer this spring. It has been a while since I updated. I kept waiting to see how things would pan out. I hate to report something just for it to change later. And of course that happens frequently with migraines. We are almost to Christmas break! The first quarter of school went well for Jack. He has gotten some migraines at school, but he has missed relatively few days for migraines compared to last year and hasn't gone to the nurse at all. At recess, he wears a hat an...

 Highlights: Things are going well and under control. We continue to pray for this in the fall. We have about a week and a half left of summer break, which is always a sad time. I'm holding onto each day the best that I can. At the beginning of the summer, everything felt hopeless as Jack had 5-6 migraines a week without any form relief. He would feel incredibly nauseous all the time, especially at night. Summer started off rocky and Jack didn't want to do anything or go anywhere. Lots of sadness and tears. However, maybe it was the rest or the magnesium, but Jack is concluding the summer feeling great. He hasn't had a severe migraine since June. We drink lots of water and are very careful about not pushing it too hard in the heat and the sun.  At the beginning of the summer, we were talking about canoeing trips and how the boys would like to go on one when they're older. Jack excitedly said it would be a great adventure, but then suddenly his face dropped. He said, ...

Highlights: Jack's treatment plan will continue as have been doing. He has only had two waking migraines since school got out. His migraines are less frequent and severe. The neurologist said that if the migraines increase in frequency and intensity when school starts, we will try adjusting medication and also treat Jack from a mental health approach because anxiety from school is likely contributing to them.   This summer is continuing to go well for Jack. I think the magnesium is helping more than anything. Jack still gets migraines if we spend a couple of hours outside, so we have to be careful. Jack's overall mood is improving with less migraines and less pain. He is not as angry, frustrated, or sad. It is hard to get him to do activities still, but we're making progress. At the beginning of June, he was ready to quit everything, including Cub Scouts. He wouldn't leave the house. Since then, Jack has gone fishing twice, to two museums, on a Cub Scout hike, and a Sea...

Highlights: Jack has been doing mostly well with migraines since school has gotten out. I had a great meeting with the principal of Jack's new school. Jack's eligibility for services will be evaluated in the fall. School has been out for, what?, a week now? I'm not sure as the days all run into one another. We've mostly relaxed around the house and enjoyed our backyard along with videogame fun. Nothing too eventful. Jack has enjoyed being able to sleep in and wake up naturally on his own. He is not a morning person. He hasn't had any waking migraines since school has been out. I think either the magnesium is working wonders or our slow, relaxed days are helping. If he starts feeling unwell, we just rest the migraine away. He has had some rough nights with pain, but nothing like before with migraines coming in the morning, afternoon, evening, all the time. Summer can't last forever, though, and I hope that we can keep the migraines away in the fall. In preparati...