Neurology and Migraines

It's been two weeks (on the 4th) and I still have a bruise. So 12 days and it's still clearly visible. The one the IV stayed in is nearly 100% gone. If not completely. I don't know what in the world happened but that is ridiculous. I don't think I have EVER bruised that bad for this long!
In other news. My neurology appointment was today. She increased my topamax to 75 mg twice a day, which both boo and yay. Hopefully it helps but boo because now I'll be taking 6 25 mg pills a day. (I'm guessing it only comes in 25 and 50, could be wrong but the nurse said that's what she was calling in.) 3 per dose. I had a headache in office so the nurse (per doctors order) gave me a shot of 60 mg Toradol in the hip. I barely felt it as opposed to the IV. It also didn't 100% cure the headache (85-90%) and it's already coming back less than 3 hours later. I'll take a nap when I'm done writing. See if that helps.
She gave me a booklet on Xyrem and wants me to think about it. I told her I would but I don't think I could with the kids. JSmiley stayed up until 2 last night and I had to get up with Big Daddy at 5 (wake him up for work) then actually get up at 5:40. Big Daddy could sleep through an earth quake so even though I'm the one dx with Narcolepsy, I'm the one who has to be responsible for everyone. Even my neuro said that isn't fair, and it isn't, but I have to do it.
I also convinced her to order a test. She didn't want to because apparently she was under the impression I had frequent flier ER miles (when I've only been 3 times for migraines). And also under the impression that my ER actually did any tests. Nope, I knew what was going on (though not why) and my ER just treats and streets so after a little discussion she agreed to check my chart to see if I'd ever had a CT and order one if not (even though I said I rarely go, I suffer in silence and the only testing I'd had was when I'd fallen, at 4). But I guess she checked because after I got my shot and was checking out the receptionist said it was ordered they just had to get a prior authorization from my insurance to schedule it and they'd be in touch. The only sucky part is, it's without contrast and my medical friend said that's their quick emergent go to, to check for head bleeds. I guess something is better than nothing but if the CT w/o contrast shows nothing will she pat my hand and go "See, it was normal." To placate me. Like all my cardiologists did, or order further tests, just to be sure. I mean she was SURE I couldn't POSSIBLY also have Narcolepsy on top of every thing else. I'm not inviting trouble but we all know every time the doctors stop at basic tests "I'm fine" but once they do the "There's one last test we can do." My dx list gets a little bit longer. We shall see.

MOOOORE Migraines

So for the second time in a month I wound up back at the ER for migraines. This time I went in when it had only been 24 hours. I usually only go as an absolute LAST resort, I don't want to be THAT person but I can't do it. The whole right side of my head felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. I'd barely drank, barely ate. Ibuprofen was barely dulling it. None of that "It goes away for a few hours then comes back" bull. I was dehydrated and dizzy. I needed fluid too. I figured it'd turn into another recurrent migraine that'd be blamed on me (rebound) so I went after 24 hours. Plus this time I've been on my migraine rx the WHOLE time. Last time I thought it was triggered because I use one of those day/week planners and forgot to call in the refill and went a few days without. I've been on it since then and I'm still getting them.
The doctor (was an actual doctor, not a NP) and asked what they'd done in the past. I told him the only two times I'd been they'd given me Stadol and Phenergan. He asked if I'd ever tried Reglan, Benadryl and Toradol. I've never tried the combo but I guess he was asking if I'd ever had the meds in general. I've had Reglan before to ill effect. I went to L&D once for severe GERD symptoms and a resident refused to listen to me and gave it to me. With GERD you need a PPI (or Proton Pump Inhibitor) or it does the opposite. It felt like my throat was burning. The nurse came in expecting me to be "Yup, all better" and ran back out of the room when I said "No! My throat is burning now!" (When she asked if I was feeling better) "What do you mean burning?" "I TOLD him I have GERD and couldn't have that." Anyway, back to the present. I thought maybe he'd replace the Reglan with a PPI like Protonix (what the nurse in L&D had to give me in the other instance) but he substituted it for a low dose of Phenergan. I thought between the low dose of Benadryl and Phenergan I'd be knocked out but surprisingly I wasn't. I was super tired though. I got to the ER at 9:30P, into a room at 11:30, seen by doctor at 12:30A and home around 2:30A. With Narcolepsy, even without those meds I'd be tired.
I'm glad I didn't sleep half a week like the other med combo BUT, I guess I was hoping for a headache reset button and both times I got headaches again quick. Although I guess the second was better for less severe, less longevity (since I didn't need the sleep to recuperate/let my head heal). I know it was stupid to expect a reset button by going to the ER. I know I have CHRONIC migraines. I guess when I'm in pain I don't think straight then when I get another I'm disappointed the pain relief didn't last. Can you blame be though? Very little physical pain can move me to tears. Labor before an epidural got some tears and childbirth after a failed epidural hurt pretty bad too. I have several tattoos, I refer to them as cathartic and even tell people a few nearly put me to sleep (though some I'd rather never repeat, ow). But seriously. Big Daddy had to exert some serious counter pressure just to allow me a modicum of piece and describing my pain to mom, "It felt like I wanted to cave my skull in." I can take pain in general. I can't take pain from the time I wake up until I fitfully fall asleep, all day every day for who knows how long or when dehydrated beyond what I normally am.
The nurse tried to put an IV in just below the crook of my arm but "it didn't take". Possibly from dehydration? I'm not sure how that works but it's bruised in a streak and the darkest part is furthest from the puncture. So then she moved to my inner wrist and diagonal. That was the most awkward area I've ever had an IV to date and I'm pretty sure the bottom of my thumb has played IV host before (though that was pretty awkward, it had a purpose). It's bruised too but not as bad, I'm guessing since it actually "took"? My arm looked MUCH worse all week (the two bruises were almost connected for sine reason!) but I was embarrassed by how BAD it looked so I didn't take any pictures until today when I decided to blog except the ones I took in the ER. I'd have taken more once the IV got set up, she put the green bandage stuff on me etc but she turned the light back off for me and my phone was dying and the whole photophobia thing. Ok, I think I got some pictures, with flash where you can kind of see how large the bruise was. It's faded a whole lot now but still noticeable. It was 10x worse before now. I'm getting a slight headache and it's a minute until midnight so I'm going to try to post and sleep. Hopefully it loads. Fingers crossed since I'm trying to add 2 pictures.
And now I'm having to edit for pic errors. >.>