#im down to just tylenol and ibuprofen and that's how i prefer it

[wolfeyedwitch]

😆😆😆 same!

I had surgery last week and going into it, I was taking as many mental notes as I could. Like how the IV felt going in, how the hospital smelled and sounded, just absolutely everything. I remember thinking "oh I don't know if I'm going to remember this part" as I was wheeled into the OR and transferred to the operating table.

I do remember! I remember the anesthesia tech saying "so this will smell like a beach ball, just breathe deeply and think about a beach vacation" before putting a mask over my face. I remember them saying "and this is the medication that will actually put you to sleep" before injecting it into the IV. It felt really strange going into my bloodstream, very warm and prickly but in a pleasant kind of way?

And then I was in the recovery room. Good times!

I think whump writing has changed my brain chemistry. I almost passed out today and my biggest thought was "take notes about how this feels, it will make for good details in writing!"

[cpunkwitch]

Hey, chronic pain anon back again to ask some questions

My first question is to ask if you have any advice for how to handle or deal with the pain, I mean usually I just ignore it, but i dont know if that's really a good thing

I also wanted to ask if you knew of any mobility devices that might help with taking weight off my hips and spine? If that makes sense in a way?? I was thinking of getting some when possible as I noticed whenever I stand still I get a lot of pain / pressure in my hips and spine, like they're crumbling under my weight or something — idk if that makes sense, im like half asleep right now

Okay, uh, thanks :3 you're really cool and even if you can't answer these questions I don't mind ^_^

- chronic pain anon

Hey hun

DO NOT IGNORE PAIN /lh

Pain is your body sending your brain a signal something is wrong, listen to your body or it will get worse

Depending on the type and level of pain there are multiple ways to handle it

My methods are hot compress, soaks in baths or showers if I can manage one or the other, anti-inflammatory meds like ibuprofen or even Tylenol or advil (I can only take liquid or chewable meds but if you can swallow pills and know what meds you can take please do)

Compression socks, gloves, support shoes, braces, especially a back brace can help relieve and lessen pain by the end of the day

Sleeping with an extra pillow under your tailbone and/or between your legs depending on your sleeping position can help as well, preferably small pillows if you have one but whatever works

As for mobility aids

I'm looking into the same thing and the reason I was looking into using my moms walker before was because walkers and rollators have better weight support than a walking stick or cane, definitely better if you want to avoid the wrist and upper body pain leaning on a walking stick can give you at least from my experience

Best ones I know of should be within your height range, and can include a seat though the foldable ones are likely to have less weight support and there can be weight limits for aids so best to look at the weight limit on one before getting it

A walker or rollator feels like a middle between a cane and a wheelchair to me so I'd say it's good for spine and hip issues as I deal with the same

Actually last night because my mom wouldn't let me user her walker on my coffee run I ended up being hunched over with a lot of lacking mobility due to the extra pain I was in by the end of the day, the walker would have helped a lot and even helped me pase myself better walking uphill so I wouldn't have fallen into my habit of speed walking (or marching, Sea cadets will drill marching into your muscle memory)

So yeah tldr?

Anything that takes down swelling and inflammation in your muscles, joints and tissue in general wherever the pain tends to be can help a lot, even pain creams can help some

Small stretches can help too so your joints don't become stiff overtime just be careful not to strain or stretch too far or anything, light stretches can help get your body out of bed

And a walker or a rollator could be good for a mobility aid to look into

Hope this helps!!

[lovemesomesurveys]

What is bothering you right now? I don’t understand why it’s still hot. Do you get bad cramps? I get awful stomach cramps.  Are you more often hot or cold? Hot. D: Have you ever been on a missions trip? No. Have you ever been abused and kidnapped by a cop? Wow, no.

How often do you wash your hair? Every couple days. What’s a trend that you haven’t followed? There’s a lot of them. I don’t follow something just cause it’s trendy. Do you hate political posts on facebook? I don’t comment on or share any political stuff on mine. What creative project are you currently excited about? I want to color, but I have yet to get around to it. Do you like eggnog? * I dont think Ive ever had it before. Ive never been brave enough to try it. Im worried it would taste…well…like EGG, lmao <<< Lol, it doesn’t. I can’t really describe the taste, but I will say it’s an acquired one. People either love it or hate it. I personally like it. How many pictures do you have stored on your computer? Like 5. My photos are stored on my phone, Snapchat, an external hard drive, and online. Whenever I clear out photos on my phone I just message them to myself on Facebook.  Which type of camera do you prefer: digital or Polaroid? I like both, but I just use my phone for a camera. Have you ever had a camera that took film? Yeah. What do you do to relieve a headache? All I can do is put a cold washcloth over my eyes and forehead and endure it or try to sleep it off. I can’t take anything for them cause I can’t take aspirin, Ibuprofen doesn’t help for my headaches, and Tylenol doesn’t do crap for my headaches either and it also has one of the same ingredients as my pain medication, which too much of can cause liver damage, so I don’t mix them. What do you own that’s wool? Hmm. Do you ever squirt whip cream onto a plate and then eat it by itself? No, I’d just spray it right into my mouth ha. Have you ever had a hot flash? Yes, quite often. List ten girl names you like. Blah. List ten boy names you like. Bleh. What do you think of the name Posie? I don’t like it, sorry. Are you bothered by something right now? Yes. Do you wish someone cared? I know my family cares about me. Are you ok? Blahhhh. Are you upset? Right now I’m tired and kind of hungry. Which pharmacy do you use? CVS. Do you like your hair better curly or straight? Straight. Do you edit your photos? Yeah. Nothing major, I just add a filter to them. Do you think you look better with make-up or without? I look ugly either way so I just stopped bothering it. Would you rather wear purple glasses or black glasses? Black. Do you know anyone who says they’re a Christian but acts like a satanist? No... If you’re a girl, do you ever shop in the boys or mens section? Yeah. I like graphic Ts and I like how the men’s style shirt fits on me.  If you’re a guy, do you ever shop in the girls or womens section? What do you think of when you hear the word “Christian”? Jesus Christ.  How many pullover hoodies do you own? Just 2 pullovers. I much prefer zip ups. How many pairs of sweatpants do you own? A few. What’s your favorite version of the Bible to read? KJV. Have you ever thought you were ugly? I do think that. Do you ever pretend to be ok & happy when you’re not? I did that for a long time, but the curtains came down a few years ago.  Do you wish you could read minds? Why or why not? Nooo. That could be a very dangerous thing. You’ll find out things you wish you hadn’t. Would you rather have wings or a tail? Wings. Do you believe in the supernatural? Yes. Has anyone “come out” to you? Yeah, I’ve had friends and a family member. Name someone whom you’d really like an apology from. No one. What is your favorite piece of classic literature? Hmm. Do you consider yourself “dignified”? “adjective. The definition of dignified is having or showing worth, nobility or self respect. An example of a dignified person is someone who always acts politely and minds her manners in a difficult situation.” I don’t have much self-respect, but I am polite? It says “in difficult situations”, though... hm. I do get moody and snippy with my family I admit, but to others I think I’m still polite. I do probably get a bit short with them, though... hmm, I don’t know, man. Which do you take more: videos or photos? Photos. Have you ever accidentally sent a text to the wrong person? Yes, but thankfully it wasn’t something bad. :O What is the most embarrassing thing you can think of happening? Uh, a lot of things. Do you ever wear sunglasses indoors? I never wear sunglasses. What are two names you used to get mixed up when you were younger? Uhh. I don’t know. What do u think of the quote “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” It doesn’t speak to me. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done lately? Nothing. Can you trust the police? I personally haven’t had an issue with them. Do you wear earmuffs when it’s cold out? I’ve never had to wear earmuffs. It gets cold, but not that cold here.

[thatunhealthysideblog]

Coping with Migraines

I had a really bad week last week; constant on and off headaches and migraines. And since Ive been writing a lot of downer posts recently, I decided today I would write about all of the ways I’ve found to cope with them. Please keep in mind that everyone’s headaches and everyone’s migraines are different - even some of my migraines dont “behave” the same way my migraines usually do. Some of the things that work for me may not work for other people or may make someone else’s symptoms worse.

Exercise

I find that I cant do a lot of intense-level exercise because it will at times trigger a migraine or can make an already active headache/migraine worse. Even simple house-chores can exacerbate an active migraine. Because of this, I try to keep exercise to lower-intensity things like walking, swimming, and stretching/yoga. In addition, I regularly do preventative exercises my migraine physiotherapist taught me to realign my upper neck.

Medications

When I first started to experience migraines, Id take Ibuprofen (i.e. Advil, Motrin Im sorry I dont use brand names anymore; I refer to meds by their medicinal names, dont judge me please). Since I developed GI distress, I cant take Ibuprofen as its an NSAID; in other words, it could trigger worse acid reflux symptoms or help cause ulcers/GI bleeding/other forms of GI chaos. Now, I take Acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol), which I think overall has been less effective for me. I usually have to take higher doses than I did Ibuprofen and Im more likely to have to take a second dose (or third, or fourth, depending on how long/severe the migraine is). My mom finds Feverfew an effective preventative treatment, however I havent tried taking it.

Non-Pharmaceutical Coping Mechanisms

This is where I think I’ve really excelled in experimenting the last year or so. 

Some people recommend peppermint essential oil, or a blend of essential oils including peppermint - dont get me wrong, Ive found these oils to be effective relief to a certain degree, however I would rather not pay upwards of $30 for a little roller of oils. Thats where Vicks Vapo-rub (or the generic version) comes in. Its hella cheap, does the exact same thing. I smear it on my temples, over my eyebrows (be careful around your EYES, PLEASE), and down my neck.The coolness relieves tension and can give me enough relief to continue working or whatever until the meds kick in or until I can rest.

Lights have been a bit of a struggle for me. Quite often before and during a migraine things will seem waaaaaay too bright, especially when the lighting is not natural. Sometimes lights can also cause additional stabby pain. My workplace has been accommodating in that theyve removed some of the fluorescent lighting directly above my workspace. I also rarely have a big overhead light on in my room; rather, I use strings of small twinkle lights or lamps which give off less direct light. And when I have an active migraine the best thing for me is to be in complete darkness until its over.

Icepacks are my BEST FRIENDS. I have a few. This past week whenever I was home I was rotating them out; ever time one got too warm, Id swap it for another. The most effective place for an icepack Ive found is if you place it across the nape of your neck, just above where your hairline is. If I have a particularly bad migraine thats also causing burning or stinging behind my eyes, Ill place an icepack on my upper neck and another (wrapped, so its not too cold) icepack over my eyes.

Avoiding long phone calls or meetings/gatherings where someone is speaking into a mic has also been good for preventing migraines. I think I might get migraines from these situations because the sound is sent through a speaker system, but Im not an expert. Ive just noticed a trend, haha. So I prefer messaging/texting as I can usually socialize with people for longer periods without developing symptoms (which is fine anyway because Im an introvert and prefer writing over verbalizing). I can usually last about 45 minutes with a phone call - sometimes more, sometimes less. If Im going to a gathering where a mic is being used, I try to sit as far away as possible and will at times step out of the space completely in order to give myself a rest.