I've suffered from migraines for as long as I can remember. I know it dates back to 3rd or 4th grade, if not earlier. And I mean hardcore, down for the count, debilitating migraines. I was prescribed IBU 800's at a very young age. Occasionally they would hit me out of nowhere...I'd be rushed off to the nurses office at school, or suddenly sent off to a cold dark room to rest at home. Most times though, I'd just wake up in the morning with them. Head pounding, heart racing, blurred vision and downright sick to my stomach. EVERY migraine would result in my throwing up...the tension and nausea would just build up, and eventually that was the only release. The down side (well, besides throwing up of course) is that I have very weak blood vessels in my face, and they would ALL burst (still to this day), sometimes even in my eyes, and I'd be plagued with little red dots for days sometimes. The plus side, it would typically release most of the tension to the point that I would finally start feeling better and getting back to normal. In the end, the migraines would last maybe a couple hours, half a day at the most, as long as I took some medication and "released the tension".
The migraines became fewer and further between as I got into my teens and early 20's. Sure, I'd get regular old headaches like anybody else, but migraines became pretty rare.
When I was pregnant with Olivia, they reared their ugly head again. I didn't get morning sickness with her, nothing horrible like that, but at least once a week I would get one of these down for the count, debilitating migraines. It was horrible. They subsided when I was around the 20 week mark, thankfully, since all I could take for them was Tylenol. I didn't have many issues after she was born, or with Amelia's pregnancy, so that was good.
In the last year or so, they've started back up again. Only, they were different. Sometimes they wouldn't reach full on migraine status, but my headaches all around were getting worse. Every headache I'd get would last at least for a full day or two - and most of them eventually turning into migraines, no matter what I would do or take for them. Then, more often than not, they were all migraines again. They were getting worse and worse, lasting longer and longer and happening more frequently.
Finally, after 4 days of suffering and finding no relief, I went to Urgent Care a couple weeks ago. The only thing they could do at that point was give me a shot of Naproxen (which, as I previously posted, make me very sick to my stomach for the next two days) and give me some Zofran for my nausea (and prescriptions for both). I followed up the next day with the family practice doctor. She prescribed me some Imetrex to try to battle them from onset, said most of the symptoms and issues we discussed seemed pretty standard as far as migraines go, but the worsening pain and frequency was troubling.
She ran some blood tests, mainly to check my Vitamin D levels and my Thyroid. Eventually, those tests all came back normal. She discussed some other possibilities...magnesium deficiency, possible diet issues, etc. This was right at the point when I started really hitting my diet and exercise hardcore, so if it was diet related, we were hoping that would help. She also ordered me the MRI...while she didn't think anything would come of it, we figured it was worth putting our (and my mom and husband's) minds at ease.
I had the MRI done last Thursday. I didn't know what to expect, so naturally I was a little anxious about it. I didn't expect anything to come of it really, but the test itself was a little nerve-wracking. It wasn't as bad as I expected. I took off all of my jewelry and changed into some scrubs. I laid on the little platform. I was backed up into the MRI machine and they went through a series of scans - it took about 30 minutes total. I didn't mind the small space, the earplugs helped a lot with the noise so those didn't bother me. I just didn't like not being able to move (because you aren't allowed to, not because of the space). The test ended, I gathered my stuff up and made my way home. Friday morning I received my test results online, as I do with all test results. They sent a report synopsis over, with some lamens term information from my doctor. They believed they had located a brain aneurysm on my left artery wall, and needed to conduct a CT scan to check the area closer. They were pretty clear that it was not definite, and they couldn't really give any more information until the CT scan was done.
Of course, in that moment, I had a complete meltdown. It just came as such a shock, and I couldn't focus on the "maybe" side of it...at this point, it just was. I felt like my life was turned upside down. I felt like, if this was really true, I had a literal ticking time bomb in my brain, just waiting to go off. Pretty much every waking moment the next few days was consumed by this possibility - and all I could think about was it rupturing...what would Christian do? What would my girls do? It's not fair to them, it's not fair to me...it just couldn't be reality. I was pretty much in a daze the next few days, unsure of what to think. Logically I knew that, even if it were true, things could be much, MUCH worse. It wasn't the end of the world, and I knew that. But you just can't think that way in a moment of crisis. I was devastated, and very scared. I didn't want to worry everybody I know, so I shared the news with a few select, for some support.
Yesterday, I had my CT scan. Again, I didn't know what to expect. And, I was much more nervous this time, naturally. The scan was much faster, it was done in a matter of minutes. I didn't have to change my clothes, only had to take my necklace off, so I felt much more comfortable. I was strapped to the platform and the test began. First they took a set of standard images. Then, they injected me with the contrast and took another set. The contrast was interesting - I was fully warned about it before they started the test. She said I would get really warm from my head to my toes, I would have a metallic taste in my mouth and I would feel like I peed my pants - but I won't have. I laughed a little, and though "no way, that can't be true". Sure enough, she did the injection, and within a few seconds, the reactions started up one by one, ending with me literally feeling like I had peed my pants. It was very interesting, to say the least. Then, it was done. I was in and out within 20 minutes.
It was a pretty painful night, waiting for the results. Luckily we had an event at the girls' school to keep my mind off of it, but it was pretty stressful. It was going to be another long night of little sleep and horrible thoughts.
This morning I received the results. Again, electronically. Again, a synopsis of the radiologists' report with some lamens term notes from the doctor. I clicked on the results, closed by eyes and took one last deep breath. Ready to find out what our future held.
FINDINGS: The noncontrast images are unremarkable, with no evidence for hemorrhage. The images obtained after IV contrast show tortuosity of the intracranial segment of the dominant left vertebral artery. This accounts for the vessel prominence noted in this region on the recent MRI head exam. Both posterior inferior cerebellar arteries are of normal size. No aneurysm is identified. No arterial occlusion or high grade proximal stenosis is identified. No vascular malformation is seen.
CONCLUSION: Tortuosity of the dominant left vertebral artery. No evidence for aneurysm.
So, no aneurysm, and no issues. "Tortuosity" basically means the artery is "twisty", rather than straight, and that's what was showing up on the MRI. I have never felt such relief in my entire life. In that moment, I felt like the world was lifted off of my shoulders. I could finally breath again. I felt whole again. I couldn't believe it. Truly heaven sent, that's for sure.
I have a much greater respect for people living with serious disease and illness after this experience. I had ONE week of torture and living the unknown. I don't know where people find the strength they have, but it's truly remarkable.
So, that's the story. Obviously, the end result is that we still don't know what's causing my migraines, or if we ever will. But, it's better than the alternative. I think for now, I'm just going to keep pushing through with my healthy diet and my exercise and see if those changes make a difference. If not, an allergist may be my next stop. For now, I'm just appreciating life more than I ever have before, and floating on cloud 9.
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