A rant.

[judecorp]

Dear Ms. I-Didn't-Bring-My-Child-To-Therapy,

I'm sorry you have a migraine. Really, I am. Having never had one before, I can't really say I know how you feel, but I imagine you're in quite a bit of pain. My throat is singing 'Ave Maria Stella' right about now, but that's okay, too. I'm sorry you were too sick to sit in the waiting room while I worked with your grandson. I raced over there, 30+ miles in the pouring and blinding rain, because I care. But that's okay, too.

You know, I'm really worried about him. He's not even four, and he's been through so much. Your grandson self-injures, you know. I bet that hurts more than a migraine.

Thanks.
Jude

Comments

[thespian.livejournal.com]

sweetness, it depends on the migraine. my doctor has told me that it's a good thing I don't drive, because if I did, she'd need to order me not to when I have migraines; the pain and symptoms are so bad that, as a driver, I'd be a danger to others. At least I don't get the blinding spots before my eyes.

Until I started having migraines, about halfway through Raleigh or the relationship with Dustin (I have no idea which one started it, or if they just would have happened anyways), I had no idea what sort of hell they were like. I thought it was just like, a terribly bad headache, buck up, steel yourself, get through. But sometimes, the pain is so bad all I can do is lie in bed weeping and hope the medication knocks me out soon before I disturb the cats any further.

Re:

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That has curbed some of my angst.

I was just having a lousy day, and Grandma was so smug on the phone...

[thespian.livejournal.com]

and trust me, chiya gets *plenty* upset.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Sweetie, chiya gets upset about /everything/.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

actually, she's become a really mellow oldster.

you'd be incredibly surprised. but she gets distressed when I seem to be in pain. I think part of it is the seizures; those had to have been plenty disturbing to her when I was sleeping through them (they were more disturbing to *me* when I started waking during them, frankly).

but these days, things are just pretty mellow. I think having other cats around for 4 years and staying in the same apartment for over 2 years (and the previous one for 16 months; and then the move from the old one was 30 minutes across town, not days across country) has helped. It's added some stability to her life that isn't me, and that's made her less MUST CLING TO STEPHANIE AT ALL COSTS.

Also she's neutered now. And boy howdy does that help to calm a beastie down.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

One of my cats was spayed and never changed. Then we got Ralph spayed (yes, she's Ralph, and she's a girl, just like Harriet's friend Ralph on So I Married an Axe Murderer), she blew up like a balloon. She weighs 8.5 pounds now, which doesn't seem like much, except that she's tiny and her pre-pudge weight was 4 pounds. So she's doubled. She's still cute, though, even if she's a pudge. :)

I'm glad to hear that chiya has mellowed. Goodness but it has been ages since I've seen her. And you.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

when your brother comes to atlanta in november, you could come visit us, too. I have a queen size futon.

Re:

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I may have to, that could be interesting.

I would let Claw kick my ass.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

also, the view of midtown atlanta's skyline from my futon is amazing.

sometimes I go out there and sleep on it at night just so when I wake up I can wake up at night to see that skyline.

if you're craving city....

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Perhaps in the winter. Some warm weather and sweet tea might be good therapy. :)

Meghrims

[juliann.livejournal.com]

I know this has already been covered but...

"Your grandson self-injures, you know. I bet that hurts more than a migraine."

I really really doubt it. It's less healthy emotionally but not likely to be more painful. (And I'm virtually the expert on pain lately ;))

Ya know how I really hate taking the big monster painkillers and will generally avoid them unless really necessary? When I feel a migraine coming on I RUN for those monster painkillers, among other things, take them as fast as I can, lay down, put on classical music and pray that I fall asleep before I get turned inside out.

After a migraine, I feel like I have been run over by a truck for about two days. It's called "migraine hangover". During and after migraines I get really sensitive to sound. Being at work drives me nuts as any clicking or tapping (or typing) or generally any "normal" sound makes me nauseous, dizzy, disoriented and I often lose my balance. If I am brave enough to go to work during/after a migraine (usually after it's been on for 12 hours I give up and go into work anyway) I have to cocoon my ears in heavy headphones with the volume on the soothing classical music turned way high.

My mother on the other hand itches all over her body unbearably. This can last days. (All migraines can last days. I had one that either went for 4 days solid last month or just was really annoying at coming back just when it was gone..I was too drugged to really notice if it ever truly stopped and restarted.)

Migraines can KILL. A person with a migraine really shouldn't be having to look after a three year old, let alone drive him to therapy.

Re: Meghrims

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Granted, I'm the first to say that Grandma with or without a migraine is in tough shape, since she has more than the three year old, she has his two- and one-year-old siblings as well. Grandma's a little overwhelmed right now. Yep.

I just get concerned when people use 'migraine' and 'headache' interchangeably, because there's a difference. I've talked to people (inadvertently) while they were migraining. This woman seriously sounded like she just didn't want to drive in the rain.

And when your three-year-old likes to pound his head until he's unconscious, that can kill, too.

But anyway. This is beating a dead, migrainy horse. So.