Getting ahead of headaches

Yet more on my headache state of mind. As you know I've had these horrible headaches for about six years now and for some reason in the past couple of weeks I've actually made some head-way on figuring out the cause.

Here is a record of my research:

1. September - City of London Migraine Clinic thinks that they could be related to my "overly flexible neck", food or hormonal related.

2. October - Reflexologist thinks that I am "holding my anger in my neck and head".

3. November - Physiotherapist Mike doesn't know what to think but says my neck and upper spine are hard as a rock and that my jaw opens to one side

4. November - I read an article in 13 November 2007 New York Times - A Lineman in my Bed: Teeth Grinding about about sleep bruxism

In 1993 I had Temporo-Mandibular Joint disorder TMJ jaw surgery because my jaw was stuck and wouldn't open. Don't worry, I still managed to get food and I wasn't in any pain. But I think that the pulling of the jaw to one side and the clenching of my teeth in my sleep (I wear a bite plate) have combined to cause these headaches. They are further triggered by wine, sugar and caffeine.

I'm now doing some long-ago prescribed jaw exercises to see if I can stretch the joint and get some blood flowing into that area.

This may be too much information for some people but I hope that it helps someone figure out their headaches and shares the mysterious cure - is there one?

Image from http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/topics/tmj.cfm

Migraines and NLP

Every four to six weeks I get a headache that lasts for several days. This has been going on for the past six years. Although I can still get my work done it is dreadfully painful. As I mentioned in an earlier post I went to the City of London Migraine Clinic and now I've been seeing a physiotherapist as well. What I've learned is that many "things" can trigger a migraine - food, posture, stress, muscles...almost anything. Usually a migraine is caused by a combination of these "things", there is no exact route.

The GP at the Migraine Clinic noticed that I have a very painful neck and recommended that I address this with my physiotherapist. When I told Michael he started feeling around my neck and noticed that it is hard as a brick with lots of little painful nubbies. Plus, he recognized that when he touched my neck it immediately turned red - a sign of lack of blood circulation. This was all very sobering and has helped me see the link between my physiology and the migraines.

Last night I took a risk. I always have an underlying headache and for once it didn't feel very strong. So, I had a glass of red wine and then sprawled out on the couch to watch TV with Stephen. My head was tweaking my neck in the exact bad position that I'm supposed to avoid. Did I get up? No, I kept laying there and then the red wine must have been the topper to trigger the migraine. All through my sleep I could feel it in my right eye/temple.

This morning when I awakened I tried all kinds of techniques to start to alleviate the pain. First I massaged my neck how Mike had instructed me to do. It helped a bit. Next I practiced yoga breathing in one nostril and out the other and then reversing the air flow. This too offered some help. Then I remembered the NLP techniques I learned a few weeks ago on my INLPA course. Instead of giving into the pain and creating more stress - evidenced by my neck being even tenser than normal - I started to pinpoint the pain, to give it shape, color. I envisioned the connection between my neck and the pain in my eye/temple.

Suddenly I felt the need to get out of bed and play this out. In our spare bedroom I stood by the window and started pulling the pain out of my head as though it were a series of wispy strings. It was in my hair, on my face, in my neck. Then it became a long rope that I kept pulling out faster and faster. I saw it as a big pile of knotted cables on the floor. I picked up the mass mess and threw it out the window.

Next I asked myself - what do I get by holding on to this headache? What does it do for me? I realized - nothing. I can let go. Six years of a giant knot is a lot to get rid of so I pulled some more of the rope out. Yes, there is still a headache but I feel like I control it instead of it controlling me. Instead of scrunching up in pain I am slowly releasing the tension every minute. It is a tremendous feeling.

Now I know this all sounds a bit like black magic stuff. But if you have the brainpower to create tension why not use those same powers for good instead of evil? This in combination with avoiding my triggers - bad posture, red wine...will allow me to address the situation proactively.

If anyone is interested in exploring some NLP techniques with me, I need the practice, please email me at amy@amykweskin.com.

It's All About Amy

This week I had two medical appointments. The first was with the physiotherapist that I mentioned in an earlier post. The second was with the City of London Migraine Clinic.

For about six years now I've been suffering from headaches that come on every four to six weeks and last for three to four days. They are AWFUL.

Back in San Francisco my GP at University of California San Francisco identified them as migraines and then happily sent me on my way with about 200 pill samples. I tried them all, including a spray, and none helped. Over the years I gave up hope for treatment and after several self-treatment disasters with sinus meds and ibuprofen I also gave up trying to make the pain stop.

My appointment today gave me new hope. The doctor listened to my stories, asked me lots of interesting questions and started drawing some conclusions. Nobody seems to know what causes migraines (by the way, this is pronounced Meegraines in the UK) but most of my symptoms said migraine to her.

While I sat there, telling the tale of Amy to a medical professional for a second time this week I realised how indulgent it is to pay someone to listen to you. Yes of course that's what therapists do but this was different. This was Amy giving her health history and someone making observations and trying to draw conclusions. I can see how this could become addictive.

It reminds me a bit of Frida Kahlo who, some theorise, would pursue operations and treatments for her back to the point of obsession or even addiction. Just look at her paintings! She knew that Diego Rivera would be there for her, would leave his mistresses, to be by her side when she was in pain. I've always wanted some kind of connection to Frida but I think I'll take a pass on that one.

A cool point to note is that the Migraine Clinic has a suggested donation of 50GBP but you can pay more or even less. This then allows them to get a government match called Gift Aid. You get good service, make a donation and support a charity. If they can solve my headaches I'll be a donor for life. (That statement is not legally binding and this is not my Will :-)