After 3 HORRIBLE months, in December I had about 3 good weeks. Now I'm going through a couple of "Ehh" weeks.
My short term memory is shot. I don't even know how to explain it. Especially on my bad days. For example, in a 2 hour period I think I asked my mom 8 times what time her meeting started on a particular night. People can tell me something - or I can tell them something, and within in minutes I have totally forgotten about it. Or, I'll do something and have no idea that I've done it. I've stashed my meds in the weirdest places lately - and I never have any reason to move my meds off my bathroom counter.
Having said all that, if you all have any secrets you need to get off your chest, feel free to send me a private message. LOL!!
Also, right at the base of my head, I'm not sure how to explain it. I'm used to the constant ache. But lately I have been getting these pains, usually on the right side. It feels like a red hot poker is being shoved up through the base of my skull. Its so intense, but it doesn't last long. It comes and goes. When that happens it also feels like I have a lot of pressure behind my eyes and my ears at the same time.
Tinnitus is nothing new. But lately, it has been so bad in my right ear that I nearly grab my head and try to curl up into a ball until it goes away. It is so high pitched and severe.
Anyway, if you read this, thanks! I feel bad always complaining to my husband. He is really the only one I complain to about everything - and I think he is getting more stressed out about it. Especially now that insurance is being a butt! My husband works evening shift. I work day shift. So we really only have enough time to talk about how I have been feeling while we are on the phone together or when he gets home in the middle of the night and I'm trying to sleep. LOL. Doesn't make for great conversation.
I know what you mean about talking with your husband. Once upon a time my husband was looking through his old texts that were backed up in iTunes and we noticed that almost every single day before surgery I sent him a text about being sick or feeling bad. What riveting conversation, eh? Poor guy.
I used to find my symptoms would fluctuate and I swear weather seems to have a lot to do with it. IDK why WV can't pick a season. It seems it's either -15 or 50! When it flips like that it wreaks havoc!
I think we should have been twinsies. Were we separated at birth!? Short term memory-can't remember what I did yesterday. Never noticed it until I actually tried to remember. The only thing I can remember is something that was out of my routine. I get this CRAZY tinnitis that comes slowly and is like I'm in a barrel with a giant bell and it's SO LOUD! As for medications, I do much better with putting them in a weekly pill planner that sits next to the coffee pot and I set a timer on my phone to go off at 10am and 8pm because, you know, I can't remember to eat breakfast let alone take medications! My hubby gets SOOOO mad because I will ask him a hundred times what time he is working tomorrow (so we can make arrangements for the hound pup.) Then, he usually ends up making the arrangement because I forget to call! OOpsies.
The super sharp pains-are you straining? I had these-I called them "ice-pic" headaches because that's what it felt like!!! I only had them with straining, standing or bending too quickly, standing up after lying down for a long period of time.
I think weather TOTALLY has an effect, as does barometric pressure. I HATE winter and Ohio has 3 seasons of winter. Now that I'm post op, I tolerate it better, but it makes my head cold (like my surgery site.)
Ahhhhhh-hope you feel better and you and hubby can get some QT in so you're not like ships passing in the night! I remember those days. Enjoy a nice hot bath and watch some old reruns to get your mind off! XOXO
I know exactly how you feel! It is so upsetting to have to experience what you are going through. Hopefully your husband and support system remains strong and understanding. Good luck and I hope you feel better.
There are ear drops you can get at the drugstore for tinnitus. Ice helps the sharp sudden pains and have no idea about the memory prob as i have the same prob.... ummm are you on garbepentin?? Also known as neurontin, made me a mess and i couldnt remember anything. So it may be an issue with your meds. Keep your chin up
It has almost been a relief to know that the Chiari could be responsible for my memory loss.. Still sucks.. but it's definitely better knowing. All though not many people know about this condition that are close to me..
Just the other day I had lost a shirt that I knew I had just sat down on the bed.. I searched everywhere for it, throwing clothes across the room in my frantic search. Screaming at my boyfriend "Where did you move my shirt" he comes in and starts looking with me.. I finally stop, to try and think of where I could have put it, and then realized that I was wearing it the whole time..
I felt like a huge dummy!
I am in a weird state right now.. I haven't really told many people about the symptoms I'm having, because after the whole "Brain Tumor" scare, and me finally getting a diagnosis that it was Chiari everyone just forgot that I'm still dealing with a problem here.. Literally it was like "Oh she doesn't have a tumor, she's fine" So I feel like if I we're to tell anyone the pain I'm experiencing they aren't going to understand.. Hell even when I went through over 6 weeks of headaches that literally had me on my knees screaming for help.. Some of my friends, and family had the nerve to tell me to suck it up.. a Co-Worker of mine called me one day, and said "My wife has migraines every morning, and she still goes to work and pushes through" ....
PS: I am new to this site, and I am thankful to have found some others who understand.