Feeling Better

A sunflower's final sunset 

Hello readers, you may have noticed my absence around here lately and I want to let you in on what is going on.  I've been living with migraines half of the time since February, but I'm starting to figure out what is triggering them.

My life has been punctuated with migraines since I turned 18.  Relaxing after a busy stressful week led to a shimmering aura followed by a migraine that I would sleep off.  I always counted myself lucky because I grew up watching my Mom suffer through debilitating migraines.  She would quietly weep into a hot pack. My Grandfather treated his migraines by crunching codeine tablets between his teeth and chased them down with orange juice with a splash of whiskey.  I considered myself lucky until this last February.

In February, I started getting migraines that scared me.  Real head bangers with nausea. When I realized that I was living with a migraine at least four days a week, I went to a neurologist and went through the tests only for them to figure out that my migraines are genetic.  Duh.  But, I also needed a pair of reading glasses to prevent eyestrain.  Treatment has helped shorten the duration but not the frequency of the migraines. 

A fellow gardener guided me towards a book, Heal Your Headache by David Buchholz, and it’s the first true relief that I’ve found.  I managed two weeks without a migraine and I’m feeling hopeful.  I’m figuring this out, step by step.

I’ve dialed back my volunteer work and I’m spending more time in my garden.  Sadly, my garden has taken the real brunt of my migraines.  It’s crispy and untended.  But, as I've laid in my bed with a ice pack clutched to my head, I've been planning new garden projects.  I’ve torn the backyard apart, started a project, and it's just starting to take shape.  I’m grateful that the autumn leaf drop is around the corner.  I’m ready for a fresh start.

I have so many pictures, stories, and recipes to share with you!  I’ll keep you in the loop from here on out.  This week, My Pirate is home on stay-cation and we’re finishing up our big backyard patio project.  I’ll share photos as the project progresses.

Here is our backyard project.  We're putting a roof on the pergola tomorrow!