Concussion Clinic Appointment Today

Well... Dr. Leddy used the words "turned the corner" today. The appointment was very encouraging. My treadmill numbers have been climbing steadily. I actually went for 38 minutes and 40 seconds last night! The key is not the amount of time spent on the treadmill, though, but my tolerance to symptoms when my heart rate increases. The plan now is for me to go 20 minutes a day (if I can) at the same low speed and no incline and record the highest my heart rate goes. Up until now, I've been just going until my heart rate reaches above 115 and then stopping before I aggravate my symptoms.

So, with this new plan, I should see my maximum heart rate decrease over the next month while I do my 20 minutes on the treadmill. The point is to push the heart rate that I start to show symptoms at. When I see him again in a month, we will reevaluate and see if we can increase the intensity. He said it should be a slow progression for me and I can't push it.

Update 10-20-10 / Sobakawa Pillow

It's been a rough week, but I think I'm getting through it. I ended up with a migraine Sunday night, but I got my medicine in time. I relapsed with the nose stuff on Monday, and it got really bad. I had a migraine sneak up on me that evening and didn't get the medicine in time. It was one of the worst migraines of my life. I'm still recovering from it, but the relapse seems to be over for now.

It's frustrating to get so bad and just want this all to be over. It's not a picnic any day, but most days I can tolerate all the symptoms. When it gets to be like it did on Monday, I wonder how strong God thinks I am! I got through it though, and am here today, so I guess He knows me better than I know myself.

I'm trying to stay positive and keep taking it one day at a time. I see Dr. Leddy on Monday and we'll see what he has to say about the treadmill stuff. I wasn't able to get on Monday or yesterday, but I'm going to try today.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support. I don't know how I could get through this without such a loving family!

1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.


On a different note: My husband bought me a Sobakawa Pillow last night. I was skeptical about it, because I've tried so many different things for my neck and nothing has been good. The pillow is AWESOME! I can't believe how good my neck felt when I woke up. It wasn't stiff, and I was able to sleep longer than I have been able to in a while.

If you are having trouble with headaches and neck pain, I would definitely recommend it! Here's the website. You can also buy them at Walgreens.

https://www.buythepillow.com/

10-27-10 Pillow Update:

After using the pillow for a few days, I am no longer satisfied with how it works (for my needs at least). I have found that it is firm at first, which is necessary to support my neck, but that I was waking up at several points in the night trying to regain that original firmness. It doesn't hold it's firm strength throughout the night, and my neck pain has increased as a result.

I've spent the last few days researching other pillows and can't seem to find anything that might work. I may try the Tempurpedic Classic, but I'm looking for a significant coupon somewhere to buy one. It's crazy to be spending all this money on pillows, just to find that they aren't working!

Any suggestions?

One migraine can't get me down

It's been going ok since my last update. I didn't have a migraine for almost 2 weeks, and then I got one on Sunday. I'm trying to just stay positive and keep sight of the fact that it had been so long without one. I can't let my setbacks take away from the wins. I have been able to get on the treadmill every day for 15 days now, except for Sunday. My time keeps increasing, and it's so encouraging. I did 9 min and 30 sec on Saturday, and after my migraine Sunday I was back to 7 min and 20 sec on Monday. I would appreciate prayer on my ability to keep getting on the treadmill every day. I know it's going to keep taking time and I shouldn't be impatient, I'm trying to trust the process.

I still have the same other symptoms every day. Not getting migraines is a huge relief, but the every day headache is still there. It's manageable for me, because I've gotten so used to having it. I still have the nausea, some fatigue, and other cognitive/balance type issues. I have to continue to let my body rest and use the strength I have for the treadmill treatment. I feel like God is giving me a real light here with me not getting my migraines so much anymore. It's been a huge relief!

I see Dr. Leddy in 2 weeks, and I'm excited to show him my progress. We're praying that my migraines stay away and I'm able to keep myself from over-doing it.

Update Monday

I haven't had a migraine since Monday, September 27! It's an amazing feeling to go a whole week without one! Please keep up the prayers for my migraines to stay away. I was able to get on the treadmill 7 days so far for 2 minutes! I'm so encouraged, but please don't stop praying.

Even if the migraines stay away and I'm still able to get on the treadmill consistently, Dr. Leddy believes that it could take 6 months to a year before I am able to have a recovery through this program (if at all). I have to try to make sure that I don't push the activity and focus all my energy on letting my brain heal and being able to get on the treadmill daily.

The withdrawal symptoms are getting better. This last relapse I had Friday-Sunday was the shortest one and was under control by this morning. Please pray that I won't continue to have these rough relapses of withdrawal symptoms. I'm falling asleep pretty well and only waking up once or twice during the night.

This spot of light in the recent darkness is shining so brightly for me. It's great to see some hope.