I've had consistent headaches for at least the past 2 years. These headaches do not feel like 'normal' headaches...they are concentrated towards the lower back part of my head and feel like 'pressure/tightness'...just painful. They sometimes extend to my temporal lobes...but the main pain is towards the lower back part of my head. About 2 years ago I had a 'scary' occurrence. I remember I was in our 'home office' in the duplex on Oval Drive...it felt like something exploded in the back of my head with a long 'sizzling' feeling. Almost like popping the case an alka seltzer is in and then dropping it in the glass of water. That's the most visual way I can describe the feeling I felt. It was the worst physical pain I think I've ever endured. It was bad....bad....real bad. I was very scared because obviously I had never heard of this or felt it before. I finally decided that it was time to see a doctor about my head.
I went to Dr. Witten's office, in Athens...and after questioning and examining me he concluded that I had tension headaches. He told me that the explosion/tingling feeling that I felt was a muscle spasm where my neck muscles connect to my skull. He felt of my neck and said that my muscles were extremely tight/tense and asked if I always felt this tension in my neck. Which was a definite YES. From that day on I started receiving weekly massages to help ease the tension in my neck. It was very relaxing and provided temporary relief. He gave me 2 medications...1 for when I had a headache and 1 to take at night...that acted as a sort of muscle relaxer. I was supposed to take this muscle relaxer every night for a month to try to release that tension consistently which would hopefully lessen the spasms and over a month reduce the tension in my neck.
My headaches have continued...and I now just take it as part of my daily life. They're not migraines...they're not regular headaches...it's hard to explain. Anyways...I haven't thought much else about them until this past week when I started to have these spells that I haven't had before. I have become real dizzy and light headed. It comes and it goes...with no common cause to bring it on.
I went to Dr. Villalobos in El Paso on Tuesday. He ordered a blood test at his office and after the first nurse missed the second was finally able to draw my blood. It was horrible. He also ordered me to have an MRI the next morning at Southwest X-Ray. He was concerned that something might be going on in my brain. He mentioned a possible 'mini-stroke'.
On Wednesday morning we arrived at Southwest X-Ray where they explained to me what would take place during the MRI. (I've had an MRI before...but never of my brain). I had to lie on my back with a cage/mask over my face that locked to the table, they placed foam pads between my ears on the 'cage' so that I could not move my head at all. It was very scary and I'm not usually claustrophobic. I was sweating and became really nervous. I finally settled down after coaching from my MRI tech. I then went back into the machine where they MRI was conducted. I laid there for over an hour with my face in a cage and my eyes closed. After 45 minutes she came in and attempted to insert a needle to inject me with iodine. She missed twice and called for help where he missed once and was finally successful with locating a vain. Goodness! Yes 6 pokes in 2 days, with 4 unsuccessful attempts. My right arm is in soooooo much pain! The iodine was injected and I was pushed back into the machine for another 15 minutes...which completed the hour long MRI.
They gave me a c.d. with a few still pictures of my brain which look really scary. I do have a brain...so that's good! =) I requested this c.d. in case we ever want to go somewhere else for a second opinion or to compare, if I'm still having problems, a few years from now.
The results from the blood test and MRI should be completed and in a report format for my follow up appointment on Tuesday, July 28.
I'm really glad this testing is over with but definitely ready to hear the results!
Please be in prayer!
Thanks so much!
<3
~Amanda~
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