SIDE EFFECTS FOR THIS DAY: left groin pain (pain rating 5); lower back pain (4); side pain (5); headaches (4); exhaustion; lack of focus; increased hot flashes/night sweats; problems with sleep.
The performance was fine though between the dress and the performance I went through 30 minutes of chaos in my lower register (chords not approximating). I don't know if it was the Fioricet that threw my voice off (the headaches started coming on so I had to take a half dose to keep it at bay) or what. Fioricet has caffeine, which is tough on the chords. After steaming, it worked itself out, thankfully.
I wanted to share a rebate for Lupron and HRT I found online. I saw this on someone else's blog and thought I would get the word out here as well. https://www.endofacts.com/register/rebate.aspx
This will be especially helpful for those of you who have to pay out-of-pocket. This drug is not cheap. I am hoping it can help cover my partial payment as well.
Showing posts with label headaches. Show all posts
Showing posts with label headaches. Show all posts
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
May 2: Eyes bigger than my stomach
SIDE EFFECTS FOR THIS DAY: headaches (pain rating 2 ramping now to 6); left groin pain (pain rating 4); pain on sides (6); lower back pain (6); lower ab muscles weak; hot flashes/night sweats; weakness and extremely tired; reduced mobility; problems with sleep; hoarseness; lack of focus.
So I bit off more than I could chew tonight. I often cantor Shabbat services (Reform and Conservative). I never think of it as a performance because that's not what it is. I'm giving voice to a congregation as we collect our prayers, our Psalms in song and then send them upward. Music is what takes our words to the next level... the emotional, the spiritual.
I've missed being able to cantor as much this season, especially at the shul around the corner from me. The group is a bit irreverent, a lot of fun and we regard each other with open arms and family.
But I wanted to do Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Day of Remembrance) and it happened to fall on Shabbat, which makes it very special. The music is not hard and I even asked for a mike, which normally I would never do. But I stood for such a long time. The longer I stood, the weaker I felt. My head started to pound. I began to be hoarse. Hot flashes, etc. This week, we didn't have accompaniment for the normal Shabbat tunes, only for the special music for Yom HaShoah. I was feeling very naked and so ill.
But the congregation got me through it with their genuine love and support. They were so happy to see me. Though I am lying here in bed now feeling like I was runover by a truck, I know in my heart that no one scrutinizes me there. We are there because the union of music and spirituality brings us together. In fact, it reminds us that there are so many things larger than ourselves.
So I bit off more than I could chew tonight. I often cantor Shabbat services (Reform and Conservative). I never think of it as a performance because that's not what it is. I'm giving voice to a congregation as we collect our prayers, our Psalms in song and then send them upward. Music is what takes our words to the next level... the emotional, the spiritual.
I've missed being able to cantor as much this season, especially at the shul around the corner from me. The group is a bit irreverent, a lot of fun and we regard each other with open arms and family.
But I wanted to do Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Day of Remembrance) and it happened to fall on Shabbat, which makes it very special. The music is not hard and I even asked for a mike, which normally I would never do. But I stood for such a long time. The longer I stood, the weaker I felt. My head started to pound. I began to be hoarse. Hot flashes, etc. This week, we didn't have accompaniment for the normal Shabbat tunes, only for the special music for Yom HaShoah. I was feeling very naked and so ill.
But the congregation got me through it with their genuine love and support. They were so happy to see me. Though I am lying here in bed now feeling like I was runover by a truck, I know in my heart that no one scrutinizes me there. We are there because the union of music and spirituality brings us together. In fact, it reminds us that there are so many things larger than ourselves.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
April 22: Living
SIDE EFFECTS FOR THIS DAY: headaches (pain rating 7); left groin pain (pain rating 3); pain on sides (7); lower back pain (7); lower ab muscles weak; hot flashes/night sweats; needle-like feeling in legs; weak; white noise in ears.
Today started out as no headache and then by 5pm it took over. Earlier in the day, I was having problems with mobility from the aches in my body. And when I taught piano, I was hoarse and without energy. Then the migraines started. So I took some Fioricet and though I am on that barbiturate buzz, I'm still sitting up sans headache.
Today has been odd. I've been trying to work and practice, but was derailed by uncovering some disturbing news. I won't go into it here, but this is life. And how does one still deal with the normal bumps in the road when the status quo is a pot hole. When I have the answer, I will let you know.
I have a HUGE performance this weekend. I'm praying for clarity and health. It's out of my hands and I recognize that too. As we say in German, was kann man tun?
Today started out as no headache and then by 5pm it took over. Earlier in the day, I was having problems with mobility from the aches in my body. And when I taught piano, I was hoarse and without energy. Then the migraines started. So I took some Fioricet and though I am on that barbiturate buzz, I'm still sitting up sans headache.
Today has been odd. I've been trying to work and practice, but was derailed by uncovering some disturbing news. I won't go into it here, but this is life. And how does one still deal with the normal bumps in the road when the status quo is a pot hole. When I have the answer, I will let you know.
I have a HUGE performance this weekend. I'm praying for clarity and health. It's out of my hands and I recognize that too. As we say in German, was kann man tun?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
April 15: Round two
SIDE EFFECTS FOR THIS DAY: headaches (pain rating 5); left groin pain (pain rating 3); pain on left side (3); general lower back pain (1); neck pain (pain rating 7); lower ab muscles weak; white noise in ears; hot flashes/night sweats; exhausted; extreme dizziness/light headedness.
Wow! I just discovered they put birds on Lupron?! What?! And they don't seem to like it any better than we do:
http://community.livejournal.com/cockatiels/1000152.html
Last night the headaches tried to ramp up, but I took the Fioricet and I think it worked to keep it moderate. However, today, I needed to be clear-headed to finish taxes and drive to the doctor's office. No meds (do you think I could endure natural childbirth by the end of all this???). My spouse, who has only seen me probably four days in the last eight weeks because of his own schedule, noticed how shaky I was. And I thought I was having a decent day! But this does demonstrate why I have not felt that comfortable driving more than a few miles. Something isn't quite right and I do not know how to describe it. There are times I feel addled, I forget words, I forget where I am. There are times when my hands are shaking, that I cannot stand, that I cannot do anything that requires muscular control - but not because I feel overmedicated. Something feels imbalanced and I lack the words for an accurate description.
So today was the big day: Lupron Redux (a.k.a. Injection #2). The last injection day was no big deal so I thought today would be easy. I looked a little bit more at the shot and its container (I was too scared last time). It comes with a liquid and a powder that is separated; the nurse then draws the liquid into the powder and mixes it. There were five nurses watching because they had not seen it before. Really makes me wonder how often they administer this drug.
I got a different nurse this time. While I might be on the petite side, I do not lack a rear-end for them to give me this drug. However, somehow this nurse, sweet as she was, managed to miss my ass!!!! Can you believe it? It was too high... for a second I thought she had nabbed a kidney. The room went black and I thought I was fainting. What a whimp I am! On the way home, I felt awful and could barely drive. There was a vice like pain that started at my spine from my shoulders and tightened its grip on the back of my neck into my head. So much for the no-brainer. Ugh.
Tomorrow is an early flight. I get to be at my other place for the first time in three months. I've missed it and hope I can rest before my rehearsal on Friday and a very busy Saturday. Hoping for health and the least side effects possible. That seems to be my daily prayer as of late.
Wow! I just discovered they put birds on Lupron?! What?! And they don't seem to like it any better than we do:
http://community.livejournal.com/cockatiels/1000152.html
Last night the headaches tried to ramp up, but I took the Fioricet and I think it worked to keep it moderate. However, today, I needed to be clear-headed to finish taxes and drive to the doctor's office. No meds (do you think I could endure natural childbirth by the end of all this???). My spouse, who has only seen me probably four days in the last eight weeks because of his own schedule, noticed how shaky I was. And I thought I was having a decent day! But this does demonstrate why I have not felt that comfortable driving more than a few miles. Something isn't quite right and I do not know how to describe it. There are times I feel addled, I forget words, I forget where I am. There are times when my hands are shaking, that I cannot stand, that I cannot do anything that requires muscular control - but not because I feel overmedicated. Something feels imbalanced and I lack the words for an accurate description.
So today was the big day: Lupron Redux (a.k.a. Injection #2). The last injection day was no big deal so I thought today would be easy. I looked a little bit more at the shot and its container (I was too scared last time). It comes with a liquid and a powder that is separated; the nurse then draws the liquid into the powder and mixes it. There were five nurses watching because they had not seen it before. Really makes me wonder how often they administer this drug.
I got a different nurse this time. While I might be on the petite side, I do not lack a rear-end for them to give me this drug. However, somehow this nurse, sweet as she was, managed to miss my ass!!!! Can you believe it? It was too high... for a second I thought she had nabbed a kidney. The room went black and I thought I was fainting. What a whimp I am! On the way home, I felt awful and could barely drive. There was a vice like pain that started at my spine from my shoulders and tightened its grip on the back of my neck into my head. So much for the no-brainer. Ugh.
Tomorrow is an early flight. I get to be at my other place for the first time in three months. I've missed it and hope I can rest before my rehearsal on Friday and a very busy Saturday. Hoping for health and the least side effects possible. That seems to be my daily prayer as of late.
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