Migraine Explained: Season Change
Autumn is here and it is time for fire-pits, s’mores, trick-or-treaters, pumpkin-spiced everything, and for some, an increase in migraine symptoms. As the autumn leaves colors of red and gold brighten the horizon, as the season change also creates changes that can trigger migraines. What Factors Cause Triggers as the Season Change? Barometric pressure change is the most common seasonal migraine trigger. As the seasons change, the barometric pressures shift and these changes, though sometimes minor, can trigger migraine attacks in people that are highly susceptible to barometric pressure changes. Cynthia Armand, MD, a physician at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York, explains the reason. “Our head is made…
Migraine Explained: Migraine Triggers
Migraine Triggers is a difficult topic to address because everyone has different triggers. There are many things considered to be triggers therefore it can be difficult to track. In this article, I want to discuss my 5 most common triggers. I am also including information about how to find out what your migraine triggers are. My Top 5 Migraine Triggers Sensory Triggers: I am putting these three together but strong smells, loud noises and bright lights are all my major migraine triggers. What makes this one difficult to track is that what is a strong smell one day may be perfectly fine the next. Some days a room fan is…
My Top 5 Worship Songs Countdown
Before I got sick, I was a member of my church Praise Team and my mother could tell you that I sang before I talked. I love Christian music of all types from traditional hymns to contemporary praise and worship. Any music that has God at its center is something that I enjoy. Worship Songs is music from the soul and meant to be directed as praise to God. They typically have messages from the Bible woven into the lyrics and are meant to be a reinforcement of God’s Word. So, for this last Sunday of Blogtober, I want to share with you my 5 favorite Worship Songs. These are…
2018 Christmas Gift Guide
It is hard to believe but it is time to start Christmas Shopping! Finding the perfect gift for someone that you care about can be difficult and I am here to help you out! I have selected some of my favorite things for a Christmas Gift guide! Although some of these things are perfect for someone that has a chronic illness, I think you will find that the majority are just nice gifts that anyone would enjoy. I have listed some of my finds below and will also leave a banner at the bottom so you can do some exploring on your own. If you want more ideas, check out…
Comfortable Clothes to Wear When You Want to be Cozy
Because I can’t drive, I spend a lot of time at home. My body requires a lot of rest during Hemiplegic Migraine attacks so dressing for those occasions is important. Having comfortable clothes is important but because of the partial paralysis I have during attacks, functionality is just as important. What Do I Look for When Buying Comfortable Clothes? Pants For pants, the first thing I look for is an elastic waist. This will make it easier for me to go to the restroom if I only have 1 functional arm. This is also important if I am doing things outside of the home with my husband. I really don’t…
Old Fashioned Goulash and Slow Cooker Buying Guide
There are times when the simplest dishes make the best meals and this Old Fashioned Goulash definitely fits that description. This is my “go to” lazy Sunday afternoon dish for a cool fall or winter day. Before I get to the recipe I want to take a moment to discuss what to look for when buying a slow cooker. 3 Things to Consider when Buying a Slow Cooker First off, you need a good Slow Cooker. The options for this are endless so this are 3 things you need to consider when buying a slow cooker. ( I own 6 of them…does that make me an expert?) Size – The…
Power in the Story: Pamela from There is Always Hope
.This week our Power in the Story featured blogger is Pamela from There Is Always Hope and she also runs a second blog called A Chronicle of Hope. The fact that she runs 2 successful blogs should tell you right away that she is a powerhouse! She writes about her experiences with Chronic Pain, Chronic Fatigue and Invisible Illness and has been published on The Mighty website discussing her issues with Trigeminal Neuralgia and having an invisible illness. Living in Langford, BC, she is an active volunteer with the Patient Volunteer Network, an organization in British Columbia that gives ordinary people the ability to have a say in how healthcare is delivered in…
Chronic Hemiplegic Migraine Defined
I blog about my journey with Chronic Hemiplegic Migraine. Most people hear the words but hang on to the word Migraine at the end and think, “she has a headache”. The vast majority, including medical professionals, never stop to think about the implications of the two words I said before the word Migraine. So, I want to break down what they words mean and then discuss how it is much more than having a headache. What Does Chronic Mean? According to Medicine.net, the medical definition for chronic is: A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months or more. Chronic diseases are in contrast to those that are acute (abrupt,…
Migraine Explained: Cognitive Dysfunction
Cognitive Dysfunction is the loss of functions such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning of sufficient severity to interfere with daily functioning. People experiencing cognitive dysfunction have trouble with verbal recall, basic arithmetic, and concentration. These types of delays are common with Chronic Migraine patients and is often referred to as “Brain Fog”. During a Migraine Attack, the cognitive dysfunction can be a part of the Prodrome and last up to two days after the Migraine has ended, or the Postdrome stage. The reason this is such an issue with people, like me, who have Chronic Migraine is because the brain never fully recovers before the next attack hits. So, what…
Why God’s Grace is Sufficient
Having a Chronic Illness does not make for an easy life. In fact, it is very easy to get discouraged or to feel that God has abandoned you. In last Sunday’s post, 20 Bible Verses to Provide Encouragement, I listed some of my favorite encouraging verses. Today I want to talk about one of God’s Promises to us, that His grace is sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ~ NIV Break It Down The first part of…
