Floating Leaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
floatingleaf) wrote2006-06-28 08:25 pm
floatingleaf) wrote2006-06-28 08:25 pm
Entry tags:
partial update from last week
Oh my, I have so much to say I don't know where to start.
How about in chronological order, then? ;)
I did take Wednesday off, since the two sleeping pills I took Tuesday night had no effect on me whatsoever. So I called in sick, took THREE of the aforementioned pills (five kind of seemed too much, even for me...;) and went back to bed. And guess what? Nothing. Didn't as much as doze off the whole day, despite numerous attempts. And the night wasn't much better (did doze off a couple times, but still woke up every hour or so). I had no bloody idea what else to do, so I took my special 'migraine formula' caffeine-infested pills - to keep me alert enough not to fall over - and went to work. Most of the day was relatively bearable... but then came the infernal migraine that made me want to bang my head against the wall to knock myself out. And I didn't want to take the caffeinated pills any more (they were the only ones that seemed to really ease the pain), since that would kind of defeat the purpose of trying to FINALLY get some sleep... so I just lay about with a cold compress over my forehead, feeling miserable. Needless to say, didn't sleep well Thursday night either. Friday morning: more 'migraine formula', followed by miraculously survived workday... then the pain got stronger again, only to ease a bit after taking THREE Advils at once. Exhausted beyond anything I ever thought possible, I did EVENTUALLY sleep about eight hours on Friday night (not in one go, mind you - but without waking up more than once or twice, which was an improvement). And on Saturday morning, the migraine was gone.
Feeling relieved and grateful like I had come back from the dead, I decided a definite change of lifestyle was in order. Because it finally dawned on me where the majority of my nasty headaches must be coming from. Or rather it had dawned on me before, on several occasions, but I never took the warnings seriously enough. I guess I needed a major 'evil spell' like last week to make me 'wake up' and realize that I am very deliberately doing this to myself, and that I need to stop. So, point one: no more staying up 'well past my bedtime'. Which, btw, from now on is going to be 11 p.m., not midnight or later. Including weekends. Just a regular, inflexible schedule of falling asleep BEFORE midnight and getting up no earlier than seven, but no later than nine. Point two: physical exercise. Every single day, and no more lame excuses.;) Either a 20-minute Pilates workout, or an hour's walk if the weather's nice enough. Can be skipped only if I'm doing something else than involves physical activity - like cleaning of the apartment, or a long shopping trip with plenty of walking around.:D And no, it's no longer about losing weight and looking pretty again. It's about basic health, especially blood circulation. It seems I can no longer get away with having my butt glued to a chair - and my eyes to a computer screen - for over 15 hours a day (in addition to all the 'nice' aforementioned side effects, my feet have started to appear slightly swollen around the ankles). Oh well. Sad but true. And if that means less internet time from now on... than so be it. I'm not going to pretend it will be easy... but I have finally come to a realization that another sleepless week - or a migraine from hell - is just a bit too high a price to pay for one or two additional hours of LJ-browsing a night. Speaking of which... my posting time for tonight is up.:( I need to grab some light snack, do my exercise and go to bed...
How about in chronological order, then? ;)
I did take Wednesday off, since the two sleeping pills I took Tuesday night had no effect on me whatsoever. So I called in sick, took THREE of the aforementioned pills (five kind of seemed too much, even for me...;) and went back to bed. And guess what? Nothing. Didn't as much as doze off the whole day, despite numerous attempts. And the night wasn't much better (did doze off a couple times, but still woke up every hour or so). I had no bloody idea what else to do, so I took my special 'migraine formula' caffeine-infested pills - to keep me alert enough not to fall over - and went to work. Most of the day was relatively bearable... but then came the infernal migraine that made me want to bang my head against the wall to knock myself out. And I didn't want to take the caffeinated pills any more (they were the only ones that seemed to really ease the pain), since that would kind of defeat the purpose of trying to FINALLY get some sleep... so I just lay about with a cold compress over my forehead, feeling miserable. Needless to say, didn't sleep well Thursday night either. Friday morning: more 'migraine formula', followed by miraculously survived workday... then the pain got stronger again, only to ease a bit after taking THREE Advils at once. Exhausted beyond anything I ever thought possible, I did EVENTUALLY sleep about eight hours on Friday night (not in one go, mind you - but without waking up more than once or twice, which was an improvement). And on Saturday morning, the migraine was gone.
Feeling relieved and grateful like I had come back from the dead, I decided a definite change of lifestyle was in order. Because it finally dawned on me where the majority of my nasty headaches must be coming from. Or rather it had dawned on me before, on several occasions, but I never took the warnings seriously enough. I guess I needed a major 'evil spell' like last week to make me 'wake up' and realize that I am very deliberately doing this to myself, and that I need to stop. So, point one: no more staying up 'well past my bedtime'. Which, btw, from now on is going to be 11 p.m., not midnight or later. Including weekends. Just a regular, inflexible schedule of falling asleep BEFORE midnight and getting up no earlier than seven, but no later than nine. Point two: physical exercise. Every single day, and no more lame excuses.;) Either a 20-minute Pilates workout, or an hour's walk if the weather's nice enough. Can be skipped only if I'm doing something else than involves physical activity - like cleaning of the apartment, or a long shopping trip with plenty of walking around.:D And no, it's no longer about losing weight and looking pretty again. It's about basic health, especially blood circulation. It seems I can no longer get away with having my butt glued to a chair - and my eyes to a computer screen - for over 15 hours a day (in addition to all the 'nice' aforementioned side effects, my feet have started to appear slightly swollen around the ankles). Oh well. Sad but true. And if that means less internet time from now on... than so be it. I'm not going to pretend it will be easy... but I have finally come to a realization that another sleepless week - or a migraine from hell - is just a bit too high a price to pay for one or two additional hours of LJ-browsing a night. Speaking of which... my posting time for tonight is up.:( I need to grab some light snack, do my exercise and go to bed...
no subject
On the other hand, hearing that you have found a "cure" for your situation makes me glad. As long as you take one day at the time and don't overdo it, or kill yourself with anger if you miss a day or two of exercise (always get back on track, should you lose it temporarily...) -- you have the chance to succeed and do great!
I am behind you in this all ways I can. Tell me if there is anything Romi can do.
no subject
And I don't think there is a danger of me 'overdoing it'.;) (though what I have definitely been 'overdoing' is my internet obsession... *sigh*) I won't torment myself with guilt if I skip a day of exercise or go to bed a few minutes past midnight... the only risk involved in not following my new schedule closely enough is getting another migraine - which will effectively serve as both a reminder and a punishment.:(
As to what you can do... just keep sending positive thoughts my way.:)