Living with Gastroparesis

So I see Dr. Justin Stahl with Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle for the treatment of my migraines that recently have plagued me everyday. First, he placed me on a preventative medication since I was already tried on Ketorolac, and Maxalt. This new medication was called Desipramine HCL. I started off on 50mg each night. It seemed to initiate migraines at night so I cut it in half and still suffered major migraines until I was down to 15mg each night. This didn’t seem enough to be really doing anything and had to continue to take maxalt, Excedrin Migraine x3, and Ketorolac each night. That’s not good, by the way.

I called them about 3 weeks into treatment and he prescribed something new, Topiramate (Topamax: Oral). So far it seems to be working. I am taking it 2 times a day. It doesn’t seem to make me tired or loopy. It may have effect on my weight but that is still to be determined. I have only been on this new drug for a little over a week and other factors such as mental stability factor in when deciding these things. Over all I am just happy to be migraine free for now and will enjoy the time I have without them. A small victory towards normalcy but a victory nonetheless. I think we’ll have to celebrate this weekend by taking the dogs out to my favorite park!

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I was walking down the road to the mailbox today and a neighbor in his car asked in a passing motion, “how are you doing, neighbor?” To this quick and loaded question I forced a fake smile and lied, “good, thanks.” Satisfied, he drove off, already busy in another train of thought consisting of errands or meetings he was trying to catch. Why ask this question when it is obvious you cannot stay around to hear the real answer? So many times I want to blurt out, “I feel like crap; my insides want to be on the outside and I sometimes wish to no longer be living.” I suppose they are not publicly acceptable answers to what should be small talk questions but when you think about it, these small talk questions are quite loaded.

Anyway, I’ve become sidetracked from what I originally meant to talk about, the Circus. My husband and I attended Alegría : Cirque du Soleil. It was purely magical. I find that what makes the circus so magical is the ability of the performers and detailed sets to bring the innocent children out of us to play in a land of dreams. A land of dreams where nothing can hurt us, where nothing bad happens and where we can be anything and everything our heart desires. Even if for a short few hours, our minds are open and free. I also think that at some point during the show, each one of us wishes to be part of the event and perhaps takes on that character in our mind to make the performance that more real. For those sick, the circus means even more for those feelings are even stronger. The circus represents a place we all fight each day to get to. One with no fear, no pain and no negativity; only acceptance and beauty in its purest form of love. I love the Circus and greatly anticipate going back for Crique du Soleil’s performance of OVO in Seattle later next year.

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A new Humor page is up. There you will find random videos and messages I find while browsing the Internet. They are in no way connected to Gastroparesis other than the fact they may help you through it by putting a smile on your face =) I’ve been having a rough time emotionally, lately and putting this Humor page together has helped to distract and entertain me. I hope you can enjoy the videos and stories as much as I have!

Humor Page

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I’ve recently updated this gastroparesis blog with a new top menu full of new pages including a Doctors, GP info and Photos page. Some of my old pages were updated with newer information and photos as well. Information that used to belong on my side bar can now be found at the top in drop-down menus. Hopefully you all find it easier to navigate and read. Feel free to browse all the new content.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, pain-free weekend!

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