I thought for sure that by day 3 I'd be through the worst of the withdrawal, but I'm not. I didn't crave coffee this morning, but the lack-of-caffeine-induced headache kicked in earlier today than it did yesterday, and instead of having a plain old headache like I had yesterday, I definitely have a full-blown migraine. I popped three Advil liquid gels, just like my doctor recommended . . . and nothing happened. Even though I've already taken Imitrex once this week, I took another one an hour or so ago. I'll risk the possible rebound migraine in exchange for not throwing up all day.
What gets me is that I know it's an easy problem to solve. All I have to do is drink a cup of coffee and all this goes away. But now that I'm three days in, I can't give up. However, if the headaches go on much longer or get much worse, I may rethink that position.
And I promise, no more whiny posts about this. You won't hear about caffeine withdrawal again until I'm successful.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Caffeine withdrawal, day 2
First, a big thank you to everyone for their words of support and commiseration. I received more e-mails and comments about my posts on giving up caffeine than I have ever gotten before. Turns out it's a hot topic.
Now on to my progress. I decided to go cold turkey today, and it wasn't easy. I made coffee for B this morning, like I do every morning, and I really, really wanted to pour myself a cup. It turns out I really like that part of my morning routine, I just didn't know it until I couldn't have the coffee. My tall glass of cold milk, usually my favorite beverage, really didn't do a good job of taking coffee's place.
Once I got over missing part of my routine, the morning went well, until about 11:00 when I got a headache from hell. I was at my favorite bakery at the time, picking up treats for Barb and her daughters, and I was so tempted to order a large iced tea, knowing that it would be a simple fix for my headache. But I sucked it up and had my friend L bring some Aleve with her to the girls' ballet class.
The Aleve didn't really help the headache. I managed to hold things together through Lily's dance class, but I skipped going to the grocery store on the way home. I couldn't bear the thought of shepherding Lily and Campbell through Central Market with my head pounding like that.
Fortunately, B was at the house when we got home, so he hung out with Lily while Campbell and I took a nap. I slept for about two hours. While my head feels a bit better, I still have a headache.
Despite the headaches, I'm not giving up on getting caffeine out of my system. If cutting caffeine out of my diet will eliminate at least 1/4 of my migraines, a couple of days of headaches will be worth it.
Now on to my progress. I decided to go cold turkey today, and it wasn't easy. I made coffee for B this morning, like I do every morning, and I really, really wanted to pour myself a cup. It turns out I really like that part of my morning routine, I just didn't know it until I couldn't have the coffee. My tall glass of cold milk, usually my favorite beverage, really didn't do a good job of taking coffee's place.
Once I got over missing part of my routine, the morning went well, until about 11:00 when I got a headache from hell. I was at my favorite bakery at the time, picking up treats for Barb and her daughters, and I was so tempted to order a large iced tea, knowing that it would be a simple fix for my headache. But I sucked it up and had my friend L bring some Aleve with her to the girls' ballet class.
The Aleve didn't really help the headache. I managed to hold things together through Lily's dance class, but I skipped going to the grocery store on the way home. I couldn't bear the thought of shepherding Lily and Campbell through Central Market with my head pounding like that.
Fortunately, B was at the house when we got home, so he hung out with Lily while Campbell and I took a nap. I slept for about two hours. While my head feels a bit better, I still have a headache.
Despite the headaches, I'm not giving up on getting caffeine out of my system. If cutting caffeine out of my diet will eliminate at least 1/4 of my migraines, a couple of days of headaches will be worth it.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
What a contrast
Here's an article about a mother who is such a contrast to the mom who made last week's news. I loved that she referred to herself as the "meanest mom on the planet" in her ad. And bravo to her for sticking to her guns on her rule of no alcohol in the car. I think I'll file this one away for when and if our kids get cars. We'll make them sign a contract, AND I'll do something similar if they break the rules.
B's dad did something similar when B was 15. B's dad had gotten him an MG convertable to drive when he turned 16. But B and one of his friends decided that they couldn't wait that long and snuck out one night in it. They got busted by the cops, of course, and the parents got called to pick them up at the police station. B's dad, as a punishment, gave the car away shortly thereafter. B was crushed. He still talks about it, to this day.
B's dad did something similar when B was 15. B's dad had gotten him an MG convertable to drive when he turned 16. But B and one of his friends decided that they couldn't wait that long and snuck out one night in it. They got busted by the cops, of course, and the parents got called to pick them up at the police station. B's dad, as a punishment, gave the car away shortly thereafter. B was crushed. He still talks about it, to this day.
Caffeine withdrawal, day 1
Even though I'm not sure I trust my doctor's recommendation about giving up caffeine, I figured it was worth a try, so this morning I made coffee for B but didn't drink my usual half cup. I did, however, stop at my favorite breakfast taco place on the way home from taking Lily to preschool, and I got a coke and two tacos. A coke has about 1/3 the amount of caffeine of coffee, so I figured drinking half a coke was a good first step in weaning myself.
But no, I currently have a blinding headache. And the Advil the doctor recommended I take for pain? It hasn't even begun to touch it. I think it may have even made my headache worse, even though I treated myself an hour-long nap after taking the Advil.
I was able to take the nap because for the first time since December 20, Campbell and I are back to our normal little morning routine. Both girls are back at school - hallelujah! So when I put Campbell down for his nap, I curled up in bed. Unfortunately, Campbell woke up much too soon for my liking; I could have slept another hour.
I'll continue the break-up with caffeine tomorrow by going cold turkey. Today's headache is bad enough that I don't want to prolong the agony any longer than I have to. All I can say is this better be worth it! I'd better not have another migraine for months.
But no, I currently have a blinding headache. And the Advil the doctor recommended I take for pain? It hasn't even begun to touch it. I think it may have even made my headache worse, even though I treated myself an hour-long nap after taking the Advil.
I was able to take the nap because for the first time since December 20, Campbell and I are back to our normal little morning routine. Both girls are back at school - hallelujah! So when I put Campbell down for his nap, I curled up in bed. Unfortunately, Campbell woke up much too soon for my liking; I could have slept another hour.
I'll continue the break-up with caffeine tomorrow by going cold turkey. Today's headache is bad enough that I don't want to prolong the agony any longer than I have to. All I can say is this better be worth it! I'd better not have another migraine for months.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Farewell, caffeine
I had an odd appointment with my neurologist yesterday, odd enough that I might be looking for a new doctor. Up until this time, I've liked Dr. R. She took over my old neurologist's practice, which I think he may have left just to be rid of me. I left every appointment thinking that he just didn't know what to make of me. Anyway, Dr. R is just a few years older than I, she has three kids, and she gets migraines. Those last two items are particularly important to me - she knows what it's like to be suffering from a migraine AND running after three kids.
Last year, after Campbell was born, Dr. R put me on a blood pressure medicine because it has proved effective in preventing migraines. Unfortunately, like every other preventative medicine that doctors have put me on, the stuff made me feel awful - dizzy, lightheaded, spacey. I gave it 30 days and then stopped taking it. Dr. R looked pretty unhappy yesterday when I told her why I'd stopped taking the medication and why I didn't want to try any other preventive drugs. I have yet to take one that doesn't make me feel worse while I'm on it.
I went for yesterday's appointment because back in December I had tried to get my pain pill prescription refilled, and Dr. R had denied the refill. When I called to find out why, Dr. R had already left for Christmas vacation. I'm ashamed to admit that I got a little hysterical with the nurse about it all. So she talked to one of the other neurologists, who approved a refill for me. But the nurse said I had to come in for an appointment.
Dr. R completely surprised me yesterday by basically going against what she and every other neurologist I've seen has said about treating migraines. First, she told me that I can only take Imitrex one day out of seven. When I asked what to do if I got two migraines in seven days, she told me that I should take three Advil liquid gel caplets. Her reasoning was that taking too many Imitrex in a seven-day period can lead to rebound migraines. When I asked what I should do for pain when the Imitrex didn't work, she again said Advil. Dr. R claims that taking the pain pills more than once every six months or so leads to rebound migraines.
Then she asked me how much caffeine I drink. I proudly told her only half a cup of coffee a day, only to have her frown and say that I had to give it up all together, again because of the rebound effect. Migraines cause the blood vessels in your head to swell, and caffeine makes them shrink. According to Dr. R, every time you drink caffeine, you shrink your blood vessels, but then they open right back up again when the caffeine wears off, leaving you more prone to migraines.
I'm just not sure I buy all this. My first neurologist, whom I loved, told me not to take Advil when I had a migraine because it had blood thinning properties (the same reason you can't take it when you're pregnant), which can actually make the pain worse. My OB-GYN, when I was pregnant with Ella and couldn't take Imitrex, said to drink a Coke when I got a migraine. So now I have a doctor telling me absolutely not to drink caffeine and not to take pain pills and not to use Imitrex more than once a week.
Basically, I left the doctor's office rather stunned and not sure what to do. I almost want to schedule another appointment with her so that I can ask her some follow-up questions, like:
1. Do you follow this protocol yourself?
2. Where and when did you learn about all this? Did you just attend a migraine conference?
3. What do I do if I give up caffeine and pain pills and the Advil doesn't work and I still get migraines?
4. Can I see another doctor please?
As of right now, I'm willing to give the no caffeine thing a try. It'll be a rough day or two as I get it out of my system, but I don't drink enough for withdrawal to be a big deal. I was going to start this morning, but I was scheduled to be helping parent in Lily's preschool class, and I couldn't face the thought of spending five hours with 12 pre-k kids without caffeine. So I guess tomorrow's the day.
But I still think I'm going to look around for a second opinion.
Last year, after Campbell was born, Dr. R put me on a blood pressure medicine because it has proved effective in preventing migraines. Unfortunately, like every other preventative medicine that doctors have put me on, the stuff made me feel awful - dizzy, lightheaded, spacey. I gave it 30 days and then stopped taking it. Dr. R looked pretty unhappy yesterday when I told her why I'd stopped taking the medication and why I didn't want to try any other preventive drugs. I have yet to take one that doesn't make me feel worse while I'm on it.
I went for yesterday's appointment because back in December I had tried to get my pain pill prescription refilled, and Dr. R had denied the refill. When I called to find out why, Dr. R had already left for Christmas vacation. I'm ashamed to admit that I got a little hysterical with the nurse about it all. So she talked to one of the other neurologists, who approved a refill for me. But the nurse said I had to come in for an appointment.
Dr. R completely surprised me yesterday by basically going against what she and every other neurologist I've seen has said about treating migraines. First, she told me that I can only take Imitrex one day out of seven. When I asked what to do if I got two migraines in seven days, she told me that I should take three Advil liquid gel caplets. Her reasoning was that taking too many Imitrex in a seven-day period can lead to rebound migraines. When I asked what I should do for pain when the Imitrex didn't work, she again said Advil. Dr. R claims that taking the pain pills more than once every six months or so leads to rebound migraines.
Then she asked me how much caffeine I drink. I proudly told her only half a cup of coffee a day, only to have her frown and say that I had to give it up all together, again because of the rebound effect. Migraines cause the blood vessels in your head to swell, and caffeine makes them shrink. According to Dr. R, every time you drink caffeine, you shrink your blood vessels, but then they open right back up again when the caffeine wears off, leaving you more prone to migraines.
I'm just not sure I buy all this. My first neurologist, whom I loved, told me not to take Advil when I had a migraine because it had blood thinning properties (the same reason you can't take it when you're pregnant), which can actually make the pain worse. My OB-GYN, when I was pregnant with Ella and couldn't take Imitrex, said to drink a Coke when I got a migraine. So now I have a doctor telling me absolutely not to drink caffeine and not to take pain pills and not to use Imitrex more than once a week.
Basically, I left the doctor's office rather stunned and not sure what to do. I almost want to schedule another appointment with her so that I can ask her some follow-up questions, like:
1. Do you follow this protocol yourself?
2. Where and when did you learn about all this? Did you just attend a migraine conference?
3. What do I do if I give up caffeine and pain pills and the Advil doesn't work and I still get migraines?
4. Can I see another doctor please?
As of right now, I'm willing to give the no caffeine thing a try. It'll be a rough day or two as I get it out of my system, but I don't drink enough for withdrawal to be a big deal. I was going to start this morning, but I was scheduled to be helping parent in Lily's preschool class, and I couldn't face the thought of spending five hours with 12 pre-k kids without caffeine. So I guess tomorrow's the day.
But I still think I'm going to look around for a second opinion.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Seeking a new name
So I think my blog needs a new name, something more descriptive than my initials and last name. I'll keep the same url, because now that I actually have more than two readers (Hi mom and dad!), I want everyone to still be able to find me.
But I'm stumped on the name. I want something clever and reflective of the topics of my blog, which are pretty far ranging. How do you encompass mothering, knitting, running, freelancing, and general blathering in a brief phrase?
The one title I keep coming back to is "On the verge of . . ." I like it because it's ambiguous as to what I'm on the verge of. It could be on the verge of greatness, or of insanity, or of brilliance, or of stupidity. I could be on the verge of anything.
But I'm not sold on that as the title, so I'm opening up the floor for suggestions. Anyone got anything for me?
But I'm stumped on the name. I want something clever and reflective of the topics of my blog, which are pretty far ranging. How do you encompass mothering, knitting, running, freelancing, and general blathering in a brief phrase?
The one title I keep coming back to is "On the verge of . . ." I like it because it's ambiguous as to what I'm on the verge of. It could be on the verge of greatness, or of insanity, or of brilliance, or of stupidity. I could be on the verge of anything.
But I'm not sold on that as the title, so I'm opening up the floor for suggestions. Anyone got anything for me?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Knitting stuff
I've been busily knitting away this past month - when work and kids allow me the time. I finished the purse for my sister, which I knit on behalf of my mother who is supposed to be taking a break from knitting due to a hurt wrist. This is the purse before I felted it. I KNOW I took an after picture, but I can't find it anywhere. Maybe my sister will take a picture and send it to me. It looked really cool when it was finished, even if the handles didn't quite fuse to the purse correctly.
I finally finished the orange socks, which I've been working on for two months in between other projects. The pattern is bamboo walking socks, which is a lot of fun to work on. It's the perfect combination of a pattern and mindless knitting. I gave the socks to Aunt Alison, who loved them.
I also knit three pairs of baby booties and one baby hat out of this really cool self-striping sock yarn. I meant to take a picture of all the booties lined up, but I forgot.
And now for this. . . . My father-in-law gave me money for Christmas, and I wavered on what to use it for - new running shoes, a pedicure or three, new books. But then inspiration struck as I was wrestling with a skein of yarn, trying to wind it into a ball to begin knitting a hat for B. I bought myself a swift and ball winder off e-Bay. The contraptions arrived tonight, and I immediately pulled them out of the boxes and set them up. I proceeded to wind a skein of gorgeous raspberry wool from Mountain Colors into a ball. It looks neon in the picture, but it's not at all in person. I can't wait to begin knitting socks with it.
B laughed at me about the swift and ball winder, and then he laughed harder when I called my mother about them. He asked, "Calling someone who cares?" He just now walked past and asked if I was posting about the swift and ball winder so that all my "geeky knitting people" could see them. Brave words from a man who keeps asking me to knit things for him.
This is why I live in Texas
I'm apologizing in advance to readers like Hallie and Heidi who, by the look of the pictures they've posted, are drowning in snow.
But today is one of those perfect days here in Austin. It was 61 degrees when I ran at 6:30 this morning, which was quite a change from the 36 degrees we ran in yesterday morning. Now it's in the low 70s with big-ass Texas blue skies without a cloud in sight.
The kids have spent pretty much all morning playing outside, first in the front yard with their friends and then in the back yard with each other. As soon as we finish lunch, we'll be hopping on our bikes and riding up to the park for more outdoors time.
It's just a really, really lovely day. Someone remind of this post in August when I'm bitching about weeks of the 100+ degree weather that I hate ever so much.
But today is one of those perfect days here in Austin. It was 61 degrees when I ran at 6:30 this morning, which was quite a change from the 36 degrees we ran in yesterday morning. Now it's in the low 70s with big-ass Texas blue skies without a cloud in sight.
The kids have spent pretty much all morning playing outside, first in the front yard with their friends and then in the back yard with each other. As soon as we finish lunch, we'll be hopping on our bikes and riding up to the park for more outdoors time.
It's just a really, really lovely day. Someone remind of this post in August when I'm bitching about weeks of the 100+ degree weather that I hate ever so much.
Friday, January 04, 2008
One the perks of the job
This afternoon Ella was at a playdate and Campbell was down for a nap (he didn't sleep, though), so Lily and I settled down to watch a movie together. I had promised her a movie to make up for the insult of not being invited to the big girls' playtime. I told Lily she could pick any movie she wanted, and of course she selected "Arielthelittlemermaid."
As we snuggled down under the blanket on the sofa, I started thinking about all the stuff that needed to be done - lunch dishes were still on the counter, laundry was waiting in the dryer, work-related e-mails and work tasks were sitting in my in-box. I almost got up to do all those things while Lily was occupied with the movie, but then I remembered that I had promised I would watch the movie WITH her.
That's when it hit me - my primary job is being mommy; it's not being housekeeper or freelancer. Part of my job as mommy, one of the best parts, is spending time with my kids without multi-tasking. So I settled in and watched the movie with Lily. We both dozed off for a little bit in the middle, but it was a great way to spend an hour with her.
My hope is that she won't remember wearing wrinkled clothing or that the dishes weren't always done, but that she will remember the times when we snuggled on the sofa together. I know I will.
As we snuggled down under the blanket on the sofa, I started thinking about all the stuff that needed to be done - lunch dishes were still on the counter, laundry was waiting in the dryer, work-related e-mails and work tasks were sitting in my in-box. I almost got up to do all those things while Lily was occupied with the movie, but then I remembered that I had promised I would watch the movie WITH her.
That's when it hit me - my primary job is being mommy; it's not being housekeeper or freelancer. Part of my job as mommy, one of the best parts, is spending time with my kids without multi-tasking. So I settled in and watched the movie with Lily. We both dozed off for a little bit in the middle, but it was a great way to spend an hour with her.
My hope is that she won't remember wearing wrinkled clothing or that the dishes weren't always done, but that she will remember the times when we snuggled on the sofa together. I know I will.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Farewell, Target
I'm cutting Target out of my life for the next 30 days. As I've written before, I love going to Target. There's just something about all those shelves of brightly colored stuff. But I've been feeling the need to downsize our collection of clutter. I tried very hard at Christmas to give only non-cluttery gifts, and I think I did pretty well. It's been a week since Christmas, and I haven't tripped over any new plastic junk yet. Even better, we're getting lots of use out of the presents we did get. The girls have been going on daily bike rides with me or B. And we've been towing Campbell along in the new bike trailer.
I was feeling pretty pleased with myself, but then I read this blog, and it got me thinking. I'm not ready to give up buying things for a year - I'm not sure I could do without new books and new yarn and new running shoes. But I am willing to give up Target for a month again. Maybe I'll be able to stretch it out longer than that.
In anticipation of this change of lifestyle, I made one last trip to SoooopeeeerrrTarget today, to pick up a few last things and say good-bye. I'm really proud of myself. I made it out of the store without any extra stuff. We bought three bike helmets - one for me, one for Lily, and one for Campbell - which I had planned on, but that was it other than groceries. I didn't even buy any junk food groceries, despite the girls' plea for ice cream.
I wavered in the DVD section, though. The other night we watched the new Pixar Shorts collection at our neighbors' house, and we all loved it. I had looked for it before Christmas, but it was out of stock then. I almost bought it today, but then Ella and Lily got in a debate about the new Harry Potter DVD. I didn't want to buy two new movies, but I didn't feel right about buying one that we won't let Lily watch yet. So I told the girls we weren't going to buy any movies this trip.
Ella started the waterworks, crying about how much she loved Harry Potter and how I had promised that she could watch the movie when it came out on DVD and she's been waiting since December 11 for it and she wanted it for Christmas and didn't get it and it isn't fair. Sob. I asked her if she loved Harry Potter enough to pay for half of the cost out of her own money. That question stopped the tears pretty quickly. I explained that my parents had made me help pay for things I really wanted, and that it had helped me learn to really think about what I wanted to buy. In the end, she decided to go home and count her loot to see how much she would have left if we bought the DVD. I was pleased with her response. Ella loves to save her money and almost never spends any of it. I'm glad the lure of Harry Potter hasn't changed that trait in her.
So now for 30 days without Target. I won't even go in for the bag of dog food I forgot to buy today.
I was feeling pretty pleased with myself, but then I read this blog, and it got me thinking. I'm not ready to give up buying things for a year - I'm not sure I could do without new books and new yarn and new running shoes. But I am willing to give up Target for a month again. Maybe I'll be able to stretch it out longer than that.
In anticipation of this change of lifestyle, I made one last trip to SoooopeeeerrrTarget today, to pick up a few last things and say good-bye. I'm really proud of myself. I made it out of the store without any extra stuff. We bought three bike helmets - one for me, one for Lily, and one for Campbell - which I had planned on, but that was it other than groceries. I didn't even buy any junk food groceries, despite the girls' plea for ice cream.
I wavered in the DVD section, though. The other night we watched the new Pixar Shorts collection at our neighbors' house, and we all loved it. I had looked for it before Christmas, but it was out of stock then. I almost bought it today, but then Ella and Lily got in a debate about the new Harry Potter DVD. I didn't want to buy two new movies, but I didn't feel right about buying one that we won't let Lily watch yet. So I told the girls we weren't going to buy any movies this trip.
Ella started the waterworks, crying about how much she loved Harry Potter and how I had promised that she could watch the movie when it came out on DVD and she's been waiting since December 11 for it and she wanted it for Christmas and didn't get it and it isn't fair. Sob. I asked her if she loved Harry Potter enough to pay for half of the cost out of her own money. That question stopped the tears pretty quickly. I explained that my parents had made me help pay for things I really wanted, and that it had helped me learn to really think about what I wanted to buy. In the end, she decided to go home and count her loot to see how much she would have left if we bought the DVD. I was pleased with her response. Ella loves to save her money and almost never spends any of it. I'm glad the lure of Harry Potter hasn't changed that trait in her.
So now for 30 days without Target. I won't even go in for the bag of dog food I forgot to buy today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)