Mal à la tête … deux.

(This posting might require a little catch-up, so check out my initial blog i.e. part one first…)

Last Thursday, I ventured into the doctor’s office with high hopes. After all, I was finally taking that necessary first step toward discovering the cause of the many headaches consistently plaquing my skull. Unfortunately though, it turned out to be only one tiny step in what could potentially become a long process.

I met with a nurse practitioner — Amy — who was very thorough, asking me every question possible to attempt a diagnosis. My answers caused her to assume that chronic sinusitis was to blame for the headaches I’ve most-recently been having and she ordered a cat scan for the following morning. That test, Amy noted, would legitimize her beliefs and if we could rid me of those types of headaches, then we could figure out if something else was also wreaking havoc.

But to be certain there wasn’t anything else immediately at fault, a little bloodwork was done as well.

The cat scan on Friday morning was far from a big deal. A $50 copay and a few minutes laying on my stomach with my head propped forward, facing the wall, and all was said and done. Those results would take a few days to come in, but my bloodwork was back by early afternoon — and according to the multiple tests run on my wee bit of life-sustaining juice, I was somehow completely fine. No allergy issues, no sodium problems, no cholosterol troubles, nada. So I waited for the scan, which I assumed would finally bring me a solution.

I was wrong.

On Tuesday, the nurse practioner called to say chronic sinusitis was unfortunately not the culprit. However, a 3mm cyst – itty bitty little thing — was lingering in my right sinus cavity. Nasal steriods would diminish the cyst, though she doubted it was the cause of my headaches. Alas, it couldn’t hurt to hope that it was because the next step, sadly, is a visit to a neurologist. I have to call the doctor’s office in a few weeks and update Amy about the status of these suck-tastic headaches. In the mean time, she suggested keeping a headache diary that records everything from possible triggers to where I feel the pain and approximately what time the throbbing emerged. (I picked up a $1.29 notepad from CVS, which depressingly never leaves my purse now. There’s already three entries for the week — Sun., Mon., Thurs.)

For now, I spend my mornings squirting crap up my nose and avoiding all pain medication — another suggestion from Amy, and one I am none-too-thrilled about (She thought rebound-headaches were likely as I typically doubled the recommended dosage). At least these nasal drugs aren’t as bad as I anticipated:

(A conversation with one of my best friends who is also a pharmacist)
Me: I am not looking forward to shooting this shit up my nostrils though, I’ll tell you that much.
JC: i don’t think that one is that bad. might burn a little
Me: …Great. Burn. Awesome. It’s really just having stuff go up my nose I’m not thrilled about. To know it might burn? So much more excited now.
JC: well not burn, tingle. sound better?
Me: No. You already said burn. Lol.
JC: i’m sorry!!!

Luckily, it does not burn … or tingle. And it smells like flowers, so there’s an added bonus. Ha.

For now, I just cross my fingers and hope to some day, eventually, bid these headaches farewell. Last night’s was quite a doozy, leaving me nauseous and a bit dizzy, not to mention it ruined my very-brief visit with my uncle and his family. Needless to say, I am more than ready to figure out what’s wrong with me. I only wish the solution would arrive sooner than later. Nothing I can do now though but wait it out… Le sigh.

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