Ariel's Two Cents

 I saw my neurologist last month and she finally changed my medication.  I was on Emgality for migraines, but it just was not effective, so she prescribed me Ajovy.  I picked it up last week and did my first injection Saturday evening.  It went fine.  It was actually easier than Emgality and it did not hurt at all, whereas Emgality would burn and sting so bad that I would cry.  I stayed on that medication for a year before the doctor finally listened to me and changed it.  I thought this medication would be a good one, but I was terribly wrong. A few hours after I woke up this morning, my bottom lip started to swell, but only on the left side, which I thought was strange.  I made some phone calls to my medical team and the pharmacy that just filled the Ajovy for me.  All medical personnel directed me to seek immediate medical attention.  The main suspicion was that it's an allergic reaction to Ajovy, although it is strange that it took 4...

 Yesterday was a stressful day for me, but I survived it.  I had too many appointments scheduled that day, so I had to miss out on my group therapy session, and I hate when I miss out on any opportunity for growth and progress of my healing journey.  However, it was important that I attend the other appointment.  It was a follow-up appointment with my neurologist, Dr. Jennifer Rock.  She has been treating my migraines for about a year now.  I have been on Emgality  since last May and it's just not working out for me.  Yesterday's appointment was the day I chose to advocate for myself, and it was not a simple feat for me. When the doctor started my appointment, I explained to her some of the problems that I'm having like the high number of migraines I'm experiencing every month.  I get over 20 migraines a month and that is while I have been on Emgality for a year.  It has never gotten any better as far as the quantity of migraines is conc...

  Painsomnia ...  Easily one of the most-hated aspects of my autoimmune life.  It hit me at 3 am today.  I woke up with excruciating pain ripping through my entire body.  My bedroom was too cold, and my blankets had been stolen from me.  I woke up to try and get myself warm again, but by then, my pain was too high, and it was too late for me to go back to sleep.  I asked Michael to help me get a cup of coffee (which he does every morning and never has an issue with it) and to grab my pain medication for me.  I keep it in what I call the "control bag" which is a medication bag with a combination lock on it, to keep everyone out of my controlled medications.  Michael doesn't even have the combination to it, so it's quite secure.  He got up and made the coffee, got my medications and computer for me, then promptly went back to sleep, which I have no problem with.  That is what he does every day.  It's our "normal" routine, so this...