Spotlight - Emily of <a href="http://thesassylime.blogspot.com/">The Sassy Lime</a>

[Sarah]

Spotlight: Emily Blog: The Sassy Lime Blogging since: October 2005 Migraines: Since childhood. First diagnosed at 19. Daily since November 2004. Work: Homemaker; volunteer at my church planning events.

What made you start your blog?
I was hoping a blog would help keep my family and friends who live far away up to date on my life and the twists and turns of my migraine treatment. Over time, my blog’s evolved to where I include all our comings and goings, family events, crochet projects, and cooking or baking that I especially enjoyed.

Who do you admire in the migraine community?
All the migraineurs who raise children with chronic migraines. I want very much to have children someday, but first I need to get the migraines under better control. Also, I have to name Teri Robert, as well as all those who persevered to find preventative regimens when they thought the pain was too great.

How do you treat your migraines?
There’s no shortage of pharmaceutical treatments. I am seeing Dr. Freitag at the Diamond Headache Clinic. Currently, my daily preventative regimen includes the Emsam patch, spironolactone, magnesium, calcium, baby aspirin, zonegran, toprol xl, surmontil, klonopin and seroquel. It’s not providing any relief, though. I won't even get into the abortive and sleep and pain-relief pharmaceutical treatments. There are even more meds in those areas!

Any complimentary therapies?
Years ago, I had daily headaches that were triggered by back problems. That led me to pilates, and I've been doing daily pilates exercises ever since. I also employ biofeedback, which I learned about at the DHC. It helps a little bit for a little while, but every little bit helps! Really, I would love nothing more than to find a set of exercises, like pilates, that I could do every day to prevent the pain. I’d so prefer diet or meditation to pills.

What advice do you wish you’d been given, early on?
Never take triptans more than three times per week. Don't drink so much caffeine. Get diagnosed early, don’t wait.

What treatment research has you most excited these days?
The PFO research is very exciting, although it seems that it would be most helpful to men. I've been tested and don't have a PFO, so it won't be helpful to me. Also, the research being done for the transcranial magnetic stimulator is exciting and gives me hope for the future.

Who’s on your dream medical team?
Dr. Krusz from the Anodyne Clinic, Dr. Diamond and Dr. Freitag from Diamond Headache Clinic, and Dr. Young and Dr. Silberstein from the Jefferson Headache Center. But I wonder whether having such a dream team would be counterproductive – I'm sure such great minds in headache treatment would each have their own thoughts about what direction would be best!

What do you wish you could say to people unfamiliar with migraine disease?
Migraines are not just a bad headache. Please don't assume you know how I feel, or that I’m making this up. There are other people like me, and I'm not exaggerating. It’s insulting and wearying to have people think I don't know what's going on in my own head.

Name some of your favorite health related sites.
My Migraine Connection
WEGO Health - Migraines (of course!)
Migraine Pad
But You Don't Look Sick
Chronic Babe

Any favorite migraine-related books?
All In My Head by Paula Kamen
Living Well with Migraine Disease and Headaches by Teri Robert

How have your relationships changed?
When my husband and I became engaged, I wasn’t very nice and my temper flared often. I had to get used to being in a lot of pain all the time, and that it wasn’t going away any time soon. But we manage a lot better these days – he’s learned lots of little things he can do to help me feel better, and can tell most of time by looking at me how I'm doing. I do what I can around the house, and he picks up the slack. (It's true, he's basically the greatest man alive -- hands off ladies, he's all mine!)

I take abortive and/or painkilling medication three days per week now, which includes some combination of Migranal nasal spray, baclofen, and as a rescue, Lortab (I'm only allowed twice per month). This allows me to get more done around the house. All in all, my family couldn't be more supportive. Never once have they questioned my decisions, my diagnosis or my pain. They always do all they can to help , from my mom doing my dishes to my mother-in-law scrubbing my bathroom. I'm very lucky.

Have your migraines changed your career path?
I'm hoping I'm just on a detour! I took an extra long time finishing my college degree in music, and am still hoping that I'll be able to teach piano. But the amount of noise (as beautiful as it is) generated by playing the piano is just too much during a migraine. I need to develop a more effective preventative regimen before I can get into playing and/or teaching again. As it stands, I’m basically a homemaker. I do the laundry, cook meals and try and keep the place clean. Along with taking care of myself, that's about all I can manage these days.

Learn more about Emily.

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[deborah scripa]

very nice interview, Em. I love your wedding photo

[Migraine Chick]

great interview! I love your wedding dress photo!!

[Janeen]

Great interview Sarah! Thanks so much for sharing.