i too am so sorry you are going through another difficult period. I hope you can get a break soon (and i don't mean leg)...I hope something good happens and your shoulder feels better. I think it is hard enough being bipolar and the extra stress and pain are too much.
love
bobby

Thanks Bobby,

Lol about the leg. I do desperately need a break though. Not happening, so far.

Last night I got a wicked, as in downright evil, nasty, pestiferous bloody headache of the cervical kind. I could not kill it. Trying to stretch it out produced nausea. Since I could not do food right then, I dared not take anything stronger than paracetamol, which did almost nothing. I was so nauseous I really thought I was going to toss.

Massaged my neck, much to the dismay of hurting shoulder, as I found this helped a small bit. Put a wet cloth on my head. Eventually fell asleep.

I was better this morning (around 1pm for me), but an hour later it was building up again. By 2:30 it was really getting up there.

I took tramadol. I took a small dose only -- 50mg, hoping it won't make me nauseous... or itchy, which the liquid form did. I am trying the pills hoping it was some inert ingredient.

I ate lunch right after the tramadol, got nauseous as the pain was going up, but as the med hit, everything got somewhat better. That dose wasn't enough for the pain, but it put a decent dent in it, anyway.

Seriously, the depression really was enough. Really. I do not need all this other ****.

I laughed, Bobby, when you said about not the leg. At this point, nothing would surprise me. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then another after that, and another.... you know?

I guess when it rains it pours. Let's hope the sun comes out soon.

love

waves

Waves

Question about migraines, not for you. Just wanting to know if you have
heard or tried this.

Ginger looks like small pieces, eaten raw.

Anyone else too. I am asking for a friend.

Donna

Hi, Donna,

I do take ginger with migraines, but not for the headache itself. I find it very useful for nausea. Fresh is supposed to be the best form, for nausea, but I mostly use it in other forms that I have available, and they all help me:

Fresh, raw ginger (if available)
A small slice is sufficient. She doesn't even need to eat it (it can be quite fibrous). She can just suck on it like a candy. Occasionally, tap it between the teeth to get more juices out.

Dried, powdered ginger
This is what I mostly use because I always have it. I put a pinch of it under my tongue and let the flavor seep out until it takes over my mouth, then I swallow. I repeat that two or three times at first, and then as needed.

Candied ginger
A couple of pieces of this often helps. It seems not quite as strong as the other two forms (but it is yummier ).

Oh, you might also consider posting your question in the headache forum. Here is the link: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum32.html

Hope that helps.

Just thought I would mention Morton's is one of Mrs. D's favorite remedies. It really is good "stuff". Because of her recommendation I purchased the 8 oz. Morton Epsom Lotion (with Natural Epsom Salt) at Walgreens for $8 or $9.00.
It's worth a try.


Gerry

Hello, Gerry!

Thank you for thinking of me. I hope you are well.

Reporting back on the Morton's and general epsom salt situation:

We don't have Morton's or any epsom lotion where I live. (I am in Europe, but not in England. There are different customs and trends here, even as medications go.)

It looks like epsom salt is available as a laxative, and maybe for baths. If either of those are plain mag sulfate without other junk added, I could mix up a lotion myself, but, as you might imagine, that prospect does not enthrall me.

One thing we do have here, which I could not for the life of me find for a friend in the US, is a wide variety of NSAID-medicated bandages. I am using one with ketoprofen, 20mg. I've used it before for other things and it's very effective. It makes the shoulder pain milder/bearable. It's hard for me to believe that epsom salts would do better than that.

For milder or chronic afflictions, like my mother's arthritis in her fingers, I will look into finding plain epsom salt (it's called "English Salt" here) to use as a bath.

waves

Waves,

Feel better. We are pulling for you.

M

Wow waves, I just finished reading your thread.
You have been dealing with a lot of stressors.
I am curious when you see your pdoc again soon I think.
I am sorry for you and remain hopeful for you that you will feel better.
love
bizi

Thank you, Mari.


And thank you, Bizi,

.... for the well wishes, but also also for taking time to read the thread -- you must be tired it is rather voluminous, lol.

I see my therapist this week, I forget if Wednesday or Thursday.

waves

Some interesting/hopeful developments:

I was feeling physically icky this morning, probly from the tramadol. I had a craving for something salty, and had a sliver of sharp provolone. It somehow felt really good. Then I went back had a bigger piece of it, maybe an ounce. It gave me no trouble, and I had not even had my morning dose of stomach med yet!

I think the saltiness might help, somehow?

I've noticed a few times now that prosciutto goes down remarkably well -- better than roast turkey or chicken and things you might think should be "lighter". Prosciutto is extremely salty. (It works out because it makes me thirsty and I drink lots and lots of water, lol.)

Besides, I eat a banana every day, yesterday 2, so I am getting a bit of potassium and magnesium to balance out the salt.

Whatever. At this point, it's like, if something goes down well, it is my friend, and I will eat it!

(Don't worry. Even though you guys are my friends, I promise not to eat you. Oh dear. Perhaps not much of a promise, coming from one who has the tendency to bite people's heads off every now and then, and without much reason. :crazy)

Also, I don't know but I think the tramadol lifted my mood a bit. It might be temporary, but it was a palpable reminder that feeling better is possible, and even within reach. It also made me a bit racy-headed so I don't know if I'll want an antidepressant. But as a quick parenthesis, that part was nice.

waves