Follow up to Heart Coiling Procedure

To make a long story short, I feel a lot better. In fact, I feel better than I have in a very long time. Perfect? No. But I wasn't expecting perfection, just hoping for some relief and that is what I got. And that makes me happy.

I had my follow up appointment with the specialist last Wednesday, which served to remind me how thankful I am that I no longer have to drive downtown to the Medical District on a regular basis to seek medical treatment. I left my house at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and didn't get home until 6:30 that evening. All to see the doctor for five minutes to tell him that the procedure worked, mostly, and to be told to follow up with my regular cardiologist (who is on my side of town). I could have phoned in. Oh, well.

I'm not complaining, mind you. In fact, this time I had an easier time recovering from the catheter than the last time. I had much less bruising and less pain overall which is a win in my book. I had lingering chest pain for about a week after the procedure. I was desperately afraid that it hadn't worked. Granted the pain wasn't as bad as it had been, but it was still at a level that I didn't think I could continue to live with.

After that first week, I began to feel better. It felt like a vice had loosened on my chest. I could breathe freely, and I hadn't even realized that I had felt restricted before. It was like being able to completely fill my lungs for the first time. I have times when I have no chest pain at all. Most of the time I feel anywhere from 50-80% better than I have in the last few years.

I have no idea if is there is anything else to be done. I have been told that I can now go and lead a normal life with no restrictions, even with a bunch of coils and a patch in my heart. Well, as normal as be expected considering the very abnormal situations I have been thrown into.

And that, my friends, is finally a solution that makes the journey worth fighting for.

Reduction in Headache Days

Something I have always struggled with is controlling my migraines. I am one of those unfortunate few whose migraines are triggered by nearly everything. Sights, smells, diet, hormones; you name it. I have tried nearly everything to control these outbreaks, too, because having a migraine two or more times a week is clearly unacceptable. I have tried all of the preventive medications (and currently still take one) and even did Botox for Migraines.

The current predicament I am in now is that because of my heart issues I can't take traditional migraine medicines like Imitrex, Maxalt, and Amerge because they are Triptans and constrict blood vessels. Constriction of blood vessels would be counterproductive to what my heart medication is doing, opening my blood vessels, and may cause undo harm. The last time I took a Triptan medication it caused severe chest pain and shortness of breath, so I am rather inclined to agree with this line of thinking.

That leaves me with fighting my migraines on my own. One of the things I have done before is the Migraine Elimination Diet. I did this when I was a teenager to find out what it was in my diet that was causing my migraines (for me it is MSG and sodium nitrate). When my headaches start to get out of control again, I resort back to this and I always end up feeling better.

It is nearly impossible to avoid all of these ingredients all of the time. For example, Autolyzed Yeast Extract is in nearly everything we eat and this is important because Autolyzed Yeast Extract can contain MSG (Monosodium Glutamate). Onion is another hard one to avoid because onion powder is in nearly all the foods we eat. I just read my labels and do my best. You'll find that a lot more restaurants have started posting their ingredients now, so you can go out to eat well prepared.

To do the full Migraine Elimination Diet you are supposed to eliminate all these foods from your diet for a set amount of time. I have read anywhere from two to four weeks is sufficient. Then you reintroduce each food, one at a time, every few days. If one of these ingredients or foods is a migraine trigger for you, you should know within a few hours of consumption. If not, you will feel fine.

Migraine Diet
By Laura Romero

I included a list of foods that are a good alternative or that would help reduce migraine days by giving you the supplements you need to fight the pain as well.

Other than eating regularly, getting plenty of rest and exercise and staying hydrated, that might be about all you can do when you are fighting migraines at home. There are plenty of supplements out there to research and I have friends that swear by them (always talk to your doctor). I personally don't take anything my doctor doesn't recommend because I already have a full cocktail of prescription medications, being a stroke survivor and living with a heart defect. So why keep tempting Mother Nature?

I feel the need to state that this is just my personal way of dealing with my migraines. I keep my doctors fully informed of any changes in my diet and health and you should too. I am not a professional. Seek a professional opinion before going on any diet or exercise program. And good luck.