About this Blog

~Hi, my name is Courtney. I was a full time college student, starting to be a dancer, and used to work with kids part time, living on my own until my illness disabled me.
~I became sick in 2005. I created this blog in the summer of 2006 to record my "headache" diary and to see if anyone finds it interesting.
~12/2006 I lost my job then after, failed a year of college.
~2/2007 Dx Lyme Disease with Bartonella: prescribed 8 months of oral antibiotics. I'm not even sure if I ever had the Lyme Disease.
~11/2007 The doctor took me off medicines while I was still improving but not fully recovered.
~6/2008 Dx Chiari I Malformation by a neurosurgeon in Beverly Hills.
~8/2008 Decompression and Lamenectomy helped 80% of my problems.
~2/2009 Dx Hypermobility by an Orthopedic Surgeon/School Doc: Started PT, dancing, going to school and working.
~6/2009 Started working full time as an Infant-Toddler teacher, which requires lifting. Dancing part time, maybe I'll finish school eventually...lol
~12/2009 Dx Chronic Sinusitis: Stopped dancing due to constant infections.
~2/2010 Sinus Surgery & complication: Severe Epistaxis: Became severely anemic.
~3/2010: Dx Ehlers Danlos Syndrome: by Geneticist
~4/2011: Switched jobs, now work at a Pre-K teacher for 3 and 4 year olds. Less lifting!
~5/2011: Started PT and exercising again

Saturday, November 20, 2010

update

I have great insurance. Especially since I have diagnosis established. Kaiser doctors for the most part are really helpful...
I told my primary doctor I was having more headaches. He refers me to the neurologist/headache doctor. I also get referred to PT.
I saw the neurologist this week and she referred me to the pain clinic. She had some suggestions but wanted to see what the pain clinic said.
Today I saw the doctor at the pain clinic. She was super helpful. I got prescribed Lidoderm patches for my shoulders. She wants me to wear them religiously on my shoulders every day. So far it is helping enough. Though today my spine was hurting pretty bad. Stupid EDS.
Anways, I say that my doctors are great because each of them take seriously my Chiari and Ehlers Danlos conditions. They take seriously my migraines. They take seriously my susceptibility to bleeding when I take NSAID's.
My neurologist suggested switching my depression meds to a pain prevention kind but my pain doctor said it would only help a little due to my connective tissue disorder. She knows her stuff! She said she has worked with several EDS patients.
I go in tomorrow evening for a checkup MRI to check on any signs of Chiari.
Cant wait to start physical therapy on Tuesday!

Here's what I'm taking/doing:
Celexa
Tramadol
Tylonal
Aleve
Calcium + Vitamin D
B Complex
Lidoderm patches
Tiger Balm
Blue Emu cream
Ice packs
Heat packs
Heel cushions

I see the pain clinic Dr in two weeks. I see my neurologist in a month. I see PT next week.
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