The Revolution and the Evolution of a Migraineur

Another new site

2006-07-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

My very own online party site:

http://www.freewebs.com/betterthanasale/

PS...

2006-07-06T01:59:00.000-07:00

I forgot to invite you to my next "apperance" at an online party.

Please join me Friday at 12:30pm Eastern, 9:30am Pacific as I represent Stuff A Friend. My special is free gift with purchase.

Go to this link on Friday to find me: http://www.funshoppingplace.com/schedule.html

It's a 2-day event that starts Thursday with a lot of my new vendor-friends. Please support them through their businesses if you are interested in their products.

On Friday,please come out and support me. Just stop in and say hi, you don't even have to make a purchase. Just click on "Enter Room Here" and away you'll go.

Ok, I did say I was tired. I'm carrying on too much.

TTFN!

Now that my birthday is over...

2006-07-06T01:47:00.000-07:00

Yeah, didn't really advertise this one, but I turned 36 on Wednesday.

It's not like I was trying to hide it, but all my focus has been on getting my internet-based businesses going and then planning for a 4-night trip to Vegas in honor of my birthday.

The trip was great. We stayed a few nights at the Flamingo and a night at the Rio. It was my parents, my 2 daughters, and me. We all took turns looking after the girls at the pool, strolling the strip at night (not during the heat of the day), and going in the hotel gift shops. The pool at the Flamingo was great. We splashed around, went down water slides, and went in the wading pool.

All the buffets were tasty (surprising!) and I had a few soft drinks while playing the slot machines (interactive penny and nickel slots and quarter video poker).

The girls enjoyed the Show in the Sky at the Rio, and of course we took them to Circus Circus for some kiddy fun.

All in all it was a nice trip and now I am 36. I'm ok with it. I am still young at heart.

Now I just have to finish up 2 assignments for an online class, and decide if I am going to pay for the 3 classes I have scheduled for fall. My priorities have shifted with taking on the online businesses. Some how Health Unit Coordinator is taking a back burner. And again, I'm ok with that. I have the luxury of not rushing school. I have the luxury of giving some time to my new little seeds of industry, hoping and praying they will thrive.

It's late and I'm tired, and getting kind of slap-happy. I'm going to get some sleep and deal with everything tomorrow.

So much to catch up on at home...laundry, email, updating my spreadsheets for my businesses, online banking, bill paying, etc.

Why is it alwasy like that when coming home from a trip?

My next trip is October 9-13. A family road trip to Disneyland. The kids have one week of Fall Break and we will spend it their way. I am really looking forward to it because we are staying "on campus" this time. Normally we stay at the Anaheim Marriot Suites, for the "suite" part. I convinced my husband that for only $200 more we could stay at one of the Disney properties. We give up the suite part for a standard room, but we will be so much closer, we don't have to worry about the shuttle schedule, and we will truly be in the heart of it all, immersed in all things Disney.

Like I said, it's late and I'm tired.

Night

You are invited to a party

2006-06-28T22:52:00.000-07:00

An online party:

http://www.onlinevendorparties.net/jaime4.htm

Join me as I launch my new online business, along with other vendors representing several buisnesses

Thursday, June 29 from 9am to 9pm EST.

Tell them "Lynelle sent me"

Things keep getting better

2006-06-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

I'm on a roll....check this out:

http://www.freewebs.com/lynelleh/

New Project

2006-06-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, well, I don't really know if I can post this here on my blog, and I tried to email Blogger with this but they only referred me back to their site, so.... here I go...I'm just going to do it.

I started a new internet-based business.

Check it out: http://www.stuffafriend.biz/members/trixy/

Yes, I know, always something new with me...right? Well quite a while ago I thought about becoming a Noah's Ark consultant, but this is the same concept and there was ZERO money to start up. It's all up to the internet now....

Oh, and I aced my online class.

Things that are good about today

2006-06-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

1. My head doesn't hurt too much

2. I am thinking about placing a Lands End order.

3. I am listening to good MP3s and ITunes.

4. The house isn't too messy.

5. I am looking forward to running a few errands.

6. I have some paperwork organized for mailing (mail order rx, etc)

7. I feel calm, in control, and happy.

8. I am eager to take my final exam for my first online class (need to go take it in person but they have a child care area where I can deposit my 2 kids while I take the exam).

9. We have decided to go to Disneyland in October (just need to decide between 2 hotels).

10. Just feeling good and happy!

Wednesday Activity

2006-06-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my daughters and I did a mystery activity. My husband drew a slip of paper from a mug Tuesday, and on it was one of the activities we planned: swimming at a high school pool.

Now, this was no ordinary pool. It has a lazy river, a toddler splash playground, and a small water slide. For the other kids there were 3 bigger water slides, and of course a lap-swimming pool.

We had a great time. We were there about an hour, which was long enough wading through knee-deep water to keep up with my kids.

But a few hours after we got home, the "sun-and-heat headache" struck.

I popped a few indocin capsules and rest for the remainder of the day.

But the pool was fun. We will do that again. It only cost $2 for the 3 of us to get in. Next time we will bring a lunch and spend more time there.

Busy bus busy/chose "Wednesday Activity"

2006-06-06T22:48:00.000-07:00

Well, the online class has been going well. So well I signed up for another one that starts later this month. I'm on a roll now.

And, our Wednesday Summer Activity selection has begun.

My husband drew a slip of paper from a mug and the activity we will do tomorrow is....swimming at a local high school pool that has water slides and a toddler wading pool. Should run us less than $5 for the 2 girls and me.

It should be fun.

Online class

2006-05-30T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, so today was supposed to be the day I started my online healthcare class.

But nothing happened. I didn't any email or instructions.

I sent an email and left a message for the instructor but have not heard back.

Now what do I do???

I did it!

2006-05-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

Did what you ask?

Two things.

One, I did in fact register and pay for my half-credit online class from a community college which starts May 30. A whopping $35. No textbook required, so this should be a good preview for me of what an online course is like, plus get me back in a school frame of mind.

I haven't taken a class since, um, well, I guess it was 1992? Creative Writing. I passed.

I do have an Associate's degree in Travel Agent Technology. I was either a travel agent or airline reservations agent for over 12 years.

Ok, what was the other thing I did?

I have been wanting to buy an American Girl doll for each of my two daughters. If you know this product line, you know it ain't cheap. The online price at their company website for one doll, one outfit, excluding tax and shipping is $87. I bought a used one on ebay for $42.35. That's better than half price! Granted, $42 is a bit much for a doll, but there are some features you are paying for with this doll.

Now my challenge is to buy another one for my other daughter. My limit was $35, but I saw these dolls going for more and more everyday. The particular one I bought was sitting at $41 for about an hour prior to the end of the auction. I couldn't believe it. I kept waiting for someone to start running up the bids during the last 2 minutes, but it didn't happen. And I'll be darned if I was going to let someone get this prize for $41. So I calculated my absolute highest bid I would consider, factored in shipping and insurance, and came up with a bid of $42.35. It happened to be the winning bid!

Hooray for me.

Now I have to snag another one for the other daughter, and I am making it harder on myself by trying to beat the price of the first one.

Wish me luck...

Troubled

2006-05-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

I got my first job in high school at the age of 15. I started as a grocery store bagger and stayed with the company through my completion of community college, being promoted to salad bar prep clerk and then to deli clerk. At one point I was working 40 hours a week and taking 15 credit hours. I was young and ambitious.

I continued to work full time until the birth of my first child when I was 30. I had 12 weeks materity leave and then went back working 20 hours a week (two-10hour days on weekends to avoid the whole child care issue).

I liked the best of both worlds...stay at home mom on weekdays and engaging in the workforce and talking to coworkers on weekends.

But I had to quit due to the migraines.

It has been about 3 years since I "worked". I tried doing mystery shopping assignments but it wasn't worth the effort.

Now I want to sell dolls on Ebay. I want to buy them cheap with a store coupon and sell them for profit.

Why?

I need to feel productive.

I need to have a project that is mine, that uses my selling skills. I have the working drive in me.

ANd this has me frustrated and stressed.

Why do I nneed to do this? To feel validated as a person? To show I can accomplish something? I want to be successful and rewarded.

No one gives me praise and regular evaluations as a homemaker. No one says "great job, here's a gift card to Starbucks" the way my most recent employer did. I like those little recognitions.

And I miss them.

And, I read a magazine add for bipolar and I think I want to talk to my doctor about it.

I can't do anything about anything right now. I need to wait to have an appointment for the bipolar thing, and I need to wait for my Sunday paper to come with the store's discount coupon to go buy the doll and then list it one Ebay.

I want action now, but I'm forced to wait.

Did I ever mention my inability commit?

2006-05-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am what I consider "flakey".

I flake out on a lot of ideas,plans, decisions, etc.

In other words, no, I haven't paid my $35 tuition for an online summer school community college course.

And no, I probably won't.

It doesn't seem as important right now.

Instead I am going to focus on being my daughter's Daisy Girl Scout troop leader starting in September.

Why?

Well, I've always wanted to be her troop leader and she's finally old enough.

And, I will have my entire family's support with this decision.

With the whole "going back to school" issue, no one would understand and they would tell me not to "push myself" because my pain would get worse.

Did you see this coming?

Parathyroid update

2006-05-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

Well, I got the old "wait and retest in 4 months".

Could have been worse. It could have been restest in 6 months.

Apparently 2 of 3 factors registered high. The other registered normal. If all 3 had been high I would be sent for a CT of my neck/parathyroid. Since only 2 of the 3 registered high I need to show one more test for insurance purposes before I can have the CT and actually start getting down to a treatment/surgery.

I'm bummed. I wanted to go forth with the CT asap. But for insurance snags, I need to wait. 4 months.

No, I haven't paid my tuition yet.

2006-05-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

I will wait until over the weekend. My deadline is next Wednesday.

I am feeling apprehensive about it. I can take it as slowly as I want, but I am starting to feel the pressure of deadlines and making an "A" in the class. I settle for nothing less than a B, and of course I will strive for the A.

Tomorrow I meet with my primary care doctor about the elevated calcium levels that showed up twice in blood tests.

I will be armed with print outs from the internet about the symptoms of parathyroid disease, especially the symptoms I have. I hope she refers me to a surgeon or at least an endocrinologist who specializes in this field.

I want my parathyroid removed asap if it is diseased.

Still here, decisions

2006-05-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, well, in a moment of feeling well I decided to return to school to become a Health Unit Coordinator.

There is a nearby community college that offers a certificate of completion for this field, and I can take about half of the required courses online instead of in a traditonal classroom.

This appeals to be (the online part) because I can do my studying and/or input data online when I feel up to it. If I scheduled a traditional class on Tuesdays and Thursday from 9-10am, what would I do if I had severe pain and couldn't attend class?

The field of work appeals to be because I would be in a medical setting, hopefully the new hospital a few miles away that opens later this month, and I wouldn't actually be touching patients. I don't think I could do things like start an IV, give an injection, or even take someone's vital signs. And I don't want to be a pharmacist (hate chemistry, and hate pressure).

So, I am enrolled in 1 course this summer at will take place from late May to late June. Then in the fall I will take a 1-day CPR class and 2 online classes.

I anticipate finishing the program during the fall 2008 semsester. I am not being agressive with classes at all. I plan to take my time, having the luxury of devoting my studies to a few classes at a time.

Tomorrow I might wake up with a headache and change my mind about all of this, but for the last few days it has remained important to me.

Also, I am applying for scholarships. Very unconvetional ones. Loftbed.com offers one not based on GPA or activities, but on unique answers to specific questions. I can be creative, which is what they are looking for, so I am in the process of forming stellar answers. Their deadline is July so I have some time.

There are also scholarships for women in their 30s returning to school after more than a 5 year absense. That is me completely!

So, maybe my next post will be to say that I paid my tuition, or maybe it will be to say that I backed out of the summer class, or maybe it will be to say I'm going to wait for a few more semesters to start.

Regardless, I am submitting my application to the college to be admitted to this program (already admitted and enrolled in the college).

Wish me luck!

PS...A health unit coordinator works in a hospital or similar setting doing paperwork and basically being a secretary for the doctors and nurses (making test appointments, ordering meals, taking inventory, etc...just NOT touching an actual patient).

Appointment switched to May 12

2006-05-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

I was able to move my appointment from the 15th to the 12th. Progress, I guess.

This appointment is to talk about the high calcium levels in my blood and for me to light a fire under them to do something about it rather than "wait 6 months and test again".

Home again, but tired and conflicted

2006-05-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

The trip was wonderful. The kids were great on the flights. The room was comfortable, the food was delicious, and the sites were fantastic.

We are still trying to get back on Arizona time. For the last 2 days my kids have slept past 10am. This was fine on Tuesday as they don't start school until 11:30am. But today, Wednesday, we got up too late to go to cheerleading class which starts at 10:30am. There wasn't enough time to get them up, fed, and excited about it within 10-15minutes to give us enough time to drive to the rec center. Oh well.

While I was gone my dr's office called with my latest blood test results. I had tests on April 6 and April 20. Both revealed high calcium levels which sounds to me like parathyroid disease (thanks internet).

The dr said to wait 6 months and test again.

I don't like that answer. I want to take action now. If I do indeed need to have one of my four parathyroid glands removed, I want to do it sooner rather than later. This is because I believe a lot of my daily complaints could be fixed with this possible diagnosis and possible surgery. Depression, constipation, headaches, moodiness, etc. Sounds vague, but given the high calcium levels it fits.

So I have an appointment on May 15 to meet with the physcian's assistant to go over my lab results. WHy couldn't they just refer me to either an endocrinologist or a surgeon? I want this fixed now.

This dr's office seems to drag their feet on all this stuff. Don't they understand that this is my life? My general well-being? Have they asked me if I'm depressed, constipated, or moody? They know for sure I have daily headaches. I feel as though I'm invisible and I have to be an advocate for myself. This just seems to be how it is these days.

Oh well, I guess I sit tight until the appointment on May 15. In the mean time I'll jsut drive myself batty looking up parathyroid stuff on the internet. I feel as though it's too late to find a new primary care doctor who would just start from square one.

Aloha

2006-04-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

Leaving Wednesday, coming home Monday.

Gone to Hawaii!

A little tired

2006-04-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I have started setting things aside that need to be packed for the vacation. I have one laundry basket full of clothes for the girls, one laundry basket started with clothes for my husband and me, and one laundry basket full of things like toiletries, card games, and snack food.

This helps me get a visual of what size suitcase to use.

I plan to clean the house and finish off all the laundry by tomorrow afternoon so we can come home to a clean house.

Today or tomorrow I will go to the bank and get travelers checks and what we call "walking cash" to spend on things like quick lunches and zoo admissions.

It's all falling into place quite nicely.

Except for some insomnia. I stopped taking my sleeping pill a few weeks ago and started taking a new preventative Friday night, so I am hoping as I increase the dose of the preventative it will help me sleep. No such luck so far.

Ok, off to stock up on a few more snack foods.

T-minus 5 nights and counting...

2006-04-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Five more nights at home before jetting off to Honolulu.

I told my husband I am ready to bring out a suitcase and he didn't give me a hard time about it being too early.

I pointed out the little stash of food I have collecting on my dresser (mac n cheese, granola bars, fruit chews, a can of Spam...) and he smiled. I think he's ready to start packing, too.

About the Spam...it's very popular in Hawaii. In fact, you can go to local restaurants and order spam served with rice and macaroni salad. While we are in Waikiki there is going to be the 4th annual Spam Jam, which is a festival celebrating Spam. We were there in 2004 for the 2nd annual Spam Jam and it was fun. They close off one of the main roads just off the beach and set up band stands and a dozen or so food tents where chefs make cuisine out of Spam. We intend to partake of a little exotic food sampling.

But the can of Spam I am taking is to try to get an upgraded room at our hotel. They are running a promotion where if you donate a can of Spam upon check in you can get a room upgrade based on availablity.

Hey, I'm all for getting more for my money.

And regarding the indocin suppository vs. indocin tablets issue...I had my neuro's office call in the tablets. I'll give the tablets a try for 2 reasons. 1. There will be a zero co-pay (read: free) for the tablets instead of over $100 for the suppositories. 2. It's easier to travel with a bottle of pills than a bottle of suppositories that needs to stay chilled.

I pick up the new meds (indocin tablets and nortiptyline) in about an hour.

Hopefully all the planets and stars will be in alignment and there won't be any problems sorting out the insurance stuff. Both prescriptions should be free with my insurance. (Finally getting a break...but that nasty DHE is neary $100 for 10 vials).

Oh, and I expect my Lands' End shipment to arrive today. That was a nice suprise when I tracked the package and saw it should be delivered today. Maybe I can wear some of my new stuff to a party we're going to tomorrow.

And I'm not too worried about the latest "high calcium level, need to check your parathyroid function" drama. I am tired, cranky, have had headaches and irregular heartbeats. Those are all symptoms. If I have a growth on one of my parathyroid glands, fine, take it out and I'll get on with life. maybe I'll even feel better.

Have a great weekend, readers.

Plan A and Plan B

2006-04-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Plan A:

Go on vacation and forget all this medical drama (insurance issues in getting prescriptions filled, new medical problems coming up in blood work, etc).

Plan B:

Start packing now, including making lists of everything we are taking (especially the toys) to ensure we come home with all of it (plus all the new souvenirs); work myself into a frenzy making sure I have every detail taken care of.

I sure want to be carefree and just "go on vacation" next week.

But the planner in me (or is it the worrier?) wants to start getting organized.

I have been fairly calm until today, when I realized we are boarding our flight in 6 days. This is the longest trip and farthest trip with the kids we have taken yet. A roughly 6-hour flight for a 5 night vacation in Hawaii.

I have been buying travel sizes and necessities for months as so not to overload the budget just before we leave. This includes the $9 tube of 50 SPF sunscreen. The last thing I want is a sun-blistered family. The comfort factor would be severely impacted, and let's not forget that a sunburn now can mean skin cancer later, especially for the kids.

So, I just need to chill out until Monday when I start the real packing.

I hope I can hold out that long.

If I even bring the suitcases out of the closet, my husband will roll his eyes and wonder why I am even thinking about packing this soon.

In the mean time maybe I'll try to decide if I should shell out the cash price for the indocin suppositories ($110 for 50 I think) or ask for a pill form that is less effective. Or maybe ask for something like good old fioricet, even with the risk of sending myself down into a rebound spiral. I don't want to leave home without a good pain control med, and I am NOT taking anymore migranal or DHE due to heart issues that are still undiagnosed.

SO....I will try to sit back and rest up for the big trip.

a little "pick me up"

2006-04-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

Ok, not feeling so negative today.

Already this morning I have made plans to go out with my mom tomorrow night, and I have made an online purchase at from Lands' End. Yeah, I'm a fan of comfy, practical clothing. And you can't beat their overstocks selection for prices and choices.

So after I drop the kids off at school I need to pick up a few things at the grocery store, and maybe I will in fact go have a leisurely lunch somewhere.

The good old pollo fundido is out of the question now that I know how many grams of fat it contains (including the rice, shredded cheese, cream cheese, etc). I had no idea one meal could actually contain triple-digit grams of fat. No wonder I have been increasing in size...

SO, maybe I'll head off to another one of my favorites: a casual chinese bistro. I can get chicken and rice, or a rice bowl. All their stuff is fresh, made to order, with no fillers or msg. Yummy stuff, and considerly better in the nutrition department.

I had a talk with my kids this morning and I told them I will not tolerate misbehaving, back-talking, and fighting with each other. They are 4 and 5, girls, and maybe spending a little too much time together (they are even in the same multi-age preschool class). They are just getting on each other's nerves, which gets on my nerves.

So, yes, today is already shaping up to be a better day.

I have better focus. I am motivated to at least plan dinner.

let's just see how it goes from here, but I am quite excited about my online purchase. I am so indecisive sometimes (all the time). I will browse for weeks, then finally make my purchase and still wonder if I made the right choices (colors, styles, sizes).

But, I wanted a few new things for my vacation next week, and if I calculated correctly the package will arrive on Tuesday and I leave Wednesday. Yes, cutting it close, but the world won't end if the package arrives while I'm away. I'll make due with the clothes I have, but it would be nice if I had the new things in time.

Anyway, here's to a better day.

Smiles to all.

Big Red "Done" Stamp

2006-04-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

Ever watch Monster House? Each time the team finished a project on the build the host called it "DONE" and gave it a "Big ole red done stamp".

Well, stamp me "DONE".

I am done physically and emotionally done with today.

I have a five year old behaving badly, a head behaving badly, and a house that needs some cleaning.

No movitation. No desire, no effort, no clue what to make for dinner.

Tired of trying to figure out med schedules (going off one, starting up a new one), following up with doctors who never call back with blood work results, tired of the day-to-day stuff.

I'm frustrated with the side effects of topamax, I'm scared somethings wrong with my heart, and I just want to be healthy.

I feel as though I am aging too fast.

I hope tomorrow is better.

Let's see...what can I look forward to?

Maybe I'll go out to lunch. Oops, nope, can't do that because I want to eat healthy and lose weight.

Maybe I'll start to pack for vacation. Nope, too soon and I'll need to wear the clothes I want to pack.

Maybe I'll go in my hot tub. Nope, too hot.

Maybe I'll nap. Nope, haven't been sleeping well due to coming off some daily meds.

I'm done.

More changes to meds

2006-04-15T16:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, trying a new drug. Always interesting.

Yet another entry to make in the "drugs I have tried" list I keep. I have to write these things down because the list is too long to keep track of in my mind.

More later.