Barometric Pressure

I don't know the exact relationship, but when the clouds roll in and it begins to rain, I've typically gotten a migraine.

For a while we had one of those hang-on-the-wall weather information plaques that told me whether the barometer was rising or falling, but I never quite determined which weather bothered me.  Was is the lowered pressure?  Was it the change to the pressure?  Was it something else entirely?  I don't know.

Well, the clouds have rolled in and my magical lo-carb diet continues to protect me. 

I should be clear about something, though.

I'm still taking 50 mg of Nortriptyline each night.  And a handful of vitamins and supplements.  The diet isn't my only weapon here.  I intend to experiment a bit by adding in a few carbs (I want some fruit juice!) to see if I notice a change in the headaches.  I also need to spend some time working to see if I can successfully pack a lo-carb lunch.

But I've cut my Nortriptyline in half.  And I've got the energy of a normal person.  I like it.

Energy--Passion--Vigor--Gusto--Zest

I've made three changes recently.  I've stopped eating sugar.  I've stopped eating gluten.  I've cut my dose of Nortriptyline in half.

And been rewarded with a gratifying dose of energy.

Ever since starting on Topamax in 2009, I've experienced lethargy in one form or another.  On Topamax, nicknamed Dopamax, I was just plain tired.  If I sat in a chair, I'd fall asleep.  The fatigue was so bad that I slowly dropped my dosage down to 25 mg, the lowest possible dose. 

After deciding Topamax wasn't for me, I switched to Nortriptyline.  I wasn't tired, but I became listless.  I spent days on end in my recliner.  If I felt any stray energy, I channelled it into my work.

But yesterday I felt the way I used to feel.  I felt like making the bed.  I felt like reorganizing the shelves in my closet.  I felt like dusting them.  I felt like putting away clean laundry.  I felt like running to the store for more storage bins.  I felt like organizing the hall closet.  I felt the same way again today!!  I took apart our bed and washed the dust ruffle.  I vacuumed under the bed and even behind it.  When my husband gets home, we'll flip the mattress.  I ran an errand.  I organized all my knitting yarn.  I started a load of laundry.

Was it the sugar?  Was it the gluten?  Was it the drugs?

I don't know.  But I do know this:  I like it.

Six Pounds

I got on the scale this morning, something I try not to do each day, and discovered I've lost six pounds.  This is amazing.

When I devoted my life to fitness and low-fat, high-fiber eating, I lost nine pounds in six months, or a pound and a quarter each month.  And I was exhausted.

I've now lost three pounds per month and I feel pretty good.

Oh, and I cut my nightly dose of nortriptyline in half.

After a week...

After one week of not eating carbs, I've gained a pound.

But that's not all bad.  I also started my period.

Here's what's good:  I haven't had a migraine during my period.  I felt minimal pain in the night once, got up and popped a couple of Excedrin, and went back to sleep.  That's it.

If eating no carbs means I can have headache-free periods, I'm all for it.

Another good thing:  typically, when I have my period, I'm tired and have awful cramps.  I'm not having any trouble with fatigue this time, and I've had really minor cramps.

Finally, one more good thing.  I've had more energy.  This could be a sort of psychosomatic thing, that I'm doing household chores to keep my mind off of food, or to prove to myself the diet is helping.  But I definitely feel like jumping out of the recliner more often.