Is it me...or my migraine?

I loved the first paragraph of this article:

I’m sleepy. I’m hungry. I’m elated! I’m irritable. I’m grumpy. I’m gassy. I’m confused. I’m achy. I’m tired. I’m stuffed. I’m unable to remember your name. I’m Janice. I mean I’m JANET. I’m forgetting my own name. I’m stressed out. I’m snapping at my boyfriend. I’m annoyed with my friend. I’m in love with my life! The world is so beautiful! I’m itchy. I’m fidgety. I’m lethargic. I’m sniffly. I’m stuffy-headed. I’m bored. I’m thrilled. I’m manic. I’m moody. I’m snuggly. Don’t touch me.

I’m a migraineur.

Read the rest at http://migraine.com/blog/never-knowing-if-its-me-or-the-migraine/?uuid=d78dec7fbb0b9278d5e1b784921deb4a

Why gluten-free diets work

"Some people are convinced that their general health improves when they stay away from gluten. Though the science is still murky on non-celiac gluten sensitivity, recent studies in Italy and Australia found that significant numbers of patients with intestinal problems felt better with gluten-free diets, even if they had no indications of celiac disease or wheat allergy."

http://theweek.com/article/index/242263/is-going-gluten-free-healthier-for-everybody

Working Full Time with Migraine

I've now worked my third week of this full-time assignment.

I got a headache on Friday during the day that I believe was weather-related.  Otherwise, the regular schedule seems to help me out.  I go to bed at the same time each day.  I wake at the same time each day.

I feel pretty good!!

New Year's Status

I weighed myself yesterday and found that I'd put on an entire pound eating carbs during the holidays.  That's something I can live with.

Remember that I mentioned my headaches getting so much worse as fall rolled in and the clouds descended?  I realized that I'd switched to coffee and wondered if that had caused the pain.  I switched back to tea and within a day noticed a difference.  I am simply not getting headaches.

So to re-cap, the magic formula has been no carbs (elimination of both gluten and sugar) and no coffee.  I drink 2 or 3 cups of black tea each day.  And I feel great.

Oh, and there's a wee side benefit:  I've lost 13 pounds since July.

Holiday Carbing

I decided to allow myself to eat carbs (within reason) during the time between 12/22 and New Year's Day.

What did I eat?

Well, the first thing I really had to have was a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats.  Everyone else was having a bowl, and they just sounded so crunchy and delicious.  I enjoyed them.

I ate a couple of pastry items I associate with Christmas, a German stollen and a Danish Kringle.  I enjoyed every morsel of sweet, floury goodness.

I allowed myself to have everything on the Christmas Eve buffet: the baked potato, the salad topped with sugared walnuts, crackers and cheese.  Yes, I did.  And I had the cheesecake dessert.

My son's girlfriend sent over some Christmas cookies, and I ate enough of those to be able to tell her how delicious they were.

And today I ate my favorite snack:  Nutella on a tortilla shell.  Yum.

Finally, I gave each of the kids some Starbucks hot cocoa, and one didn't like it.  So I had a couple of cups of that.

Otherwise, there really isn't anything I'm craving.  That's what I like best about not eating carbs.  I get to feel sated.

Though I might have just one more bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats.

Christmas update!

This morning I finally remembered to weigh myself before having my tea and breakfast, and I'm happy to report I've lost thirteen pounds.

On the work front, I've been migraine-free.  I felt a headache on both Monday and Tuesday, but both responded to Aleve and/or Excedrin Migraine, and once I adjusted to the schedule, I had no pain at all.

Taking my lunch has also be surprisingly easy.  There's a small fridge in the classroom (because when Amber returns she'll be a nursing mom and will need it), so I can keep my tuna salad there all week.  I take celery sticks to eat with the tuna plus a cut up apple and peanut butter for dessert.  I've taken leftover ham, cut into chunks, plus two cheese-sticks and some edamame beans.  I got around the need to bring a salt shaker by taking a plastic container with the salt thrown in.  After I'd nuked the edamame, I emptied the packet into the plastic container and shook it up to distribute the sale.

I'm allowing myself to enjoy some carbs while the kids are home, although Graham's girlfriend made me some delicious coconut balls that are super lo-carb.  I'll have what everyone else is having tonight at Grandma's and tomorrow for our Christmas breakfast.

And today I might bake some cookies.

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

Start working full time on Monday!

I have been extremely fortunate and will begin a long-term sub assignment on Monday.  I was concerned about the number of storm-related headaches I've been having, so I went to the doctor to get my Axert prescription updated. 

And then realized I've been drinking more caffiene in the past few months.  Gee, I wonder if that was a factor?

Effective yesterday, I'm watching the caffiene intake like a hawk!  I had been drinking more coffee and even more tea.  I'm now limiting myself to two cups of tea each morning.

Effective today, I've purchased (Group Health covers only the generics) seven Axert tablets for $204.00.  That's about $30 per pill.  On the other hand, I make about $187 for each day of sub work.  I think it's worth $30 to be able to go in and earn that amount.