Gary returned to the neurologist today. I wasn't there, but Gary was careful in the re-telling to clarify what the doctor actually said (as opposed to what Gary extrapolated).
Gary shared with the doctor what he thought was good news. The last few weeks he's been feeling better. For example, he hasn't had to wear his sunglasses while at work. He was able to tolerate the blinding glare of the fully-lit doctors office for an entire fifteen minutes before he got nauseated and had to ask for the lights off. And, he doesn't have a headache anymore, just a tight uncomfortable feeling around his head.
"So you still have a headache?" the doctor actually said.
"No. Just a tight uncomfortable feeling."
"A headache."
"Not a headache. Just a tight uncomfortable feeling."
"That's a headache."
"Well, not like the migraine I had back in November."
"'Back in November?' You're still having that migraine. You still get nauseated in the light, you're fatigued, your head hurts. You are in pain."
"I'm not in pain."
"You are. Your blood pressure is high. It shows you're in pain," the doctor actually said.
Gary agreed his blood pressure was ridiculously high. Plus, I went on the internet after I heard this account and read non-verbal inidicators of pain, and Gary is non-verbally screaming in pain. Grimacing, guarding, bracing, rubbing, he does it all.
Gary, of course, argued he was not in pain.
"Are you fatigued?" the doctor actually asked.
"Oh, horribly. I'm tired all the time."
"That's because you're in pain," the doctor actually said. "Are your hands numb?"
"Yes! My hands have been numb!" Gary said.
"Yes, that's the next stage," the doctor actually said. (This numb hands business, this was news to me.)
Eventually, the doctor convinced Gary that this was still the initial migraine, and clearly the Topamax is not working. Then they had a long chat about the seizure activity that Gary had from the Topamax. When Gary talks about his seizure activity, he starts to feel more seizure activity, so much so that they actually asked if he might want his wife to come pick him up.
"Wait," I interrupted him, "They actually said that?"
"Yes they did," Gary said, "But I just stayed in the waiting room until I felt well enough to drive."
=========================
So, the poor guy. On the other hand, the lucky guy, having a migraine without too much of a headache. Dr. Google says they're called silent migraines. Gary's got a prescription for Cymbalta now.
Tonight, when I suggested that since I had made risotto and cleaned up after the dog he might want to be the one to bring the cookies in from the kitchen, he answered:
"I will help you even though I am evidently in constant pain."
Poor Gary. (I know. I actually wrote that.) A migraine since November? Oy! But at least he isn't constantly bitching about it like that chick who had surgery for Chiari Malformation.
Posted by: Becs | January 24, 2012 at 03:29 PM
And we're certain this isn't just Gary trying to avoid sex? (sorry - that sucks, truly).
Posted by: allison | January 24, 2012 at 05:06 PM
Weren't you folks going to Norway in February? Will you still go and he will look at the AB's with sunglasses?
Posted by: Zayrina | January 24, 2012 at 07:45 PM
constant pain = constant grouchy
That has been my experience anyway. I am so sorry y'all are dealing with so much crap. Major suckage.
If you do have a trip planned I hope you still go and it's incredible.
Posted by: Brenda | January 24, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Becs - He really has been a soldier about it.
Allison - Oh, that's a given. He'd be doing that migraine or not.
Zayrina - No, the trip to Norway lost all appeal after he got sick. He doesn't want to get to far from a major city and a hospital if it comes back.
Brenda - He did say we might follow the band if they are close by.
Posted by: TheQueen | January 25, 2012 at 12:15 AM