Permanent Headache

Day 1121

2012-01-13T10:22:00.003Z

The three year headache anniversary passed unnoticed – or should I say ignored. One year, two years, three years.. it nearly seems to make no difference anymore. It’s been dragging on for so long that my hope that it will cease is waning.

I wish those who didn’t suffer from this wretched thing could understand how awful it is. Having a constant headache is so tiring, it makes the world so much heavier, every moment drags on for so much more, even when it's a fun moment, it's always somehow ruined because nothing is ever perfect, there's always that horrible headache reminding me that something is wrong.

One of my greatest passions is reading and yesterday, as I was reading a book, I had to stop for a while as the headache – for whatever inexplicable reason – was quite strong at that moment and it made it hard for me to concentrate. So the headache is always there, reminding me of its presence (don’t worry, I won’t forget you, dear) at every moment. Even when I have a few moments to myself, to sit back and relax, the headache topic inevitably comes up. I question it but soon get tired as I have no answers, and try to brush it aside.

I have learned to try and not ponder too much on its presence, to try and get on with daily life as much as possible and not let it interfere with my life, but the truth is that at times when I go to bed, I sometimes wonder ‘What if I just don’t wake up tomorrow?’ The truth of the matter is that, as much as I can ignore it, I realise that it is not normal to have had a headache for three years and sometimes I worry that the wretched thing may play its final joke on me.

Day 1090 - Sacrotuberous Ligament

2011-12-14T10:14:00.005Z

"The sacrotuberous ligament is a slender, fan-shaped ligament of the posterior pelvis located on either side of the body. This ligament arises midway down the posterior side of the sacrum, which is located at the spinal base. It primarily comprises of collagen fibers, and is strong enough to support the sacrum and prevent it against moving from its position under the body weight.

The connective tissue in this ligament joins with various other tissues, particularly the biceps femoris muscular tendon, which is an important muscle of the hamstrings on the posterior thigh region. It is also a ligament of the sacroiliac joint, which is connected to the sacrum.

It typically receives stress during aggressive physical activities and sports that may cause the arching of the spine. If it becomes strained or injured, it may result in problems similar to those of a typical iliolumbar ligament injury. The ossified or bony sacrotuberous ligament may be one of the critical causative factors in different types of neurovascular compression syndromes. An anatomical understanding of this ligament may lead to effective treatments for this clinical disease."*

*http://health.yahoo.net/human-body-maps/sacrotuberous-ligament/male#4/8

I went to see the kinesiologist again at the beginning of the month. He focused on my back during our session, in particular on the lower part where the sacrotuberous ligament is. He looked for a link between this, the TMJ and the temporalis fascia, which is exactly where my head pain is. He told me he had to work on my lower back for a few minutes. I could tell it was going to be painful but I hadn’t quite realised up to what extent.

The pain was excruciating. I felt my hands begin to tremble and suddenly tears starting flowing down my cheeks. At first they were tears of pain but soon, even when he completely stopped exerting pressure, I was unable to stop crying. I was overwhelmed with sadness; my body trembled and I sobbed and sobbed. I tried to hold myself but simply couldn’t. I don’t know what it was; the only way I can explain it is complete sadness, although for what reason I do not know (women out there may sympathise with those occasional moments when we just cry for no reason –men may find this impossible to understand).

The kinesiologist explained that when working on certain areas of the body blocked emotions can be released. These could be from traumatic events in childhood or other moments of extreme stress that one has had to deal with. It was hard to pinpoint an exact instance of this at the time.

Despite the feelings of despondency and confusion, I felt that maybe during this session we had another clue. It was the first time I had reacted in such a way during any of our appointments – the poor kinesiologist was surprised at my response to his work – and felt that maybe it was a sign we have found something.

Since then, the headache has been up and down – the first time in about a year that it has been up to 4/5 for longer periods – which makes me think that, despite the increase in pain, we may be one step closer to a solution.

Day 1060 - Propolis

2011-11-14T09:43:00.007Z

"Propolis is a resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the hive. Propolis, from the Greek word, "pro", meaning "in defense of" and "polis" meaning "city", is descriptive of the protection propolis provides the bee hives.

The main role of propolis is the protection of bees against disease. Bees coat every inch of the internal walls of their hives with a thin layer of propolis to sterilize the comb and keep their hives free of bacteria. The hive is an enclosed unit, it is hot and moist, the perfect breeding ground for microorganisms. Because of the propolis, the hive is virtually free of bacteria, mold and mildew. As a supplement, propolis helps provides your body the protection and healing properties that has allowed bees to survive for millions of years against many enemies. It is an excellent aid against bacterial infections.

The properties of the propolis depend on the exact sources used by each individual hive; therefore any potential medicinal properties that may be present in one hive's propolis may be absent from another's.

Natural medicine practitioners use propolis for the relief of various conditions, including inflammations, viral diseases, ulcers, superficial burns or scalds. Propolis is also believed to promote heart health, strengthen the immune system and reduce the chances of cataracts.[14] Old beekeepers recommend a piece of propolis kept in the mouth as a remedy for a sore throat. Propolis lozenges and tinctures can be bought in many countries. Though claims have been made for its use in treating allergies, propolis may cause severe allergic reactions if the user is sensitive to bees or bee products."*

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propolis
*http://www.eimi.com/beerich/pronotes.htm

I started taking propolis in August. I hadn’t heard of it before so I thought ‘Why not give it a go?’. I came across it when I was in the Caribbean and met a beekeeper, now my boyfriend, who recommended taking it to improve my skin condition (I suffer from a mild form of acne where little pimples grow under my skin, making my cheeks a soft pink colour - nothing too horrific to look at but something that has always made me feel uncomfortable).

I was reluctant to tell him about the headache - I now hardly tell anyone about it, as I fear I may be judged or put in the ‘crazy’ box - but eventually I did. He was very supportive about the pain and enthusiastically told me propolis may well work against fighting it off. He has given it to various people in the past, always with positive effects. One of his friends suffered from bad acne on his back, and after just a couple of months of taking propolis his acne had completely cleared up. He has worked with bees since being a young child and explained the numerous healing properties of bee products to me - fascinating to think such little creatures to be so intelligent! What I found most interesting to learn was that propolis prevents putrefaction in the hive - if a mouse or a lizard finds its way into the hive, the bees sting it to death and seal the carcass with propolis, effectively mummifying it thus rendering it completely odorless and thereby harmless to their well-being.

I took the propolis to the kinesiologist who tested me for it - my body strengthened which, according to kinesiology, means that I respond well to it. Every morning, as soon as I wake up, I take a small little ball of it. All I can do now is wait (yet again!) and see what happens.

Day 995 - Chronicity & Anger

2011-09-11T17:04:00.013+01:00

"Just as sure as the sun comes up, a person living with chronic pain will have good days and bad days. The good ones are good but the bad ones,

...Oh Boy!

Chronic pain consumes your every thought, your entire being.

Nothing hardly can enter your mind but getting this beast under control. Control is what the chronic pain sufferer is seeking and nothing else.

You are desperate for others to understand what and why this is happening.

They think that you are faking or that you are seeking sympathy because you can’t be hurting for that long and have tried everything the doctor has given you.

It makes you feel lost, disconnected or even alone.

Chronic sufferers aren’t mad at you, it’s the pain they are angry at. They lose so much of their own identity."*

*http://www.families-and-chronic-pain.com/whatischronicpain.html

I cannot believe it’s nearly been three years.

In the past few days the headache has increased to a 4/5 out of 10. For the first time in months.

Why?

And as usual one forgets what a bloody nuisance it is having a strong headache. How you think about it every second and how it gets in the way of what you’re doing. How it makes you more tired. How you just want to lie down and close your eyes and hope the pain will go away. Hope that the bitch of a headache (excuse the language but this is what I refer to It in my thoughts) goes away.

I have tried being ‘nice’ to It, tried being ‘friends’ with It as I was advised to do a couple of years ago. ‘Befriend the headache!’ Well, I have tried and it makes no difference. It is driving me up the wall. I cannot stand it anymore. I hate it. If it were alive I would shoot it. Squash it. Kill it.

Day 950 - Vitamin B12

2011-07-28T20:31:00.004+01:00

"Vitamin B12, also known as Cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin which is very important for a number of key biological pathways, including nerve function, cell growth, cell membranes and energy production.

It is an essential nutrient available exclusively from bacterial sources, ie in the diet, or through the action of gut bacteria. As Vitamin B12 is manufactured by bacteria in animal guts, you should be able to get it from red meat, fish and dairy products.

There are two main causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency – where the body can’t get B12 from your diet; and where the body can’t use it. Both can develop over a period of years or happen suddenly.

B12 is a robust molecule and survives cooking. One of the few things that can break it is a microwave oven. Even if you don’t use a microwave yourself, it’s possible that foods containing B12 have been irradiated to stop microbes growing, which might break down B12.

B12 deficiency typically makes you extremely tired (including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and can lead to depression; other symptoms include dizziness, hair loss, pins and needles, loss of memory, gastritis and constant headaches."*

* www.b12d.org
* http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12/

I have been seeing the kinesiologist for about two years now. The last time I saw him my muscle testing showed that Vitamin B12 would strengthen my system. I am now on a rather high dose, at six a day.

I had taken these supplements already a few months ago but it appears that my body still has a deficiency in B12. I have done some research on this vitamin which, according to certain studies, a vast part of the population is deficient in. People who suffer from intestinal disorders are particularly at risk, as their bodies are unable to absorb the vitamin. Given that IBS, for example, is such a common illness, this to me could mean that a good part of the population may well also have a B12 deficiency.

Given my recent unsettled stomach and considering that I don’t particularly eat a lot of red meat or dairy products, let alone fish, lacking in B12 hasn’t come as too much of a surprise to me.

The headache is still hovering at a 1, which is perfectly acceptable to live with. When I think back at how bad it was at the beginning, at about 9/10, making me scream in agony at night and bang my head against the bed, I feel grateful not to feel like that again. And all I can do is hope it will not flare up to such horrid levels again.

The mystery remains as to what is causing it – even the kinesiologist, who is so passionate about his work and who is determined to find a solution to my headache, said to me the other day: ‘No wonder no one knows what your headache is - every time something new comes up!’. Even he is baffled as to what could be the underlying cause, but given the progress I have seen since my first appointment two years ago, my faith in curing my headache relies entirely on him.

Day 851 - Stomach Acidity

2011-04-20T08:50:00.004+01:00

H. Pylori is easily inhibited by raising stomach acid, provided this is done before much damage is done by the bug, which is the reason why people with normal acid levels are generally asymptomatic and don't get ulcers unless they are on certain drugs or consume large amounts of alcohol. Coffee has been found to aggravate the symptoms of H. Pylori infections.

Unfortunately, people with reduced acid levels often times suffer from what they assume is high stomach acid (heartburn, bloating, nausea, frequent burping), and as a result frequently take antacids. By doing so, they encourage greater H. Pylori activity and thus increase the risk for ulcers or gastric cancers, with the bug also being implicated for heart disease, gum disease, asthma, rosacea, and chronic headaches or migraines as well. If patients had indeed high acid levels (as some physicians still have them believe), then why do symptoms quickly improve when stomach acid levels are raised?

The confusion usually stems from the fact that esophageal reflux (GERD) causes heartburn, from acid getting up into the esophagus, which doesn't have the acid-protective mucus coating of the stomach. However, H. pylori reduces stomach acid.

The paradox IS that having enough stomach acid keeps the valve to the esophagus closed so it cannot be harmed by stomach fluids. Also when the stomach produces stomach acid it also produces bicarbonate of soda. Bicarbonate of soda is what protects the stomach lining from being damaged by the acid. Therefore, it stands to reason that IF the stomach isn't producing enough acid it also won't be producing enough bicarbonate of soda which also allows ulcers to form inside the stomach.

Low stomach acid can be a factor with headaches, chronic fatigue, non-specific aches and pains, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and other calcium metabolism-impaired problems -- all the way to various cancers.

*http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/dig10.php

I have been reading around on Helicobacter Pylori as my stomach has been playing up again as of late. I felt very weak and dizzy the other day, and slept for 10 hours – even when I woke up I was still exhausted. My body must have been fighting something off (yet again I wish I knew what..) – that total lack of energy must have been due to something.

I got tested again for Helicobacter Pylori a couple of days ago; the result was negative. Odd, given that I have not been feeling too well again, with a painful stomach coinciding with an increase in the headache pain. H. Pylori causes stomach acidity, which I am sure to still have, despite the bacteria having been killed off. As a consequence, I am being extremely careful with what I am eating.

I came across a Helicobacter Pylori specialist’s webpage with plenty of information on the bacteria and how it affects your stomach as well as other parts of your body. What I found very interesting was the relation between Helicobacter Pylori and headaches, as well as many other secondary factors it can contribute to, such as rosacea, sinus problems, sleep problems and cognitive and memory problems, and many more.

Day 746 - Helicobacter Pylori

2011-01-05T16:59:00.004Z

“While "stress" was a popular basis for stomach ulcers years ago, Helicobacter Pylori has become a primary cause for peptic and duodenal ulcers since its discovery by two Australian doctors, Robin Warren, M.D., and Barry Marshall, M.D., in the early 80's.

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium that lives in the stomach and duodenum. It used to be thought that the stomach contained no bacteria and was actually sterile, but Helicobacter pylori changed that.

The stomach is protected from its own gastric juice by a thick layer of mucus that covers the stomach lining. Helicobacter pylori takes advantage of this protection by living in the mucus lining. Once H. pylori is safely ensconced in the mucus, it is able to fight the stomach acid that does reach it with an enzyme it possesses called urease.

Another defense H. pylori has is that the body's natural defenses cannot reach the bacterium in the mucus lining of the stomach. The immune system will respond to an H. pylori infection by sending white cells, killer T cells, and other infection fighting agents. However, these potential H. pylori eradicators cannot reach the infection, because they cannot easily get through stomach lining. They do not go away either, though, and the immune response grows and grows. Polymorphs die, and spill their destructive compounds (superoxide radicals) on stomach lining cells. Extra nutrients are sent to reinforce the white cells, and the H. pylori can feed on this. within a few days, gastritis and perhaps eventually a peptic ulcer results. It may not be H. pylori itself which causes peptic ulcer, but the inflammation of the stomach lining; i.e. the response to H. pylori.

H. pylori is believed to be transmitted orally. Many researchers think that H, pylori is transmitted orally by means of fecal matter through the ingestion of waste tainted food or water."*

*http://h-pylori-symptoms.com/h-pylori-symptoms/
http://www.acu-cell.com/dis-hpy.html

I had an endoscopy a couple of weeks ago and, sure enough, I have Helicobacter Pilori and bad stomach acidity. The gastroenterologist prescribed some antibiotics for two weeks, which I have just finished taking today.

The medicines have made me feel drowsy and have, on occasion, strengthened the headache. On the plus side, the severe stomach pain has gone, and now only a feeling of mild discomfort remains. I have also been prescribed some acid-reducing medicines which I need to take for the next few weeks.

Given that 50% of the world’s population is infected with H. Pilori and the majority are asymptomatic, I have no idea how long I have had the bacteria for. It may be that I have been harbouring it for months, or even years, and that it only started manifesting symptoms as of late.

I recently read that there is a connection between H. Pilori and headaches: “It is not clear how Helicobacter pylori infections cause headaches and migraines. However studies have shown that migraines can clear once Helicobacter has been eradicated. It is likely that immune responses, hormone imbalances and neural factors caused by Helicobacter contribute to the development of headaches. For example, digestive infections can cause low progesterone women and it is well known that progesterone deficiency can cause headaches, particularly during the second half of the menstrual cycle. In addition, food sensitivities, possibly triggered by H. pylori may also contribute to headaches and migraines.”*

In theory, the antibioitics should by now have killed H. Pilori which means that if the headache is in any way connected to the bacteria, then my headache should have gone (which it hasn’t). There is nonetheless a chance H. Pilori is still present and I need to get re-tested in three months’ time to see whether this is the case.

Day 715 - Low Stomach Acid Headaches

2010-12-05T15:46:00.002Z

“Individuals suffering from headaches related to low stomach acid have the option to resolve not only the headaches, but also most of the other symptoms associated with low acid, such as bloating, or heartburn-like symptoms following a larger meal.

Considerations may include lemon or lime water, or they may supplement a digestive aid containing Glutamic acid + Betaine + Pepsin, or they may try Bromelain, which is a better choice if they suffer from acid reflux and low stomach acid (which is possible). Acidophilus, or any of the 'Probiotic' friendly bacteria formulations could also be taken on a regular basis, with the best time being right at bedtime. This assures re-seeding of the "good" bacteria overnight, which will subsequently lessen any early morning symptoms such as nausea or headaches that are experienced by some of those suffering from low stomach acid.

Since the Helicobacter Pylori bacteria is a common cause for low stomach acid (as well as ulcers, cancer, asthma, gum, and heart disease), it may be worthwhile to be tested for a possible infection, and if found positive, undergo appropriate therapy.”*

*http://www.acu-cell.com/dis-hpy.html

The headache’s second year anniversary is coming up soon, although this year it doesn’t seem to be as big a deal as it was last year. Maybe it is because I have lived with it for so long now that two years seems to be no different from one. Maybe it is because I would rather just push the thought to the back of my mind.

I have been suffering from bad stomach aches for a few weeks which has made, of course, me wonder if they are connected to the headache. My stomach has come up as a potential cause for the headache on various occasions with the kinesiologist. I have no idea as to what the source of the pain could be - possibly a bacteria, or maybe stomach acidity. The kinesiologist has suggested I get checked for Helicobacter Pilori.

The discomfort of the stomach aches which have now persisted for over a month have made me once again realise how one gets use to pain as I have caught myself on various occasions wishing for the tummy ache to go away and for the pain to move to the head. I have evidently got so used to the headache that discomfort in other parts of my body nearly feels unnatural, so to speak.

I thought the stomach ache was the cause of something I ate, but given its somewhat abnormal duration I have decided to go and see a gastroenterologist. Again, an odd bit of hope that this may be the cause of the headache that is manifesting itself two years down the line.

Day 673 - Chiari Malformations

2010-10-24T21:15:00.006+01:00

"In 1891, Austrian pathologist Hans von Chiari described certain hindbrain abnormalities as postmortem findings in infants; these came to be known as Chiari malformations.

Chiari malformations (CMs) are structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. When the indented bony space at the lower rear of the skull is smaller than normal, the cerebellum and brainstem can be pushed downward. The resulting pressure on the cerebellum can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord) and can cause a range of symptoms including dizziness, muscle weakness, numbness, vision problems, headache, and problems with balance and coordination.

There are three primary types of CM. The most common is Type I, which may not cause symptoms and is often found by accident during an examination for another condition. Type II (also called Arnold-Chiari malformation) is usually accompanied by a myelomeningocele-a form of spina bifida that occurs when the spinal canal and backbone do not close before birth, causing the spinal cord to protrude through an opening in the back. This can cause partial or complete paralysis below the spinal opening. Type III is the most serious form of CM, and causes severe neurological defects. Other conditions sometimes associated with CM include hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, and spinal curvature.

Medications may ease certain symptoms, such as pain, although many people with Type I are asymptomatic and do not know they have the condition. Many patients with the more severe types of CM and have surgery see a reduction in their symptoms and/or prolonged periods of relative stability, although paralysis is generally permanent. Surgery is the only treatment available to correct functional disturbances or halt the progression of damage to the central nervous system."

*http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chiari/chiari.htm
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/406849-overview

I recently had a comment on the Hemicrania Continua post from someone who has been diagnosed with Chiari malformation. Given that I do not yet have a post on this condition, I thought it would be interesting to write a few lines about it, especially as recently various people have mentioned that they are familiarizing themselves with new conditions via my blog. And I have to admit I find it fascinating, albeit at the same time very daunting, to learn how many different conditions have constant headache as one of their symptoms. It goes to show how complex and how intricately connected all parts of the human body are.

And I wonder how many other conditions exist with headache as a primary symptom, which modern medicine has not yet familiarised itself with.

Some of the websites I have read which detail the symptoms of Chiari state that at times an MRI is not sufficient, and that a CT scan can better detect any possible signs of the condition. I myself have had both, so can say I most probably do not have Chiari malformations. Yet again, something to tick off the ‘I most probably do not have this’ box.

As Christmas once again creeps up on us, I am approaching year two of my permanent headache. I feel I have made some progress since it started, albeit only in terms of being able to eliminate what it could not be. As to what is really is, I still do not have a clue. At times I sit back and wonder whether I should not be more worried about this wretched headache and about what it could possibly be, but it has got to a point where I simply push that thought to the back of my mind. I try and forget that I have had this miserable and mysterious headache for so long, this headache which has no doubt altered the course of my life and has put me on a life path that maybe I would not have followed. The only thought I can reassure myself with is that, as I have mentioned before, it has probably made me into a stronger person and enabled me to cope with a condition I previously would have thought I would never have been able to put up with.

Day 632 - Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra)

2010-09-14T11:01:00.009+01:00

"The leaves of English walnut trees, Juglans regia L., also known as European walnut, have been used medicinally for thousands of years particularly for treating skin disorders. English walnut is native to southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, India and China.

The leaves are considered astringent, and insecticidal against bedbugs and mites (i.e. scabies). The famous herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper, used European walnut to "kill worms in the stomach or belly". The juice of the green husk was boiled with honey and used as a gargle for sore mouth and throat and to relieve heat and inflammation in the throat and stomach.

Walnut leaf today is most often used externally as an astringent for treating eczema, herpes and ulcers. The leaves of black walnut are most often used to treat hemorrhoids as well as liver and gallbladder problems. In folk medicine, black walnut leaf was also given to relieve headache, hepatitis, and skin conditions, although there is little evidence to back up these claims. The walnut’s active compound, juglone, isolated from black walnut, has been shown to be a laxative, fight worms, and have strong activity against bacteria and abnormal growths."*

*http://store.healingifts.com/blwaleexor.html

The headache has been pretty stable the whole summer, hovering between 1 and 2; I only had one flair-up which lasted a couple of days, and was only about a 5. I say ‘only a 5’ because those of you who also suffer from a constant headache know that 5 is bad but perfectly bearable. I have not had a 9 for a long time now luckily. I dread to remember what it was like.

I saw the kinesiologist again a week ago. When muscle testing me, ‘bacteria’ came up a few times; whether this is a possible bacteria I caught when travelling in South America this summer or a cause of the headache I do not know; he gave me black walnut drops to take for a few weeks.

I have recently had a number of postings on my blog - thank you everyone - although sadly many of those who have commented have had some terrible side effects from the medicines they have been taking to quell the headache. I cannot stress how much my headache has improved since those horrific first few months, and only through natural methods. I myself felt the urge to take some strong medicines at the very beginning when the haunting headache was horrendously bad but I opted out of this option having read what side effects some of these have.

I know natural remedies, as a general rule, take longer to have an effect on our organism but this is not a reason to discard them; western medicines may have an immediate effect but they all have side-effects of one sort or another. The stronger the medicine, the stronger the side effect. I know my headache has not gone away but it is better - all I am trying to say to those of you who suffer from a similar condition is to try some natural remedies first before moving onto potent medicines.

Day 545 - Colon Cleansing

2010-06-19T23:20:00.005+01:00

"Why, suddenly, has colon cleansing (detoxification) become so necessary? Many argue that our grandparents did not use colon cleansers and they survived pretty well. The answer is simple: times have changed. Our eating habits have changed and our dietary intake has altered radically since the old days. Our grandparents, like their parents before them, lived on a healthy high-fibre diet of whole foods such as fresh garden vegetables and plenty of unprocessed fruit.

Our food intake in today's rushed, modern world is very different. About 90 percent of the foods that we consume on a daily basis is processed or refined in some way. These refined foods keep depositing toxic waste in our body. The foods (including sugar and flour) make us extremely susceptible to serious intestinal problems.

Over six thousand chemicals are used to process foods. The food that we eat every day is refined, genetically engineered, preserved, coloured, and treated with a mixture of insecticides, chemicals, and hormones. That means that not only do we eat very little roughage to encourage healthy intestinal function, but the constant chemicals, preservatives and colorants that we consume also have a devastating effect on the digestive tract.

What happens when the colon becomes sluggish or constipated? This results in toxic poison building up as the result of multiplying bacteria when foodstuffs travel too slowly through the intestines during the evacuation process. These toxins then enter the bloodstream via the colon. That's why chronic constipation poses such a dangerous health risk.

So, the single most dangerous threat to your colon is, of course, your diet. Depending on your daily food intake, your low-fiber, high processed, refined and chemically laced food intake is a serious health risk. In today's modern world, we are actually poisoning ourselves little by little, each and every day.”*

*http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/colon-cleanse-the-single-most-dangerous-threat-to-your-colon-1754106.html

I remember hearing about a detox programme a couple of years ago through a friend of mine. Hers involved sipping some horrible sounding ‘soup’ for a few weeks or so, after which she had to slowly reintroduce certain foods, starting with little nibbles of salad or boiled vegetables so as not to give her system too much of a shock having not eaten anything solid at all for so long.

No wonder I was reluctant to try the Colonix detox programme that my mother suggested I give a go. ‘You’ve tried everything for your headache, I don’t understand why you won’t just try this too’, she said to me. At the time, my mother had been on the programme for three months and had seen great results - she felt a lot more energetic and generally a lot healthier.

I eventually gave in and thought ‘what the heck, might as well’ - it just gets to a point where you’re willing to try everything. ‘What if I don’t try it and it’s the key to solving my headache?’ - that’s the question that runs through my head virtually every time someone suggests trying out something new. I took the Colonix for a few months. As I have been based abroad for work, I couldn’t have gone back to see the kinesiologist anyway and I had finished all the tablets he had given me. I was therefore not following any specific diet nor was I on any programme of sorts. So why not give it a go?

I was rather frightened by the possible effects of taking the Colonix - look at their webpage and the testimonial photos and you will no doubt understand why I am using the word ‘frightened’. My mother was convinced I was harbouring some sort of a bacteria or parasite which would soon be released thanks to the potency of this combination of herbal ingredients.

I have now finished the three month programme and I do admit feeling better. My headache has stabilised to a 1/2, albeit with the occasional flair up - only once did I get an 8 which was dreadful but luckily it didn’t last for too long. As I have mentioned on a number of occasions, one forgets how bad the pain is until it comes back, your head thumping away, your field of vision obscuring as little flashy stars appear in front of you, a wave of nausea running through you and an untold desire to lie down and close your eyes taking control of your mind and body.

The headache has definitely not gone, it still very much haunts me every living second, but it’s better, which is an improvement. I am seeing the kinesiologist again in a few days - I’d be interested to see what comes up when he muscle tests me.

Day 500 - Occipital Neuralgia

2010-05-06T10:06:00.005+01:00

“Occipital neuralgia is a term used to describe a cycle of pain-spasm-pain originating from the suboccipital area (base) of the skull that often radiates to the back, front, and side of the head, as well as behind the eyes.

The occipital nerves are two pairs of nerves that originate in the area of the second and third vertebrae of the neck. While most people's nerve roots originate in similar places on the spine, cadaver studies show a wide variety of differences between individuals as to the course of the nerves once they leave the spinal column. Often the nerves follow a curving course that passes through various muscles in the upper back, neck and head.

These nerves supply areas of the skin along the base of the skull and partially behind the ear. While the occipital nerves do not directly connect with structures within the skull itself, they do interconnect with other nerves outside of the skull and form a continuous neural network that can affect any given area through which any of the main nerves or their branch fibers pass.

Occipital neuralgia occurs more often in women than men. It can have many causes such as trauma (a direct blow or "whiplash"); spinal column compression; nerve lesions; localized infections or inflammation; gout; diabetes; blood vessel inflammation; and local tumors.

Commonly, the nerves are inflamed and sensitive because they are trapped within the muscles through which they pass. Muscle spasm and pain are often associated with nerve entrapment, which causes localized pain, spasm and muscle cramping.

Symptoms include the following:

- Headaches that are localized or following a "ram's horn" pattern on the side of the head, often starting in the upper neck or base of the skull. It can be one-sided or on both sides.
- Scalp that is tender to the touch, often hypersensitive. Even brushing your hair can be a painful experience.
- Pain or pressure behind the eyes. Eyes are very sensitive to light especially when the headache is present.

Many conditions can show symptoms similar to those found with occipital neuralgia. Treatment of occipital neuralgia may involve oral medications that are designed to reduce inflammation and spasms, localized therapeutic injections, physical therapy, massage, and heat.”*

*http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/536/main.html

I thought I would post something on occipital neuralgia as someone recently mentioned looking into this condition. My type of headache doesn’t seem to correspond to that described above, in particular as I do not suffer from muscle spasms. One reader of this blog recently commented on the hemicrania continua post about having an indescribably severe headache which manifests itself with severe muscle spasms. Occipital neuralgia could be something he could look into if he hasn’t yet. His story nearly brought me to tears.

The number of comments recently posted on my blog under the hemicrania continua post go to show how many people seem to suffer from this condition. Sadly most of the people who I have been in touch with have not as yet had much relief from the medicines they were prescribed. I still remain convinced (and I am sure many of you do) that there must be an intricate reason for the onset and continuation of our headaches. What this is, in my case, as no doubt in many others, still remains a mystery.

There have been a few days in which the headache has flared up, and every time I manage to forget how bad it can get. Being tired doesn’t help. Sleeping too much doesn’t seem to help either. Finding a constant balance is what I need to do. I also got a bit of a cold the other day which revived the headache, making it thump away - although that was a ‘cold headache’ on top of the ‘normal’ headache.

It has now been nearly a year and a half.

Compared to others who have commented on my blog, it’s no time at all. What is my body trying to tell me? What is going on in there? Sometimes I wish I could just crack my head open and see what’s going on.

The kinesiologist was not around when I was back in the UK so I did not manage to see him this time round. I went for some acupuncture - the acupuncturist always manages to pinpoint the pain and stick a needle right in it; as the needle enters that part of my head, my head feels like a balloon deflating. The pain remains but in some ways I feel like I have caught it, pinpointed it, willing to stab it and kill it once and for all. But, alas, it perseveres.

Day 449 - Swearing

2010-03-16T08:27:00.007Z

"That muttered curse word that reflexively comes out when you stub your toe could actually make it easier to bear the throbbing pain, a new study suggests. Swearing is a common response to pain, but no previous research has connected the uttering of an expletive to the actual physical experience of pain.

"Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon," said Richard Stephens of Keele University in England and one of the authors of the new study. "It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain."

Stephens and his fellow Keele researchers John Atkins and Andrew Kingston sought to test how swearing would affect an individual's tolerance to pain. Because swearing often has an exaggerating effect that can overstate the severity of pain, the team thought that swearing would lessen a person's tolerance. As it turned out, the opposite seems to be true.

The researchers enlisted 64 undergraduate volunteers and had them submerge their hand in a tub of ice water for as long as possible while repeating a swear word of their choice. The experiment was then repeated with the volunteer repeating a more common word that they would use to describe a table.

Contrary to what the researcher expected, the volunteers kept their hands submerged longer while repeating the swear word. The researchers think that the increase in pain tolerance occurs because swearing triggers the body's natural “fight-or flight” response. Stephens and his colleagues suggest that swearing may increase aggression (seen in accelerated heart rates), which downplays weakness to appear stronger or more macho. "Our research shows one potential reason why swearing developed and why it persists," Stephens said."*

*http://www.livescience.com/health/090712-swearing-pain.html

I have not posted for a while as the headache has been at its best for the past few weeks - up until a few days ago. I got a bit of a cold and since then the headache seems to have partly shifted to the left hand side which is proving to be a complete and utter nightmare as I am not used to the pain being there. I can’t even seem to be able to figure out what level out of 10 it is as the pain has never been on the left hand side for so long.

The other day, when it first moved about, I had a headache on top of the headache. That was a bit of a nightmare - it’s incredible what the body can get used to, and how one can feel two headaches simultaneously. It’s hard to explain unless you have experienced it first hand. I am sure that before the headache started I would not have been able to imagine experiencing two headaches concurrently.

And, once again, I forgot how bad the headache was - when it subsides you can never really picture how forceful the pain had previously been.

I also woke up a few days ago with an unbelievable pain in my teeth and jaw. I felt as if I had spent the night furiously grinding my teeth (I still regularly wear the mouth guard I was given by the dentist one year ago) - not sure if it was due to the headache pain, or possibly just a bad nightmare. Rather odd though as I woke up with my teeth and gums in complete agony. This makes me think the headache could be related to the jaw, but I have had that tested on various occasions and it doesn’t seem to be that..

Let’s just hope all the pain moves back to the right as I feel I am able to cope with it much better when it’s on that side - I guess, once again, it just goes to show how used to pain we become. Maybe I should just swear more to make the pain more tolerable, as the study above seems to suggest.

Day 428 - Pain

2010-02-23T12:56:00.005Z

'We forget very easily what gives us pain.' - Graham Greene

"Pain is a simple enough concept to grasp. You stub your toe, shout, perhaps utter a few expletives, rub it better and it eventually fades. But neuroscientists are realising that pain is much more complex than anyone thought possible, comprising not just physical sensations, but emotional ones too. Pioneering studies are providing insights into why some people experience debilitating chronic pain long after an injury has healed, as well as why some are more prone to pain than others, and why certain people never recover from bereavement.

While most pain goes away as an injury gets better, sometimes it remains for months or even years, long outlasting its original purpose. Chronic physical pain is debilitating and can cause disability, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also very common.

No one really knows why some people experience chronic pain and others do not, but imaging studies at Northwestern University, Chicago, have found a series of abnormalities in the brains of chronic pain sufferers in which the part linked to decision-making (the prefrontal cortex) is reduced, while an area of the prefrontal cortex linked to emotion is hyperactive. What is known for certain is that the brain changes in those with chronic pain so that they experience pain differently from the way they did before.

We all have a system for suppressing pain when necessary so that we can flee attackers even when injured. Those who suffer from chronic pain appear unable to access this and cannot use distraction as a means of suppressing pain; their brains seem to amplify pain signals rather than inhibit them.

Neuroscience is also revealing a host of similarities between emotional and physical pain. Professor David Alexander, the director of the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research, is not surprised about the link between physical and emotional pain. “If you listen to people who are damaged emotionally, they will often translate their pain into physical similes: ‘my head is bursting, my guts are aching', and so on. The parallel is very strong.”*

*http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4397377.ece

As I have mentioned on a number of occasions, the headache has created paradoxical feelings in me - on the one hand, I feel I want people to know about it as it could justify any incongruous behaviour, such as feeling dejected, short tempered or angry at inappropriate times; on the other hand, I don’t want people to know about it as I don’t want them to see me any differently than they would someone else.

But even those who know, after a while, stop asking you how you are, they stop asking about your headache, because they forget. But the awful thing is that I can never forget because the headache is always with me.

It’s odd, though, how easily one forgets about pain - when the headache is at its strongest you are taken aback by the amount of pain it causes because in that intermittent period of time in which the pain was bearable, you forgot how bad it really was.

And in a similar way, people forget, because most of us who have these inexplicable headaches don’t tend to have any other visible symptoms, which naturally leads people to forget about the fact that you’re in constant pain. But we ourselves are incapable of forgetting about our headache, because it never leaves us.

Many people have asked me if I can forget about the pain, but how can you? Sometimes you get distracted for a few minutes and of course you focus on something else, but the pain is always there, always reminding you of its presence. It makes you wonder if another person would be able to cope any better. Would they be able to put up with the pain too? How used to the pain have I got? According to a study mentioned above, the brain changes in those with chronic pain so that they experience pain differently from the way they did before. This makes me question how much (or how little) I feel pain in comparison to others. I sometimes wonder what would happen if someone else lived in my body - how long would they be able to put up with the pain for before handing it back to me and imploring me to take it?

I just cannot imagine what it would be like not to have a headache. I can picture an immediate feeling of lightness. Just imagine! My head always feels so heavy, so burdensome.

Day 400 - Vaccines & Thimerosal

2010-01-26T07:58:00.008Z

“Vaccines are medications that are designed to stimulate the body's immune system to generate a response that will protect the individual from disease by the pathogen in question. The first vaccination was performed in 1796 by the British physician Edward Jenner who had noticed that dairy maids who had had cowpox infection (Vacca = cow in Latin) did not succumb to the deadly smallpox infection that was claiming many lives at the time. To test his theory, Jenner infected his gardener's son, James Phipps, with cowpox and then weeks later attempted to infect him with the deadly smallpox. Happily, James survived the experience and was protected from infection and thus the practice of vaccination was born.

The body's immune system is comprised of two arms - antibody-mediated immunity and cell-mediated immunity. All vaccines developed in the last 50 years probably protect by stimulating a potent antibody response. However, for pathogens that live within cells of the body, where antibodies can't reach, it is likely that cell-mediated immunity is required for protection. Examples of such pathogens include malaria, TB and HIV. Each of these is a huge global health problem claiming millions of lives each year for which there is no effective vaccine.

Thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines, contains 49.6 percent mercury by weight and is metabolized or degraded into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. Mercury, or more precisely, ethylmercury, is the principle agent that kills contaminants. Studies indicate that mercury tends to accumulate in the brains of primates and other animals after they are injected with vaccines.

Mercury poisoning has been linked to cardiovascular disease, autism, seizures, mental retardation, hyperactivity, dyslexia and many other nervous system conditions. That's why the FDA rigorously limits exposure to mercury in foods and drugs. Some common sources of mercury include dental amalgam fillings, various vaccines and certain fish contaminated by polluted ocean waters.”*

*http://www.malaria-vaccines.org.uk/2.shtml
http://www.naturalnews.com/011764_mercury_thimerosal_vaccines.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4472485.stm

Having written a post about heavy metal toxicity and having read more about the relation between mercury and vaccines, I thought I’d share some thoughts with you.

I remember talking to some friends a few months ago when swine flu seemed to be the next epidemic that would wipe out half the world’s population (ah, the media!). I remember saying that I would never dream of taking a swine flu vaccine not only because of the amount of poisonous metals (namely thimerosal) contained in the vaccine itself, but also because the vaccine had never been tested before, and thus the long term effects are unknown.

A few weeks before having that conversation, I had watched a video (you can click on it above) on the 1976 swine flu propaganda. The outbreak was a strain of H1N1 influenza virus and prompted vast mass immunization in the United States, mainly due to the advertising campaigns broadcast on television which propelled most Americans to immediately get a vaccine. As you will be able to see in the video above, the consequences were disastrous.

I find this whole topic fascinating, in particular as no one is ever warned of the possible side effects of having a vaccine. How many of you are ever warned of any possible dangers following your vaccinations? The only thing I have ever been in told is that I may feel a bit dizzy and weak afterwards, but that’s about it. We’re not warned of the possible long term effects these injections may have on us.

As I was doing some research online, I came across a site which explained that a study conducted in 1999 revealed that some infants, due to a genetic or developmental factor, lack the ability to eliminate mercury. Trace amounts of mercury in these infants, when accumulated over several vaccines, could pose a severe health risk.

Because of this some countries (including the UK) have banned the use of thimerosal in some - but not all - vaccines. According to an article I stumbled across on the BBC webpage, only hepatitis B and influenza in the UK programme now contain thimerosal.*

More and more scientists have found links between thimerosal and neurological damage, including higher incidence of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR) antibodies in autistic children. Surely the link between those developing autism post vaccines is no coincidence? Needless to say, there are plenty of doctors, including the spokeswoman for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, who believe that “There is strong evidence to show that thimerosal in vaccines does not cause neurodevelopmental problems." There seems to be plenty of evidence that points to the contrary...

Could my headache be linked to metals that my body is finding hard to eliminate? Possibly.

Day 386 - Heavy Metal Toxicity

2010-01-12T21:29:00.009Z

"Heavy metal toxicity is an excessive build-up of metals in the body. Oftentimes, the vague symptoms produced by heavy metal toxicity are mistakenly misdiagnosed as incurable chronic conditions. The most common heavy metals that humans are exposed to are aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.

Heavy metals are found in everyday existence and are frequently hard to avoid entirely. Most people can excrete toxic heavy metals from the body successfully. However, some people—especially those who suffer from chronic conditions—cannot excrete them efficiently enough and a build-up occurs. Recent research also reveals that those who cannot excrete heavy metals efficiently appear to be genetically predisposed to this condition.

When numerous metals are present in the body, they have a “synergistic toxicity.” Dr. Boyd Haley, professor and chair of the chemistry department at the University of Kentucky, performed a study on rats and found that the mortality rate of rats exposed to a small dose of mercury or aluminum killed only 1 rat in 100. However, when the rats were exposed to both mercury and aluminum at the same time, all 100 rats died—a 100% mortality rate.

Heavy metal toxicity can result from either acute or chronic exposure to heavy metals.

Acute exposure can occur as a result of:

- Receiving vaccinations that contain thimerosal (mercury preservative)
- Mishandled metals at a job site
- Chemical and heavy metal spills–even from a broken mercury thermometer

Chronic exposure happens over a period of time, and includes:

- Having mercury amalgams (“silver fillings”) in teeth
- Living in a home built prior to 1978 that has lead-based paint
- Smoking and/or inhaling second-hand smoke
- Eating foods (such as contaminated fish) that contain high levels of heavy metals
- Living near a landfill
- Working in an environment where exposure is prevalent, such as at a dentist’s office where amalgam is used to fill cavities"*

*http://www.jigsawhealth.com/resources/heavy-metal-toxicity

I had a bit of a flare up last week but nothing major (probably about 6/10) but other than that I have been doing well at about 2/10. No complaints. I am also back in the cold dry Russian weather which so far has kept the headache down to a 2/10.

When I returned to Europe in December for a few weeks the headache seemed to fluctuate a bit more and oscillate (randomly, of course) between 2/10 and 5/10 but after a few days it seemed to stabilize at about 2/10.

I went to see the kinesiologist again a few days ago. I appeared to ‘weaken’ to a homeopathic remedy of metals which implies a possible metal toxicity. Incidentally, the nutritionist I saw a few months ago had mentioned the possibility of taking a herbal remedy for metal toxicity as she had told me this could be the cause of my headache.

I ‘tested’ well for Cilantro (Coriandrum Sativum), a plant used in cases of metal toxicity, and I am now taking 20 drops of it three times a day.

The most common form of metal toxicity is via tooth fillings, of which I have none (luckily). But there are, of course, many other causes of metal toxicity such as those mentioned above, the most common of which is by far receiving vaccinations that contain thimerosal, a mercury preservative.

Given that we have all received vaccinations, it is not surprising that there are so many undetected illnesses out there that could originate precisely from injections that most people deem beneficial to their long term health.

Day 365 - The Weather

2009-12-23T10:12:00.002Z

“The weather has long been suspected of affecting people's health. Cold damp days can mean aching bones and joints for arthritis sufferers and a long hot spell can result in lost workdays for migraine sufferers. There is mounting evidence that certain health problems are aggravated or even brought on by the weather.

Some studies have suggested that migraine sufferers seem to be more susceptible to changes in the weather. Anything from temperature to humidity to barometric pressure can impact migraines. One of the theories suggested as to why weather impacts migraines is related to oxygen levels. Any changes in pressure affect oxygen levels and it is thought that this may be the mechanism by which headaches occur following certain weather patterns. Blood vessels in the head constrict and expand, leading to the throbbing head pain that is characteristic of a migraine.

The specific weather patterns that trigger migraines seem to yield mixed results. Some migraine sufferers find they react to changes in temperature while others find air pressure to strongly impact migraine frequency and severity. Many migraine sufferers also find humidity to be the deciding factor and still others experience headaches prompted by a combination of weather factors.

One study found that high heat and humidity combined with low pressure led to headaches. Intense cold is also a trigger for some migraine sufferers. There is also the suggestion that it is not so much the weather type itself but the change that accounts for headaches. This means that an abrupt change will trigger a migraine rather than a gradual seasonal change. A bright sunny day followed by a cold rainy one could thus prompt a migraine for some people. This is possibly due to an increased sensitivity in the brains of those who suffer from migraines.

The studies show that migraines are more prevalent in locations where warmer air is moving in. Chronic pain sufferers are most affected by changes in temperature, humidity, precipitation and sudden changes in the weather.”

Fast Facts

- Migraines tend to be more prevalent under two types of weather conditions: when the weather becomes more humid and cooler; and during long hot spells.

- Chronic pain sufferers are most affected by changes in temperature, humidity, precipitation and sudden changes in the weather.

- Arthritis acts up with strong atmospheric cooling and is influenced by dampness. Depression is more prevalent in the warm sector of a weather system.

*http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroZine/english/issues/15/feature2_e.cfm
http://www.headacheexpert.co.uk/CanTheWeatherCauseHeadaches.html

It is the headache’s first year anniversary today. What can I say? Who would have thought I would still have a headache a year later? Who would even think it possible? I dread to think how long it will go on for. Maybe it will never leave me. I guess the positive thing (if we can call it positive) is that I have learned to live with it - I am really trying not to make it affect my every day life, whether this be in terms of where I work or how long I go out for in the evenings with my friends. After all I am still very young and have a life to live.

I have been based in Russia for work for the past few weeks and the headache has certainly improved. The cold dry climate has helped - I haven’t had any severe attacks, and the headache has been stable at about 2/10 to 3/10 which is perfectly bearable. Obviously not normal but I can put up with it.

When walking around in extreme temperatures (-25C), the cold appears to block the headache, nearly freeze it, shall we say, rendering it numb. The cold air gives the impression it’s cleansing your lungs and even helping the blood circulate in your head. It’s so cold that you can’t feel the pain, until you walk into a building again and you realize the headache never really left you. The possibility of being able to temporarily numb the pain - albeit in extreme temperatures - has made me start to love the cold.

I certainly think the weather has played a part in my well being, although I also believe it’s thanks to the supplements the kinesiologist gave me and that I have now been taking for the past few months.

I returned to London a few days ago and the headache seems to have dropped down to a 4/10-5/10 which leads me to think that the weather has influenced the severity of my headache. Whether this is due to the difference in temperature itself or simply because of the dry air - or a combination of both -, I do not know. On the other hand, it may just be a pure coincidence as the headache has been at its best for the past couple of months, and I may just be having a little bit of a relapse...

Day 326 - A little bit of Hope ... for the best or for the worst?

2009-11-14T19:08:00.009Z

“Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.

Hope was personified in Greek mythology as Elpis. When Pandora opened Pandora’s Box, she let out all the evils except one: hope. Apparently, the Greeks considered hope to be as dangerous as all the world's evils. But without hope to accompany all their troubles, humanity was filled with despair. It was a great relief when Pandora revisited her box and let out hope as well. It may be worthy to note that in the story, hope is represented as weakly leaving the box but is in effect far more potent than any of the major evils.

In 'Human, All Too Human', philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche argued that "Zeus did not want man to throw his life away, no matter how much the other evils might torment him, but rather to go on letting himself be tormented anew. To that end, he gives man hope. In truth, it is the most evil of evils because it prolongs man's torment.”*

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope

Once again, I have been relatively silent for a couple of weeks. I don’t have anything to report. Or should I say I do? I still have a headache. It has oscillated between 3 and 4 so I can’t really complain. I have been keeping myself busy as I have now managed to start working again - it feels great to finally do something I enjoy (with a constant headache nonetheless).

I keep on wondering, though, who I should ‘warn’ about my headache. It’s a hard decision to make especially in a work environment - what if once you tell those you work with they don’t see you in the same light anymore? What if they worry you’ll call off sick the whole time if the strong attacks return? Is it wise to tell your colleagues about it? Probably not?

Who would you tell if you had a constant headache? Would you tell everyone about it so that they could try and understand (although as far as I am concerned no one ever will) what it is like?

I am torn between telling people and keeping it as a secret. It has got to a point where when I earn some money I am happy that I finally have some cash ‘for me and the headache’. The headache has virtually become my child. I need to earn money to keep the headache at bay, as if it were a little person living with me, someone else I need to look after. Acupuncture, supplements, kinesiologist... / Nappies, baby food, clothes... We’re not too far off when it comes to comparing the two.

On the one hand, I feel I want people to know about my headache for a number of reasons; first of all, maybe they know someone who is living or has lived through a similar thing - perhaps they could put me in touch with them and they will give me the ‘solution’? This is where I always feel there’s a bit of hope. A feeling that I have harboured for 11 months. For the best or for the worst? The feeling is always there but it's constantly being poked at with disappointment.

Secondly, I feel that I should tell people so that if at times I am in an irascible mood then they will know why. I always try my best not to let the headache affect my relationship with others but sometimes it is hard. When you think your head is going to explode and someone is talking to you about something you perhaps don’t even want to listen to because they are so boring and you wish nothing else but for them to disappear and for you to slowly sink into the ground, then it’s hard not to be querulous and lose your patience with them (yes, it has happened to me on a number of occasions).

Having said that, other times I would rather people not know about my headache. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me and to treat me differently. Why should they?

Since the headache started 11 months ago, when meeting someone new, I have always told myself that they will never know what I am really like as the headache sometimes affects my behaviour; at times it transforms me into someone I am not and I hate it for that. Nonetheless, deep down I know that who I am is really still me and that they should like me whether I have a headache or not. But I can’t avoid thinking about whether I would act differently around them were I not to have a headache.

Day 310 - Probiotics

2009-10-29T15:30:00.003Z

“Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines. The normal human digestive tract contains about 400 types of probiotic bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system. The largest group of probiotic bacteria in the intestine is lactic acid bacteria, of which Lactobacillus acidophilus, is the best known.

It has been suggested that probiotics be used to treat problems in the stomach and intestines. But only certain types of bacteria or yeast (called strains) have been shown to work in the digestive tract.

In most circumstances, people use probiotics to prevent diarrhea caused by antibiotics. Antibiotics kill "good" (beneficial) bacteria along with the bacteria that cause illness. A decrease in beneficial bacteria may lead to diarrhea. Taking probiotic supplements (as capsules, powder, or liquid extract) may help replace the lost beneficial bacteria and thus help prevent diarrhea.

A decrease in beneficial bacteria may also lead to development of other infections, such as vaginal yeast and urinary tract infections, and symptoms such as diarrhea from intestinal illnesses.”

*http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/probiotics-topic-overview

Those of you who regularly read my blog will know that I write a new post either when I have explored a new avenue as a possible cause for my headache, or when someone has suggested looking at a specific factor that may be contributing to the pain.

I have now run out of avenues to explore. I have not come across anything else, whether this be through research or by talking to others, that I have not looked at.

I am still clueless.

But I am still taking my supplements, and feel that the probiotics the kinesiologist suggested taking are somewhat alleviating my pain. Having said that, I do not know if it happens to be a coincidence that my headache seems to have been alright for the past couple of weeks or if it is actually better because of the probiotics themselves. I did take them a few months ago and, if I am not mistaken, I did feel better during that time.

My zinc drops that I ordered over three weeks ago have, nonetheless, not arrived thanks to the postal strike. Thank you Royal Mail.

On the low pain days I feel full of life and energy, ready to live the day ahead to the max. One temporarily forgets about the severe pain, and it’s not until it returns that you realize just how bad it is.

The other day somebody told me that - strange as it may sound and difficult as it may be - I have to start to befriend my pain, as this will help me come to terms with it. It may also help me get less worked up about it as the pain itself causes stress. Given that I have no answer and am not able to justify what I am living through, it angers me, thereby making me stressed.

I now have to try and befriend the pain and almost treat it as if it were one of my peers - given that I need to spend all day and all night with it, it’s best if I consider it a friend as opposed to an enemy. I have tried, and it’s not as easy as it sounds, especially when the pain intensifies and all I want to do is bang my head against the wall and tell the headache to stop tormenting me...

Day 299 - Zinc

2009-10-18T22:31:00.003+01:00

“Along with calcium and iron, zinc is probably the most important mineral to the human body. Zinc plays a crucial role in growth and cell division where it is required for protein and DNA synthesis, in insulin activity, in the metabolism of the ovaries and testes, and in liver function. It is particularly important for healthy skin and is essential for a healthy immune system and resistance to infection, as it helps with the healing of wounds. As a component of many enzymes, zinc is involved in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and energy.

Our body contains about 2-3g of zinc. There are no specific storage sites known for zinc and so a regular supply in the diet is required. Zinc is found in all parts of our body, 60% is found in muscle, 30% in bone and about 5% in our skin. Particularly high concentrations are in the prostate gland and semen. Men need more zinc than women because male semen contains 100 times more zinc than is found in the blood. The more sexually active a man the more zinc he will require.

The first signs of zinc deficiency are impairment of taste, a poor immune response and skin problems. Other symptoms of zinc deficiency can include hair loss, diarrhoea, fatigue, delayed wound healing, and decreased growth rate and mental development in infants. It is thought that zinc supplementation can help skin conditions such as acne and eczema, prostate problems, anorexia nervosa, alcoholics and those suffering from trauma or post-surgery.

Zinc is contained in a wide range of foods but the richest sources are meat (lamb in particular), oats, eggs, nuts and oysters. Only 20% of the zinc present in the diet is actually absorbed by the body. Dietary fibre and phytic acid, found in bran, wholegrain cereals, pulses and nuts, inhibit zinc absorption. Phytic acid forms a highly insoluble complex with zinc which the body cannot absorb. Cooking processes can reduce the adverse effects of both phytic acid and dietary fibre on zinc absorption. Baking can destroy over half the phytic acid in wholemeal bread.

Zinc deficiency occurs where a large part of the diet consists of unleavened bread, such as Iran and other Middle East countries. High levels of the toxic mineral cadmium can also prevent zinc absorption because these two minerals compete for absorption. Conversely high levels of zinc in the diet can prevent the absorption of cadmium. Various chemicals added to many processed foods can also reduce zinc absorption eg phosphates, EDTA. Zinc is lost via the faeces, urine, hair, skin, sweat, semen and also menstruation.”*

*http://www.womenrepublic.co.uk/diet_fitness/zinc/
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/zinc.html

I have been off the blogging radar for a few weeks - I have managed to start working again! What excitement at the age of 25. The headache seems to have stabilized itself to about 3 to 4/10 (when standing) which is great. When lying down it continues to be worse, about 6/10.

I have been seeing the kinesiologist on a regular basis, who has been looking at a number of headache causes from cranial faults to vitamin deficiencies. I am now taking zinc supplements. I recently learned that a zinc deficiency can cause, or certainly exacerbate, everything from acne to diabetes. This is because zinc is needed by the body to make insulin (the hormone that regulates glucose levels in the blood), eliminate harmful toxins, and to maintain a healthy immune system.

Yesterday I also went to see one of the top neurologists at Queen’s Square in London, reputedly the place to go when you’ve given up with everyone else. I was surprised the doctor was glad to hear I was not taking any medication; he encouraged me to continue without, given my progress in the past few months.

“There are a number of patients in the ward upstairs who have had a headache for twenty years” he told me. “They have all been on heavy medication for all that time, and you have no idea how much worse their headache is now as a result of that”. He did, however, give me some suggestions as to what to take should the headache get worse again and should I decide to start taking some medicines. It was certainly refreshing to hear a doctor of western medicine encourage me to “see where your natural path takes you”.

He also explained that given my family’s history of migraines, he believes it is perfectly normal to have started suffering from a headache/migraine at my age, in particular given that I am female. He explained that sometimes these bizarre constant headaches go away by themselves, while other times they stay... for a long, long time.

Day 276 - CSF Leaks and Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension

2009-09-25T23:07:00.005+01:00

"Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension (SIH) is a condition where a patient gets postural headaches due to a leak of the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in the spinal membrane. What happens is that the leak causes low CSF pressure within the nervous system, and thus causes a constant string of headaches to the patient. The problem with SIH is that it is very hard to diagnose and there is not a great deal of information on why it occurs.

Cerebrospinal Fluid is formed in ventricles of the brain. It moves through the ventricles and leaves the brain at the base, underneath the cerebellum. Then, the fluid moves into the spinal cord and the nerves, and finally returns to the brain. Throughout this time, the CSF is moving through a membrane, called the dura that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The condition of Intracranial Hypotension (IH) develops when a rupture occurs in the membrane. Thus, the CSF leaks out of the dura, causing a dislocation of the brain downward and "pressure on pain-sensitive structures." IH can develop as a result of brain surgery, spinal surgery, or any major trauma to the head. However, as in the case of SIH, the rupture can sometimes occur spontaneously. In other words, there is no known cause for the rip in the dura. Some doctors speculate that the spontaneous tear is due to the initial weakness of the dura, or a traumatic event that went undetected; however there is not a great deal of information on this subject.

The principal symptom of Spontaneous CSF leaks is headaches. The headaches only occur when the patient is upright, and gradually disappear when the patient is lying down. In most cases, the headaches gradually increase from the moment the patient wakes up in the morning. However, in other cases the headaches are quick and severe. The acuteness of the headaches varies in each case, which affects how quickly the condition is diagnosed. Some of the related symptoms of SIH are a loss of hearing, tinnitus, vertigo, stiffness of the neck, nausea, and even vomiting.

Since the primary symptom of SIH is constant and severe headaches, it is often misdiagnosed. In some cases of SIH, the condition disappears as spontaneously as it appeared. Mild cases can be cured through a general increase in fluids, especially caffeine, and lots of rest. However, more serious cases will require a procedure called the epidural blood patch. This is a procedure where autologous blood is injected into the patient's lumbar spine. The blood travels through the spinal cord, finds the rupture in the dura, and clots the rupture.

Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension is a very rare type of a Cerebrospinal Fluid leak, but unlike other types, it does not occur due to any specific traumatic event or surgical procedure in the nervous system. Although there is not much information on the possible causes of SIH, it is suspected that an intrinsic weakness of the spinal membrane or an abnormality of the brain structure causes the rare condition."*

*http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1688#1

For some reason or another, the headache has been behaving itself again as of late (except this morning when I had a bit of a relapse). I am still taking the supplements the kinesiologist advised using; they seem to be working. Along with that, I have been doing acupuncture on a regular basis for the past month or so, and I feel it’s really made a difference.

During one of the acupuncture sessions I felt my hands heat up until they felt as if they were on fire (my circulation is not great, and my hands are always freezing cold - it was such a nice feeling to suddenly have boiling hot hands). During the following session, the same thing happened but to the right half of my back, where one of my kidneys is. Very interesting considering that the Chinese acupuncturist suggested my headache may be related to my kidney. The needles were definitely doing something.

In the meantime I have been trying to figure out why my headache worsens the second I lie down, whether this be during the day or at night. I can lie down for just two minutes at any time and the headache will hurt more than when I am standing. In the mornings, I am often forced out of bed as I know that once I walk around for a few minutes the pain will slightly subside, albeit by no means in its entirety.

A number of people I have come across on the MD Junction forum have suggested looking into CSF leaks. Like many conditions, Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension has been found to be more common in women than in men. The condition usually develops while the patient is between 40 and 60 years of age (not my case).

Like so many neurological disorders (and indeed disorders in general), little is known as to its primary causes. By what I have read, it would appear that I can rule out SIH as a possible cause for my headache - I don’t belong to the age category, I have not had any major brain injuries, and my headache actually worsens when lying down as opposed to improving, and most certainly never disappears in its entirety. Having said that, everybody is different, and you can just never say never, can you?

I just struggle to believe that after 276 days of constant headache (who would even believe it's possible to have a headache for that long?), I still don't have an answer as to what it is.

Day 260 - Intracranial Hypertension

2009-09-09T19:05:00.002+01:00

“In the 1890s, a German physician named Heinrich Quincke coined the term “pseudotumor cerebri” to describe a neurological disorder which he believed had all the symptoms of a brain tumor, but without the presence of an actual tumor. The “false brain tumor” that Quincke identified more than a century ago is known today as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).

There are two forms of chronic intracranial hypertension: idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), whereby there is no identifiable cause that triggers the raised intracranial pressure, and secondary intracranial hypertension, which, in contrast to IIH, always has an identifiable cause (such as a head trauma, an underlying disease, a reaction to a certain drug). Intracranial hypertension literally means that the pressure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the skull is too high. “Intracranial” means “within the skull.” “Hypertension” means “high fluid pressure.”

Cerebrospinal fluid is one of three major components inside the skull; the other two are the blood supply that the brain requires to function and the brain itself. Under normal circumstances, these components work together in a delicate balance. Since the skull is made of bone and cannot expand, an increase in the volume of any one component is at the expense of the other two components. For example, if the brain swells and becomes enlarged, it simultaneously compresses blood vessels, causing the sub-arachnoid space to fill with more spinal fluid. This results in an increase in intracranial pressure (i.e. cerebrospinal fluid pressure), as well as a decrease in blood flow.

CSF has several important functions. It cushions the brain within the skull, transports nutrients to brain tissue and carries waste away. CSF is produced at a site within the brain called the choroid plexus, which generates about 400-500 ml. (one pint) of the fluid each day.

Chronic IH can cause both rapid and progressive changes in vision. Vision loss and blindness due to chronic IH are usually related to optic nerve swelling (papilledema), which is caused by high CSF pressure on the nerve and its blood supply. In addition, individuals with this disorder often suffer severe pain. The most common form is a chronic headache, which is generally unresponsive to the most potent pain medication.”*

*http://www.ihrfoundation.org/intracranial/hypertension/info/C16

As I type this post, my headache is surprisingly ‘good’. About 2/10 - excellent news! Hopefully by the end of the post it won’t have increased, given its moody temper.

Lately I have been trying to find out why my headache hurts much more the second I lie down (whether during the day or at night) - so far I have only come across one other person (on a forum) whose headache also worsens when lying down. He doesn’t know why this happens either, but he strongly suggested placing corn bags on my head at night. He explained that he has found some relief from wrapping very cold corn bags around his head, having left the bag in the fridge all day long.

A number of people have told me to look at Intracranial Hypertension, as apparently those who are afflicted with this illness also have a stronger headache when lying down.

Curiously, Intracranial Hypertension was first documented in the sixteenth century by a Dutch explorer, Gerrit de Veer, who identified the toxic effects of polar bear liver on early Artic explorers. Several men in his expedition developed secondary intracranial hypertension (SIH) and nearly died after consuming polar bear liver, which contains lethal levels of Vitamin A. Excessive ingestion of vitamin A is now a recognized SIH cause (no doubt children will be delighted to hear this).

When looking at the possibility of having Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, one must:

a) have signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, such as papilledema and headache;
b) have no localizing findings on neurological examination (Localizing findings are findings that point to injury of specific brain areas. For instance, a localizing finding could be the inability to move a certain muscle.);
c) have a normal MRI/CT scan with no evidence of venous obstructive disease; 
d) have high intracranial pressure of 250mm/H2O or above on a spinal tap, with no abnormalities of cerebrospinal fluid;
 e) be awake and alert;
 f) have no other cause of increased intracranial pressure found.

I can safely tick all of these but two (namely d and f, as I have not had either of these examined as yet).

Given that my unmitigated headache still remains a bit of a mystery to all, it could be an idea to also look into this condition. Just the thought of returning to my GP grates me - the fact that I have to re-explain everything from scratch pretty much every time is tedious enough, but more than anything what I find frustrating is that I know that deep down many of these doctors just think that I am a hypochondriac. If only they knew.

Day 254 - Lyme Disease

2009-09-01T22:26:00.001+01:00

“Lyme disease is an infection that derives from a tick bite. The disease has a variety of symptoms, including changes affecting the skin, heart, joints and nervous system. It is also known as borrelia or borreliosis.

Lyme disease is caused by an infection from a micro-organism (Borrelia burghdor feri), itself transmitted by a bite from the wood tick, a blood-sucking parasite which normally lives on deer.

The wood tick is found in many areas, particularly in forests where deer are common. A tick will settle anywhere on a human body, but prefers warm, moist and dark places like the crotch or armpits. When the tick has found a suitable place on the body, it sticks in its probe to draw up blood, exposing the host to the risk of infection.

Some patients with Lyme disease feel like they have caught influenza - the symptoms may be:
drowsiness
headaches
mild fever
joint and muscle pains
swollen lymph glands
Interestingly, the disease only became apparent in 1975 when mothers of a group of children who lived near each other in Lyme, Connecticut, made researchers aware that their children had all been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This unusual grouping of illness that appeared "rheumatoid" eventually led researchers to the identification of the bacterial cause of the children's condition, what was then called "Lyme disease" in 1982.”*

*http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/lymedisease.htm *http://www.medicinenet.com/lyme_disease/article.htm

I have managed to find a great online support community, and have across a number of people who have been suffering from New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH). Although I haven’t officially been diagnosed with the condition, it’s refreshing to see others who understand what it is like to constantly have a headache.

One person with NDPH has been suffering for 18 years. Imagine 18 years with a headache! And me, who thought that over eight months was bad enough. Just the thought is barely conceivable.

I have been in touch with a lady who woke up with a severe headache in July last year which never went away. In March this year she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and is now trying to spread the word as she is, finally, headache free.

She suggested I look into the condition. Having done some online research, it does not immediately appear that I have the illness as I have no other symptoms, although she told me that a couple of her friends with Lyme only have a constant headache and nothing more; another acquaintance of hers has the typical Lyme tired and constant headache but no other symptoms either.

She sent me a link to this interesting video documentary on Lyme Disease.

Whether I am afflicted with Lyme or not, I am helping her to spread the word as she only managed to find out what her headache was caused by through her constant persistence and desire to get a diagnosis. Once again, another thing to look into.

Day 249 - Parasites

2009-08-27T22:52:00.002+01:00

“Parasites are organisms that obtain nourishment and shelter from other organisms. In this association, the parasite derives all the benefits, whereas the host may either be unaffected or suffer harmful consequences, with the development of a parasitic disease.

The parasites responsible for these diseases are called obligate if they can live only in association with a host and facultative if they can live either in a host or independently. Furthermore, the parasites vary widely in size and complexity, from relatively simple unicellular protozoans (eg, amebae) to more complex multicellular organisms (eg, worms, flukes).

Parasitic diseases are distributed worldwide, with a higher prevalence in developing countries, especially in areas with inadequate sanitation. Some of these diseases are restricted to tropical and subtropical regions. Parasitic diseases represent one of the most common types of human infection throughout the world and are still the cause of much human morbidity and mortality.

With the growth of global travel there has been a huge increase in the number of tropical infectious diseases diagnosed in the northern hemisphere. 35% of asymptomatic people returning from travel had parasitic infections (ref: Whitty et al 2000).”*

*http://radiographics.rsna.org/content/25/1/135.full
http://www.thegardenclinic.net/tropical-infections-parasites.php
http://www.thehtd.org/Posttropical.aspx

Given that most alternative therapies have pointed to a problem in the gut/liver, the possibility of there being a parasite still very much exists for me, despite the results of the tropical diseases tests I did in Senegal back in February.

Last week I went to the Tropical Diseases Hospital in London; the doctor was delightful - not your typical doctor who gives you a supercilious look as soon as you ask questions and try and further inquire as to what he is doing. This doctor took the time to explain things to me, expounding upon the various kinds of tropical diseases and parasites that exist, which made all the difference.

Curiously, one of the most common tropical diseases that people are afflicted with is schistosomiasis, where worms grow inside the blood vessels and produce eggs. The most common occurrence of schistosomiasis among travellers is acquired when swimming in Lake Malawi.

According to the doctor, neurological symptoms are usually accompanied by lumps - given that I do not have any, it seems unlikely that I am afflicted by a tropical disease. Having said that, the possibility cannot be ruled out because, as the doctor explained, there are numerous other undetected tropical diseases whose symptoms are not yet certain.

I was given three testers and asked to hand in some samples over three days (pots, spatulas, paper trays.. will spare the details). I am now awaiting the results.

Day 244 - Headache Types

2009-08-22T16:18:00.011+01:00

Photograph: Nick Veasy/Getty Images

“We all know what it's like to have a headache. They can turn the best of occasions into a form of torture. Four out of five people get tension headaches. One in seven experience migraines. Headaches cost the economy around £1.5bn a year through lost work days.

Trouble is, while some causes of headaches are obvious – such as when you've had too many glasses of wine the night before – others are more tricky to call. And how can you tell what's serious and what isn't? A good starting point is knowing what type of headache you have.”*

*http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/aug/18/headache-migraine-treatment

As I write this post, I feel like my head is going to split. This morning I came across the Organization for the Understanding of Cluster Headache (OUCH), who I contacted for more information on hemicrania continua and New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH ). It was the first time I have spoken to someone who has heard about these conditions.

The above extract was taken from an article in the Guardian that I recently read. Headaches, therefore, seem to be the most ‘popular’ form of pain, despite the fact that so little is known about them. Vast amounts of research continue to be conducted in this field, but little remains known as to the causes, and indeed how best to cure, these headaches.

What I find curious is that almost all webpages (including that of this article) that talk about headaches categorize these into tension headaches, cluster headaches and migraines. They do not mention any other forms of headache, despite telling us that ‘a good starting point is knowing what type of headache you have’. How can we, if no one tells us about the other types of headache? Some would argue that these conditions are subdivisions of cluster, tension and migraine headaches, but little - if anything, even under the subdivision of these headaches - is mentioned about the lesser known types of headaches such as hemicrania continua and NDPH.

It surely is no coincidence I didn’t come across hemicrania continua or NDPH, because I have spent hours on the internet reading and researching about different types of headache, and indeed even speaking to neurologists about them, both of whom failed to even mention the two conditions!

Although there is not much known about hemicrania continua and NDPH, why are these hardly ever mentioned, in particular on some neurologists’ webpages and in other comprehensive medical journals? Is it because science is nearly embarrassed, should we say, by the little that is known about these two conditions? Would it not help if scientists, and indeed the media, gave them more coverage so that more people can learn about these, thus possibly be diagnosed with them which would, in its turn, enable more studies to be conducted on these conditions?

Day 236 - Agnus Castus

2009-08-14T19:28:00.000+01:00

“Agnus castus has been used for thousands of years for its beneficial effect on the female hormonal system. Modern research has confirmed this use, the seeds being used to restore balanced functioning to the female reproductive system.

The berries of this plant have a range of medicinal actions but possibly the most important is its ability to rectify hormonal imbalances caused by an excess of oestrogen and an insufficiency of progesterone. It acts upon the pituitary gland, reducing the production of certain hormones and increasing the production of others, shifting the balance in favour of the gestagens.

Thus it has a wide application of uses in malfunctions of the feminine reproductive system. Some caution is advised since excessive doses can cause a nervous disorder known as formication, which manifests as a sensation of insects crawling over the skin.”*

*http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Vitex+agnus-castus

Whoever has been stabbing that voodoo doll felt some pity and compassion not only on my birthday itself but also during the week thereafter. The headache was once again at its best, and the timing could not have been any better. Unfortunately, though, it only lasted for less than a week. It has since been up and down, fluctuating between 1/10 to 7/10.

A lot of people have asked me how I cope with having a constant headache - I never really know what to answer because what other options are there but to cope?

The last time I went to see the kinesiologist it appeared that my body had an excess of oestrogen; I have now also started taking agnus castus, a tincture which reduces the production of certain hormones in the body.

Interestingly, some studies claim that the agnus castus berries are considered to be an aphrodisiac, though other reports say that they are anaphrodisiac. The reason for this apparent contradiction is that the berries have a regulating effect on the body and so are likely to increase sexual activity in those who are not very active in this area whilst reducing it in those who are very active.

Although I have not got rid of my headache, I have definitely seen a number of changes over the past few months. There have been times when the headache has been 1/10 which has never happened before. I am hoping this improvement will continue to manifest itself more tangibly until the pain is annihilated in its entirety.

Day 227 - New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH)

2009-08-05T13:37:00.002+01:00

“In the last few years, New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH) has been recognized as a distinct primary headache syndrome. Primary headache disorders are those for which there is no underlying secondary cause that can be identified.

It is characterized by continuous daily head pain, varying in intensity, and sometimes accompanied by some migrainous symptoms. NDPH is unique, however, in that many patients can tell you the exact date when their headache began.

The diagnostic criteria of NDPH are as follows:

A. Headache for more than 3 months fulfilling criteria B–D
B. Headache is daily and unremitting from onset or from less than 3 days from onset
C. At least two of the following pain characteristics:
1. bilateral location
2. pressing/tightening (non-pulsating) quality
3. mild or moderate intensity
4. not aggravated by routine physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs
D. Both of the following:
1. no more than one of photophobia (increased sensitivity to light), phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound) or mild nausea
2. neither moderate or severe nausea nor vomiting
E. Not attributed to another disorder

Headache may be unremitting from the moment of onset or very rapidly build up to continuous and unremitting pain. Such onset or rapid development must be clearly recalled and unambiguously described by the patient.

Many doctors consider NDPH to be the most treatment refractory (not responsive to treatment) of headache disorders. Unfortunately, NDPH can be very disabling because it often does not respond to preventive or abortive medications.”*

*http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/types-of-headaches-41643-5.html

It’s my birthday today. Back in February, when my headache was in its early stages, I once thought to myself ‘I wonder what I will be doing on my birthday - by then I will surely know what has caused the headache’.

So in a way I have been looking forward to this day, not because it is my birthday as such, but because for the past few months I have convinced myself that by August I would definitely know where the problem lies.

When reading about Hemicrania Continua, I also came across another condition called New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH) which also appears to be similar to what I have.

In 2002, the largest study of New Daily Persistent Headache to date was conducted, based on 56 patients from the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia. For me, the most interesting point from the study was that 82% of patients were able to pinpoint the exact day their headache started.

Given that I remember the exact date of the onset of the headache, and that the symptoms described above are also frightfully similar to what I have, this is certainly also another condition I need to look into. What I appear to be inflicted with is a mixture between Hemicrania Continua and NDPH.

Day 223 - Toxins

2009-08-01T22:58:00.003+01:00

"We live in a world where we are surrounded by chemicals and toxins that affect our health and environment. Toxins can come in many forms such as smoke, biological agents, chemicals and radiation. Toxins are also produced by all the cells in the body.

Our bodies must be able to detoxify, or neutralize, toxins from the external environment as well as those produced within our own bodies. This process takes place mostly in the liver, and consists of two phases.

In Phase I toxins are activated, which means that they are altered in such a way that carrier molecules (Phase II) are able to transport them out of the body. A handy analogy is the bagging of our trash (Phase I), so that the garbage man can pick it up and cart it away (Phase II).

Phase I is accomplished by a family of enzymes called "cytochrome P450", and Phase II takes place via a number of important mechanisms. Both Phase I and Phase II of detoxification must function adequately so that toxins are able to be neutralized, and the two phases must be in balance with each other so that the activated compounds from Phase I cannot accumulate in the body and cause damage.”*

*Liver Test Result Factsheet

Since my reiki attunement on Wednesday I have been feeling a lot better. During the two weeks prior to the attunement, my headache was causing me much pain again, but since my session it seems to have decreased in intensity.

I finally managed to get detailed results of my liver test. It appears that Phase I is normal, and none of the Phase II pathways are underfunctioning. However, the test showed that some imbalance exists between the two phase pathways, therefore implying imbalanced detoxification in the body. The activated compounds coming out of Phase I are potentially toxic and may accumulate, leading to illness.

The nutritionist said that with nutritional support these kinds of imbalances are usually correctable. She advised continuing with the supplements the kinesiologist gave me, and also recommended looking at Porphyra-Zyme-1, which I will test with the kinesiologist at my next appointment on Monday. Having read up on this, I am not too clear as to why she suggested it given that it seems to be a homeopathic formula for metal detox...

The liver imbalance most definitely needs to be corrected, whether it is directly causing my headache or not.

Day 220 - Reiki I Attunement

2009-07-29T20:00:00.002+01:00

“Being attuned to Reiki gives one the ability to easily access the Reiki (Universal Life Force) energy, for the purpose of healing a person or situation. Attunements can be given only by a Reiki master during an attunement process. This process opens the crown, heart, and palm chakras and creates a special link between the student and the Reiki source.

The attunement procedure is a ceremony of spirit. In this ceremony the Reiki master uses the Reiki symbols and other gestures in a prescribed way. This ceremony creates an energy pattern around the recipient of the attunement which entrains (or attunes) their energy field to the energies represented by the symbols.

The Reiki attunement can start a cleansing process that affects the physical body as well as the mind and emotions. Toxins that have been stored in the body may be released along with feelings and thought patterns that are no longer useful.”*

*http://www.reiki.org/FAQ/LearningReiki.html
http://reiki.7gen.com/attune.htm

I had my reiki attunement today. I spent a whole day with Andy, Reiki master and now my Reiki coach, learning how to attune my energy field to do Reiki on myself - I now have healing hands!

The procedure is rather spiritual - incense and candles are lit, all mobile phones, computers and any other electrical appliances are turned off, thereby creating an atmosphere and aura of spirituality, and of complete peace.

During the attunement I could feel my hands warming, a tingling feeling taking hold of the very centre of my palms, as if I had placed my hand on top of a candle. I found this sensation more pronounced in my left hand than in my right.

Andy taught me how to use my newly acquired ability to heal myself, by showing me at which chakra points (the centres of spiritual power in the human body) to place my hands thereby enabling the life force energy to flow, thus restoring harmony and giving me a sense of well-being.

After an attunement there is a twenty-one day cleansing cycle that consists of three cycles of the seven chakras - practising Reiki every day during these three weeks helps remove the negativities accumulated by the body over our lifetime. Each chakra takes roughly three days, hence the 21 days.

My homework is to do Reiki for one hour every day for the next twenty-one days, after which I am told I will start to feel a lot more comfortable and at peace with my inner self.

Day 219 - Hemicrania Continua

2009-07-28T23:53:00.002+01:00

“Hemicrania continua is a rare type of chronic daily headache where the pain occurs on one side of the head. Although the pain will vary in intensity, it never completely disappears and tends to be mild to moderate with occasional periods of intense pain.

The following diagnostic criteria are given for hemicrania continua; headache for more than 3 months fulfilling all of the following characteristics:

* Unilateral pain without side-shift
* Daily and continuous, without pain-free periods
* Moderate intensity, but with exacerbations of severe pain

The condition exists in two forms known as continuous and remitting. In the continuous form, headaches occur daily with little or no respite, often for years. In the remitting form, headaches may occur regularly over 1 to 6 months, separated by pain free periods of several weeks to months. Pain may occur as short jabbing jolts alongside the persistent daily headache. As with migraine headaches, there are more females than males with hemicrania continua.

The cause of hemicrania continua is unknown. When the symptoms of hemicrania continua are present, it's considered "diagnostic" if the patient responds completely to indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Triptans and other abortive medications do not affect hemicrania continua.”*

*http://www.headacheexpert.co.uk/ChronicAndHemicraniaContinuaHeadaches.html
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemicrania_continua

The kinesiologist sent me an email today asking me if I had read about hemicrania continua. I cannot believe that after all my research on the internet, and my various appointments with the ‘best neurologists in the UK’ I hadn’t even heard of it. How is it possible that no one has spoken to me about it? What are all these headache specialists doing with their time? Virtually none of the medical websites I looked at mention the condition - they just list cluster/chronic/ice-pick headaches and migraines with aura, and without aura (if it is mentioned, it is just en passant under the chronic headache category).

More despair and anger at doctors, their misdiagnosing, their ignorance on their ‘subjects of expertise’.

The symptoms described above could not be any more similar to mine. When trying to explain what my headache boils down to, I always highlight the fact that it is a constant 24/7 headache which has not left me once in seven months and which varies in intensity, according to its whim (to which I am usually asked: so do you have it now? At which point I wonder which part they didn’t understand: 24/7 or constant?). This is so far the most frustrating and (worryingly) the most recurring question I have been asked.

On top of the persistent right hand side headache, I sometimes feel jolts on top of the constant pain. I may not have hemicrania continua as far as I know. I just read about it and have yet to see someone who deals with this condition (my only doubt is that I do not think I have any of the following, which is a required autonomic feature during exacerbations: conjunctival injection and/or lacrimation, nasal congestion and/or rhinorrhea, or ptosis and/or miosis).

But what is most worrying is that no one even mentioned to me the possibility of having it. I stumbled across a study conducted in Italy on hemicrania continua which found that innumerable patients with the condition have been misdiagnosed:

According to the website, “on average, the patients had tried 3-4 different classes of drugs, most of which were, of course, ineffective. 36% had undergone ineffective invasive treatments as well!”* How worrying is this, I ask?

*http://headacheandmigrainenews.com/popular-ways-to-misdiagnose-hemicrania-continua/

Day 213 - Small Intestine

2009-07-22T22:27:00.002+01:00

“The small intestine is around five metres long, making it the longest section of the digestive tract. Although it is longer than the large intestine it has a smaller diameter. This is why it's called the small intestine.

After food is churned up in the stomach, a sphincter muscle at the end of the stomach opens to squirt small amounts of food into the top of the small intestine. This first section of the small intestine is called the duodenum.

The pancreas releases digestive juices through a duct into your duodenum. This fluid is rich in enzymes that break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It also contains sodium bicarbonate which neutralises acid produced in your stomach. The gall bladder squeezes out bile down a duct into the duodenum. Bile helps break down fats in your food.

Most of the nutrients in food pass through the lining of the small intestine into the blood. The lining of the small intestine is covered in tiny microvilli. These are microscopic, finger-like protrusions which give the lining of the small intestine a massive surface area for absorption of nutrients to occur across.

Each microvillus contains a minute blood capillary. When nutrients are absorbed into a microvillus, they enter its blood capillary. This is how nutrients from the food enter the blood. By the time food leaves the small intestine all the nutrients in the food will have entered the bloodstream. All that remains is indigestible food which is passed from the small intestine to the large intestine for further processing.”*

*http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/smallintestine/small_intestine.shtml

“I just got back from a four day sun dance." “What’s a sun dance?” I asked inquisitively. “It’s when you dance for four days.. after that I was hung from a tree. I now have holes everywhere” he explained to me. “O-kay....” I said under my breath, rather puzzled. “It’s a ritual, it represents the continuity of life. I often go and live with tribes, I just got back from South America... to see and learn about their forms of natural healing”. This was the first slither of conversation I had with the acupuncturist before having needles stuck into my feet and hands.

I know acupuncture is not meant to hurt, although this time it really felt quite uncomfortable. Luck would also have it that half way through I had a really itchy leg but couldn’t move because of all the needles.

Anyhow, the good news is that the acupuncturist (also a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine) believes that my headache is related to the small intestine, the gallbladder and partly also the liver. He is now the third person (along with the kinesiologist and the nutritionist) who believes that the problem is internally related, and more specifically gut/liver related. The needles were placed in my gall bladder, liver and small intestine acupuncture points located in my hands and feet.

The doctor wanted to give me some Chinese herbs to detox, although I explained I am currently undergoing a programme with the kinesiologist and want to finish with that first. I am, however, keen on continuing with regular acupuncture sessions. Unfortunately though, he is only in the country once a month as the rest of his time is spent travelling and studying herbal remedies. It’s nice to see someone so interested in learning about alternative medicine, which no doubt reflects his knowledge on diagnosing health problems.

The acupuncturist also strongly recommending regularly doing some relaxation techniques in order to relieve the pain.

Day 212 - Dandelion Coffee (Taraxacum officinale)

2009-07-22T03:25:00.000+01:00

“Dandelion is a common meadow herb of the Asteraceae or sunflower family, closely related to chicory. Its name is a corruption of the French "dents de lion", meaning "teeth of the lion." The generic name derives from the Greek words taraxos, meaning disorder, and akos, meaning remedy.

Dandelion leaves and roots have been used for centuries to treat liver, gall bladder, kidney, and joint problems. In some countries, Dandelion is considered a blood purifier and is used for ailments such as eczema and cancer.

Dandelion has also been used to treat poor digestion, water retention, and diseases of the liver such as hepatitis. It is a general stimulant to the system, especially to the urinary organs, and is primarily used in kidney and liver disorders.

The bitter compounds in the leaves and root help stimulate digestion and are mild laxatives. They also increase bile production in the gall bladder and bile flow from the liver. This makes Dandelion a great tonic for people with sluggish liver function due to alcohol abuse or poor diet.”*

*http://www.althealth.co.uk/help_and_advice/miscellaneous/dandelion/

Lately I have been indulging in dandelion coffee which tastes a lot nicer than it looks (the roasted coffee beans look like guinea pig food). On the nutritionist’s recommendation, I have been drinking various cups a day (it’s caffeine free), and have really taken a liking to it. Dandelion is meant to aid digestion and help the liver eliminate toxins.

I spoke to the nutritionist today and finally got my liver test results. Apparently my liver is not functioning to its full capacity - she suggested taking some supplements to rectify the problem. The majority are the same as those the kinesiologist has given me - it's reassuring to see that both the nutritionist and the kinesiologist share the same viewpoint.

In the meantime, I am waiting for the nutritionist to email me my results in more detail to see exactly where the problem lies.

Day 211 - Lipoic Acid

2009-07-21T02:04:00.000+01:00

“Discovered in 1951, alpha lipoic acid is an important antioxidant that performs many functions in the body.

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a fatty acid that is naturally found inside every cell in the body. It is necessary to produce energy for the body’s everyday functions as it converts glucose into energy. ALA is also an antioxidant that works in both water and fat, unlike some other antioxidants.

It can also recycle antioxidants such as vitamin C and glutathione after they have been used up by the body. Glutathione is an important antioxidant and ALA increases the formation of glutathione. It also enhances the antioxidant functions of vitamins C and E.

ALA directly supports detoxification within the liver. It can prevent cell damage, regulate blood sugar levels, chelate toxic metals from the blood, and enhance mental function and muscular energy production.

Lipoic acid not only has dietary benefits, but can help people with vision issues, diabetes, chronic migraines, and many other health-related problems.”*

*http://www.ehow.com/how_2302351_benefit-from-lipoic-acid.html
http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/article/alpha_lipoic_acid

In the past two weeks the headache has been at its best so far. As a result, I have been feeling much happier and full of life - I can nearly bring myself to imagine what it would be like to finally not have a headache anymore.

Unfortunately though, I had a bit of a relapse over the weekend. Sunday was the worst - I tried to think back at what I had eaten or what I did differently in the past few days but once again I could not think of any contributing factors.

I went to see the kinesiologist again today. Having muscle tested me, he advised to keep on taking the same supplements, although this time he also gave me lipoic acid tablets.

He reinforced his conviction that there are problems with my gut, and this time more specifically with my small intestine. The liver as well does not seem to be functioning very well, and I am hopeful that the supplements will rectify this.

There has certainly (finally!) been a change lately - I just hope to be able to see more of it.

Day 205 - Flower Remedies

2009-07-15T03:20:00.000+01:00

“In the 1920s and 30s, a noted homeopath called Dr Edward Bach discovered a system of flower remedies that can help us rediscover the positive side of ourselves. He believed, as many doctors do today, that attitude of mind plays a vital role in maintaining health and recovering from illness.

When he died in 1936 he had developed a complete system of 38 flower remedies, each prepared from the flowers of wild plants, trees and bushes. They work by treating the individual rather than the disease or its symptoms.

The remedies contain a very small amount of flower material in a 50:50 solution of water and brandy. Because the remedies are extremely dilute they do not have a characteristic scent or taste of the plant.

The flower remedies are made from wild plants, trees and bushes. They work by treating the individual rather than the disease or its symptoms and are a gentle way to manage one’s emotions and rediscover the positive side of oneself.”*

*http://www.bachremedies.co.uk/default.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_flower_remedies

The radionics practitioner suggested taking some flower remedies to help address and balance my emotional state, thereby contributing to my general well-being. She explained that flower remedies can remove the emotional barriers to health and recovery.

The remedy she recommended taking is made of a number of plants, including foxglove (pictured above), which is "calming to the emotions that emerge in relationship trauma: shock, grief, sense of loss, anger, confusion, anxiety, humiliation, rejection vulnerability - a heart protector to help us realise where our personal boundaries really lie."*

The first time I took the drops I had the impression of feeling more relaxed and at ease with those around me - I was in the park with my (much) younger siblings; the two of them were having a bit of an argument as seven and nine year olds tend to do. I summoned them over and explained what the flower remedies were for. I knew their innate curiosity would push them to discover more.

I placed a few drops on my tongue, and then on theirs. Thereafter, the three of us felt a lot more empathy towards one another and much enjoyed spending the rest of the day in each other’s company.

The ritual of halting previous activities and thereafter jointly taking the drops may well have also contributed towards our subsequent feelings of calm and serenity.

I am now taking the flower remedy drops four times a day.

*http://www.aquariusflowerremedies.com/flower%20essence%20combinations.htm

Day 199 - Crystals

2009-07-08T23:16:00.000+01:00

“Crystals are natural formations formed in the earth and have been used since time began to heal and balance the human energy field. Long before modern medicine came to be, mankind was very familiar with the natural healing power of crystals. These were used to reduce swelling and kill infection. Some would calm ailments in certain organs while others energised. They were also natural painkillers.

Crystals are holistic healers, that is they work on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level of being. Today, we live in an environment that is full of electromagnetic smog. No home or place of work is free from the presence of numerous electrical appliances and for a lot of us, spending hours in front of a computer every day is the norm.

Every electrical appliance regardless of how high specification and environmentally friendly it is emits levels of radiation, which our bodies absorb. This electromagnetic smog wreaks havoc on our systems, disturbs the natural balance of our energy field and is the cause of much geopathic stress, which can cause illness and is even related to certain cancers.

Crystals help to protect us from this potential danger by absorbing the harmful rays. The simple act of putting a clear quartz or smoky quartz crystal on the desk between you and your computer could make a world of difference to your overall health.

Crystals can be used throughout the house balancing and harmonising the energy within, bringing a calming effect to all.”*

*http://www.littlehouseofhealing.ie/index.php/Thrapies-Crystal-Healing.html

I am suddenly feeling surprisingly better. My headache was pretty bad last week but it now seems to have improved.

I decided to take a short holiday to try and forget about London, my headache, and to try and relax a bit. And it seems to have worked.

Whether the improvement is due to the fresh air and some time spent at the sea, or as a consequence of the radionics treatment, or indeed as a result of the supplements the kinesiologist has given me, I do not know.

The important thing to me is that it is improving. I have more energy and I now feel like getting up in the morning and enjoying the day ahead.

I am certainly feeling optimistic about my radionics treatment. This morning I spoke to the practitioner who thinks the pain could be related to my spine: she explained there may be tiny little fractures in my vertebrae, which she is now working on.

She also believes my headache may be related to harmful radiation emitted from computers and television screens. Come to think about, my previous job required me to sit in front of the computer for more than ten hours a day.

The practitioner also suggested buying a clear quartz crystal. She explained that crystals are good at detracting rays from PCs and TVs, which may contribute towards improving my headache.

Day 186 - Spine

2009-06-25T21:12:00.000+01:00

“Also known as your backbone, your spine is a strong, flexible column of ring-like bones that runs from your skull to your pelvis. It holds your head and body upright and allows you to bend and twist your body. It also offers protection to your spinal cord - a large bundle of nerves that runs through the cavity in the centre of your spine that relays messages between your brain and the rest of your body.

Your spine is made up of 33 irregularly shaped bones called vertebrae. Each vertebra has a hole in the middle through which the spinal cord runs.

Sandwiched between your vertebrae are pads of tough, fibrous cartilage called intervertebral discs that cushion your vertebrae and absorb shock. These discs, together with the curved, S-shape of your spine, prevent shock to your head when you walk or run.

The joints between individual vertebrae aren't very flexible. But working together they give the spine a wide range of movement, allowing you to arch backwards, bend forwards and twist from side to side. During strenuous movement, strong ligaments and muscles around your vertebrae stabilise your spine and help to control movement.”*

*http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/spine/lumbar_vertebrae.shtml

The radionics practitioner called me today and told me that this morning she did some work on my spine. A strange thing to hear from someone I will never meet.

Since the practitioner started working on me a week ago, the headache seems worse. I don’t know if it is just a coincidence, as the pain always varies in intensity for no apparent reason. Having said that, as with other treatments, the symptoms usually get worse before getting better.

It’s just rather depressing as it seemed to be improving. Unfortunately, every time I think the situation is ameliorating, my hopes get crushed and I am again back at square one.

I find it unimaginably hard to describe the pain I feel - at its worst, the headache is an all encompassing pain which embraces the entirety of my head. It doesn’t thump per se, rather simply feels as if a gargantuan tree trunk had placed itself inside my head.

On a ‘normal’ day, it is more of a constant piercing pain in my right temple which, again, varies in intensity according to its whim. Once again, when inclined, it also manifests on the left hand side.

And thus my capricious headache still remains a mystery to all and sundry.

Day 182 - Reiki

2009-06-22T01:45:00.000+01:00

“Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."

Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing.

It is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life.”*

*http://www.reiki.org/FAQ/WhatIsReiki.html

"I am a reiki master" - these words were spoken by a good friend’s boyfriend.

I asked him to immediately ‘do some reiki’ on me. Anything, just anything, to make the pain go away. Even just for five minutes.

I lay down and was asked to relax. I have always found it very hard to unwind - I am always tense, thoughts constantly toiling away in my head. I am incapable of only having one thought, let alone thinking about nothing at all, as yogis do.

I closed my eyes and tried to relax. After some mental fighting and internal oohs and aahs I eventually managed to relax a bit more and to suppress some thoughts.

It came slowly, but it came: a feeling of lightness, as if being transported towards the sky, nearly as if I were floating. The kind of feeling you imagine you will have when you die (if you believe life doesn’t entirely end with some ants nibbling at your toes).

I felt as if I was being elevated, raised from my body, the thoughts turned off, vanishing just like that - puff, puff, puff. They became dust. Finally, I managed to exterminate them, annihilate them in their entirety.

Andy put his hands on my shoulders. By doing so, he was telling me the session was over. I gently opened my eyes, the bright sunlight prompting me to blink repetitively; I longed already to return to that previous state of peacefulness.

Andy explained that a reiki treatment is the equivalent of having four hours sleep. No wonder I felt refreshed and relaxed. More importantly, during the treatment itself the severity of the headache diminished.

Andy has kindly offered to ‘attune’ me - all I need to do is spend a couple of days at my friend’s house in the countryside where I will learn to heal myself through reiki.

Day 179 - Bra

2009-06-19T03:21:00.000+01:00

“Bras do not cause breast cancer per se, but ill-fitting, too tight bras can help cancer growth since they can prevent your body from excreting dangerous cancer-causing chemicals.

The main reason why tight bras are bad for breast health is because they restrict the lymph flow in your breasts. There are numerous lymph pathways and lymph nodes in the armpits, under the breasts, and in between the breasts.

Normally the lymph fluid washes out waste materials and other toxins away from the breasts, but bras (and especially push-up bras) inhibit this action, so toxins can start to accumulate in the breast, and that can help cancer to develop.

In other words, bras inhibit the way our bodies normally cleanse themselves and get rid of cancer cells and toxins like PCBs, DDT, dioxin, benzene and other carsinogenic chemicals that cling to the body's fatty tissues like breast. In fact, if you find a lump in your breast, it may very well be filled with lymph fluid that was not able to move away from the breast tissue.

Bra wearing may also be connected to cancer in other ways. Wearing bras slightly increases the temperature of the breast tissue, and women who wear bras have higher levels of the hormone prolactin. Both of these may influence breast cancer formation.”*

*http://www.007b.com/bras_breast_cancer.php

When the kinesiologist told me “bras may cause cancer”, I wasn’t too sure what he was talking about. He later emailed me a number of articles that explained the relation between wearing bras and cancer, which I found of much interest.

I have now seen the kinesiologist various times - he advised continuing taking my tablets and has changed and added a number of different supplements I should take, according to the muscle testing results of each session. I explained my headache seems to be better, but is nonetheless still very much present.

During today’s session, when muscle testing me, the kinesiologist explained something was causing the test results to act bizarrely - sometimes the same muscle would ‘go strong’ and then suddenly it would ‘go weak’. He eventually figured out what was causing the problem: my bra.

In kinesiology, anything that lies within the patient’s magnetic field that he or she is sensitive to can influence the muscle testing results and therefore needs to be removed; this could be a food the person is intolerant to, or a material that causes irritation, such as a type of metal (on an earring, for example).

In this case, my bra was causing problems. The kinesiologist explained that the liver eliminates toxins through the lymph pathways and nodes located under the breasts. When wearing a bra, the toxins cannot be expelled freely, thus accumulating in the breast.

I have spent some time researching the topic, and, although there are many articles that claim there is no scientific evidence that proves that bras cause cancer, the ones that state the contrary seem to me to make a lot of sense. Furthermore, it is important to note that these articles claim that bras may be a contributing factor to cancer; they do not state that bras are the sole factor that causes the disease.

Not many studies have been conducted in this field. The first comprehensive one on this subject was done by medical researcher Sydney Singer and his wife Soma Grismaijer who, through extensive research, noted that the chances of developing cancer for women who wore bras was 125-fold more than in women who did not wear bras at all. Certainly something to look into.

Day 176 - Radionics

2009-06-16T05:24:00.000+01:00

“Radionics is a method of sending precisely defined healing energy to people, animals or plants, no matter where they are in the world.

Fundamental to radionics is the view that a living body has a subtle energy field which sustains and vitalises it. If the field is weakened, for example by stress or pollution, then eventually the physical body also becomes weak, leaving it susceptible to illness. The aim of radionics is to identify the weaknesses in this field and to correct them, and thereby alleviate or prevent physical or emotional disease.

This subtle field cannot be accessed using our conventional senses. Radionic practitioners use a specialised dowsing technique to both identify the sources of weakness in the field and to select specific treatments to overcome them.

It is not necessary for a patient to be present for the practitioner to 'tune in' to him/her. Something unique to the patient such as a signature or hair sample may be used as a proxy, or ‘witness’. This can happen because part of the mind of each of us is linked via a universal mind.

The universal mind seems to function outside the familiar space-time framework of our day-to-day lives and that is why it does not matter where the patient and practitioner are geographically located. They can be together or many miles apart.

The first sign that treatment is working may be an increased feeling of well being. An improvement in physical symptoms usually follows.”*

*http://www.radionic.co.uk/What_is_radionics.htm

Word about my headache has spread amongst friends and friends of family. I was recently advised to try radionics.

I was told that this treatment had worked wonders on a friend’s aunt, and I was strongly encouraged to try it out.

Once again, I might as well give it a go. I have nothing to lose.

At first, all I was told about radionics was that I needed to “put my hair in a black box and she [the practitioner] will do the rest”. Not exactly, but not too far off either.

Today I called the practitioner who told me more about radionics and explained how I can benefit from it.

I have been asked to complete a form with more details of myself and to send a little strand of hair to the practitioner who is based a few hundred kilometres away in XYZ. Although I will never meet her in person, she will ‘work on me’.

While all this sounds completely illogical and implausible, the way the practitioner described radionics was that years ago tribes used to ‘feel’ what other tribes were living through, even though the latter were physically located miles away from the former. A sixth sense enabled them to communicate with each other.

Radionics works in a similar fashion, with the practitioner communicating with the patient via a ‘connection’ that will be established once she receives my strand of hair. Thereafter, regular email or phone contact must be kept, so as not to lose the ‘connection’.

I have got to a point where I must try everything, as anything may work.

Day 169 - Wormwood

2009-06-09T00:15:00.000+01:00

"Also called shrub wormwood, Artemisia absinthium is a member of the daisy or Asteraceae family. The species name, absinthium, means "without sweetness".

Wormwood is often used as a digestive stimulant. By increasing the production of stomach acids and bile, wormwood can be useful to persons with poor digestion. It helps persons recover after a long illness and improves the uptake of nutrients.

It affects the bitter-sensing taste buds on the tongue that send signals to the brain to stimulate the entire digestive system (salivation, stomach acid production, intestinal tract movement, etc.). It is also helpful in treating infections, and may also protect the liver from harmful chemicals.

Wormwood's unique properties fascinated humanity long before the plant was first used to make absinthe in 1792. Because of its powerful effects on both mind and body, wormwood has been valued as a versatile medicinal plant since at least 1600 B.C.

A favorite liqueur in nineteenth-century France, absinthe was addictive and associated with a collection of serious side effects known as absinthism (irreversible damage to the central nervous system). The toxic component of wormwood that causes absinthism is thujone. Wormwood may contain as much as 0.6% thujone.

This aromatic, bitter substance is believed to induce an inexplicable clarity of thought, increased sense of perception, enhanced creativity, inspiration and the ability to "see beyond" - as all the famous absinthe drinkers amongst nineteenth century poets, writers, painters and other artists discovered.

On the other hand, wormwood soaked in white wine is used to produce the liqueur called vermouth (derived from the German word for wormwood, Wermuth), which contains very little thujone.

To this day, Bedouin Africans sell wormwood in a Cairo market as a remedy for ill health. The Bedouin also burn wormwood leaves as incense around their newborn children to give the child a life of good health.”*

*http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0007/ai_2603000742/
http://www.absinthefever.com/wormwood

Since my last session with the kinesiologist I have been taking wormwood drops. These are made with a woody shrub which has a highly bitter taste, supposedly an important component of its therapeutic effects on stomach ailments. Interestingly, wormwood has long been used as an ingredient of vermouth and absinthe, and is also used in medicine.

It tastes absolutely ghastly, and unfortunately I need to take a high dose of it four times a day. Wormwood is commonly used as an anti-parasitical, and my body seems to be “asking” for a lot of it through muscle testing.

The good news is that my headache seems to be improving. Whether it is the wormwood, the supplements or a mixture between the two I do not know. But I do know that the headache is finally subsiding in strength.

Something to rejoice!

Day 161 - Liver

2009-06-01T05:19:00.000+01:00

“The liver is the largest, heaviest and most complex internal organ in the body, weighing 1-1.5 kg and hidden mostly by the lower right ribcage. It is one of only two organs to have two blood supplies, receiving blood from the hepatic arteries [20%] and the portal vein [80%] (carrying blood from the intestines).

The liver makes and breaks down proteins, sugars and fats, stores nutrients absorbed from the intestines, and removes toxins from the blood. It is the powerhouse, recycling and disposal plant of the body. Life literally is not possible without the liver.

There are many causes of liver disease - the most common cause in Western countries is alcohol.”*

*http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A134920

The liver test arrived in the post a few days ago. I knew I would have to send a urine sample, but was rather surprised when I found a 2 litre plastic bottle in the test kit. I don’t know what the guy at the post office will say.

I have had to refrigerate my saliva twice in the past 24 hours, and need to send it tomorrow morning to the labs, along with a urine sample.

***

I have just learned that I do not need to post the 2 litre bottle of urine (thank goodness), rather just need to transfer it to a much smaller sample that is also enclosed.

The nutritionist told me the results would take up to six weeks to get to her. Once again, all I can do now is wait.

Day 160 - Diet

2009-05-31T02:21:00.000+01:00

“The word diet is often used to describe an eating plan intended to aid weight loss. However, diet really refers to the foods a person eats in the course of a day, or week.

The more balanced and nutritious the diet, the healthier the person can expect to be. A balanced diet means eating the right amount of foods from all food groups.

The benefits of a balanced diet are numerous. No single food contains everything the body needs so it is important to eat a wide variety.

The right amount of vitamins and nutrients can increase life expectancy by keeping the heart and body healthy, and preventing many long-term illnesses.”*

*http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/diet/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Today I had my second Bowen treatment.

I feel more relaxed after this morning’s session and the headache seems to be a bit better.

In terms of my new diet, I am struggling to come up with some dishes that do not contain any traces of wheat, yeast, dried fruit, sugar, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, chillis and all other nightshades.

In brief, I am starving.

And I am not too sure how healthy this can all be - at the moment I am certainly not maintaining a balanced diet.

I don’t think I can bear the sight of sweet potatoes, chicken, salad, spinach, goat’s cheese or eggs anymore.

Before starting my new regime, the headache had slightly improved - it was not as strong on a daily basis. The supplements the kinesiologist gave me must have been doing something. Or am I just accustomed to my headache, and nearly becoming immune to it?

Despite being open to all these new treatments, and doing my utmost to rid my body of the pain, I feel like the solution to it all is once again creeping further and further away.

Day 159 - Gut

2009-05-29T15:56:00.000+01:00

“There has been a growing recognition of the intimate connection between gut and brain in recent years. The gut contains the highest concentration of nerve cells outside of the brain and for this reason has been referred to as the "second brain".

The gut also contains much higher concentrations of serotonin than the brain, even though this neurotransmitter chemical is most known for its effect on mood and brain function.

The gut's brain, known as the enteric nervous system, is located in sheaths of tissue lining the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. Considered a single entity, it is a network of neurons, neurotransmitters and proteins that zap messages between neurons, support cells like those found m the brain proper and a complex circuitry that enables it to act independently, learn, remember and, as the saying goes, produce gut feelings.

In fact, anyone who has ever felt butterflies in the stomach before giving a speech, a gut feeling that flies in the face of fact or a bout of intestinal urgency the night before an examination has experienced the actions of the dual nervous systems.

With this knowledge of the tight connection between gut and brain it starts to become apparent why sufferers of a number of diseases often experience many mood and neurological disorders.”*

*http://www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/related-conditions/celiac-disease/
http://www.pheromonetalk.com/studies-abstracts/second-brain-stomach-113.html

I have been seeing the kinesiologist for a few months now, and very much trust his judgement and knowledge of the human body.

During our sessions, he has also examined my shoulder, which I have been unable to sleep on for over one year. In January doctors suggested a possible operation, but I knew that was not the right way forward.

The kinesiologist has successfully fixed my shoulder - not in its entirety, but it is causing me a lot less pain and aggravation than before. I am therefore feeling very hopeful that he will also be able to solve my perplexing headache.

It has crossed my mind that the headache may somehow be linked to my troublesome shoulder, but the muscle testing shows that the headache is due to an internal problem.

The kinesiologist believes the pain may well be associated, albeit not directly, with my gut.

He explained the close relation between the gut and the brain. Given that the former is home to the second highest amount of nerve cells outside of the brain, its functionality is vital to our well-being. The two brains are interconnected: when one gets upset, the other does too.

He has given me more supplements to detoxify and help cleanse my gut.

Day 154 - Alcohol

2009-05-25T06:01:00.000+01:00

“Alcohol is a common term for ethanol, a compound produced when glucose is fermented by yeast. The alcohol content of a particular drink is controlled by the amount of yeast and length of fermentation.

Fruit is used to make wine and cider, while cereals such as barley and rye form the basis of beer and spirits.

Alcohol is a drug that has the immediate effect of altering mood. Drinking it makes people feel relaxed, happy and even euphoric, but in fact alcohol is a depressant. It switches off the part of the brain that controls judgement, leading to loss of inhibitions. Drinking even small amounts of alcohol can affect physical coordination.

The liver breaks down and eliminates alcohol from the body. It takes the liver about one hour to deal with one unit of alcohol (8g).”*

*http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/healthy_alcohol.shtml

My teetotalism does not seem to be making much of a difference to my headache - on the contrary, when I drink it seems to get better. Maybe it’s because after a glass or two I am in good spirits and manage to temporarily avoid thinking about the pain.

Nonetheless, I am strictly off alcohol at the moment (and have been since January). I think I am even being overly cautious as I have been scrutinizing the menus in restaurants and carefully eliminating all dishes that have been cooked using white or red wine (along with all nightshade foods, wheat, yeast, dried fruit and sugar).

Despite the rigorous diet, teetotalism and supplement intake, there has not been much of an improvement on the headache front in the past few days.

Day 152 - Bowen Technique

2009-05-23T05:00:00.000+01:00

“The Bowen Technique is a gentle, deeply relaxing, non-invasive physical therapy that frees the body to attain its natural balance and healing. Effective as a structural treatment for specific pain, Bowen therapy addresses the body as a whole. Its embrace often extends beyond the presenting symptom to the healing of underlying physical, chemical, emotional and mental causes of chronic illnesses.

In a Bowen Technique session, the therapist applies a carefully orchestrated series of gentle movements along the spine and at specific points throughout the body. These movements consist of a subtle rolling of muscle, nerve, tendon and connective tissue. The therapist leaves the room between each pattern in the series so as to allow the patient the maximum space for deep relaxation and integration of the information received.

It is the deeply relaxed state - both caused by and facilitating the impact of the specific soft tissue moves - that seems to act upon the body’s autonomic, or self-governing nervous system to enable it to achieve homeostasis at a cellular level and regain its own natural balance.”*

*http://www.healthandgoodness.com/Therapies/bowen-what-is.html

My stepmother told me about a friend of hers who is a Bowen Technique practitioner. She has kindly offered the first treatment free of charge.

I might as well give it a go (this phrase is creeping up frightfully too often).

The treatment involves small movements separated by approximately five to ten minute (sometimes longer) intervals, which aim to restore the flow and balance of the body.

Long, hot baths, sitting with your legs crossed and hot-water bottles (good thing it’s not winter) can all reverse the effects of the treatment, and thereby must be avoided after the session.

For some, the science behind Bowen may seem dubious. I myself, although a firm believer of alternative medicine and always open to new treatments, am a bit skeptical following today’s first session.

I struggle to comprehend how a few gentle movements (with what seem to be more intervals than ‘treatment’ itself) can rid my body of this malicious headache. If it is something internal, it needs to be fought from within.

Nonetheless, a few hours have passed since the first session and I have to admit I feel slightly better: the headache is always very much present but I am more relaxed and feel more at peace.

I know Bowen has worked wonders for many, and it may well prove to be a godsend to me too. I just need to get my head round it.

Day 143 - Nutritionist

2009-05-14T05:23:00.000+01:00

“A nutritionist is concerned with the study of nutrients in food, how nutrients are used in the body, and the relationship between diet, health and disease.

What we eat is an important part of our being. Food provides us with the energy and vital nutrients necessary to remain healthy and help us should we become ill.

Most of us know that diet plays a role in our general health, but over the years it has also been shown that specific foods can enhance our chances of avoiding certain diseases, and help us cope better with some conditions.

Knowing which foods are responsible is the first step to ascertaining how to go about addressing the problem, though this can sometimes seem like a detective’s nightmare. Often the only way is to carry out an elimination diet, by excluding certain substances.”*

* http://www.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/nutritionist_job_description.jsp
http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/Therapies/nutritional-therapy.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/dietary_index.shtml

A few weeks ago there was an article in the paper about a nutrition consultant who had cured a boy the doctors had given up on. She bases her treatment on blood analysis and looks for deficiencies.

Today I went to see her.

The nutritionist examined my form. She tested me for vitamin deficiencies. She said that she was surprised about my headache, given my lack of symptoms (other than the headache of course) and vitamin deficiencies.

She believes my headache may well be related to my liver. She has suggested carrying out a detailed liver test in the next few days. The test will be delivered to me in the post.

She suggested taking some supplements - incidentally, these are the same as the ones the kinesiologist advised taking. It's reassuring to see that - finally - two different people advise doing the same thing. Maybe with the help of both of them I can solve the problem.

She advised eliminating wheat, yeast, sugar, dried fruit and alcohol from my diet.

Day 140 - Tomatoes

2009-05-10T22:00:00.000+01:00

“Tomatoes were first brought to Europe from Mexico by Cortez and were first cultivated for food in Naples. The English regarded them as poisonous until the 1700s. They were introduced in America as an ornamental garden plant in 1808, but were not eaten as they were believed to cause stomach cancer and appendicitis.

The botanical name for tomatoes ‘Lycopersicon’ means ‘wolf peach’ and refers to the association between werewolves, witchcraft and nightshades.

Then, in 1820, Colonel Robert Johnson defied the advice of his physicians (”You will foam and froth at the mouth and double over”) and ate tomatoes on the steps of Salem Courthouse, New Jersey, in front of a crowd of 2000 witnesses, the local sheriff waiting to arrest him for suicide. He survived and people began slowly to accept tomatoes as food.

In the US and Northern Europe they really took off as food with the introduction of canning and canned soups and then rose again with the expansion of consumption of pizza and pasta in the past 30 years.

However, the chemical and energetic qualities of tomatoes (and other nightshades) produce extreme, expansive effects which can expand and weaken the bones, joints, teeth, gums, and all body organs, especially for those who are sensitive and allergic to them.

In a study published in the Journal of the International Academy of Preventive Medicine, of the 5000 arthritis sufferers who eliminated Nightshade, seventy percent reported relief from aches, pains, and disfigurement.”*

*http://www.organicfoodee.com/inspiration/craig/nightshadefoods/
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KWZ/is_5_4/ai_111734421/

Being half Italian, tomatoes are a requirement for most of my dishes. I have now had to exclude pasta al sugo from my diet and, very sadly, pizza.

I haven’t found it particularly difficult to give up nightshade foods for their taste per se, rather have been struggling with replacing my usual dishes with other equally tasty ones. I have, however, been introduced to a number of intriguing recipes and previously unexplored foods (such as sweet potatoes - see Day 136 - Potatoes).

Despite these minor complaints, I would do anything to make my headache go away, and if this involves simply giving up a few foods (which I have now discovered are very unhealthy anyway) then so be it.

Day 136 - Potatoes

2009-05-06T17:41:00.000+01:00

“Traditionally potatoes were kept in paper sacks and sold unwashed. This practice protected them from direct sunlight. The modern practice of washing potatoes and packing them in plastic bags allows light to affect the potato and stimulate its production of solanine, the nightshade alkaloid that, in nature, sickens animals that might dig up potatoes for food.

The solanine in potatoes is 4 times greater in the skin than in the rest of the potato. The fatal dose of solanine for an adult is 200-250 mg depending on body weight. Potatoes should not contain more than 20 mg of solanine per 100g, so it would take at least 1 Kg of potatoes (2.2 lbs) to be fatal. Potato peels have been found to contain up to 180 mg of solanine per 100g, so a person consuming 150-200g of deep fried potato peels with a high solanine content could be at considerable risk.

Interestingly, in one study conducted with hamsters who were fed the sprouted portions of potatoes, increased alkaloid content did not seem to impact the nerves or joints nearly as much as the digestive system itself.

The researchers focused on damage to the stomach and intestines when trying to understand the problems caused by ingestion of potato sprout material, and concluded that there were reasons to avoid this material based on digestive system evidence alone.

A bitter taste in potatoes after the potatoes have been cooked is usually a good indication that excessive amounts of alkaloids are present.”*

*http://www.organicfoodee.com/inspiration/craig/nightshadefoods/
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=62

I got my MRI brain scan results: all clear. I am somewhat relieved, although still worried as no one seems to know what is causing the headache.

In the meantime, I have been avoiding potatoes, as well as other nightshades (see Day 124 - Nightshade Foods), avec rigeur for the past few days, and have thereby completely eliminated my intake of alkaloids (any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds of plant origin that have pronounced physiological actions on humans*).

I have replaced my normal intake of potatoes with sweet potatoes, which are not classified as nightshade foods, rather fall under the “morning glory” category.

I have thus discovered the huge health benefits associated with sweet potatoes. The Centre for Science in the Public Interest ranks sweet potato number one in nutrition of all vegetables.

Despite the change of diet, the unfathomable headache is still present. On Saturday night I had a really strong attack. I couldn’t sleep all night. I thought my head was going to explode. It pounded on both sides, with an indescribable intensity that I genuinely thought it was going to burst.

I had to sit up in bed to try and alleviate the pain a bit (it slightly diminishes when sitting upright or standing).

As I now know, no painkillers make the pain subside. The only form of consolation was to give vent to the pain and vexation burning inside me through wretched tears.

*Apple dictionary definition

Day 128 - Yoga

2009-04-29T05:31:00.000+01:00

“Yoga is a system of philosophy that originated in India 5,000 years ago. The Sanskrit word yoga is translated as 'union' between mind, body and spirit.

In the West, the most widely taught form of yoga is Hatha Yoga with classes offering students exercises to stretch and flex the body, develop breath awareness, relaxation and sometimes meditation.

Asanas (yoga postures) strengthen and tone the body and improve the flow of energy - regulating physical systems of the body and breath, and stilling the mind for meditation.

The objective in asana work is not how far you can stretch or contort your body, but to combine stability (stira) with ease/relaxation (sukha). Simple breathing techniques are also taught to develop awareness and relaxation of the breath.

Yoga offers a holistic approach to body, mind and spirit, which can provide us with the ‘tools’ to cope with the challenges of daily life. Yoga can also complement medical science and therapy for specific conditions.”*

*http://www.bwy.org.uk/information/1/About_Yoga.htm

Yoga has become a bit too much of a trend in the past few years for my liking, but the health benefits associated with it cannot really be put into question.

My sister has spoken highly about yoga and suggests I give it a go. I can barely reach my knees when my legs are straight, and thought that a yoga class would no doubt be a challenge.

I further realized this in class, when the sixty year old woman next to me was hugging her toes as her left leg casually rested around her neck, whilst I - nearly forty years her junior - was struggling to reach my ankles.

Despite these difficulties, the first lesson proved to be a success. Today I went to the second class, this time taught by a young Indian fellow.

During the unwinding session at the end of the class, we were told to imagine our bodies gently floating upwards, towards the ceiling, and beyond, over the rooftops and towards the sky.

I find it hard as it is to relax and unwind, and the teacher’s strong Delhi accent today made it no easier to take the whole class very seriously. He told us to drift away and defy gravity... “And now you see a green parrot coming towards you” - that did it. I bit my lip and longed for the class to end so I could snigger at myself in the changing rooms.

The yoga classes have therefore been entertaining, and certainly useful. No improvement on the headache front, but at least I know I am doing something healthy for both the body and the mind.

Day 124 - Nightshade Foods

2009-04-25T01:47:00.000+01:00

"Potatoes, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, tomatillos, tamarios, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, cayenne, and Tabasco sauce are classified as nightshade foods.

In the diet of Europe and Asia, only one nightshade food was eaten until recent times: the aubergine or eggplant. Then, in the 1600s and 1700s food and drug crops based on nightshades were imported from the Americas and for the past 400 years have penetrated and become ubiquitous in the Western diet. These include tobacco, tomatoes, potatoes and chili peppers.

Nightshades all contain nicotine in some form, although it may be named solanine (potatoes), tomatine (tomatoes), alpha-solanine (aubergine) or solanadine (chillies and capsicums).

A particular group of substances in these foods, called alkaloids, can impact nerve-muscle function and digestive function in animals and humans, and may also be able to compromise joint function.

Plants produce alkaloids as a regular part of their biochemical activity, and these alkaloids are primarily designed to help protect the plants from insects that would otherwise eat them.

It is now apparent that there are groups of people who cannot tolerate nightshades in their diets, wish to avoid them anyway or find that eliminating them helps alleviate a variety of mental, emotional and physical problems."*

*http://www.organicfoodee.com/inspiration/craig/nightshadefoods
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=62

I saw the kinesiologist again today. There hasn’t been much improvement since the first appointment. But I know it all takes time.

All I can do is wait (and hope).

The kinesiologist muscle tested me for food intolerances as he believes these may well be a contributing factor to my headache.

He told me to avoid tomatoes, potatoes, and, generally, all nightshade foods. I didn’t know all these foods (including aubergines and chillis) all fell into the same ominous sounding category as they all grow at night (hence the name nightshades), and, very interestingly, they all contain traces of nicotine (tobacco is also a nightshade). Ever had a really strong craving for a cheese and tomato pizza? Or a curry?

I looked back at my food diary that I kept in The Gambia and noticed that I was eating nightshades on a daily basis - with spicy chicken and tomatoes as one of The Gambia’s main dishes, it was hard to steer clear of many nightshade vegetables.

My new task is to continue taking my supplements and to rigorously exclude nightshades from my diet.

Day 122 - Kidneys

2009-04-22T10:24:00.000+01:00

“The kidneys are bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine.

Every day, a person’s kidneys process about 200 quarts of blood to sift out about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water. The wastes and extra water become urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The bladder stores urine until releasing it through urination.

In addition to removing wastes, the kidneys also make red blood cells, regulate blood pressure and maintain calcium in the bones and a normal chemical balance in the body.

Kidney function is now calculated using a blood sample and a formula to find the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The eGFR corresponds to the percent of kidney function available.

A person’s blood is tested to see how many milligrams of creatinine are in one deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Creatinine levels in the blood can vary, and each laboratory has its own normal range, usually 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL. A person whose creatinine level is only slightly above this range will probably not feel sick, but the elevation is a sign that the kidneys are not working at full strength.”*

*http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/#kidneys

My GFR and creatinine levels were high in the test I did a few days ago (see Day 120 - Celiac Disease). I have therefore had to take another more detailed examination to find out exactly where the problem lies.

This is the first result in four months that has come out as abnormal, and it has certainly raised my hopes that I may finally be getting to the root of my inexplicable headache.

I called the GP again today to get the results of the second kidney test.

Everything was normal. She explained that creatinine values are so variable and can be affected by diet. I may not have drunk enough water or may have eaten something which influenced the results when I took the test the first time round.

Back to square one, yet again.

Day 120 - Celiac Disease

2009-04-21T05:10:00.001+01:00

“Celiac disease is caused by an immune reaction to gliadin, a specific protein that is a component of gluten.

Gliadin closely resembles the enzyme tissue transglutaminase which is present in the tissue of the small intestine. When food containing gluten, and thus gliadin, is eaten, the body's immune system whilst attacking the food protein also attacks the tissue of the small intestine due to its tissue transglutaminase content.

This immune response causes an inflammatory reaction that leads to flattening of the villi, the brush-like filaments that line the walls of the small intestine. The villi greatly increase the surface area of the small intestine and therefore increase the absorption of nutrients. The damage caused in celiac disease results in serious problems absorbing nutrients from food.

The grain most associated with celiac disease is wheat. This is due not only to its gluten content but also to the fact that it is a staple in most western nations.

The disease most often effects people of European (especially Northern European) descent. Rates amongst people of African, Japanese, and Chinese descent are much lower. This is thought to be due to a combination of less genetic susceptibility and low wheat diets.”*

*http://www.ei-resource.org/illness-information/related-conditions/celiac-disease/

I decided to do a celiac test. Just in case.

A friend has had the condition for years and suggested I take a test. Celiac disease manifests itself in different ways, but a general feeling of malaise is common.

Headache can be one of the symptoms, and come to think about it I eat wheat on a regular basis. When I was small, a vega test had confirmed that I was wheat intolerant, and should avoid it where possible.

There is therefore a possibility of having celiac disease.

I went to see my GP last week. This time I only briefly explained my symptom(s) (I pointed out the “headache specialist” and the neurologist’s letters as “proof” in order to avoid the usual spiel), and asked to be put forward for a celiac test.

This morning I got my blood test result: celiac was negative, but the kidney results were abnormal. Finally something!

Day 116 - MRI Scan

2009-04-17T02:15:00.000+01:00

“MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a fairly new technique that has been used since the beginning of the 1980s.

The MRI scan uses magnetic and radio waves, meaning that there is no exposure to X-rays or any other damaging forms of radiation.

Radio waves 10,000 to 30,000 times stronger than the magnetic field of the earth are then sent through the body. This affects the body's atoms, forcing the nuclei into a different position. As they move back into place they send out radio waves of their own. The scanner picks up these signals and a computer turns them into a picture. These pictures are based on the location and strength of the incoming signals.

With an MRI scan it is possible to take pictures from almost every angle, whereas a CT scan only shows pictures horizontally. There is no ionizing radiation (X-rays) involved in producing an MRI scan. MRI scans are generally more detailed, too. The difference between normal and abnormal tissue is often clearer on the MRI scan than on the CT scan.”*

*http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/mriscan.htm

A few weeks ago I discovered that the outrageously priced CT scan I did in January was not of my entire head as I has previously thought, rather only - I kid you not - of my nostrils.

I am therefore still concerned about the possibility of having something in my brain that is causing the headache.

I went to hospital today for the MRI scan. I had already had one done, in January, for my bad shoulder so I knew how it worked.

I was asked to change and was given a white gown to put on. A little boy who had been put to sleep was wheeled by and taken to the MRI room. I was told I would be in after him.

I was strapped to the bed and pushed inside the tunnel, a large, cylinder-shaped magnet. As the machine emits a loud banging sound, patients are always supplied with headphones (usually accompanied by soothing music) to occlude the noise.

There was a problem with the headphones, and I was handed a couple of earplugs instead.

The scan lasted for about twenty loud minutes.

As much as I would like something to show up in my tests, in a way I am hoping nothing will show in this MRI, given the pivotal role the brain plays in the human body.

Day 107 - Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

2009-04-08T03:23:00.000+01:00

“Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ, TMJD or TMD) affects the temporomandibular joint, an area that includes the hinge jaw joint (the bridge for the lower jaw or mandible) and the temporal bone of the skull located in front of each ear, the muscles surrounding the jaw and the jaw itself.

The most common factor contributing to TMJ is a bite problem affecting the joint itself. Interferences in the structure of individual teeth may force displacement of the lower jaw, leading the muscles to position the joints out of their sockets to force the upper and lower teeth to fit together. Anatomical factors within the joint or surrounding muscles (such as the presence of scar tissue) may also interfere with the bite and cause TMJ disorder.

People with TMJ may experience severe pain and discomfort in the face, jaw joint, neck and shoulders. You may also experience swelling on the side of the face, toothaches, headaches, neck aches, earaches and hearing problems.

The pain and discomfort caused by TMJ disorder may be severe, can be either intermittent or constant and may last for many years.”*

*http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/tmj/

My mother is convinced my headache is related to TMJ. TMJ symptoms are often mistaken for migraine headache, sinus trouble, ear infection, or toothache.

During the dental consultation, the dentist evaluated the possibility of having TMJ through electrical nerve stimulation. She placed some adhesive pads over my jaw joint which transfered data to a computer monitor via a tracking devise. For 45 minutes an electric-shock like pain was produced, stimulating my facial muscles and causing my jaw to jolt.

The hyperactivity of the face and of my jaw muscles was recorded to determine whether or not the jaw is in a strained position.

The entire test lasted a grand three hours. I explained that I do not grind my teeth at night, and do not have difficulty when chewing.

At the end of the consultation, the dentist determined that no structural disorder exists. Despite this, she prescribed a mouth guard to reduce the possible effects of tooth grinding and clenching.

She explained that the appliance would also possibly help improve my bite and the ability for the lower jaw to fall properly into the temporomandibular joint socket.

Following the appointment, it seems evident that my jaw is not causing the problem, but I have nothing to lose by wearing the guard at night. I might as well give it a go.

Day 103 - Kinesiology

2009-04-04T05:00:00.000+01:00

"Kinesiology (pronounced kin-easy-ology) primarily uses muscle testing to gather information about the body's physical, chemical and emotional function and identifies any imbalances. In doing so, kinesiology can then aid the body's natural healing process by helping to correct these imbalances.

Kinesiology proposes that each muscle has a connection to an organ and also to energy that flows around the body through pathways (known as meridian channels). If a muscle test highlights an imbalance in the muscle, there could be stresses placed on the related organ and a blockage in the flow of energy. This affects a person's physical and emotional well-being.

American chiropractor George Goodheart is considered the father of kinesiology. In 1964, Goodheart proposed that muscle testing can be therapeutic as well as diagnostic. His 'Applied Kinesiology' used muscle testing methods and also utilised the Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy of meridian channels. Goodheart's kinesiology system uses correctional techniques, massage and nutritional advice to create a holistic therapy."*

*http://www.gotosee.co.uk/therapies/Kinesiology.htm

The osteopath emailed me the other day, reassuring me that I am “not in the age group for this [fibromyalgia] condition”.

Although it has become apparent that I do not have fibromyalgia, the initial shock of possibly having the illness has really affected me. As a result, I feel hurt and let down by him and am therefore more than happy to move on and go ahead with another treatment.

A very close friend told me that her boyfriend suffered from a persistent headache for over one year when he was only 16. He did innumerable blood tests, scans, and saw doctors who were reputedly amongst the best in the UK. The story sounded familiar.

He eventually managed to fight his headache through kinesiology.

This morning I went to see his kinesiologist, who he zealously recommended.

Once again, I recounted what I have been through in the past few months. I was relieved when I was cut short and asked to lie on the bed.

Just the thought of recounting what I have done or who I have seen due to the headache is exhausting. Furthermore, the story gets longer and more complex as time goes on.

The kinesiologist worked on my back and explained I had two vertebrae out of place. I was surprised the osteopath hadn’t noticed, as a misplaced vertebra - let alone two - is not exactly something easy to overlook.

He then ‘muscle tested’ me, whereby he examined which internal organs were weak, or not functioning properly, by making me exert pressure on my arm or leg muscles.

“Each muscle is related to an internal organ”, he explained to me. “When your arm or leg weakens as I exert pressure on one of your organs, your body is telling me it is weak and needs strengthening. Basically, that part of the body needs help.”

The kinesiologist believes my headaches are somehow related to my gut.

He has suggested taking some supplements to correct and alleviate the headache, including Vitamin C, lactose free probiotics and oil supplements.

Day 92 - Fibromyalgia

2009-03-24T00:00:00.000Z

"FMS (fibromyalgia syndrome) is a widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder for which the cause is still unknown. Fibromyalgia means pain in the fibrous tissues in the body.

The pain comes from the connective tissues, such as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. FMS does not involve the joints, as does rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Most patients with fibromyalgia say that they ache all over. Their muscles may feel like they have been pulled or overworked. Sometimes the muscles twitch and at other times they burn. More women than men are afflicted with fibromyalgia, but it shows up in people of all ages.

Musculoskeletal pain and fatigue experienced by fibromyalgia syndrome patients is a chronic problem, which tends to have a waxing and waning intensity. There is currently no generally accepted cure for this condition. According to recent research, most patients can expect to have this problem lifelong.

Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome do not become crippled with the condition, nor is there any evidence it affects the duration of their expected life span. Nevertheless, due to varying levels of pain and fatigue, there is an inevitable contraction of social, vocational activities which leads to a reduced quality of life."*

*http://www.ukfibromyalgia.com/what-is-fm.html

I went to see the osteopath again today for my second session. He is also a psychotherapist.

He asked if there had been improvement after our first session and I told him unfortunately nothing had changed.

I explained my mother suffered from terrible migraines and also had fibromyalgia.

He explained that, from a psychological point of view, there is a possibility that I may be trying to alleviate my mother’s pain thereby inflicting it on myself.

He then told me that my headache may be the first symptom of fibromyalgia.

The possibility of having fibromyalgia sounds fatuous but it is nonetheless plausible. I do not suffer from the symptoms of the illness (I ‘only’ have a constant headache), and most people do not get it until they are older anyway.

I am nonetheless very upset and terrified about possibly having it. Having lived with a fibromyalgia sufferer - my mother -, I dread to think of what my life will become should I be inflicted with this illness.

I left the clinic feeling dejected, wretched and, all in all, very depressed.

Day 88 - Trapped Nerve

2009-03-20T04:30:00.000Z

"Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue, such as muscle.

Nerve Pain (Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Neuritis), is a type of pain which originates from the peripheral and/or central nervous system. The source of the pain is commonly due to the nerve being trapped, compressed, or pinched, and less commonly due to some other disease process affecting the nerve.

The term "trapped nerve" refers to a condition in which a nerve is compressed or pinched. This causes pain, numbness, weakness or other symptoms. There are many sites and causes of nerve compression, including:

* A disc in the back or neck — Spinal discs can bulge or tear, pressing on nerves as they travel to and from the spinal cord; sciatica is a common example of a "trapped nerve" that may be due to disc disease.
* Arthritis in the wrist — The median nerve travels through the carpal tunnel, a tight space in the wrist that is easily compressed by swelling in the joint.
* Enlarged tissues — Growth of a lymph node, an abscess (an infection) or a tumor can compress a nearby nerve.
* Injury - A nerve can be compressed by swelling, fracture, or bleeding following trauma; simply leaning on your elbows can compress the ulnar nerve that travels just under the skin."*

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurology
http://www.painclinic.org/nervepain-introduction.htm
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100198110

A tall, slight, well-disposed man greeted me with an amicable smile. I took an immediate liking to the neurologist, and felt at ease when recounting what I have been through with my headache.

He attentively listened and asked me to lie on the bed.

I confided my (what may sound ridiculous) fear of possibly having a brain tumour.

He told me it is highly unlikely that my headache is due to a brain tumour, given my young age (I am only 24). He also explained that the first signs of having a brain tumour are - interestingly - not headaches, rather loss of coordination and confusion.

He carried out the usual routine examination. Everything was normal.

In the past few days my back and neck have been stiff and sore, and the doctor appeared to be sure it must be a trapped nerve.

I explained that I am currently seeing an osteopath; he enthusiastically supported this, and encouraged me to carry on with more sessions.

He also suggested soaking in a hot bath every evening, and recommended wearing hot patches on my neck.

Although the neurologist is virtually sure nothing will show up, he booked me in for an MRI scan, for peace of mind.

Day 86 - Headache Specialist

2009-03-18T03:30:00.000Z

"There are several different types of headache. The main types are:

* Tension headaches (also called stress headaches, muscular headaches) - a mild to moderate headache that may last minutes or days and tends to recur. The pain is fairly constant and felt in both sides of the head and neck as a pressure or tension. Most importantly, exercise doesn't make it worse and there are no additional symptoms such as nausea.

* Migraine (see Day 4 - Migraine post.) - symptoms can be variable, and there are several different types of migraine , but this is usually a moderate to severe one-sided headache that pulsates or throbs. Importantly, it gets worse with activity and there are additional symptoms, particularly nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and an increased sensitivity to noise, light or smells. Some people experience an aura (symptoms such as flashing lights) before the headache.

* Cluster headaches - frequent, short-lived (less than an hour), one-sided headaches across the temple or around the eye and occurring once or more a day, and often disrupting sleep. Headaches recur for several weeks then subside, although another cluster may develop months later.

* Chronic daily headaches - these may be of any of the above types, and occur for at least 15 days a month for at least three months.

Headaches are generally divided into either primary (not related to another disorder) or secondary (caused by other things such as head injuries, high blood pressure or a brain tumour). With secondary headaches, it's essential to treat the underlying cause as this may prove fatal."*

*http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/headache1.shtml

This afternoon I went to see one of the best neurologists in the UK, who has been ‘a full time headache specialist for the last 12 years’, according to his website.

I described my headache to him in depth, emphasizing that I have already ruled out the possibility of the pain being related to my eyes, my sinuses, tropical diseases, low blood pressure, etc. etc.

As I recounted all the details, the doctor took notes, and explained that at the end of the session he would write a complete description of my symptoms, thereafter sending a copy to myself and to my GP with details of what medication I should take.

The doctor asked me where the pain is centred. I pointed to a specific location on my right temple. What I found very bizarre was that he did not reach out to touch the part of my head which is causing the pain. He immediately jotted down ‘right side temple headache’.

He advised taking steroid or botox injections to alleviate the symptoms.

“Botox?” I asked inquisitively. “But that’s for women who have plastic surgery”, I said. He explained that recent studies in the U.S. have demonstrated that women who suffer from headaches and who have undergone plastic surgery are no longer afflicted with headaches post surgery. As such, doctors now prescribe botox for headaches and migraines.

He thereafter told me that I will always have to carry drugs on me and take them whenever I feel the headache coming on (I guess I didn’t make myself clear when I explained that the headache doesn’t ‘come on’ - it is always there).

Needless to say, I will not be taking neither botox, nor steroids. As I believe I have a secondary headache, I need to find the underlying cause of the pain as opposed to temporarily concealing it with harmful drugs.

Once again, I am back at square one, this time £160 shorter.

Day 85 - Osteopathy

2009-03-16T20:16:00.000Z

"Osteopathy recognises the importance of the link between the structure of the human body and the way it functions. Osteopaths focus on the body’s skeleton and joint function along with the underlying muscles, soft tissue and internal organs.

Osteopaths consider each person as an individual. Utilising a highly developed sense of touch, they identify problem areas of the body. Using gentle stretching and mobilising techniques as well as manipulating joints, an osteopath works with the body to create the perfect conditions to facilitate the healing process.

Treatment usually consists of a combination of soft-tissue releasing techniques, and some specific adjustments affecting joints and soft-tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments).

Osteopathic treatment restores blood circulation, relaxing tight muscles and easing joint function, leaving you feeling less restricted and more comfortable."*

*http://www.osteopathy.org/MXENQ85VAJ
http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/watford/business-guide/feature/backs-to-basics-osteopathy/51987

I am now back in London and very much hope to be able to solve my headache in the near future so as to resume work as soon as possible.

Lately I have thought about the possibility of having a trapped nerve.

I went to see an osteopath this morning who was recommended to me by a close friend. His step father had seen the very same osteopath who had worked wonders on him.

The osteopath in question specialised in cranial osteopathy and worked on my head, shoulder and facial muscles. He moved my muscles and joints using a number of diverse techniques including stretching, gentle pressure and resistance.

After the treatment, I felt light headed, dizzy and somewhat tearful. The osteopath explained that given all the work he had done on my body, these feelings were normal.

He asked me to return next week for the second treatment. In the meantime, he told me to try and relax and enjoy myself as much as possible as he believes this will very much contribute to ameliorating my headache.

Day 65 - Stress

2009-02-25T07:00:00.000Z

"Stress is the way that you feel when pressure is placed on you. A little bit of pressure can be productive, give you motivation, and help you to perform better at something. However, too much pressure or prolonged pressure can lead to stress, which is unhealthy for the mind and body.

When faced with a situation that makes you stressed, your body releases chemicals, including cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. These invoke the 'fight or flight' feelings that help us to deal with the situation.

The fight or flight response was first noted by one of the early pioneers in stress research, Walter Cannon. In 1932 he established that when an organism experiences a shock or perceives a threat, it quickly releases hormones that help it to survive.

If the chemicals that are released during stressful situations accumulate from not being used, their effects are felt by the body. A build-up of adrenaline and noradrenaline increases blood pressure, heart rate, and the amount that you sweat. Cortisol prevents your immune system from functioning properly, as well as releasing fat and sugar into your blood stream.

Excess stress can manifest itself in a variety of emotional, behavioral, and even physical symptoms, and the symptoms of stress vary enormously among different individuals. Common somatic (physical) symptoms often reported by those experiencing excess stress include sleep disturbances, muscle tension, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, and fatigue."*

*http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stress/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.stress.org.uk/What-is-stress.aspx
http://www.medicinenet.com/stress/page3.htm#symptoms

A number of people have asked me if my headache could be related to stress.

The human body is so complex that each and every one of us reacts to external circumstances in different ways. Maybe it is stress related.

Admittedly, we’re working very long hours here in Banjul: most days more than 14.

I have therefore decided to have body and head massages on a regular basis to try and relax a bit.

Luckily I am in living in The Gambia, where I can easily afford a masseuse.

I asked her to spend some time working on my temples - I told her to place a lot of pressure, especially on the right hand side, as this slightly alleviates the pain.

The intensity of the headache magnifies as soon as I lie down. Consequently, as much as I try and relax during a massage, I now become more tense and weary.

Day 58 - Wisdom Teeth

2009-02-18T06:30:00.000Z

"Adults can have up to 32 teeth. The third molar teeth (commonly referred to as wisdom teeth) are the last to come through, right at the back. They usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25, although sometimes they appear many years later.

Nowadays people often have jaws that are too small for all 32 teeth – 28 is often the most we have room for. So if all the other teeth are present and healthy there may not be enough space for the wisdom teeth to come through properly.

Wisdom teeth can contribute to headaches. If a wisdom tooth is impacted or somewhat erupted, swelling can occur and gum tissues may be infected. The swollen gums and teeth can leave an individual with a badly aligned bite, which may then cause pain in the jaw area.

Inflammation and additional pain in the jaw joints and muscles leaves a person with what is called a wisdom tooth headache. If left untreated, pus may form and further inflame jaw muscles."*

*http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk/faqs/leafletdetail.php?LeafletID=43
http://www.headacheexpert.co.uk/DentalConnection.html

The drops for my low blood pressure that the Senegalese doctor prescribed have not alleviated my strong headache. I have been taking them religiously but have not seen any sign of improvement.

I was recently put in touch with a family friend who has suffered from similar headaches to mine - similar in the sense that no one knew what was wrong with him until he eventually found out what was causing the pain: his wisdom teeth.

I have therefore decided to have my teeth checked. The only problem is that I am currently in Banjul and there are hardly any dental clinics. I have asked around and have been told about one which is known to be fairly good.

As our car came to a halt off the dusty road, a hand painted wobbly wooden sign vaguely indicated that the Swedent Clinic was a few metres ahead.

The rundown building, with rolls of paint peeling off the walls, was open and I was greeted - to my great surprise - by two Swedish female dentists.

They explained they were living in the country for a few months training locals in dentistry.

I happily sat on the dusty reclining chair. I wondered how many people had (if any) sat on the chair before me.

I was surprised to hear the clinic had xray facilities.

“Your teeth are in excellent condition, and you haven’t even had any fillings” I was told. The dentist told me she couldn’t see any wisdom teeth but I begged her to do an xray just to make sure.

She did some xrays with an obsolete machine which nonetheless processed the results immediately: “You will never have wisdom teeth. Thirty percent of people never get them, and you’re one of them.”

Great, I thought to myself - at least I won’t have to go through all the pain of removing wisdom teeth.

But now another possible cause of the headache has been ruled out. The dentist nonetheless advised carrying out some small exercises by stretching and moving my jaw, should my headache be related to problems with my mandible.

I am however - once again - back at square one, with no concrete results.

Day 50 - Low Blood Pressure

2009-02-09T19:51:00.000Z

"Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs of life, which also include heart beat, rate of breathing, and temperature. Blood pressure is generated by the heart pumping blood into the arteries and is regulated by the response by the arteries to the flow of blood.

Low blood pressure (hypotension) is pressure so low it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidney, the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.

For example, if insufficient blood flows to the brain, brain cells do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, and a person can feel lightheaded, dizzy, or even faint."*

*http://www.medicinenet.com/low_blood_pressure/index.htm

The doctor measured my blood pressure yesterday during the physical examination and said it was abnormally low. He did not take any measures as he said he would check it again today when picking up my test results.

This morning I was told all blood tests are normal and there is no sign of any parasites or tropical diseases.

The doctor measured my blood pressure again - it was still very low. Given the normal blood results, he is utterly convinced my headache is due to my low blood pressure.

I myself feel that my headache is caused by something elementary that is being overlooked.

I am therefore highly enthusiastic about this new diagnosis and firmly believe the doctor may well be right.

Furthermore, the fact that the pain intensifies when lying down leads me to think that my headache may well be related to low blood pressure, as the blood circulates differently when standing or lying.

The doctor has prescribed some drops to take for three weeks on a daily basis; this, he says, should raise my blood pressure thereby putting an end to my headache.

I have now promised myself that whosoever may solve my headache will receive a bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates and a card explaining how grateful I am for having finally resolved my mysterious headache.

Day 49 - Tropical Diseases

2009-02-09T05:00:00.000Z

"Tropical diseases are diseases that are prevalent in or unique to tropical and subtropical regions. Insects such as mosquitoes and flies are by far the most common disease carrier or "vector".

These insects may carry a parasite, bacterium or virus that is infectious to humans and animals. Most often disease is transmitted by an insect "bite", which causes transmission of the infectious agent through subcutaneous blood exchange.

The so-called "exotic" diseases in the tropics have long been noted both by travelers, explorers, etc., as well as by physicians. One obvious reason is that the hot climate present during all the year and the larger volume of rains directly affect the formation of breeding grounds. It is possible also that higher temperatures may favor the replication of pathogenic agents both inside and outside biological organisms.

Socio-economic factors may be also in operation, since most of the poorest nations of the world are in the tropics."*

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_disease

Needless to say I did not take the medication the Spanish doctor prescribed. Migraine tablets did not improve my symptoms over Christmas, and they certainly weren't going to do so now.

I am now in West Africa. On Friday, my colleague and I drove from Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, to Dakar, Senegal, to seek medical advice.

Health care in The Gambia is very limited so a trip to Dakar for some more blood tests was the only viable option.

The Clinique de la Madeleine, a privately funded French hospital, is a modern, soulless building located in the centre of Dakar.

I was seen immediately.

It has been nearly two months now and I am keen to try everything possible to rid my body of this tempestuous headache.

Maybe I caught a bug in Nigeria, and it may well be that a parasite is causing my infamous headache.

I told the doctor that I wanted to ‘do every possible test available on the face of the earth, in particular all tests to detect any possible tropical diseases’.

I need to return to the hospital on Monday morning to get my results.

Day 29 - The Eyes & Ophthalmology

2009-01-20T06:00:00.000Z

"In an average life, the eyes will see 24 million different images. They can focus quickly between distances of 10cm and infinity. We can see in bright sunlight and almost complete darkness and judge speed within 5-10% accuracy.

More of our brain is taken up with eyesight than any other bit of our body.

All this from a couple of balls only 2.5 cm in diameter.

Interesting facts:

- Brown is the most common eye colour, blue the rarest (only 8% of the world's population has blue eyes).

- Eyebrows protect our eyes from sweat running off our forehead. Over pluck at your peril.

- We blink about twelve times per minute. This keeps our eyes clean.

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine which deals with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways, including the eye, brain, and areas surrounding the eye, such as the lacrimal system and eyelids."*

*http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/surgery/advice/body_mind/everyone/eyesight/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophthalmology

I am in Madrid and will be leaving for West Africa shortly. I got the results from the CT scan :

“Conclusion: no sinonasal cause for the patient's persistent right frontal headache is identified.”

A colleague of mine asked me if I have had my eyes checked. I haven’t. I headed to the Instituto Oftalmológico de Madrid, reputedly one of the best in Europe.

I was told I needed an appointment and was sent to A&E at a hospital nearby.

Having waited for two hours, I was eventually seen by an ophtalmologist. She told me there was nothing to worry about and could not see my eyes being related to my headache.

She told me to see a neurologist. I thought I might as well give it a go as I won’t be in Europe for much longer.

The neurologist said it is a migraine. I explained I was already prescribed migraine tablets and they did not help at all. Painkillers do not alleviate the symptoms, I explained to him.

He nonetheless prescribed some medication and sent me home telling me there is nothing to worry about.

He also advised seeing the same doctor as opposed to continuously changing person and also location (so far, I have seen people in the UK, France and Spain) - not a helpful comment given that my job constantly involves travelling and that so far all the doctors I have seen have been utterly clueless anyway.

Day 25 - CT Scan

2009-01-16T02:00:00.000Z

"A CT (computerised tomography) scanner is a special kind of X-ray machine. Instead of sending out a single X-ray through your body as with ordinary X-rays, several beams are sent simultaneously from different angles.

The technique of CT scanning was developed by the British inventor Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work.

CT scans are far more detailed than ordinary X-rays. The information from the two-dimensional computer images can be reconstructed to produce three-dimensional images by some modern CT scanners.

Far more X-rays are involved in a CT scan than in ordinary X-rays, so doctors do not recommend CT scans without a good medical reason. Some patients may experience side effects due to allergic reactions to the liquid dye injected into the veins."*

*http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/ctgeneral.htm

My company called me yesterday just after my appointment with the ENT doctor, and told me I am now going being posted to The Gambia in West Africa and not to Taiwan anymore. I immediately called the doctor and asked to be put forward for a CT scan.

I was reluctant to do a scan as I know they emit a lot of radiation - the ENT doctor recommended that, due to the negative health implications associated with CT scans, the maximum number of CT scans to carry out in one’s lifetime is five.

Today I went to a private hospital to get the CT scan done.

Obviously I expected to pay a large sum (I do not have private medical insurance) but what I was confronted with nearly gave me a heart attack (on top of the headache).

I was strapped to the machine and part slid into the tunnel - I could still move my legs about as only my head was tightly strapped.

The scan only lasted fifteen minutes or so, and I was relieved when it was over. Now all I need are the results which I am told will only take a day or two to get to me.

Day 24 - Otolaryngologist

2009-01-15T04:00:00.000Z

"Otolaryngology is the branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders.

The full name of the specialty is otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Practitioners are called otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons, or sometimes otorhinolaryngologists (ORL). A commonly used term for this specialty is ENT (ear, nose and throat).

The term comes from the Greek ωτολαρυγγολογία (oto = genitive for ear, laryngo = genitive for larynx/throat, logy = study), and it literally means the study of ear and neck."*

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otolaryngology

I saw a private ear, nose and throat doctor today on Harley Street as I want to completely rule out the possibility of having sinusitis. Needless to say it cost a fortune.

The doctor said everything looked normal and wrote a letter for a doctor in Taiwan - which is where I am due to be posted for a few months - should my headache persist.

He advised I do a CT scan should my plans change and should I be sent to Africa again. In the meantime, he has prescribed a nasal spray to use for two to three weeks.

Day 17 - Acupuncture

2009-01-08T07:30:00.000Z

"Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine which involves the insertion of very fine needles at key points (known as acupuncture points) into the body.

Acupuncture is based on the Chinese belief that the human body is controlled by a life force known as Qi (pronounced 'chee'). Qi flows through the body in channels, known as meridians. When your Qi is disturbed or unbalanced it can make you unwell. Acupuncture aims to restore the balance of Qi, and helps it to run smoothly through your body.

Acupuncture is primarily used to ease symptoms of pain and discomfort. Studies suggest that there are a number of conditions which acupuncture can help to treat, including post-operative pain, migraines and nausea."*

*http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Acupuncture/Pages/Introduction.aspx

The Chinese clinic where I had my foot massage also offered acupuncture.

I told the doctor about my one month headache. I was asked to remove my shirt and lay down on the bed.

I felt heat all over my back and needles penetrated my skin. It didn’t hurt.

The doctor murmured some things under her breath, in Chinese.

In broken English she told me to stay still, and that she would return shortly.

She eventually returned and took the needles out.

I feel more relaxed although the headache is still the same. I know things like this take time to come into effect so all I can do now is wait.

Day 17 - Foot Reflexology

2009-01-08T07:20:00.000Z

"Reflexology is the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hand with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques. it is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands with a premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.

Archeological evidence Egypt (2330 BCE), China (2704 BCE) and Japan (690 CE) points to ancient reflexology medical systems. In the West the concept of reflexology began to emerge in the 19th century, based on research into the nervous system and reflex.

Pressure sensors in the feet and hands are a part of the body's reflexive response that makes possible the "fight or flight" reaction to danger. Feet ready to flee and hands ready to fight communicate with the body's internal organs to make possible wither eventuality. The sudden adrenal surge that enables a person to lift a car is an example of this reaction. Reflexology taps into this reflex network, providing an exercise of pressure sensors and thus the internal organs to which they are inextricably tied."*

*http://www.reflexology-research.com/whatis.htm

When travelling in China a few years ago, I treated myself to a foot massage nearly every day.

Although certain pressure points feel very tender or even sore, foot massage’s health benefits have long been known. Post massage, I myself feel a lot more relaxed, and at the same time also more energetic.

I decided to have foot reflexology today.

The usual reflexology points made me jump and cry out in pain: spleen, liver and kidney.

The pressure point that corresponds to the head (the big toe) did not hurt at all.

This leads me to think that the pain is related to my internal organs such as the gut, liver or kidney, as opposed to being caused by something in the head itself, such as an inflamed blood vessel.

Day 17 - Chinese Herbal Medicine

2009-01-08T07:00:00.000Z

"Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) therapy involves the use of natural plants, minerals and even some small amount of animals, each having its own specific characteristics and particular medical use to treat diseases. These rectify the over-activity or under-activity of yin and yang, and help restore the body to its normal physiological functions.

Like other Chinese Medicine disciplines, Chinese herbal medicine is based on the principle that good health springs from maintaining a harmonious balance of energy, yin and yang, both inside and outside of the body. If this balance is lost, either within ourselves or in our environment, disease may develop.

Treatment with Chinese herbs involves the use of several hundred commonly used ingredients, including roots, stems, flowers, leaves and barks as well as other non-plant materials. Pre-prepared combinations of herbs in the form of pills, powder capsules and creams (for external use) are also used.

Combinations of these herbs, often using formulae designed and used for over 2000 years, are matched to the individual's needs, based on the pattern of symptoms presented to the practitioner."*

*http://www.atcm.co.uk/medicine.htm#acupuncture
http://1stclasshealth.com/gpage1.html

The Chinese doctor did not speak English; a colleague of hers, a Chinese lady, translated for us.

During my consultation, the doctor looked at my tongue and took my pulse at both wrists.

She suggested there were problems with my liver and kidney and advised taking a number of supplements and herbs to help detoxify, thereby alleviating the pain and eventually ridding my body of my miserable headache.

I have to take the supplements daily for the next six weeks.

Day 16 - Traditional Chinese Medicine

2009-01-07T07:00:00.000Z

"Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the world's oldest medical systems still widely practised today. It is a unique and independent medical system which originated from China and developed down through the centuries imbued with the spirit of Chinese civilisation and culture.

Chinese Medicine was established through centuries of trial and error processes, taking a very long time from the beginning of the practice of Chinese Medicine to the establishment of a complete theory.

Through the Silk Road and other cultural exchanges, Chinese Medicine had been exported to Europe and other continents hundreds and thousands of years ago, being practiced in more than 100 countries around the world, and influencing the development of many other herbal medicines in regions outside Asia.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a holistic approach to diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases by identifying patterns and then applying the individual or combined therapies of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, tuina - a therapeutic massage; and other techniques."*

*http://www.atcm.co.uk/medicine.htm#acupuncture

I haven't seen much change at all since taking the homeopathic medicines for my sinuses. It must be something else.

Western medicine has so far proved unsuccessful; personally, I have a lot more faith in traditional herbal medicine and remedies.

China has a long tradition of preventative health care and, interestingly, doctors only used to get paid when their patients were well. If their patients were ill, they did not get paid.

This signified that the doctor was doing his job well and was thus rewarded accordingly.

In today’s Western society, doctors are revered as heroes and raised on pedestals as if they were gods. They are thus paid ‘accordingly’, whether they successfully treat a patient or not.

My faith in orthodox medicine is waning and I have decided to go and see a Chinese doctor tomorrow for another opinion on my headache.

Day 11 - Sinusitis

2009-01-02T03:00:00.000Z

"The sinuses are air-filled cavities in the bones of the face that improve the resonance of the voice. The five pairs of sinuses are interconnected and also connect with the nasal passages.

Sinusitis occurs when any of the sinuses become inflamed - a condition that can be acute or chronic.

In acute sinusitis the symptoms may include:

- Headache
- Nasal congestion or obstruction
- Pain and tenderness in the face, especially when coughing or bending over
- Loss of taste and smell

Sinusitis is more common in adults. It rarely occurs in children under the age of five."*

* http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/sinusitis1.shtml

I am starting the new year with a headache.

The paracetamol didn’t do anything. And neither did the migraine tablets.

I am still in France. Today we went to visit a friend, Florence, who lives in a village nearby.

My nose is slightly congested. My head is pounding. And my boyfriend suggested snorting salt in warm water. I have tried this and it stings like mad.

Florence suggested my headache may well be related to sinusitis. And I am sure it is! I had a sinus operation a few years ago. It must be this.

We managed to find an open pharmacy. I purchased some homeopathic medicine, and have just popped the first two in my mouth. I am feeling optimistic.

Day 4 - Migraine

2008-12-25T16:30:00.000Z

"Migraine is a severe headache, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

There are two types:

Migraine with aura (classical) - the headache is preceded by a preliminary phase called an aura, when symptoms such as seeing flashing lights, temporary visual loss, speech problems or numbness of the face or arms may occur.

Migraine without aura (common) - no aura precedes the headache Both types of migraine frequently start with changes in mood and feelings of general hunger or particular food cravings.

Migraine attacks last from four to 72 hours and are usually felt on one side of the head. During this time sufferers usually need to lie down in a quiet and darkened room since the throbbing headache is often made worse by movement, noise and light."*

*http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/migraine1.shtml

I spent the first few hours of Christmas day in a French clinic in Burgundy.

It has been four days now and I still have a constant headache.

The doctor took my blood pressure. He poked my knees with a hammer. My legs bounced forward. More blood tests, more questions.

I waited in the lounge with my friend - we gave each other a hug at midnight: “Merry Christmas”.

The doctors said it can't be malaria as I don't have a fever, and the new blood tests only go to prove that - they are all clear. Everything is normal.

The doctor decides it’s a migraine. I am not sensitive to light or sound, and I have a healthy appetite. But I am tired. He has prescribed some paracetamol to take daily and some migraine tablets to take for one week.

Day 1 - Malaria

2008-12-23T05:00:00.000Z

"Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes.

In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite.

If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines.

INTERESTING FACTS

- A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.

- Approximately half of the world's population is at risk of malaria, particularly those living in lower-income countries.

- Malaria takes an economic toll - cutting economic growth rates by as much as 1.3% in countries with high disease rates."

*http://www.who.int/topics/malaria/en/

I think I have malaria. I returned from Nigeria two days ago where I was posted for seven weeks for work.

I couldn’t get out of bed this morning; I had so much to do but when the alarm went off at 9am I couldn’t move. I just closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

Last night my head started to ache but I didn’t think much of it. Usually when I have a headache I just go to sleep without taking anything (not a big fan of medication) and the following morning I tend to awake headache free.

Not this morning. And I was so tired. So very tired. I finally managed to get out of bed at 11.

I walked home to see my mother who was in London on holiday. I felt sick. I felt weak.

I wanted to lie down in the middle of the pavement, in the star shape.

The buildings were spinning, the road was spinning. I needed to lie down.

I pushed on home and eventually decided to go to hospital.

“I think I have malaria”. The receptionist at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital A&E gave me a raised eyebrow.

The nurse took my blood pressure. She poked my knees with a hammer. My legs bounced forward.

“Which malaria pills did you take?”

“I didn’t take any malaria pills”

“Do you realize that malaria is fatal? Millions of people die every year from malaria. And the kind of malaria in Nigeria is amongst the most fatal in the world. Why did you not take antimalarials?” she asked, accusingly.

I felt sick. I felt weak. I didn’t want to talk, or explain, I just wanted to lie down and get rid of the sharp pain in my right temple.

I am now at home and am about to call the hospital to get my results. I was told that for the malaria test to be accurate, three blood samples should be taken on different days as one sample may come out as negative although it may be positive.

I just called. Mine is negative.