Haven't done much photographing lately.... pulling some out of the files....

Miracle Oils?

Hey Friends, it's been a while since I did an actual update about my headaches. I think the last thing I told you about was that I was seeing a pain management doctor here in Radford, VA. He started me on muscle relaxers and a fentanyl(sp?) pain patch, as he thought my daily headaches were stemming from one of the muscles on the left side of my neck.... that makes sense, as in the past when I've tried massage therapy or anything that had to do with working those muscles, it would usually set off major headaches and I'd end up in the ER.

The meds he started me on seemed to help some, although I was still getting headaches pretty much daily, and still some pretty severe pain.... so I also had my ketamine nasal spray which would knock me out for a few hours and mask the pain, but the pain was still there when the ketamine wore off. I might also add that I am very thankful for my doctors in Philly and DC, as I feel they have gotten my full blown migraines under control, it's just these pesky daily ones that keep popping up.

On Tuesday mornings, I have men's small group at our church. At one of the meetings, one of the guys there, Martin, started talking to me about essential oils. He had some peppermint oil with him, and rubbed a few drops onto the neck muscle that seems to be causing all the trouble.... I can't lie, the rest of that day I felt better than I have in a LONG while. I bought a bottle of the oil from him, and started rubbing it on my neck, or putting a few drops on my tongue whenever I felt a headache coming on..... 99% of the time, within minutes the peppermint would knock my headache out. AWESOME!

Last week I went in for my follow up at the pain management, and told them to take me off of the pain patch. They did, and admittingly, the first several days were rough.... I was like a crack head that needed my fix. Now the withdrawls are gone for the most part, but there's some head pain that even the peppermint isn't helping. I've been getting info off the web and from Martin, and am going to try some more essential oils and blends to get these things under control without having to go back on pain meds.... I'll keep you posted! Keep the prayers going up, they're much appreciated!

Zeiss TLR.... Light Leaks

Diana Double

Double exposure with a Diana 120 plastic camera.

Update

Hey guys and girls, just thought I'd throw a little update out there for ya regarding the headaches..... As of now, I am still having them every day, although I seem to have more time without pain, and without the severe pain that I was having in the past... so I guess we're moving in the right direction, albeit slowly. My pain management doctor here in Radford is trying stuff centered around some muscles on my neck that he thinks is causing the pain in my head. He has me on a muscle relaxer, a pain patch, and some cream that I'm supposed to rub into the muscles on my neck. I don't really notice any difference in my pain unless I miss a dose, or forget to change my patch... then I can definitely feel more pain, so I guess they are helping. The cream doesn't seem to help at all, in fact, it usually makes things worse because I am rubbing and agitating that muscle that's causing my headaches. I have a follow up appt. next week, so hopefully we can figure out something to do other than the cream. I head back to DC at the end of the month for a visit with my headache doctor.... she shouldn't change anything, as she's pretty pleased with how this doctor here is handling things. Anyways, just thought I'd fill you people in as to what's happening since it's been a while since my last update. Enjoy some photos while you're here!

Headache Update

I guess it's about time that I actually updated whoever may be interested, in how my headaches are doing. I think the last time I updated was when I went in for the Ketamine infusion in Philly. The infusion itself helped while I was there, although I was pretty much just out of it the whole time, waking up only long enough to use the bathroom. They sent me home with a ketamine nasal spray to use when I had some of my worse headaches. The headaches came back a day or so after I was discharged, and while the nasal spray works, the relief only lasts for a few hours, and I can only use the spray 2 days a week.

Sorry if I'd passed that info along already.... Recently I started seeing a new pain management doctor here in Radford. My doctor in Roanoke only wanted to try the various nerve blocks, and since those obviously weren't working, I decided it was time to move on. The new pain doc noticed some things in my files that other doctors hadn't tried to work on... mainly my sinuses, which are pretty messed up, and also my chronic fatigue. So he's got me started on a sinus spray, muscle relaxers, a sleeping aid, and also a low dose of pain medicine by way of a patch. Overall, I think I'm feeling a little bit better, although I'm still having headaches every day.... some days I have a few more hours without a headache, so that's a start. I most likely will not be going back to the headache center in Philly, as it's just a waste of time and money that I don't have to go all the way up there without seeing results. I am still seeing my main headache doctor in DC, and also my pain management doctor here in Radford. Together they are still doing all they can to get me fixed up.

Old Film

I bought some old Polaroid roll film for an old camera that my dad gave me. The film expired 30-50 years ago (the expiration date isn't very clear on the boxes). These are the only actual results I got from the roll of 8 instant pictures, the rest weren't visible at all. The actual pictures are REEEAAAALLLY faded, but when I scanned them onto my computer I was able to use a "fade enhancement" feature with my scanning software that makes them more visible and actually gives a cool result in my opinion.

Mmmm... Supper

New Blog

So I started a new blog.... you can check it out at www.fiftyonepointeight.blogspot.com This will be a photo blog where I post photos taken with my Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, and 55mm f/2.8 Nikkor Micro lens.... all shots will be with the lens aperture as wide open as they can be.... so lots of shallow depth of field photos. Occasionally I'll use extension tubes or a reverser ring with the lenses to get up close and personal with my subjects. Hope you enjoy.

Evangelizing to Cats

The Volcano... as Mia calls it.