The Permanent Implant

Sorry that it's been so long since I've posted. Figured I would finally update you all on how my surgery went. On July 19th, I went to Jefferson University Hospital in Philly to have my permanent nerve stimulator implanted. The surgery went well, although I was pretty sore for about a week afterwards. I have about 5 small scars on my head, back shoulder and chest where they ran the wires and installed the battery. Overall I'd say that the stimulator is helping, although I am still getting about 2-3 headaches a week that I'm unable to get relief for. This is definitely better than having a headache 7 days a week, but it's also a little frustrating since the trial stimulator did so well. I'm hoping that after the next follow up visit, I can get some new "programs" that will maybe help eliminate or at least control the headaches that do make it through.

Update: Philly

So this past Wednesday, I went back to the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia. It felt good to go back, since they deal specifically with headaches.

After talking to the doctors, and going over everything that's gone on since my last visit, they told me that they pretty much have two options left.

The first option is Botox injections. This option has been brought up before by many of my doctors, both here in PA and in Virginia, but because insurance didn't cover the medicine, I was unable to try the botox. I think the last time they checked, it was about $1500 a shot. Now however, the FDA has finally approved botox for chronic migraine treatment. So JHC is now in the process of seeing how much (if any) of the cost my insurance will cover. They feel that it shouldn't be a problem, since I meet all of the criteria, and other patients there with the same insurance are getting their's covered.

The next, and pretty much final option, if all else fails is what they call an occipital nerve stimulator. I think I've talked about this in the past, but they would surgically install a lead along my occipital nerve, and it would be connected by wires to a little box that would hang on my side. When I started getting a headache, I would push a button and it would send a little electric shock to my occipital nerve and stop the headache. The procedure is approved in Europe, but not covered here as of yet. They are however having great success with it in patients that have had it done. It's a very expensive procedure of course, which is why I haven't had it done, nor will be able to have it done anytime soon, unless insurances decide to start paying for it.

So anyways, that's about it.... right now I'm just waiting to hear back about how much my insurance will cover on the Botox. My next appointment, which will be when I get the injections is December 19th. Until then I'm pretty much just hanging in there, doing what I can to deal with the pain.

Going back to Philly

For those that still check in on here for updates, I thought I'd fill ya in. As you may or may not remember, I stopped going to the Jefferson Headache Center sometime last year. Lack of finances to make the trip from VA to Philly, and also changes in insurance kept me from keeping up with my doctors there. I tried several other doctors in VA, from pain management to neurologists with not much luck at all.

Now since we're living in PA, and Stephanie has much better insurance through Hershey Medical Center, I'm going to be able to go back to JHC in Philadelphia. The doctor I was seeing is no longer there, but they were able to get me in to see another doctor this coming Wednesday, Oct. 19th. I was worried that I'd have to start all over from the beginning since it had been a while since I'd been there, but they said it wouldn't be a problem. I'm hoping now that Botox has been FDA approved for headache treatment, and they probably have some newer techniques as well, that we can finally get these things under control.

It's frustrating to not be able to plan things, cancel plans you've already made, miss small groups, and miss out on my family because of being in pain. I never know when or how long the headache is gonna hit. So tough.... here's to praying for relief!

Back To Philly

Sorry for the lack of posting lately.... we moved back to Radford and so I haven't had my computer up and running or an internet connection for a while. Tomorrow I head back to PA to spend the night at my in-laws, and then off to catch the train to Philly for another admission to the hospital on Wednesday. This time they're keeping me in the main hospital and doing a ketamine infusion instead of the lidocaine infusion that they've done on the last two admissions. This will be a totally different experience, and hopefully the outcome will be better than the last two where I only had 2 days of relief from my headaches. Ketamine is a pretty serious, scary drug.... I won't get into what all it is, you can look that up online if you wish, but it's an anesthethic that's used for humans and animals.... so yeah, I'm gonna be out of it I'd say... no posts from the hospital bed.... talk to y'all when I get back.

The Hospital Stay

First I'd like to thank all of you for praying for/over us the past few days. I didn't get to update on here before we left, so let me explain for those who have no idea what I'm talking about.

Let's start with last week, when I did a 5 day regimen of Toradol and Reglan which were supposed to break up my daily headaches..... they didn't. On Tuesday, I called my doctor at Hershey to see what the next plan is. Wednesday, I receive a call back saying that she wants to go ahead and have me admitted to the hospital...... "Ok" I reply "So is that gonna be at Carilion New River?" "What?" she asks. "Ummm... where is this happening?" To which she replies, as if it was a stupid question to begin with "Uh, here." Here meaning Hershey, PA. "Admissions will be calling you."

Well, about 5pm, I get the call from admissions.... "We have a room for you." "Ok, well I can't make it till tomorrow, I live in VA." "Can I put you on hold for just a minute." She comes back, "Ok sir, we'll have to call you back when we get a room available for tomorrow. We can't hold rooms overnight." "Well, I guess I can try to make it tonight...." knowing that we still have to pack stuff, and it takes 4.5-5 hours to get to Steph's hometown and another 45 mins from there to Hershey.... and.... AND... it's pouring rain. "Ok sir, as long as you're here by midnight."

Long story short, mad dash to pack 2 adults, a 1 year old and a dog, fill the van with gas, head out from Radford, VA at 6pm in the pouring rain.... the whole way..... witness tractor trailer wreckage still smoldering in pouring rain... prayers....switch vehicles at Newville, PA.... make it to Hershey Medical Center at..... 11:30pm! I made it... more prayers!

I finally get hooked up to the IV around 3am Thurs. morning..... start on the meds.... still had headaches although not as bad as normal. Saturday, the doc comes in to see if I'm ready to go home.... asks me how my head is.... "Pain is about a 4 out of 10." His reply, "Hmmm... that may be the best we can do for you." Which, for me is not what I want to hear..... but is better than what I've been living with.... which is usually 7 and upwards out of 10, every day.

Woke up this morning.... another 7/8 out of 10 headache.....

So lets recap.... Mad dash to PA in pouring rain, hooked up to IV meds, only helped a little while I was on them..... current medicine doubled, try it for 2-3 weeks, call if not better, we'll try another drug. Is there a point in all of this when I just completely give up on modern medicine? Maybe I have my hopes set to high..... but I'm not asking for no headaches, I can deal with a headache every now and then.... I just want enough relief where I can get back to work and provide for my family again....

to be continued.......

Hopping On....

So, some of my friends have started their blogs, and I thought to myself "Maybe I should start a blog as well....". I mean, I've had one in the past.... but kinda let it fade away. But now, since we're no longer near our friends really, I figured I'd start one up and maybe it'd be an easy way for people to keep up with what's going on in our lives. It'll also be a way for me to vent perhaps, maybe even show off some of my creativity (by that I mean photography mostly, I got nothing else)..... and maybe even help with the headaches, who knows. Which leads to.....

So what's with the title you may ask? Well as many of you already know, for the past year or so I've been suffering from daily headaches. I've been diagnosed with migraines, and had been on medication for a while to a) prevent them from happening at all, and 2) stop them once I get them.... with no luck however. As the year's gone on, they've gotten progressively worse, to where I'm now missing a couple days of work a week. So what has that meant for the Sigmon family? Well, for starters, since mine is the only income coming in at the moment, money has gotten a little tight.... we've put our house up for sale in Radford and are currently living in my parents downstairs. Not the ideal situation, but we're making it work.

Now more about the headaches.... Here's what's happened since '08 came roaring in.
I went to see a neurologist at UVA who specializes in headaches. His thoughts, " I see a case like your's at least once a day.... You're suffering from rebound headaches (not migraines all the time, although maybe once a month or so) from taking too much Excedrin." Well he goes on to say that if we can get rid of the rebound headaches, then I'd be down to maybe one actual migraine a month instead of daily headaches.... hey, I can live with that! So off of the Excedrin I went.... along with all other over the counter pain pills, and also caffeine totally... sonofa..... So then, I was on no meds for the headaches, aside from prescription strength Aleve( which evidently doesn't cause rebounds?) and one to help prevent the actual migraines... What happens then?? Well the headaches get worse, presumably from withdrawl of caffeine..... but 2 months later, still nothing... no relief. Every day I either wake with one, or it comes on during the morning, and gets worse as the day goes on... by nighttime, usually unbearable. So I go back to UVA. Well, it seems that the Doc didn't realize that my daily headaches were as painful as they were.... so maybe they are migraines after all... so he ups one of my meds and then gives me one to take when I get a "bad" headache. And he tells me to still stay off the caffeine and OTC pain meds, and that sometimes rebounds take up to 6 months to go away..... so I go back in September....

Nowadays, I'm still having the daily headaches like before.... but I'm at least on a 1st shift job, so usually i can get my work day over with before they get too bad... although I'm still missing a lot of work. And let's not even get started on the 3 months without caffeine.... Holy Crap I just want a cup of coffee or a chai tea latte! haha

Sorry for this long first post, but I just wanted to get you all up to date.... the days to come will be filled with updates on not only me, but on Stephanie and our little Mia as well... although she's quickly becoming our big Mia!