Author: Melissa

September 22, 2017

6:50a- woke with headache.  Cramp in right calf.  Rt hip hurts.  General aching all over.

7:00a- talked with friend about helping a young boy who got struck by lightning recently.

7:15a- In my research of trying to heal, I came across a website to help with brain injury recover.

5 Games to Help with Brain Injury Recovery

Games for Brain Injury Recovery

1. Sudoku

2. Card Games

3. Lumosity (memory, attention, speed of processing, problem solving, and flexibility)

4. Therapy (reading, writing, comprehension, and naming)

5. Tetris

For more apps, tools, and aids for TBI, check out Brain Injury Peer Visitor info on this website.

12:30p- put hamburger on stove to cook for lunch.  Got asked a question.  Went to the room to get something to answer it…got side tracked and forgot meat was on stove.  Smoked the kitchen up!!! 

1:00p- got stressed out trying to cook lunch and get ready for ladies conference and started falling apart…bout to have a meltdown.  Joe came to my rescue!!!

2:49p- I have a bad headache.  Rt hip and leg hurts.  Fleeting sharp pain down rt arm.  I yelled ouch!  Dezirae was a doll trying to help me get ready.

4:11p- I am extra jumpy in car.  Ugh!  It’s making my body tense up.

6:24p- Met another pastor’s wife that has been struck by lightning – Robin Ogle!  She was special speaker for DSLC2017.  Theme this year is “Keep Calm. He’s the Master of the Sea.”

She was telling me some of my symptoms.  (I was surprised that someone else knew exactly how I was feeling physically and emotionally – it was refreshing though I don’t wish on my worst enemy). She told me that I’m in the middle of a miracle.  I told her we were “One in a million”.  She said it took her about a year to recover.

10:12p – head throbbing – if I could just open it up and let the pressure out it might feel better.  Rt hip screaming hurt.  Sharp pain down right leg to ankle.  Overly exhausted.  Lower back screaming throbbing pain.

September 16, 2017

6:16am – Body aches all over.  Muscles in arms cramping.  Right hip throbbing.  Fingertips ache.  Sinuses hurt.  Face swollen slightly.  Snot green & blood tinged.  Yuck!

*I’m tired of having to write my symptoms down because it feels like I’m complaining.  I want to get better and move on with life.  Feels like I’m stuck in repeat.  Need to find a way to overcome.

7:00am – Sharp pain just above right eye.  Getting a headache.  Leg muscles cramping.

9:10am – Body aching all over.  Feeling dizzier than normal.  Hard to walk.  Tailbone throbbing.  Using heating pad.  I’m exhausted.  Need a nap.  Chest muscles starting to feel like their burning

3:55pm – Frustrated right now…can’t even complete a dinner meal without wearing out before getting wore out and hurting.  If I bend over for any reason, my lower back hurts like the dickens.  I used to think I had a high tolerance to pain, but lately I feel like it’s kicking my butt.

September 17, 2017

9:35am – Woke with a headache right side.  Right hip aches.  Right leg and right foot throbbing.  Body aches minorly.  Hands ache and are swollen.  Struggling with memory.  Couldn’t remember where I put my cane.

Wrote a TO DO list and forgot where I put it!  Realized once at church I was suppose to get Faith Promise Cards.  Ugh!!

Quite a chore (more than normal) to play piano for church today – trouble keeping track where I was, hands throbbing, and head hurts.

2:23pm – Back pain increases taking pain Rx.  Slow to speak and trip over words when I do.  Slightly dizzier today.  Had trouble swallowing pill…feels like throat is swollen.  I’m tired.  Taking a nap.

5:38pm-  Thankful that my Heavenly Father careth enough about His creation to shew little ole me the wonder of His grace on a daily basis.

September 18, 2017

10:24am – Woke with lower back and tailbone throbbing.  Spot on head hurts.  Washed load of clothes – entire back is throbbing now.  Right hip hurting and pain shooting down right leg.  Starting to get headache.

10:41am – Weird occurrence…

I just tried to turn on lights in bedroom.  Fan came on, but all the lights flickered and sparked. I did this twice.  I called kids into room and asked them to turn lights on.  Dezirae flicked light switch on, but only fan came on.  Jordon had to pull string for lights to come on.

4:21pm – My brain hurts.  All back muscles hurt and tingling.  Wrists aches.  I’m tired and need to rest.

8:25pm – I’ve overdone it again – my whole body is throbbing.

September 13, 2017

8:03pm – Headache.  Whole body aches. Tired.

1:59pm – Headache.  Struggling with focus.  Trouble remembering things.  I am physically and mentally drained & exhausted!  Heart beating hard.  Whole body aches.

11:29pm – Still have headache.  Tired.  Took 2 naps today.  Teaching wore me out.  Muscles ache.  Periodic muscle twitching in legs.  Hard to focus.  Tripped over words in classes a few times today.

Joe got a job today.  He starts tomorrow. 

Jakob got assurance.  Missing home.  He’s going to be okay.  Just need pray hard from him to get a job.

September 14, 2017

I have a new appreciation for Lamentations 3:22-23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed,…”

7:14am – Massive headache mainly on left side of head.  Lights hurt my eyes.  Lower back hurts.

I saw spots last night before falling asleep, but I didn’t think about it until now. Ugh!

(7:12) Headon – not working

(7:30) Saline nasel spray – no change

(7:45) Naproxen 500mg – eased slightly

(7:45) Peppermint oil – eased slightly

8:08am – Starting to get icy sensation from inside out in center of chest. (Lasted one hour)

Headache easing slightly.  Sharp pain in back between shoulders.  Neck hurts.  Hypersensitivity to things touching me.  Right hip hurts.  Ugh!

(8:15) Ice pack – hurts, feels too heavy

(9:43) Drank Cinnamon Coconut Latte – eased a little more

(10:46) Headache has down graded to tension headache – able to start thinking a little better

(4:00) Still have headache.  Applied pain relief Blend essential oils to back of neck

(4:00) Headache is gone. YEAH!

7:56p – I love, love, love how the Lord provides little blessings in the midst of our trials!

9:47p – Heart beating hard and fast.

September 15, 2017

Woke up with “His Grace Is Sufficient for Me” song on my mind.

8:36am – Woke up at 4am with all my body parts hurting except my head.  Skin hypersensitive – sheet sifted and it felt like bugs crawling on me.   Extra sensitive to loud noises.  Slightly bloody nose.

12:20pm – Asked Mom to take me to P.O. to mail pkg.   Had Dezirae take it in because it was raining.  Can’t walk fast and still walking with cane for balance. 

Went to the produce market to get veggies.  Using buggy to walk with and still have to take breaks of rest. 

Went to bank to deposit a check.  Forgot I couldn’t deposit check not written to me. Ugh!

Had to sit in car rest of errands because first few errands wipe me out and my right hip and legs were throbbing.

10:16pm – Body aches.  Right hip is throbbing like a toothache.  Out of breath, but I haven’t done much.  Muscles are cramping in calf area.  Noticed a sore on my head (left side) today not sure how it got there.  Applying Frankinsence oil to keep it from getting infected. Can’t remember if I took my vitamins today.  Tired, but can’t sleep.

September 10, 2017

7:38am – Woke up with Charlie horse of a cramp in my right leg (thigh, calf, & foot).  Toes are tingly and feel funny.  Slight headache. 

Can’t talk right this morning either.  Family getting a kick out of my speech problem. (i.e. Cinnamon up in the cinnamon thingy instead of spice cabinet).

Burning sensation in front of right calf.  Noticed that I have to use the bathroom more than I used to.

Struggle with remembering things.  Ugh!  So frustrating!!!

6:22pm – Muscle cramp in thigh and calf.  Muscles tense…hurts to stretch.  Sudden sharp pain in right leg…made me jump.  Random hiccups throughout day.  Loud noises make me jumpy.  Hands and feet are swollen.  Noticing small bruises I didn’t know I had.

8:30pm- Had to stop for milk on way home from church.  Got shocked 4 different times while in grocery store. 

Jordon patted me on back and shocked me pretty good. I touched shelf and got shocked.  Dezirae touched me two different times and shocked me both times.  Not fun!

September 11, 2017

11:04am – Helped clean living room (put movies away & dusted some).  Now every inch of me hurts.  Applying heating pad to lower back.  End of fingers tingly.  Movie drawer fell on right leg.  Ouch!!! I have instant bruise & lump on leg.

11:11pm – Had missionary family McLean’s over for dinner.  Eventful night.  Several kids got stung while exploring in wood.  Baking soda paste, Melaleuca & Lavender essential oils to the rescue!

Glad to be a blessing to someone else.  It encouraging me. 

I’m exhausted and in so much pain!!  Right hip throbbing and pain shooting down right leg.  I’m foggy brained.  Joe says right lower back is swollen and hot to the touch.

September 12, 2017

9:13am – Hurt so bad I had a hard time getting any sleep even took pain pill & muscle relaxer.

Woke up to feeling like my heart was racing & tired from being in a race.  Whole body aches.  Eyes watering.  Stuffy nose.  I’m tired and slow moving.

5:47pm – Having tough day staying focused on tasks.  Need to prepare for my classes tomorrow. 

It’s difficult to stay positive when things around me seem to be falling apart.

11:08pm – My right hip is really hurting (scale 9)!  Muscles is mid & upper back are twitching.  Neck on right side is aching.  Slight headache all day.  Extra sensivity to loud noises.  Extremely exhausted, but can’t sleep.  It’s warm in house, but I’m cold have to put socks on.

September 7, 2017

8:47am – Woke at 6am with extreme pain and cramping in right thigh.  Lower leg spasms.  Lower back throbbing.  Can’t get back to sleep.  Read Bible on phone.  Got up cooked breakfast (eggs & toast).

Brain feels foggy.  Feels like I’ve forgotten something, but I can’t remember what it was.  Broke down crying.

2:20pm- Had trouble painting mine & Dezirae’s nails…hands are shaky.  

Have trouble staying focused on one task.  Constantly finding things left out I thought I out away.  Still having trouble getting thought across, tripping over words – so frustrating!

4:19pm- I was scheduled for a follow up mammogram  today, but had to reschedule.  I attempted to go…signed in and all.  Sat in waiting room for at least 30 minutes.  I never had to wait that long before.  The longer I wait the more anxiety sets in.  I’m trying to be brave but it isn’t happening today.  I fell apart in the waiting room.  I couldn’t handle it today – broke down crying.  I’m an emotional basket case today.  I went to the desk while sobbing and told the lady that I had to reschedule.  I explained why.  They apologized for the long wait and was going to try to rush me through.  I told them I couldn’t handle it today.  They seemed to understand.  Never had this before.

6:52pm – Sporadic hiccups (1-3 at a time) throughout the day

September 8, 2017

6:50am – Woke up with headache.  Muscles are all tight especially on right side.  Right hip throbbing.  Cramping in right side.  Left fingertips are tingly.  Stuffy nose.

Had nightmare that I lost my luggage and my Bible on a trip to Disney and couldn’t get it back.  Stuck in a handicap lane and they wouldn’t let me out to go get my Bible.  Song on my mind was “It Will Be Worth It All.”

10:47am- Hung load of clothes on line to dry.  Muscles in lower back and right hip area now spazzing.  Ugh!

11:30am- Center of chest is now icy cold.  I guess I’ve overdone it again.  Feet are cold too.

Right hip is feeling icy cold too.  Icy sensation traveling through center of back.

11:48am – Praising the Lord that though I am in the midst of a difficult trial I know without a shadow of a doubt that I’m on my way to Heaven one day. “It Will Be Worth It All When We See Jesus!”

5:43pm – About had another breakdown…Talking to Jakob on my husband’s ear piece.  We went through dead zone and lost connection.  Jakob called back.  I didn’t know the headset vibrated on calls.  It scared the dickens out of me!!!  I Hollard, “Ahh!!! These things are vibrating!!! I thought I was being electrocuted again!  Get them off of me!!!”

Joe and Jordon laughed! Now my back muscles are spazzing.  Ugh!  Muscles twitching in right arm.

*Looking back I probably was a sight for sore eyes trying to get those things off of me while screaming. 🙂

11:45pm – extreme pain in lower back.

September 9, 2017

7:46am – Woke up to alarm at 6am.  Lower back aches.  Slight headache.  Tripping over words and saying them backwards  (i.e. cylenol with toedine instead of Tylenol with codeine).  Feel like I’m in a fog.

11;13am – Tailbone area and right hip throbbing.  Muscles in thighs are twitching.  I’m in so much pain I just want to lash out irrationally!!!  Every muscle is also twitching.

3:48pm – Extra pain causes irritability.  Hearing chips chewed like nails scratching chalk board!!!

10:23pm – Intense cramping in right thigh down to bottom of my leg.  I can’t get comfortable or get it to go away.  Don’t know what to do.

September 4, 2017

I definitely know I can’t control our current circumstances (my being struck by lightning and learning to deal with it’s painful after effects, Joe losing his job, etc). All I can do is pray and follow the Lord through the wilderness and HE WILL carry us through.

12:25pm – Went to the beach today to dip in ocean for scalp healing.  Sat on edge of ocean for most of time.  Sun felt good on my body.  I love coming to the beach!

Eventually went waist deep with Joe’s help & dunked under once.  Had to hold onto Joe the whole time.  My balance is off and I’m afraid of falling. Ocean had a calming effect on my equilibrium.  I can’t even explain it! 

We’ll see how I feel later today.  Walking on sand felt like a work out.

10:00pm- We had an enjoyable day though I’m in pain. Gonna try to fall asleep and see if I can get some relief.  In Jesus’ name, we press on.

1 Corinthians 15:55-58
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

September 5, 2017

8:05am- Woke up sore all over.  Surprisingly my right hip doesn’t hurt as much.  Right neck still stiff, but doesn’t hurt as bad either.  Feel like I’m inside a tunnel.

2:39pm – Starting to hurt bad all over (8).  Probably should take pain pill now so I’m not crying later.  Able to wash 3 loads of clothes.  Make bread using bread maker.  I love homemade bread!  Wash a few dishes.  Plannin for ASL classes tomorrow.  Trouble staying focused on one thing.  Easily distracted and confused.  Frustrating that I misplace things easily.  Balance seems a little better today.

10:59pm – Took pain pill for bed.  Muscles throbbing all over.

September 6, 2017

7:36am- Woke up at 3:30am.  Heard thunder outside.  Used restroom and couldn’t go back to sleep.  Right hip hurts.  Legs ache.  Lower back hurts.

3:13pm – My right hip is throbbing!!  I’m exhausted too.  Muscles periodically are randomly spazzing. Head hurts slightly.  Right leg feels heavy.  Tripped over words in classes a few times.  Forgot how to explain some things, but did fairly well today.  Going to take nap.