Author: Melissa

Sept 21

11:51p- almost forgot to write today.

At church from 9am-3pm. Did follow ups today with Joe & daughter. First stop, man given gospel but didn’t want to pray. Second stop, man remembers me. Glad to see us. Joe talked with him little bit. Going to mom’s church. Encouraged him to get baptized. 

Back at church, rested up little then started working on changing out decor for fall. Got side tracked then back to fall decor. Joe studied for sermons tomorrow. 

Then delivered goodie bags to fire fighters and police officers. Then home. Once home, felt wore out and decided to take nap before working on bulletin. Nap only lasted about 20 minutes. Startled by a noise. Couldn’t get back to sleep. Finished bulletin. Started turkey rollups for dinner snack…not really hungry. 

Rt wrist and hand throbbing. Rt elbow aches. Rt side hurts. Back of knees hurt. Lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness. Exhausted.  Neck hurts. Sharp pain in sides. Feet cold periodically. Tingling in both lower legs. Sinuses congested. Random sharp stabbing pain thru body. Thirsty (didn’t drink enough today). Random muscle spams thru body. 

Sept 22

7:00a- woke from nightmare. Whole body aches. Rt hip throbbing. Muscles pulsating in upper back. Hands swollen and throbbing. Eyes hurt. Tired. 

♫It’s a good thing to give thanks to the Lord and sing praises to His name in the morning He will show His love…♫ wish I could remember the rest. Maybe I’ll just have to write it myself.

9:55a- feeling extra wobbly & dizzy today. Almost fell just walking in auditorium at church. 

10:30- rt hip throbbing. Headache.

11:00a- Do you know how difficult it is to play piano for services when your head hurts and your brain feels like its bouncing on a stormy sea? I really flubbed up on music playing but I did my best. Ears ringing.  Had to sit in pew to support back. Piano bench is extra hard today. Rt hip really hurts.

While playing offertory hymn I was trying to tell Joe that the people not standing. He was busy trying to write me a note to ask if I could play a certain song for the special. When he got up to pray he asked if I read the note. Told him I didnt know he wrote me a note. Read note. At least I know how to play song – Victory in Jesus.

11:49a- rt side of head at my 2 feels like large spike has been driven through. Feet getting cold.

1:00p- feel like I’m going to crash. Need to lay down. Asked Jakob if he would go to dollar store to get me anbesol. Rt jaw throbbing immensely. He graciously got me two kinds. Relief feels good.

1:30p- loud noise stsrtled me just as I was about to dose off. Setting alarm for 3. Have things to do but really need to rest. 

3:45- oops I guess I shut alarm off unknowingly. Needed to rest. Time to make cookies with kids.

6:30- told Joe that dizziness and playing piano don’t mix. He checked my eyes. My vertigo is kicking in. He said eyes are very jumpy. He told me to stop playing. I forgot and did best to play next hymn but quit at last chorus. Played intro to next hymn then stopped. Joe asked church to pray for me bc vertigo kicked in. 

https://www.webmd.com/brain/home-remedies-vertigo

8:30p- had trouble walking down hall. Joe helped me to chair in livingroom. Joe sweet to cook dinner too. 

Needing to wear sunglasses inside. Lights hurting eyes. Lower back & rt hip throbbing like toothache. Headache. 

9:20- going to bed

Sept 23

5:30a- Joe have bad headache causing vomiting. Tried to help but he needs to sleep.

6:30a- take Jordon to work

7:30a- decided I was going to try to do little clean up in kitchen.

Made bisquick mix, coffee cake muffins (name doesn’t match there’s no coffee in them. Things that make you go hmm?), wash some of dishes.

1:54p- exhausted. Need to crash few minutes. Have to leave to take Dezirae to volleyball. It’s away. Not going today couldn’t handle it today anyhow.

2:15p- Woke in time to take Dezirae to vball. 

4:30p- praise Jordon’s co-worker dropped him off at home.

Trouble with ears ringing. At times, it’s like my wjole ear get clogged and I can’t hear out of it. Been jumping back and forth from rt to lft randomly most of day. 

8:00p- cooking dinner late. Asked boys to do dishes. 

9:25p- muscle spams in my lft lip. Ugh!

10:30p- feet freezing & tingly. Headache worsening. Ears have been ringing off and on most of day. Several times left ear seems clogged while it’s ringing. Neck hurts both side. Upper shoylders ache. Back aches. Hands swollen and achy. Random muscle spams thru body. Tired. Dizzy still. Loud noises & bright lights bothersome. Hands feel extra dry & itchy. Rt hip aches. Eyes watery.

Sept 18

8:00a- got to talk to my sister for a while today. Almost lost track of time. 

10:00p- I’m exhausted and wore out from today. Co-op, store, home to rest a while (actually took nap), then back to store to grab few things I forgot earlier. Took another nap after dinner.

I’m hurting all over. Hands swollen and achy. Shoulders and back throbbing. Lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness. Lower back throbbing. Muscles randomly spasming in legs. Feet burning tingling pain. Stomach hurts. Chest center aches. Eyes watery. 

Currently resting between exercises. Not sure I’ll be able to finish…starting to fall asleep writing it. Skin itchy. Headache. Forearms ache.

10:35p- icy burning sensation in chest center, burning tingling sensation in upper back, legs, and feet. Head is pounding. Took pain rx shortly ago. Hope it kicks in soon. May have to take muscle relaxer. Don’t like taking them bc they give me nightmares. 

11:45p- Took migraine rx to get rid of headache. Headache finally easing. Taking med for sleep.

Sept 19

12:30a- almost asleep and one of kids phobes scared me

5:30a- broken sleep most of night. Woke at 3:30a. Neck hurts. Lower left leg pins and needles with tingling 

11:57a- I’m so exhausted and sleepy. No energy. Need nap. Whole body aches. Rt ear ringing. Headache.

12:00a- This weather really messing me up. Could feel it coming though I knew it not. Lethargic and hurting more than new normal. It’s storming.

4:00p- promised Dezirae to go Walmart to check if they would do online price match online pricing for bookbag she wanted. They did!! PtL! Saved $11 Whoop! Whoop! 

Started storming while inside store. Not going out now. It’s thundering & lightning!!!! Trying to stay calm. 

Door greeter asked me to please not go out while it’s lightning. Told her not to worry. I won’t bc I was struck by lightning two years ago. She gasped. Asked what happened. She replies I’m so glad you’re okay. I told her I’m alive. It’s left me with lasting side effects. She asked what. Told her nerve damage, brain injury, chronic pain among others but I’m doing my best to work thru it. She tapped me on arm and said, “Bless your heart.”

7:33p- need to remember to bring socks to church. Feet freezing. Jakob went and got my blanket for me. If I allow my feet to stay cold long I get headaches. 

9:00p- cold, feet cold. Put socks on.

Hands swollen and achy. Headache. Rt ear hurts. Nose itches. Rt ear itches. 

11:59p- starting to get sleepy. Nech hurts. Tired.  

Sept 20

7:00a- hit snooze. Feels like I just fell asleep. 

7:15a- gotta het up. Need to take Jordon to work. 

8:00a- crazy how certain sounds upset me now. Could hear leaf fluttering under the hood. Think I might need ear muffs.

9:00a- decided to make breakfast. Dezirae showed me how to make bird’s in a nest. Pretty neat. Tasted good.

10:30- realized I needed to input grades before I get too far behind. Took me while to figure out what’s what. Gave myself headache. Ugh!

1:13p- I’ve a headache. Center of chest hurting. Neck hurts. 

2:17p- chest is really hurting causing lft eye to tear up. Took rx. 

I’m beginning to think something else going on because it’s never taken me this long to get over the Costocondritis before. It’s frustrating being limited in physical activity. Makes me feel lazy but when I give in to the guilt I end up hurting myself worse. Ugh!

2:30p- went to Buccees to get deer corn and lunch. Too crowded and too many noises. Had to find a slower corner to calm the spirit.

Hunger started to kick in so headed towards food section. Head is swimming. Too many senses swirling around in head (noises, colors, sounds, scents, etc.). Saw a lady trip over her own feet and thought I was falling reached out to grab Joe’s arm. He looked at me funny and then I realized it wasn’t me. 

3:30p- entire upper chest stinging!!! I do not like stinging pain. Sam I am.

4:00p- why do people have to play their bass so loud? It hurts my whole body!!!!

4:15p- bloody nose unexpected. No notice. Wish I could figure out the cause. 

6:12p- stinging finally stopped but it feels like a thumb hit by a hammer. 

8:37p- chest still throbbing. Feet freezing.

11:24p- so tired of hurting. Took pain rx & muscle relaxer. 

Sept 16

7:00a- fell asleep sometime after midnight. Woke before alarm. Feel like I could sleep longer. Whole body hurts. Sinus congestion. Eyes watering. Both hands and arms numb and tingly upon waking. Hands swollen and achy. Toes & feet achy. Legs ache. Low back throbbing. Rt hip aching. 

11:20a- bp 96/68 hr 64. PT said she was okay with Bp but if it gets any lower she’d be concerned.

Three contributing factors to balance: vestibular, central (muscles and joints), sensory receptors (eyes). [Had to google when I got home because the only words I could remember her saying was vestibular and thre contributing factors].

Suggested neuro psychologist for the cognitive issues. (I know I need help in this area but one I don’t have funds right now and two I’m quite leary about trusting my cognitive issues to a secular psychologist. I know it would help with the cognitive reasoning as well as the anxiety. I’m going to pray that God will provide.)

PT did some testing to check progress. Overall I am improving even though it’s not where we wanted me to be but I am improving. PtL!

I asked her what the students thought of their testing & assessing me. She said that they all have said that was their favorite sessions because it was such an eye opener and helped them on so many levels especially with a lightning survivor.

She also asked me if it was okay to have a second therapist join our session next time to see what she thinks; and kind of get a second opinion on therapy and progress. 

God is so good!

https://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorder/human-balance-system

https://www.livestrong.com/article/49331-factors-body-equilibrium-balance/

12:00p- muscles in back and arms pins and needles sensation.

5:00p- Dezirae graciously offered to cook dinner. Feet freezing. Put socks on. Starting to get headache.

6:00p- headache eased once feet warmed up. Took socks off.

8:00p- feet starting to get cold. Headache getting stronger. Stomach hurting.

11:13p- trouble falling asleep. Rt hip throbbing. Low back throbbing. Hands swollen, achy, and tingly. Feet cold though have socks on. Still have headache. Rear end throbbing. Upper back aches. Legs ache. Muscles randomly twitching thru body. Lower lft leg tingly and achy. Center of chest hurting. Eyes itchy and watering.  

11:30p- sharp pain in chest. Good it feels NOT! 

Sept 17

4:15a- fell asleep from exhaustion sometime after midnight. Woke suddenly shortly after 4am. When I looked at clock it was 4:20ish. Rt hip screaming. Pins and needles crawling up and down body. Muscle spams mid lft side. Read my Bible on my phone. Prayed for people that came to mind. Fell asleep praying.

7:00a- think I finally fell back to sleep sometime after 5:45 only to have nightmare about being stung by giant bees. The bites swole up like giant warts. The only thing that would kill them was some liquid in a 2 gallon pump sprayer. Later found out the liquid was windex. Ugh!

Oddly enough I woke with following song on my mind…

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter His courts with praise I will say this is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

He has made me glad, He has made me glad. I will rejoice for he has made me glad. He has made me glad, He has made me glad I will rejoice for he has made me glad. 

Think it’s based off Psalm 100:4

Rt hip still throbbing but not like it was at 4am. Whole body hurt when I woke at 7am. Took a while to get moving. 

8:00a- PT says I need to try to get back more flat when doing some of the exercises she’s assigned. Decided to try the “legs up the wall” pose while doing them to see if it helps. I’ll try to remember to keep ya posted.

I’ve actually been doing it periodically but it’s been hit and miss. https://www.doyouyoga.com/6-benefits-of-legs-up-the-wall-pose-48440/

10:30a- TBI mtg. It amazes me how much people light up when they see Dezirae and myself. Mrs Teresa even took time to sit with us to chat a while.

2:15p- finally home. Need a nap before volleyball game tonight. I’m exhausted. Can feel myself crashing. Rt hip really hurting. Not sure what I did to aggravate it.

3:30p- dumb gps is taking me on interstate. I really dislike interstate!! It is 15 minutes shorter than I remember of route we took in past. I can’t remember route but I know it wasn’t interstate. 

6:00p- Dezirae’s team won match. 3-0. On way home, I yawned and my jaw and neck cramped bad. Had trouble shutting mouth. Extreme pain in jaw and rt ear. Took quite a while for it to subside.

9:12p- I’m so exhausted! Jordon suggested I take the pill that helps me sleep so I can get some much needed rest. He thought it was Tylenol.

Rt hip really hurting. Low back aches. Feet cold. Put socks on. Lower lft leg numbish feeling and is icy cold. Neck aches. Headache. Hiccups. Sinus congestion some. Upper shoulders ache.

9:39p- lower lft leg now prickly, burning pins and needles sensation

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation

Sept 14

6:50- woke to both hands and arms being numb and tingly. Had nightmare. Toes cold. Lft lower leg tingly. Low back throbbing. Stomach hurts. Stuffy nose. Hurt all over.

12:00- ladies and I put together gift bags this morning for the first responders. I’m exhausted and feel like fading fast. Nerves spit firing. Low back aches. Hands ache. Muscles randomly twitching thru body.

1:00p- nervous about making the gumbo. Asked Sis Talina to help. Kids helped vacuum, mop, sweep, clean doors, wipe walls, sign cards, finish up gift bags & close them, clean nursery, etc. 

4:00- trying to fix a window Bro Jerry noticed my hands were shaking. Thought I was hiding it but guess not. Told him it was from my nerves.

5:30p- stop at store on way home to pick flowers for tomorrow. 

6:30p- made it home, put pizza in oven and crashed on chair in living room. I’m exhausted and hurting. 

7:00p- finished up bulletins. Asked family to help fold them and put revival fliers in them. 

10:00p- I’m beyond exhausted and really hurting all over. Chest aches. Hands swollen and achy. Lower left leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness. Lft toes tingly. Back and shoulders stinging. Surprisingly I only had a slight headache today. Shooting sharp pain in rt hand to elbow. Been having trouble taking backwards and messing up what I’m trying to say. Rt shpulder throbbing. Rt hip throbbing.

Sept 15

4am- startled awake to sound of door shutting but couldn’t determine from which it came. 

6am- took long time to fall back asleep. Had nightmare. Apparently kneed my husband in back sometime in night. I’m tired. Whole body aches. Muscles randomly twitching thru body. 

7:15a- Dezirae lets me know three gift bags are missing thank you cards. Ugh! Now have to open all of them to find which three and put thank cards in them. Wish she told me yday.

9:30a- wrote tithe check. Thought I put it on my purse but its not there. Ugh! Brain is swimming today. One of twins brought me a carmel apple today! Awh!  Brain feels like it’s swimming. Feeling xtra dizzy. Lord, please don’t let me fall. Eyes blinking excessively. Trying to stop but they wont. Bothersome.

11:30p- my friend and her daughter finally came. Yay! Found check…I inadvertently put it in my Bible. Lol. 

3:00p- had good turn out today. Mayor of Bayou, Chief of Port Police, Police officer of Bayou, Fire Fighters, and Military were there. One saved today too. PtL!

4:40p- twas putting food away quite slowing. I’m exhausted and fading. Son tells me he will get it bc I need to go lay down and rest. No argument here.

5:40p- awaken by phone call. I’m so tired think I’ll lay down just a bit longer.

8:30p- Joe came to check to see if I was okay. Got up for little while. Still wore out. Put food in cooler away.

10:00p- think it’s time for bed. School in am. Pt tomorrow.

Sinus congestion. Whole body hurts. Headache. Ears ringing off and on. Hands swollen and achy. Rt hip throbbing. Neck hurts. Feet cold…put on socks. Low back throbbing. Chin itches. Starting to feel chilly.

Sept 12

8:20a alarm went off at 7am. Hit snooze so I thought and fell back to sleep. So tired. Nightmares. Hence reason I don’t take muscle relaxer very often. Quoting scripture in head to combat them. 

Chest & back throbbing. Turned from stomach to back and neck and chest popped loudly. Ouch! Hands swollen and achy. Feet have warmed up but still slight cool. Low back throbbing. Tingling in lft foot and ankle.

9:40a- sharp stabbing pain in center of chest again. I don’t need this right now!!! Frustrating. Had daughter step on back. Popped little. Son lifted me up. Popped little more. Muscles randomly twitching in legs.

11:32a- think I stopped a migraine before it started. last night my feet were icy cold when I had a headache. I ate a bunch of pretzels before going to bed. started getting another headache this morning. ate a handful of pretzels. my headache went away

9:30p- I’m cranky, exhausted, extremely hurting. Laying down icing chest. Hands numb.

Sept 13

6:45a- woke up thinking I overslept. Hands swollen, achy, and tingly numbish. Center of chest starting to get sharp stabbing pain. Stomach hurts.

7:26a- Joe graciously is taking Jordon to work for me. 

Ears both ringing. Stuffy nose. Feet hurt. Rt hip aching. Low back aches. Hands ache & tingly. Eyes watery. Center of chest aches.

I guess I have spunk. Was told that yday. Trying to figure out if that’s good or bad in my case. I guess good.

Dictionary says spirit, courage, determination. Example sentence is “had the spunk to overcome a 

severe physical disability.” Anyone notice the sentence is laking a subject?

I think that describes me. Cool. I may not look disabled, but I sure do feel it some days while most others I feel excessively challenged. I’ve always having to rethink how I can accomplish things without extra effort because some physical effort causes great pain especially if it involves me arms.

7:40a- hands ice cold (that’s new?), lower legs throbbing, low back throbbing, feet are starting to feel icy. Ears both still ringing.   

12:13p- wore out from Sam’s trip. Rt hip throbbing. Low back aches. Chest hurts & icy starting, feet cold, short of breath. Need to go pick up cake & take to church. 

1:30p- got shocked more than 13 times in Walmart!!! That really hurts!!! Not like normal people bc it lingers somehow in my body. Each shock feels like it gets stronger. Told me family to keep their distance bc it’s not funny.

2:00p- finally arrived at church. We worked on sprucing up church some (pine needles in flower bed, guys blew off roof, Dezirae & Joe swept ceiling of porch – just spreading pine needles made me short of breath, set up tables in fellowship hall). 

5:00p- I’m exhausted and hurting all over. Center of chest icy. 

6:00p- crashed on chair in living room for little bit. Joe jumped in to help.

8:00p- center of chest throbbing. Icing my chest for little while. It helped not hurt as bad still aches.

10:00p- walking down hall to room got very dizzy. Grabbed wall for balance.

10:38p- sometimes deep breathing hurts my chest. Sometimes I don’t know if I should push thru or not.

Box fan making funny noise all of sudden. Joe noticed couple screws missing. Told him I found one on bed this morning or yday. He mentioned that I fell into the fan couple nights ago. I don’t have any recollection of it. Hmm?

Entire back aches and feels tight. Shoulders hurt. Feet ache. Skin itching some. Low back aches. Neck hurts. 

Sept 10

6:15a- woke in a sweat. Burning up. 

7:20a- Dad called in earlier for surgery today. Gotta hurry to hospital. I hate rushing…causes me to forget things and hurts my nerves.

8:02a- Dr’s anxious to start surgery. Joe & Jakob praying with Dad before they take him back.  

I have this problem

https://migraine.com/blog/my-weirdest-home-remedy-tool/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=promoted&utm_campaign=Erenumab-CAS4&utm_confid=sovh175sq

https://results.wethinkhealth.online/topic/22/migraine+causes+symptoms+and+treatment/?utm_campaign=3JNHrS8&g_ci=23843874188640591&g_ai=23843874200330591&g_adi=23843874200590591

12:30p- talked with firefighters ate foosakley’s. Asked them if they encountered lightning survivors. Not really they said. Heard of them mostly. Joe introduced me. Wow that’s amazing. I really need to designed some type of business card to give to bring awareness.

2:08p- I’m beyond exhausted…about to crash. Dad went thru surgery well. Finally in a room. Ran errands with family picking up donations for big day on Sunday. 

Nerves are on fire. Chest throbbing. Legs and back throbbing burning. Took rx. Taking a nap. Phone been crazy busy too. Mechanic can’t see car until next Tuesday. Ugh! I don’t need this now.

Stomach cramping rt side. Brain crashing fogged burned out too much thinking overload. Forgot where I was going with this. Muscles spasming randomly throughout body. Neck hurts mostly rt side. Headache. Lights & loud sounds bothersome.

4:30p- don’t know why I tourture myself going to vball games (except to cheer my daughter on as I’m able). I know it gives me headache with loud noises and the lights and cause my nerves to fire up. Love my daughter

6:45p- visiting my dad in hospital. He’ll be in at least one night maybe two.

Rcevd info from TBI about concussion… https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Dos-and-donts-when-dealing-with-concussions-559854391.html

7:21p- center of chest stinging

10:00p- I’m exhausted and hurting all over. Headache. Muscles and nerves on fire. Muscles in back stinging. Low back throbbing. Calves burning and ache. Toes throbbing. Hands swollen and achy. Center of chest icy burning. Lower left leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness & tingling from mid lower leg to toes.

10:50 feet cold. Getting chilly. Tired but wide awake. Arms ache. Took muscle relaxer. Cramping in lft calf

Sept 11

6:45a- woke up freezing! It’s not that hot in house. Got about 7 hours of sleep. Feel better than I have in a while yet I feel like I could sleep longer.

8:00a- Co-op today. Kept not only messing up my words but also fingerspelling words backwards. Talk about ultimate dyslexia if I had it. Frustrating! Gained student today. Need more chairs.

12:25p- I’m exhausted. Brain feels scrambled from information overload. Lft Hand tingly. Feet tingly. Legs ache. Rt hip hurts. Muscles randomly twitching thru body. Need to rest a bit. Dezirae making lunch.

12:50p- lunch eaten. Feel like I’m gonna crash. Laying down for little bit.

7:00p- so don’t like taking showers anymore cuz they wear me out and make me short of breath. Have to rest afterwards before I can do anything else.

9:00p- think I’ll go to bed. I’m exhausted from today. Brain doesn’t want to work right. Muscles randomly twitching thru body. Lower back throbbing. Rt hip throbbing.  

9:30- feet are like ice. Put on socks. Pm pt exercises. Neck hurts. Rt hip throbbing. Lower lft lg numbish from mid to foot. Rt hand throbbing. 

Read something recently about migraine trigger indicators. One possibility is ice cold feet just prior. Hoping to prove that wrong. Slight headache I do have. Upper chest aching