Did you get fooled yesterday?  April 1^st, also known as April Fools Day was just another day for me, and for that I was glad.  No pepper in my sugar, or a Whoopi cushion on my chair, and for that, I was grateful at the end of the day.  The Cleveland Indian’s did not disappoint; they pulled out a win on their home opener, and that was icing on the cake.  The only trick or surprise that may have occurred is that both my husband and I experienced dueling migraines, and I have been experiencing the after effects since 4 a.m. this morning.  As I sit here and sip on a cup of coffee, I am wondering if I will be taking a nap soon.

For those of you that have dealt with SAD over the last couple of months, I am sure you are enjoying a long period of daylight at the end of the day, making it feel like you have a few more hours to accomplish and/or enjoy life a little more.  Despite the increase in migraines, the light into the evening hours does bring a little upward curl to my lips.  It can be the smallest specks in our life that trigger the cortisol hormone that spreads happiness.

Upon awakening at 4 a.m. this morning I completed reading, “Great Things, A Novel” by K. Adrian Zonneville (aka Charlie Wiener).  I stalled while reading this book, and I did not want it to come to an end.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, I connect with the characters that this magnificent author develops and pens.  I am anxiously awaiting, Wednesday, April 10^th when Charlie begins his podcast here at newclevelandradio.net.  Not only will we discuss his books, but we will invite you to participate either call in at 440-922-6431 during the live broadcast or email us with your comments that we will share and discuss.

The first quarter of 2019 may be behind us, but the best is yet to come because I believe that taking a step forward will propel me and if I can make a move, so can you!

Thank you, Mike Brickman, for joining Coffee and Cars with Katie the Carlady, tonight, Thursday, March 28^th.  You are an inspiration of a man who provides integrity in business.  Newclevelandradio.net salutes you and we welcome our listeners and followers to check out your amazing services.

Mike has been wrenching on cars and growing a successful business for years and years.  He provided. informational tips and more in tonight’s podcast.

Check out his business at https://suburbancarandtruck.com/

17309 S. Miles Rd, Cleveland Ohio 44128 Mon-Tue, Thu-Fri: 8:30am – 6pm Wednesday: 8:30am – 8pm Sat – Sun: Closed Phone 216-662-2102, Fax: 216-662-1911

Email: jackie@suburbancarandtruck.com

https://www.spreaker.com/user/10697139/coffee-and-cars-with-katie-the-carlady3-28-19

I am so Empowered to .  Earlier today I shared a health issue, and I took control, some in my life wanted to feel sorry for themselves if this health issue were to disturb theirs.  I refused to let them control something that was not theirs.  Not that I wanted to be ill, but if I were, it was for me to own, not them.

I pushed myself to find answers and hold my medical team hostage to explain how my medical file states one thing, an aortic embolism, while a previous conversation with this team advised me I was “OK.”  I needed to know for myself what “OK” meant and means.  I now have an answer.

Yes, I have an embolism which is so very small in size.  In fact, I was informed if I had not gone for a complete cardio work-up last year it would never have been noticed.  When having this conversation today, I was advised many people live with tiny embolism that never change in size or cause difficulty.  In fact, most do not even know they have them unless a CT Scan catches it.

I was advised, to and enjoy life while keeping my blood pressure low, to avoid smoking (not an issue here) and to maintain a healthy diet and exercise moderately.  The doctor’s nurse explained to me my February/March work up is excellent, and my cholesterol levels are ideal.  She apologized for the confusion in the report, but she said the aorta has a tiny bulge and medically for follow up it is identified as an embolism, not to scare me which it did, but because it is what it is.  Not all embolisms enlarge however yearly follow up is advised.

So today I am ME and I look forward to spending more time with U.

Modern technology can be an asset as well as a traumatic hinderance in our lives.  Many of you may have opted to view your medical records that include results of blood work, x-rays, CAT Scans, and other medical tests.  Too often these results are viewable prior to any communication with your physician.  So what do we do, we Google the information to become knowledgeable.  However, sometimes that knowledge is frightening and misinterpreted by either your cognitive abilities resulting in an over-anxious thought process.

Well, this all happened to me this week.  Let me explain!  When I was 13 or 14 years old, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur.  Initially, it was a reason for concern (my parent’s). However, my medical team finally confirmed it was a normal heart murmur, whatever that means.  Within a year I was be

ing seen by a specialist at the University of Minnesota, C. Walton Lillehei, he was one of Dr. Christian Barnard’s teachers.  Dr. Lillehei had me scheduled for a heart cath and minutes before I was wheeled into surgery, he canceled the procedure.  He told my parents to take me home, and live a normal life.  He suggested weight and stress reduction, although I was not overweight at the time.  We will not talk about stress.

As the years passed, I experienced twinges of pain always to be diagnosed as something unrelated such as migraine, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, and a variety of maladies that could contribute to heart issues but most likely were benign.  Approximately twenty years ago I was rediagnosed with mitral valve prolapse but was once again to note it and ignore it.  (What the hell do I do with that information?)

Last year, my current cardiologist informed me that I do have an enlarged heart but tests again were benign, and he suggested a retest this year.  I had the Scan in February and weeks after I got a call that I had no change and it was advised to scan again in one year.  Yesterday, MY UH Health Chart popped up with a message…” Dr. wanted us to let you know that your aortic aneurysm is Stable. He would like to repeat CT of the chest in one year.”

AORTIC ANEURYSM, what the Hell?  No one ever mentioned this in the past.  When, How, Why and What Now.  Well, I hope to know more tomorrow, my proactive mind and body told me to make an appointment with my doctor and discuss treatments and prevention from stable to unstable.  My maternal grandmother died from a stroke and my mother died from complications from a stroke, and my paternal grandmother, aunt, uncle, and my dad all had cardiac issues.

Life is full of surprises however, we must make every attempt to reduce the medical issues we can control.  I am once again am reviewing the dietary plan that I allowed to go haywire over the winter and increase my exercise program although it should not be strenuous.  I plan on living life to the fullest in the healthiest way I can!  I AM EMPOWERED!  B U B ME.

I am experiencing intense migraines again.  I am scheduled to meet with a neurologist in late April; it is not easy to find a neurologist in the Cleveland area, despite the fine medical centers we have in this city.  Neurology seems to be a practice that few medical students enter into and therefore finding someone who treats migraines is not easy.  My original neurologist, Dr. Michael Devereaux was one of the best; he understood my history and worked to control my attacks.  However, he is no longer in private practice.

I have been somewhat lucky to have had medication such as Imitrex to help control these vicious episodes.  However, either my body is now immune to the medication or the chemistry of the drug(s) have been changed.  I try not to give in to the pain and the symptoms that come with this malady.  However, sometimes I just have to lay down and let the world pass me by while I breathe in and out and allow the pain to subside to a manageable 8 out of 10 or a 7 out of 10 if I am lucky.

I am good at giving advice and suggesting that others take the time to care for themselves. However, I am not good at following the same path.  So, I give all of you permission to remind me to take the time I need to remain well and to live life!

After ten days of battling with a migraine, two visits to the ER for IV medication (#2 was last night,) I slept through the night and awoke this morning I am feeling my normal.  For forty plus years I have chronic headache pain identified as migraine.  The gnawing ache is always present, but I have learned to accept it and adjust to it.  I have tried almost every medication, as well as dietary changes, modalities, etc., but not one medical practitioner has been able to provide me with a pain-free head.  I have had MRI’s and CT Scans, including a CT Scan last night (negative!).  So, I begin today as my normal and I refuse to think about a rebound or the next one that gets me down.  Just an FYI the last time I went to the ER before this week for migraine is almost 20 years.  Imitrex has been my pal, and I have been prescribed it as needed.  Getting an appointment with a neurologist in Northeast Ohio is near to impossible.  There are too few who practice this specialty, and it can take months to get a first appointment or a follow-up.  On the bright side, I have one scheduled for the end of April.

I want to thank everyone who has reached out and share their remedies of choice, and I will try those that make sense to me such as dietary changes once again and returning to the gym as early as next week.  I already take vitamins such as Magenisum and B12 as well as Riboflavin.  What I must return to for my own sanity is taking the moments to breathe.  I must also stop and smell the roses, as well as, the other fragrances of life.

Obstacles are just another fork in the road we run into daily, and we must choose which path to follow.

Well, today I am making the choice to take a step forward, join me.

Have you ever attended a House Concert?  House Concerts are very popular in the northeast region of the USA.  Often it is an intimate setting in a home (often much larger than our condo) where you the host/hostess invite a talented performer into your home to entertain.  As the hosting home, you may provide simple refreshments well charging a reasonable ticket price to attend your event; the performer must be paid.  Your guests can be part of this wonderful unique performance, up close and comfortable.

Newclevelandradio.net is working to bring this entertainment format to you, and this Sunday Night we are hosting a small House Concert, and we still have tickets available.  We are featuring local musician Jon Mosey (just Google his name and a list of sites will provide you not only information but YouTube videos to experience his talent.)

Tickets are $10 a single and $17 for two.  If interested, please email newclevelandradio@gmail.com, and we will provide a PayPal link or additional options to make payment- as well as provide you with the home address.

The concert is scheduled for 6 pm this Sunday, March 10^th, 2019.  For those of you who remember to spring forward, I can guarantee the tunes of Jon Mosey will put a SPRING in your STEP!

Please join us and consider hosting a musician in your home!

Try describing the sensation of pain!  Too often we are asked the most mundane question is why are you feeling pain?  Did you hurt yourself, or did someone hurt you?  Is it dull, throbbing, achy, or sharp?  Exactly, show the spot where your discomfort is!

Sometimes these questions can be answered easily.  Most of the time whether it is a medical advisor, friend, or family member, the response to distress becomes more quizzical.

As a migraine sufferer for almost 50 years, I have been denied my feelings.  I am unlike the traditional migraine individual in that I fight through my (almost daily) episodes.  In my early years these attacks took me down, but my initial reaction was to always fight through it.  It was like a war going on in my head, and all I wanted to do was forge through the hell hole of symptoms and find a soft light to guide me and soothe my pounding head.  I learned that if you don’t look ill (whatever that means) people are skeptical and too often assume you are either a hypochondriac or just making excuses to get out of something.

The migraine headache can take on various forms, and the diagnosis becomes even more difficult when women are considered hypochondriacs when they are experiencing them.  I experienced first hand over the years I have been served a cocktail of medications that rendered me a zombie, or sent home and prescribed to relax!  Let me be the first to tell you it is near to impossible to relax, to think about a beautiful warm, sunny, sandy beach when the pounding and flashing in your brain is screaming, “PAIN SIGNALS,” throughout your physical and emotional body.

I have been seen by many physicians that have run SCANs, MRIs, as well as vestibular tests to identify what is happening in my internal housing.  My medical team over the years has consisted of neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrist, physical therapist, gynecology (I am woman hear me roar,) as well as chiropractic.  My diagnosis is stated as unexplained mixed headaches with an emphasis on migraine.

Yesterday, March 1^st, the first day of the meteorological day of Spring, I had the culmination of a week of pain.  Each day got worse with periods of relief, but on Friday the black cloud, flashing lights and agonizing take over of my body grew minute by minute.  Medication was not touching the source, and I knew to succumb to it and laying down would not reduce it, and I had things to do.  My day consisted of remaining upbeat for two podcasts as well as follow through on other business related items.  I muddled through my day including some housekeeping chores, making serving as well as clean up for dinner.  Even after dinner I completed one last home assignment (I make the assignments) and finally curled myself into a fetal position hoping to fall asleep.

Most of the night I slept fitfully waking every 20 to 30 minutes.  Upon each awakening, I noticed I was getting little if any relief.  Instead of relaxing with each deep breath I worried about the what if’s of my sense of debilitation.  When 5 a.m. came upon me, I realized I was feeling more like me.  I was wide awake with little no reference to the last 24 plus hours.  I almost had to pinch myself to feel some painful discomfort to reassure myself this was not a dream or that I had died and gone to heaven!

This is my life!  I have learned to accept what I have the ability to change and to attempt to change what I am told I have no control over.  Because we never know what we are capable of and without taking a step in a positive direction we may not find where our strengths lay.

Today is a new day!