mandalay

medicinal purpose

i have been having headaches almost daily for the last six years. in my pursuit to identify the cause of these headaches, i have been to a GP, a chiropractor, a network chiropractor (like acupressure), an acupuncturist, a neurologist, a psychologist, a counselor, an orthopedist, and an occupational therapist. unfortunately, the symptoms all overlap: listlessness, headaches, hypersensitivity, poor sleep, trouble focusing, memory problems, fatigue, etc. i have been diagnosed with and treated for a pinched nerve, fibromyalgia, candida, GAD, depression, "common migraines," anemia, insomnia and i've also been accused of having too straight a spine. my symptoms also fit with ADD, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid disease, etc., though i've never been to a doctor about those. the problem has always been that, depending on who i see, each specialist thinks it's related to what they specialize in: the chiropractor was convinced that the pinched nerve in my neck (which i probably got sliding down a mountain backwards during a ski trip) accounted for my problems - they began a few months after the slide. the psychologist thought it was caused by the stress and depression i felt when my grandfather got sick and died - it started about the same time as that. in addition to the ridiculous amounts of drugs i've tried for relief, i was usually told the same thing that all doctors tell you no matter what the ailment: reduce your stress, exercise regularly, eat better, and make sure you get enough sleep. well today i made an appointment to see an optometrist who specializes in vision therapy. turns out my problems also fit with eye strain, and while i was searching for an eye doctor today online (i need some new glasses), i came across this site and decided i may as well see if there's any chance that they're related. when i was younger, i used to be able to read for hours a time. i devoured books. but for years, i haven't been able to read for more than half an hour or so without getting tired or getting a headache so bad that i have to stop. so my appointment is next week and i'm looking forward to it as i would any other experience in my life: as an open, hopeful skeptic.

Labels: body

posted by amanda @ 5:40 PM