Mercury connection with migraines

I never was smart enough to get tested for heavy metal poisoning. But I'd bet the mercury fillings (amalgam) I got in 1995 did poison me. It sounds so dramatic doesn't it? I think quick poisoning would be preferable to the 15 years of horrendous migraines I've gone through.

I was pregnant with my first. 15 years old. I had ok teeth, except my back molars needed fillings because I'd basically never had dental care. I got the amalgam fillings, and I asked if they were mercury fillings (he said no of course) and some time after that, I got my first migraine. I'm not sure how much time after - I was late first trimester when I got the fillings and perhaps middle of my second tri for the first migraines. I assumed it was pregnancy causing the migraines. My mom got them, so while it sucked, I chalked it up to just being me.

Maybe 5 years ago I heard about mercury poisoning - sometimes in such small amounts it's almost not detected in tests, but enough to cause significant health problems. I wanted to get rid of my amalgam filled teeth, but being stuck on state medical, I had to either have significant pain or pay out of pocket to have them removed. I'm not real big on cheating the system (saying it hurt when it didn't), and was broke, so I waited.

3 months ago one tooth started falling apart fast and with that came the pain. Out came that tooth, the one with the most filling material. About 6 weeks ago, I noticed my hormonal migraines weren't as long lasting. I've gotten a couple, but no where near as bad or as often as I did. Nothing else in my life changed.

It's not a coincidence.

Need more time

I can't keep up on this blog!

Since my last post, my 3rd child turned 5 and my 4th child turned 3 (1 day apart). #3 is the one who almost died because of the hospital's mismanagement prompting me to look into and eventually have a homebirth with #4. Very glad I did, it was one of those experiences of a lifetime.

Work has been crazy, doing web design all week and organizing all weekend. Yesterday (the 4th) was good for the kids, the neighbors had more illegal fireworks then you can shake a stick at and put on a great fireworks show. Too bad it was 3 hours long, past midnight before it was over, and I had a migraine. Ah, well. It's over now. Managed to get some gardening done too!

14 years ago

I was 16 years old, and 38 weeks pregnant. We lived in the middle of nowhere in Northern Cali, in a tiny place outside of Seiad Valley called Fort Goff. My boyfriend (later husband, later ex-husband) was across the road at my aunt's and he called up, frantic that she had fallen. I ran, belly and all, as fast as I could and basically ended up just staying there until the ambulance came. The ambulance driver asked if I was ok and I joked that I'd probably be in the hospital in labor soon. She ended up going to a nursing home and in October, she died - this was all caused by overdosing on potassium thanks to a doctor in Happy Camp. Who I later found out had been run out of town for killing other people in another state. Lovely.

Anyway, I went to bed that evening and awoke at 1:30 definitely in labor. Michaela was born at 9:50 that morning. The first year was smooth and easy, but then things got rough with her dad being in the Navy, then a brother, then her dad abusing me... it was a long road but she's turned into the best teenager I could hope for. She's a truly talented artist (really, as a graphic designer I'm not just saying that - she's good!), smart and very temperamental. Being a teenager, she does the "hormonal" thing pretty regularly (and her 3 brothers are left going "WTF is wrong with her?!?!") but the rest of the time, she's a great big sister/oldest kid. I love my daughter!

Too hot to work out

It's been really hot, too hot, even. 85+ outside and 85 inside. I hate the heat. If I get too hot, I get a migraine, so this morning before it got too hot (7:30 and 73 degrees and it had only cooled that much overnight), I got dishes and laundry done, opened up the house and took it easy from then on. A few kid's baths (3 for one, the mudball, and 1 for another), a shower for myself and then I just worked and helped the kids with school work. The fans are making it just barely tolerable and we're still all pretty cranky. So yeah, no work out.

People

I don't have friends for a reason and sometimes I forget why. And then I'm reminded why. Ugh, I fucking hate people, especially women. So hateful and catty to each other.

Also, the reading comprehension of so many message board users is catastrophically bad.

Just a workout post

None yesterday, I decided to try 30 minutes of cardio and 15 minutes yoga today (w/My Fitness Coach)... I had to beg Maya to take it down a notch next time for the cardio next time.

I think my official goal is to get rid of the belly fat (where the hell it came from, I do not know. I had a flat belly until #4 was born, for christ's sake). Ideally, I'd like to be 145 lbs, but I'll be happier with being heavier as long as I can fit comfortably in size 10 (since muscle weighs more than fat).

My Fitness Coach vs EA Active

I'll give a better, more in depth review later, but I am liking My Fitness Coach much more than Active. EA is too clunky, worse than Wii Fit. It doesn't give as good of a heart pumping, sweaty work out.

May 25th: 30 minute cardio w/Fitness Coach
May 26th: 15 minute cardio w/Active, 15 minute upper body w/Fitness Coach