We are approaching the end of the second week on the Verapamil and i am happy to report that again i have only had 4 attacks during the week. This is 1 more than last week but still a huge improvement from getting 3 to 6 per day. It has to be the medication working and not the just the change in weather and season as i can feel the attacks build and then suddenly stop as fast as they start. This is great news as i am only on the first dosage of this medication as i haven’t done any increases due to the infection i currently have.
Before we can increase the medication i have to have an ECG scan but when i discussed this with my doctor the other day we both agreed i should hold off from any increase whilst i have my medication as long as the attacks are bearable. If i was still getting loads during a day then we would have increased the medication regardless of the infection and i would have had to go for scans on a weekly basis. The infection is still playing up and i still have pain in my right side where the kidney is located and also slightly above. This is probably where i have an infection in the lung according to the doctor as when she was listening she could hear bubbling in the right lung and nothing in the left. I could also hear it in my voice when i was breathing and talking but just lately it seemed to have cleared up but still hasn’t from the kidney area or the gum where i had my abscess.
I am still on the anti biotic medication so i know it will clear eventually i just have to be patient. I am just so happy to be pain free at the moment and i am still taking every precaution i can as not to aggravate my head in any way. I still avoid long bus journeys because of the vibration can set them off and i still avoid very windy days as the cold wind in the eye can also set them off. even carrying heavy shopping in my right hand can also aggravate my shoulder, neck and head and cause me to have a big attack. It’s crazy how may different triggers there is for my condition and trying to avoid every single one of the is impossible. I am still wearing my woollen hat when i go out side to keep the head warm as if i take it off and the cold gets to the top of the head i am sure to get an attack. I don’t want to tempt fate and try and do with out the hat until the weather is warm enough even though i am taking the medication and the attacks seem to have decreased.
As soon as the infection is gone or i complete my anti biotic course of medication i will then ring and arrange my scans to be done. I am hoping that with only one or two increases in medication will stop the attacks from coming all together but won't know for sure until we get to next winter and the really cold weather draws in again. If i can get away with only a couple of increase in my medication not only will i avoid having to take loads of tablets all the time but i will also have some options if and when the attacks do return. I have learnt with this condition that there are no guarantees and the attacks will eventually return no matter what precautions you take.
