Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 - 6:21 p.m.

update

I went to UNC today to talk to the nice people about being in a migraine study, and was accepted. I am to keep a very rudimentary headache diary for 4 weeks, then go in for an interview; if I "fit the needs of the study" I keep the diary for another 4 weeks, and then I will be assigned to one of two treatments-- either sacrocranial massage or static magnets. The woman said the pressure used in the massage is "less than the weight of a nickel" which surprised me. It manipulates the fluid around the brain and spinal cord, not the blood flow or muscles. Interesting. Treatment lasts for 8 weeks, and follow-up continues for another 12 weeks, with the diary continuing throughout.

My previous experience with headache diaries involved what food was eaten, what was the weather, and other facts in great detail, so I was debating whether I'd be able to stick with it. This one? Note whether I have a headache and how bad, each hour of the day. That's it, or at least the hard part-- there are a few other questions but nothing serious. I fill out the form online, and it can't be filled in partially now and finished later, so I made a cheat sheet to make notes during the day. Still, if I can't keep up this onerous task, they'll just boot me out and I'll lose the $5 per week. Sad-- that'd be one or two sushi rolls at half price at Akashi Sushi.

Molly is doing okay, I think. She's weak, which is to be expected. They did such a rah-rah job of talking up how well she'd do after surgery that I honestly thought she might be able to get up on my bed, using the steps I'd put together. Ha. She can get in and out of the litter box, but she's a little shaky over the edge. I couldn't bear to leave her alone, so I pulled the cushions off the sofa and made a bed in the studio floor for myself. This isn't much of a hardship-- it's really very comfy. It's just narrower, is all. I expected Carmen and Miranda to join me; they've slept with me on the sofa and wherever else I've dozed off, but nope. They're sticking with the big bed. I've made a couple of different spots for Molly, one closer to the computer and one closer to the bed, and with a little nook/corner where she can kind of nestle back in. She likes that pretty well at night; during the day she's happy nearer me at the computer.

I'll be mighty damn glad when this migraine is over. It's been way too many days now and I'm in serious fear that I'll run out of pills at the end of the month. After my stupid macho (macha?) bout of trying to tough it out the other day, I'm not willingly doing that again... if I run out at the end of the month then it won't be my choice and I can call the doc and plead for mercy or go to an emergency room or go down to the corner and beg someone to shoot me. Maybe that Marine that Mother was so worried about will wander by and take care of it for me.

I got a call from Telford today (the care place where my parents are) but it rang once and they hung up. Wrong. (Still no idea why they did that....) I called back and asked who called. It was one of the nurses, who said that they had taken Daddy to see Dr G today and his meds were adjusted. They added one and upped the dose of the Alzheimer's med. Daddy told Dr G he planned to live to be 100, and Dr G agreed that he might well do just that.

I then called and talked to both Mother and Daddy. She said they'd told her some of what Daddy was doing but they joke with her so much she's never quite sure when they're teasing and when they aren't. They'd only told her about him getting in bed with one of the others, not two. She didn't "remember" that Daddy had an appointment with Dr G today; I'm pretty sure Telford made the appointment. Daddy was quite taken with his "driver" who he said was a "girl" about my age. Heh. He also seemed to think there might be a chance he will drive again for short distances. I wonder how he got that idea? Pretty sure it wasn't Dr G's idea, and if Daddy initiated the question, the answer would have been non-committal at best. Sigh. About the walking, Daddy said they'd showed him the treadmill but wasn't quite sure why they were so adamant about showing it to him and why he should use it. "Because they know you walked on the treadmill at home and thought you'd enjoy it." And they're hoping it'll wear you out a little, I'm betting.

I haven't been able to catch up with Danny to find out for sure if he can go see them this weekend. I sure hope so. I ordered some flowers that should get there tomorrow. That room is really grim without any flowers in it.

Well, I have this awful feeling that there's something I'm supposed to remember, or do, but I have no idea what. If any of you know, please tell me. I'll appreciate it. In the meanwhile, I'll go pet a cat and read.

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