Alan's update

We are so thankful that Alan was home to celebrate Thanksgiving! Such a huge praise and answered prayer that he only had to stay 6 days at the headache clinic in Chicago.  He missed his mom at the airport by a few hours as she was leaving after being with us for the week while he was away.  Alan attended the Diamond Headache Clinic and was immediately impressed and thankful for their knowledge and sensitivity to headache sufferers...they have special low lighting, low noise and very caring nurses. After his initial meeting with his doctor he checked into their in--house hospital.  He had lots of blood work, an MRI, met with the doctor daily, as well as attended several seminars on drug education, diet, wellness, and headaches.  He was only allowed outside the hospital once and that was with a nurse accompanying him on a walk around the building (it was really cold, so he was glad to get back inside, but he did miss his freedom.  Since Alan has returned he has had three migraines in the past 10 days and continues to have bad headaches everyday, but the doctor said it would take 2-6 weeks for his new preventative medicine to start working. We are a little discouraged, but not without hope that things might get better.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us. Please continue to do so as we fight this battle.  We are reminded as we enter into Advent that we can celebrate Immanuel..."God with us" everyday, not just at Christmas. God is with us during our physical and emotional pain and we are so thankful and humbled to get to experience God's presence in our lives.

1-6 weeks?!

Alan left Monday to go to the Diamond headache clinic in Chicago. It was sad to see him go because we weren't sure when we would see him again...one week, Thanksgiving, or even up to six weeks. When Alan first arrived the doctor said he would be out 5-6 days, but honestly I didn't believe it for one split second. But boy was I wrong and I'm so glad! Alan was discharged today and will be flying back to Orlando tomorrow night! He had lots of blood work, MRIs, drug and health seminars, and he met with one of the top headache doctors in the country daily.   With new medication, better understanding of some dietary and lifestyle changes, and lots and lots of prayer, the doctor thinks we might have the migraines under control -- down to 1-2 a month...we'll take it! Sadly the clinic was filled with 67 other patients, ranging from teenagers, to single, married men and women ( although 75% of migraine sufferers are women). Two patients have had headaches everyday for a year. I CANNOT imagine.  Alan's  roommate was on his third visit to the clinic. Many of the patients have no hope and no joy.  I'm not usually a pessimist, but we've been through so many different remedies, I'm finding it hard not to be these days, yet  I know the reality of what is true -- our hope and joy continue isin The Lord and we will be victorious in this battle; Alan is coming back tomorrow, he will be with us for Thanksgiving; and we have had a tremendous outpouring of love and prayers, around the world,and through our community here.  Alan's mom came to help me this week and it was such a weight off of my shoulders. I am deeply reminded of the Lords loving kindness even during difficult circumstances.  We will let you know Alan's progress with his new medicine.

headache update #1,000

Sometimes I feel like a broken record and I am hesitant to write anything pertaining to Alan's chronic medical problems. I fear that I am complaining or am not sensitive to other people's pain. But so many people are praying for us and are concerned for us and we do not take that for granted. Thank you, thank you! I am learning so much about the body of believers and how much I need each person. It is humbling to say the least. 

Alan received his CPAP machine(constant positive airway pressure) (you'd be amazed how many people have told me they or their spouse use one, but I was clueless as to what it was until recently). 
He has been sleeping worse than before because it is hard for him to get used to.  He still has several migraines a week. At his last appointment with his neurologist she said she she couldn't do anything else for him and suggested he go to a headache specialist. This means Alan would need to check in to a clinic for anywhere from 1-6 weeks.  After many many phone calls and research the earliest appointment we could get was February, but it was with our third choice doctor. That was just too long to wait. We have been praying that something miraculous would open up. God knows our needs and He can move mountains, so we were trusting Him for an earlier appointment. During dinner this evening Alan received a phone call from our first choice doctor in Chicago saying that they had a appointment November 18!! That's in 12 days!! We are so thankful and praise the Lord for His provision for us.  His mercies are new everyday.

Alan's health update

After much waiting Alan was cleared to receive a CPAP machine to help him sleep, which will in turn, hopefully help relieve his migraine headaches. He will go on Friday to pick it up and start using it. whoohoo! Please pray that it is helpful.

After even more waiting and calling, Alan found out the results from a MRI that he has two bulging disks in his upper vertebrae, so now he needs to go back to the neurologist to check on that next week...it might be a relatively easy fix, such as physical therapy or exercises, or surgery :(.

Last but not least, Alan visited an ENT doctor and found out he has a deviated septum and a lowered mouth palate, BUT the doctor is really hopeful that the sleep machine will fix that.

Meanwhile, he continues to have bad headaches and sleepless nights. God's mercies are new everyday and this is something we have learned to not take lightly, but to rejoice in and find strength in Him each day. Only The Lord can sustain us and HE does EACH and EVERY day.


Thank you so much for visiting our blog!

Thank you so much for visiting our blog!

Update on Alan's sleep study

After waiting for two weeks for his results, we finally found out that Alan does have sleep Apnea. That is an answered prayer that it was confirmed that he does in fact have a sleeping problem. He stops breathing while sleeping, which wakes his body up, leading to never getting into deep REM sleep, therefore waking up in the middle of dreams and remembering all of them...I'm not sure if his nightmares is related to all of this, but it seems likely. So...in a few weeks a crafty mask called a C Pac will arrive and Alan will have to wear it while sleeping. The idea is for it to increase oxygen flow. It sounds like such a simple solution to such a big problem, but we will take it! We are grateful for being able to see a doctor so quickly and relatively easily. Alan is also grateful to not have to sleep in a strange bed with lots of cords all over him. Alan has a neurologist appointment on September 23 as we continue on this journey of healing and hope.
Thank you so much for visiting our blog!

Dreaming of sleeping well

So for the past year Alan has not slept well. It seems like it would be sort of obvious to know you are not sleeping well, but looking back, it was sort of hard to tell...was it his migraines, his different medications, having kids that seem to constantly up at night for something...wet beds, baby, etc. Nevertheless, he did some research on signs of sleep disorders, and started noticing he had some symptoms of something...nightmares, fatigue, breathing stopping during the night. So last week he had a sleep study and we are anxiously awaiting the results this week. We are hoping if he sleeps better he could have less migraines, but if not, at least he might be able to get some help and not wake up exhausted at the beginning of every day. Sleep is one of those things you don't realize how good it is sometimes until you don't have it. All of our kids are great sleepers so far and I am so thankful no one else in our family struggles with sleep disorders.
Speaking of sleeping, it is my bedtime and I am very thankful to not have any trouble sleeping. Sweet dreams!
Thank you so much for visiting our blog!