Pain Management

"Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who tells you differently is trying to sell you something." at least that's how I remember that infamous quote from that film-by-which-all-others-is-judged, The Princess Bride. If it is indeed true, that life is pain, that pain is a sign that one is alive, then I am most definitely alive. Rarely does a week pass when I don't experience a headache. But the pain I have, I think, is nothing compared to some friends of mine who suffer from RA. One with whom we stayed during our whirlwind trip to the US in May told me, "There is nothing noble about living with pain. Take the meds!"
I've started keeping a log for headaches, which is so much fun... NOT! I'm trying to keep track of just what I take, what works and how much I go through. Let's just say that I'm really quite fond of Excedrine and save the Imtrex for the really, REALLY bad ones. For years, I refused to admit that I even got migraine. My Mom gets them, her mom got them, and I just didn't want to. (Guess it runs in our family, since CJ gets them at times too!) But, when we were in Bakersfield years ago, I was talking with another missionary, and she asked me some questions about my headaches. From what I told her, she confirmed, and confronted me, that I do indeed get migraines.
Now this is where it is strange. Do I refuse to take any medication because I'm too proud to admit I need help or that I can't handle the pain? Hmm... I did birth 4 kid with minimal meds. I know that pride is one of those sins I deal with, sometimes better than at other times. When we first moved to Slovakia, I was getting so many headaches, migraine and "normal", that I was taking a lot of meds for them. Ended up doing a bit of liver damage. That seemed to have been "fixed" with some mega-doses of vitamins here, but it made me wary about taking meds, and about how much. So, for now, I keep a log, avoid the trigger foods or events, try to get enough rest, let things "go", and take a pill when I need it. Oh well, as Jana says, it could be worse!