Yes, just when you think things are getting better, oh wait a sec… Did I even think? Jeez this illness is so frustrating! Those people that know, me know that I’m usually a very active person, but this illness has really knocked me off balance, pardon the pun! This latest episode has really knocked me on my arse, this is a lesson to be learnt.

My wife and I have recently found something that we never thought possible, a community of like-minded people from all walks of life joining together in unity for the better of mankind. Yes, this almost sounds like a fairytale but believe me this is what we have both been searching for for the duration of our relationship, some 20+ years. The community I talk about was founded in 1968 and have been working hard together to make a better future for everyone. My wife and I are over the moon that we have found this opportunity and inevitably want to know more. This is where this latest problem has arisen. I am the type of person that will research, research, research, until I find every bit of detail for such a plan. What I didn’t realise was that I was completely ignoring my illness! No, I don’t want my illness to be my first and foremost concern when trying to plan for our future, unyet there it is, kicking my ass when I turn my back on it, when I’m least expecting it, it’s just there teaching me a hard lesson in life.
There I was sat content looking up information on travel visas to India when all of a sudden I noticed that my vision was starting to depreciate, a small blank spot where I couldn’t read any letters or words. I mentioned it to my wife as I’ve known these symptoms so well, for so long. I decided to take a brief break and put the kettle on for a brew. It was only a matter of three or four minutes and the sparkles and kaleidoscope effect aura decided to set in. Yes, after two weeks of having no aura symptoms, only ‘mild’ migraines in that time, here we go again! A full blown aura migraine and it was increasing rapidly. I had completely ignored taking time out from reading and using my iPad. It seems like the medication had given me a false sense of security whereas I wasn’t taking precautionary time out to give my eyes a break.

Annoyed with myself, I knew I had to take drastic measures so as to try and stop, or reduce the pain and suffering that was to come. I laid out on the bed just to rest my head and tried out a deep breathing exercise that I’d learnt from the Internet. I guess you could consider it to be a mindful exercise, as I was picturing the aura slowing down and disappearing into a mist. Within the space of a couple of minutes the kaleidoscope effect was indeed slowing down. At that time that is all I remember…
I awoke to the sound of the room door closing and in came my wife and sat on the bed. I lifted my head and rubbed my left eye as it was feeling quite numb, asking her what time it was. She replied saying that it was 6 pm, which confused me greatly as my migraine had kicked in at around 2:30 pm! Where have the last three hours gone? I simply had no recollection whatsoever. My head was feeling very numb, delicate to the touch, and it felt like I had lost three weeks not just three hours. I was feeling absolutely famished, so hungry I could literally eat a horse! It was time to eat…
After our meal I sat and contemplated what had happened, while nursing my very numb head. This latest episode of vestibular migraines had really knocked me back and made me realise how I must take better care of my health and not just take life for granted as if I didn’t have the problem in the first place. I now realise that this illness is going to be a bit of a bitch to beat. Having to suffer the symptoms of vestibular migraines is bad enough but I realise the triple PD symptoms are there to stay. Having to live a life of constant dizziness is no fun and I’ve worked really hard recently to try and reduce the dizzy spells. After just three weeks I was starting to feel some progress but this is the last thing I need right now. I remember clearly the very bad vestibular migraines that triggered my triple PD symptoms in the first place, under no circumstances am I intending to allow them to get any worse. Just for today I surrender to my illness and will take plenty of rest to try and recuperate.
I guess we all live and learn, but at least I live to tell the tale. Yes, I’m here to fight another day and so I shall!