Being a Mom with New Daily Persistent Headache: Better, the Same, & Harder

 So being a mom with New Daily Persistent Headache is, of course, different than I expected. I think motherhood always is. Parts of it have been so much better. Parts of it have been much harder. But the majority is kind of the same. I'll explain.

7th Headache Anniversary

I've had a headache every day for the past 6, no it's 7 years now. 
It’s always a strange moment to sit and write my feelings out about a headache anniversary. I spent so many of them wishing for what I have now: a baby. See past anniversary post. And past mes where right, it does make it sting less. This anniversary is the lightest. Not fun. Not happy but it hurts less. My headaches are just not the center of my life anymore. 


 Before

 My Goal:

The Temptation:

Hope is high. Bitterness is low. Honestly I try to never ever think about my headaches. It’s like looking at something through a telescope. It feels far away right now. It’s still affecting me but it’s not in my face.

When I’m at peace it’s hard to exactly remember being upset and when I'm upset I can't remember ever being at peace. I can only really be this me. Future me is a mystery and past me is someone else.
But right now... My blessing are so overwhelming it honestly takes effort to focus on the bad.

I never got around to posting my 6 year anniversary post last year. Here is an excerpt:

I wonder what I'll write next year. I'm almost excited.

Labor and C-section with New Daily Persistent Headache

This post is about the crazy, beautiful, bloody adventure of birthing my daughter (while I try to ignore my chronic headaches.) 

New Daily Persistent Headache and Motherhood 

Update #1:

Pregnant in July with Chronic Headaches

Being pregnant in July is uncomfortable. Being pregnant in July with a headache every day is almost impossible. (Spoiler: I survived it)

1. When sweet baby Everett was born I went down to Florida to meet baby and help out. "Help out" means cuddle to older children. It's pretty great to be an aunt!! But also exhausting!

2.I then got sick. And pregnancy sick to rough! Can't take any medicine and weakened immune system means it take my body forever to fight it off!

3. Yeah numb leg from pinch nerve. Could be worse. Better to be numb then ouchie. Rib pain is very ouchie! Hurts to breathe and eat and sit and move and lie down. Thankfully this had eased but it was almost unbearable in July.

4. Hosting a party is something I love and hate. I am a pretty great hostess (if I say so myself) but man it's draining. It's draining on a good month. It's deadly on a bad month. I was already empty but I had to keep going. And somehow I did.

5. Great family trip to Outer Banks but it's hard to have fun when you feel bad and tired with ouchie ribs.

6. Panic builds when I feel bad for too long. I know it will all pass but in the middle of it it's scary and I can do nothing but wait for the pain to ease.