Wowwwweeee

Hey board,

It's been a LONG while since I've posted. There are a lot of new faces on here, and a lot of interesting posts. As always, I truly hope this finds everyone doing well. There are some of you on here that I think about quite often.

Just an update on me for those of you who do not know me (you can do a search on my current user name, and my older user name - Wowwweee to get a complete history, etc.): I have been informally diagnosed with MAV.

I continue to deal with my head symptoms, which fluctuate. In the past year, I got another job, and then got laid off (I am currently on Unemployment), and have been dating a man for the past six months who also was dealing with similiar head symptoms a few years ago - so he really understands how it can be.

Although my symptoms come and go, I have them on some level daily. It appears that the worst of my symptoms are apparent in certain atmospheres (stores, restaurants, movie theaters, to name a few), the week before my menstrual cycle, if I get an inner ear infection or cold, times of high stress, and weather changes. My head symptoms do provoke anxiety. Night driving and stores continue to be a problem for me (I feel that I am still always being pulled to the right, and I continue to walk to the right if I am walking any length).

In speaking with a new OB-GYN recently, he suggested that I try a 3-month cycle of birth control pills to see if my head symptoms can be alleviated through hormonal manipulation. I procrastinated about taking them, because I was nervous about side-effects or my head symptoms getting worse because of it. But I finally "got brave', so, I am on my first week of a low dose estrogen birth control pill; the three-month pack, with no break in between for my cycle.

Although for birth control purposes, the pill will not reach full potential in my body for one month, I have already noticed a subtle change in the way my headaches and head in general feel. This is a positive observation - although I "live" on aspirin and antihistamine for my head symptoms, I am taking minimal doses lately because I am tolerating or feeling better.

As I continue on the bc pill, I will keep you all posted.

Hugs to everyone. xo