Hi Laura and others,

Thank you for the uplifting words about 2008. I also have made a
promise to try to deal better with my headaches and sleepless nights.
I am an "up" person and often tell people that my problems are all in
my head. That is pretty much true, but reality is not as funny as it
sounds.
My biggest problem is with balance and that has me in a wheelchair
most of the time. I wish it were different, but falling is not so
great! I am not real tall, but the ground seems a long ways down when
you fall! I have also had to give up my job as a librarian, and as a
piano teacher. My short term memory loss makes it difficult to stop a
student to tell them what mistake they made, and then forget what it
was! I was also a church organist, but that too is done.
I keep busy doing slide shows for people and that helps time go by.
When I get a headache, it feels as if the top of my head is going to
blow off. My pain is usually there. The doctors have no answers for
me, either. It is very frustrating! I have never had headaches like
these. Often I wake up in the night with one, or if I get tired. I
must learn to say "no" and to keep within my limits. Naps are allowed!
This group has helped me feel less isolated. Sometimes I felt like
a "freak", since I did not know any other survivors of meningitis. I
live near Grand Rapids, MI, and there are fine doctors who care, but
don't have answers.
I now have a recumbant bike, so I am beginning to ride it to get
more excercise. Hopefully it will help me keep strength and make me
feel better too!
God is good, and I have many blessings. My wish is the grace to
continue life with a smile and happy words!

Eileen

--- In PostmeningitisHeadache@yahoogroups.com, "cph72"
<lbstadler@...> wrote:
>
> Hello fellow members,
>
> I would like to wish everyone a happy new year and send a wish of
> hope that we all have a higher number of good/better days this
year,
> lower pain levels, higher pain thresholds and more enjoyment out of
> life!
>
> Personally, I am determined to become a better manager of my pain
and
> to not feel guilty for resting in the middle of the day (every day)
> or for getting a treatment when I need it or for not working a full-
> time job like I used to (as I have done in the past!).
>
> I have vowed to myself for 2008 that I will be more patient with my
> crazy head, accept it the best I can and live life to its fullest
> despite it being in a more limited fashion! I realize that I do
have
> some limitations but I refuse to let them take over my life and
watch
> another year fly by while I fight against it! I will also continue
to
> *work* on finding a medicaiton and/or treatment that helps and to
> gain a better balance in everything I do.
>
> Maybe you can submit your promises or headache "resolutions"> It
> would be great to hear how you plan to better manage your
headaches,
> improve how you cope, what treatments you plan to try or what new
> perspectives or attitudes you plan to adopt for the coming year.
>
> On a final note I would like to submit that in the short time this
> group has been around, I personally have found it to be very
helpful.
> It really has provided me with a powerful source of support. For
> that, I thank you all for your participation and kind words of
> encouragement.
>
> All the best to you for the coming year.
>
> Kind regards,
> Laura
>