BTW-as an old person who is pretty computer illiterate, I have never blogged before this. (

Do you still have the headache? WOuld love an update.

I found your blog by happy accident, and I have to say I love it! Your journey is so incredibly inspiring.

I also have to say I fully understand what you’re going through. Since November-ish of ‘07, I have been having the same sort of problem, only mine had the additional issue of wanting to sleep all the time every day. I figured it had to do with the low light levels in winter, but when I had to drop out of my morning yoga class because the pain was too much, and I couldn’t wake myself up enough to go, I knew there was something else going on. After multiple specialist visits – optometrist, opthamologist, neurologist – and both a CT scan and a lumbar puncture, we now know what’s wrong with me.

The nature of my headaches felt like there was something trying to push its way out of my head, sometimes through my eyes or ears, sometimes just everywhere… And sure enough, I have elevated intracranial pressure (or Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, which is not high blood pressure, but often causes high blood pressure as a side-effect). No one wanted to believe it because, well, I don’t fit the mold (I just turned 26, I’m slightly overweight, but very muscular, active and not on any medication beyond multivitamins). Neither do you necessarily, it is an affliction of women in their reproductive years, often on birth control pills, high dosages of vitamin A, tetracycline drugs or some steroid treatments, also it is primarily an affliction of obese women. BUT, I’ve been informed, sometimes it just happens, and sometimes it happens in response to major body changes (e.g. losing a lot of weight). It’s relatively rare, but if they haven’t looked yet, maybe it’s worth getting your retinas examined to see if there’s any signs of papilloedema (or swelling of the optic nerves) … maybe. Do you hear the roaring of your heart beat in your ears? Does your head throb? … if you’re lying down for the night? and/or particularly if you put your head lower than the rest of you? – downward dog just about killed me one day.

I know this is your experience, and yours alone. And no matter what all us well-meaning readers have to say, it may not have any bearing on you whatsoever. I do not mean any harm, nor am I attempting to force you to look into this particular avenue all that seriously, I just thought it might be worth it for you. The medication (and spinal tap) I’ve been given has made the difference between continuous pain and a semblance of a normal life. We are still sorting out the dosage, but being ‘normal’ again is fantastic. I haven’t felt ‘normal’ for over a year, maybe two. And I fully understand the bawling into t-shirts experience. Often, if I can, if I can’t do anything else, I go for a walk, and on those walks it is highly likely that some stranger will see me crying my eyes out. I thought I was going crazy (still am some days), I was so desperate for any sort of cure. It’s amazing what pain can do to a person. And it is amazing what lengths a person will go to to resolve that pain.

So, it is with good will and solidarity that I am thinking positive thoughts and wishing you a hasty recovery. All the best, and keep on blogging, your story is so very motivating!

I’m so sorry that you are continuing to have your headache. I hope this is the beginning of it quickly fading away, never to return.

I read my autographed copy of your book. *smile* It was awesome!! I plan to write a review on Amazon soon.

Sending lots and lots of good thoughts your way!

It helps me because I have such a rigid, black & white approach to everything I try to do. “If I can’t do it perfectly, then I can’t be bothered to try.” Of course that thinking gets in the way of my fitness program. It helps me to see you keep plugging away even when things are really tough for you and you have setbacks.

And, I really, really hope the damn headache goes away pronto. Good luck.

I have no medical opinion, but it makes sense to me that you should go back to doing what you were doing when you felt good – moderate running, eating healthy, pilates. Once you get back on a nice healthy routine, maybe the headaches will stop, or at least you’ll have eliminated the (high-stress?) preparation for the marathon as a reason for the pain? Well done on that, btw. Very impressive.

I think stress can manifest itself in all sorts of physical ways – I’m sure that having the book written and published now must be quite a relief also! You’ve got so much to be proud of.