HEADACHE

It started innocently enough well over a week ago, probably closer to 2 weeks ago now. A headache every day that responded almost instantly to ibuprofen and only needed to be taken once a day. But still, I was a little puzzled and concerned, because headaches aren't on my list of common ailments. I attributed the daily pain to a couple of things. First, the detoxing I'd been going through, although I do not drink caffeine, wasn't dehydrated, or low on salt, which are common problems when purging your system of unneeded chemicals or additives in foods.

Next, I wondered if it had something to do with the new swimming classes. While I had been swimming for years and swam a lot last year training for the IM, none of it was with the high intensity I'd been putting into these classes.

So I tolerated these headaches, figuring they would eventually subside. Instead, they only got worse, to the point where my whole head ached all day and all night and my vision was actually getting blurred from the pain. I was grouchy and irritable besides.

Only when the spasms started in my head did it finally register with me that I had had this problem before, over 10 years ago, and it led to the same outcome: spasms, which the doctor attributed to tight neck muscles and inflammation of the occipital muscles in the back of the head.

The only way to describe the feeling of these spasms is to imagine someone yanking on your hair over and over, all day long, until your scalp is tender to the touch and it is so all encompassing that you can't think straight.

So I have been completely delinquent in any workouts or attending to much in the way of family time. Cleaning and wash? Not happening.

I finally was put on muscle relaxers, which for the most part leave me feeling groggy and lethargic. Working out was not an option most of the days once the spasms started, however, I couldn't help but notice the headaches subsided while working out. Once the spasms started, however, I pretty much became a vegetable.

I think another factor, for me, is the need for regular massage, which I have neglected this as well since IM mainly because the person I regularly went to disappeared and the couple of people I went to after did not suit my needs at all.

Apparently regular massages must become a part of my routine, whether I think I need them or not. Today, 4 days into the muscle relaxer therapy, I am finally able to return to work, and am having only slight to no discomfort, and no spasms as of yet. I have an indoor tri to do this weekend, which that happening right now is somewhat debatable. If the no spasms continue through Saturday, I will do it. Otherwise, I'm dropping out. I would rather get rid of this problem rather than aggravate it.

Stay tuned.