Something Uncomfortable: Day 157

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Hamm is one of my former youth group kids who has become a part of our family. She’s like one of our kids. And even though she’s 23, our kids think she is one of their peers. We love our Hamm! (Her real name is Margaret… it’s a long story.)

Hamm asked me to go on some of the big rides with her at the fair today. Adam was with us and was willing to manage the kids, so I agreed.

When I was a kid, I LOVED rides. Roller coasters, spinning rides, water rides, whatever I could find, I rode. My back and neck issues have slowed me down over the past several years. And my increasing fear of heights and vertigo have made me eliminate them altogether. So this seemed like an appropriate Something Uncomfortable for the day.

Guess which ride she chose? This thing:

It’s called the “Freak Out.” I now know why.

I did fairly well while it was spinning near the ground in the beginning. But when the swaying started, things went south quickly. Because that wasn’t bad enough, it then started spinning again… as it swayed… almost to the point of being upside down. I prayed to Jesus a lot… and out loud. And apparently I was very entertaining. Pretty sure I made the carnie’s day. But I’m cool with that. I would have laughed at me too.

Ready for the really awesome part? I thought I was going to throw up for a solid three hours after we landed. And I still have a slight headache. OH.MY.GOODNESS!!!!!!!!

So I’ve learned a few things from the Freak Out:

1. I have a hard time distinguishing between something that is appropriately uncomfortable and something that is just a bad idea.
2. I clearly CANNOT ride rides anymore.
3. They name rides appropriately… consider them a warning.

In spite of the awfulness that I experienced today, I am really glad I did it. It’s that better we found this out now than at Six Flags when we are far away from home. And I now know that there is a reason why my gut has been telling me that my body is done with the big rides. But hey, Wiggle Worm, I’m heading your way tomorrow… or maybe I’ll stick to the train.

Would you have ridden it?

Migraines… What Migraines?

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I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sixteen and was performing at camp with my high school pom squad. All of a sudden, I couldn’t hear the music and my vision became blurry. I somehow managed to finish the routine and promptly collapsed on the floor when we left the gym. My head hurt… like nothing I had ever experienced before. 

It wasn’t long before I was diagnosed with migraine headaches. And with migraines, come medications. LOTS of medications. I not only took prescription meds when I was experiencing a migraine, but I also took a daily medication to help prevent them. I shudder to think of the long-term effects these meds have had on my body. But what else could I do? Migraines are debilitating. If I didn’t take the meds, I couldn’t function. 

In 2005, I started going to a chiropractor that my mother recommended. I initially went for help with the curve in my spine and pain in my hands. Who knew that the first visit would change my life? After x-raying my neck and back, he asked if I had ever been in a car accident. I was in an accident when I was 13. Upon impact, I hit the windshield headfirst. This trauma was apparently so severe that I sustained a serious whiplash injury called “reverse neck.” As I was looking at my x-ray, I could actually see what he was talking about. Why didn’t the doctors mention this before? Great question! Throughout my life I have had numerous x-rays and MRIs (to rule out brain tumors) and no one told me what was wrong… until I met my chiropractor. 

Within 6 months, I was off all of my migraine meds. Depending on my stress levels, I only get 2 – 3 migraines each year. Which is no longer a big deal, because I go straight to my chiropractor who adjusts it out of me. UNBELIEVABLE! I was medicated daily for 16 years of my life… and it was completely unnecessary.

Let me clarify a few things:

1. I am in no way anti-Western medicine. I am so very thankful for the medical community! They save lives and bring relief to people every day. We would be a mess without them.
2. I AM against lazy medicine. I know doctors are over-worked and have to deal with insurance companies. But there has to be a way that we can do a better job of finding the cause of problems instead of just masking symptoms with medications.
3. Not all chiropractors are created equal. There are good ones and there are bad ones (just like with anything). There are also several different styles. My chiropractor went to Palmer Chiropractic College. He is a sports chiropractor who uses the following 3 methods: Gonstead, Diversified & Thompson. According to him, one method is NOT enough. They are taught all 3. If one doesn't work, they need to use the others to clear stuff.
4. Whiplash is NOT the cause of everyone’s migraines, so a chiropractor might not be able to help everyone.

The point is: You don’t have to settle for one person’s opinion regarding your healthcare. Be proactive. Do some research and don’t stop until you find the real cause of what ails you.