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Tonight we had a scare.
(This is Susan here, by the way.
Janice will be back to blog next week.)
At 7:00 this evening, my husband arrived home hardly able to breathe, with a thundering headache and reporting terrifying symptoms such as numb and tingling arms and hands. He was so sick he collapsed on the couch and could barely speak.
He is a normally healthy person and has never had the pleasure of a serious headache or really any illness whatsoever. So this was very alarming.
We called 911 and moments later I could hear the sirens.
They checked him out quickly and then brought him to the hospital. After the doctor looked Rob over and discussed his symptoms, the doctor was quite confident that it was just a migraine. They kept him on an IV with some medication for the next couple of hours and then discharged him. He’ll go back tomorrow for a CT scan to make sure that it was just a migraine. But, he is doing so much better already, that I’m very confident that it was just a massive headache.
Thank the Lord!
But this scare is a huge reminder to us that we need to take better care of our health.
In our family, workaholism, stress and lack of sleep are a way of life. Ironically, my husband is normally the least guilty. But his job as a software developer and team lead has been enormously stressful for the last couple of years and especially lately. He was working until 1:00 AM last night and up again early to work a long day today. Also, the night before he hardly had any sleep.
So I’ve decided we are turning a leaf. A healthy, green leaf.
We are going to make an effort to try to de-stress, exercise and sleep more. (But as I type this it’s already midnight and only my baby is asleep. Darn. Okay, we’re getting to bed soon.)
How are you and your family doing in the healthy-balanced-life department?
Do you need to join me in my effort to establish balance in my family’s life?
Do you have any tips for keeping your family stress-free and healthy?
Jenn says
Well as a single, work from home mom of two, I struggle with this every day too! I sure will be headed here for some support, information, tips and tricks! I am excited to hear what “might help” I sit here typing this at almost 12, and am lucky most days to get to sleep before 2! ACK! Stress is on my plate daily, and I long to try to beat it before it beats me!
God bless and I am soo glad your hubby is ok!
Jae says
Thank goodness your hubby is ok. Migrains aren’t fun, but it’s much better then the alternative. Making healthy livestyle changes can be hard – especially on the sleep and destressing area. The most satisfying destresser I have is Yoga and reading for enjoyment. Those two things REALLY help. Otherwise, I’m with a few other repliers – TAKE YOUR VITAMINS! (See my blog too for other tips.) Mama very often often the last in line for health, sleep, rest, relaxation – and so on, and so on. 😉 We’re very selfless that way (us women). Try to take care of you too, and that way you’ll be more energized to take good care of children an hubby. 🙂
Lori says
After reading this post I had to step back and look at my own life — including my family’s! We could always improve our eating habits and activity. The TV is such an addiction and computer games do not help either.
It is unfortunate that we have to go thru this circumstances, but it causes us to grow and learn. Glad all is ok!!!!!!!
suzmom says
enjoy your blog a lot..I will be praying for you & your
husband,try to rest when you can,eat as well as you
can..God Bless you!
Monogram Momma says
Glad I stumbled upon your blog.
aubrey says
Migraines certainly can be terrifying, especially when accompanied by such scary symptoms. A few tips I picked up on my neurology rotation: (I’m a fourth year medical school student, hoping to become a family doctor.) The neurologists I worked with had a lot of dietary/lifestyle recommendations to prevent headaches. first of all, get into good sleep habits. Make sure you are sleeping enough, and use your bedroom only for sleep. No TV, bill paying, etc while in bed. Limit caffeine as withdrawal can precipitate headaches. Tyramine and nitrites can also be problematic. Foods like bacon, pepperoni, or other preserved and seasoned meats often contain these, as can wines. Chocolate can also cause problems. I’d also recommend trying to get some exercise. First of all, it is good for your heart and health in general, but it can also help you sleep better, which also improves health. Vitamins are always a good idea, but you do have to be careful if you try taking herbal supplements. These aren’t regulated by the government and can contain harmful ingredients. And eating right also is a good idea!! I hope all the tests go well and that he continues to improve!
Susan says
Thank you all so very much for your kind comments.
We are so very thankful that Rob is doing well and the CT scan today showed that he’s okay and it was likely a severe migraine brought on by stress and exhaustion.
He’s taking the weekend off from work (he’s been working most weekends lately) and hopefully will not get himself as exhausted again.
So far for my first day of my new leaf, I haven’t done too much different… but I did manage to get a bit of sleep this morning as Rob played a bit with Julia. But I still do feel very worn out and I have lots of work to do tonight.
It’s really tough to get enough sleep and exercise while being a work at home mom, so I will try to do my best to make gradual changes. As Dana suggested I’m not going to make too many radical changes that I won’t be able to maintain.
Thanks again,
Susan
Mrs Blythe says
How terrifying! But praise God it was a migraine – well I’m sure God didn’t send the migraine, but it is good to remember to look after our health sometimes.
john creator of teething-teeth.com says
Life throws so many curves at us… we are constantly bombarded with one
teething problem after the other. We have to take the time to rest and just chill. I am figuring out that there will be no end to the amount of problems that we will face but we have to continue to pursue lifes teething issues with our own personal health at the forefront. No one will care for us like we will… thanks for that article… it was a good reminder.
Sandra says
I’m SO glad he is fine, what a scare it must have been for you both. Praise the Lord for it not being anything serious.
Hope the tests go ok.
Nikkie says
I’m glad that it wasn’t something serious! I get migraines, or I did haven’t had one yet since I had the baby.
I’m not the greatest in the health department. I often wait stupid amounts of time to see a doctor when something is wrong. I don’t get enough sleep and I too need to learn how to destress!
Kristen says
I’m glad it was nothing more serious. I hope the tests go OK. My husband and step-son suffer from the occasional migraine and it just sounds awful.
Susanne says
Oh and I’m so glad your husband is feeling better and I pray those tests go good today!
Susanne says
Although I am horrible in this area, enough sleep is imperitive for good health. More and more studies are showing how important this really is to all your daily functions and everyday life and the stress it throws your way! My hubby is so good at this. He’s an early riser and therefore goes to bed early. He makes sure he gets 8 hours. He has made himself strong in saying no to somethings that happen in evenings so that he can make sure he doesn’t have a late night on workdays.
mom2fur says
Well, first, I’m glad he is all right and hope that never happens again. Now, health–a few years ago I was really sick for about 8 months. I mean, really sick to the point where I could barely choke down a bottle of Ensure in a day. I hate the stuff, but I thought it was at least one way to get nourishment in me. I lost 30 pounds until a doctor finally found ‘tears’ in my stomach–this after 3 other doctors missed them. Days after starting meds I was almost better. Now I’m 100%–except I don’t eat some foods. Okay, my point…I started to take vitamins on a regular basis because I sure wasn’t getting nourishment from food. I never believed in them from food. But I tell you, I’ve been on the vitamin kick for about 3 years now. And I haven’t had a cold in almost 2 1/2 years. I’m not kidding–next January marks 3 years without a cold. (I’m not stupid–I know one will get me, but it’s nice to brag, LOL). So take your vitamins! Take a really good multi, or a pack–you’ll find the one you like best. I prefer Olay Energy vitamins, but they are pricey so I alternate them with other one-a-days. It really has made a difference!
mommy says
What a scary experience! I know that my hubby and I stress way too much. Today, my husband has two interviews with different companies, which he cannot share with his current boss. It is very frightening. On top of that, we have been working on our house while my son is cutting his first tooth. Needless to say, we have been under a lot of stress lately. So I think we really need to join you and relax a little more.
Carol says
How frightening for you! Those symptoms sound exactly like what I experienced when I had a reaction to Aspartame one time. I was going to call 911, but hubby wasn’ t home, the kids were very small and we had just moved to a new town, so who would I leave the kids with? I called hubby instead and everything turned out okay, but I totally avoid Aspartame now.
I hope it’s nothing serious and he’s recovers soon.
Jodi says
How scary for you and your family! Stress is a kicker for us as well. Looking forward to hearing about some great tips to destress!
Buffy says
It’s odd the way we’re so health conscious about the things we eat and the way we exercise….we never think about stress.
This is something I tackle everyday.
I’m determined not to let it beat me.
Will check back regularly for ‘stress busting’ tips.
Hope your hubby is well soon.
Adventures In Babywearing says
Gosh, same here. My hubby’s work has really stepped up lately where he’s even pulling some all-nighters, then going straight back to work… and I find that I’ve gotten accustomed to the late bed-time and even when I HAVE the chance to go to sleep earlier, I am wide awake!
Suzy says
Boy your family sounds exactly like mine! If you do find some helpful hints or tips, please pass them my way. I’m sitting here typing this with little sleep and a full day ahead. Ughhh….God please give me the grace to make it a good day!
So happy to hear that your hubby is okay!
~~hugs~~
Dana says
GOOD LUCK!
be careful not to radically change every single thing all at once! start with sleep (ever tried melatonin?) and a modifying a meal a day. After a week maybe try modifying all the meals. remember that everything you change is beneficial even if you don’t do it all at once! MOST OF ALL–don’t just throw in the towel just because you have a bad day or a bad week! just start new the next day and carry on!
i am SO GLAD your husband is ok!