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Yesterday I had an appointment with a Neurologist that had been scheduled about a month ago to inquire about an increase in headaches I have been having recently.  This is the first time I have seen a specialist for my headaches, but I thought it was warranted as I have had more frequent migraines of late and some headaches (sub-migraine) that have lasted for extended periods of time. 

Karen has been treated for migraines for several years, but I have avoided the hardcore meds and tried to suffer through them.  To be fair, Karen has been affected much worse by migraines in terms of frequency and severity….to the point that she almost always gets sick to her stomach when she gets them.  I, on the other hand, usually just feel like crap for 8-12 hours, but don’t usually get sick to my stomach.  Karen has had a hard time getting a medicine that works, but recently the doctor’s have put her on blood pressure medicine to treat her migraines and she has done much better at avoiding them. 

After a lengthy workup yesterday, the doctor proclaimed that I suffer from classic, light-sensitive migraine headaches.  I think I told her that was my problem when I walked in, but it took her quite some time testing my reflexes, poking me with pins, having me stand on one-leg with my eyes closed, and much more tom-foolery, before she arrived at the same expert opinion.  The interesting thing that happens with me is that I usually get about 10-15 minutes of visual aura before I get the migraine (vision impairment to include spots/flashes/peripheral vision only, etc).  It is usually my warning sign that something bad is about to happen.  Of course, if this happens when I am driving…the “something bad” could happen sooner!  Fortunately, that has rarely happened. 

When all was said and done, I walked out with a bunch of tiny pills (Zomig) that I am supposed to take when I feel a migraine coming on.  The doctor assured me that the fatal coronary side effects were terribly infrequent which made me feel wonderfully reassured.  As much as I hate taking medicine, I will have to be hurting to take these. 

In other news, I may be getting another job in the coming months, but it is still up in the air.  there is a rumor that they are considering making me the deputy division chief (deputy to my current boss’s boss).  It is being considered as he currently has 2 deputies, but one has been made the program manager of a very high profile, aggressive new program (and he can’t do both jobs), and the other is looking at reassignment overseas.  Furthermore, my current deputy was just promoted to the same rank as me, and he needs to do something different with more responsibility.  So, they may move me up, and move him up to backfill my job.  I am not sure what I think about this, as it will be a lot different than being a Program Manager.  It would be a broader perspective, but not as much direct program responsibility.  I would have to become conversant on about 10 different programs, and would likely have to deal with a lot of organizational issues.  It would also likely curtail my travel, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  We will see how it plays out….but it would probably not materialize for a few months. 

Today marks 14 days into my new diet and fitness program.  I am happy to say that (with the exception of Wednesday) I have largely stuck to my diet plan this week.  On Wednesday, I committed the sin of stopping at a fast food establishment on the way home from work.  Even with that (and a catered lunch for a meeting at a local Unisys office), I maintained an average daily caloric intake of about 1400 calories (Wednesday was the peak at 2269 calories).  From a weight standpoint, I have shed another 3.5 pounds this week, for a cum loss of 11 lbs so far.  I think that is a reasonable, sustainable pace without killing myself.  I also hit the weight training three times this week, and will get a cardio workout in today.  It has been difficult getting the time/energy for cardio this past week as I have been getting home late every night.

As part of my plan, we go out to Logan’s Steakhouse once a week where I can have a salad, a 6oz steak (either sirloin or filet) and a grilled vegetable kabob (tastes great, lower calories than most traditional side dishes).  We did our Logan’s run last night.  Even though it is more calories than I would get in a nutrisystem meal, it allows me to feel like I am not depriving myself of a night out with the family, and still keeps my calories in the right zone.

After dinner last night, we thought about going to see “The Last Mimzy”, but opted for home movies instead (since the theater showing didn’t start until 9:50PM).  We stopped and rented “John Pinette; I’m Starvin’” (how appropriate, I thought!).  John Pinette is a stand-up comedian, and the video is of his routine shot in Montreal, Canada.  John Pinette used to be a very. very, very large man…..he has since lost about 100 pounds and is now just a very, very large man.  Years ago, I had seen his routine about going to a Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet….and having the owner come out after several hours of his feasting, and yelling “YOU…..BIG BOY….YOU GO NOW!”.  It is even funnier than it sounds.  Well, in this video, he continues with his largely “clean” humor…….a few swear words here and there, but mostly clean…..clean enough for the kids to watch it (the worst language was on the DVD extras in the Encore).  A lot of his material centers around his weight and lack of physical prowess.  He spends a lot of time talking about his weight loss, different diets, working out, and doing things that large men shouldn’t do (snow skiing, water skiing, water park visits, etc).  It was really very funny….worth the rent if you are looking for some good laughs. 

We also rented “Stranger Than Fiction” with Will Ferrell.  This is the movie that looked like it would be a comedy in the trailers….Will Ferrell going through life hearing the voice of a woman who is narrating his life as it goes….she is actually an author who is writing the story of his life, and she is trying to figure out how to kill him.  Thankfully for him, she has writer’s block.  Meanwhile, his mundane, ritualistic life as an OCD taxman start to change as he finds love and starts to find freedom from his OCD.  This movie was not really a comedy, but was interesting based on the premise.  It was also a bit slow in parts.  I would not give this movie a “must see” rating, but it was somewhat enjoyable. 

I head to San Diego tomorrow for the week, so my diet will be challenged.  I am trying to determine if I will bring my Nutrisystem meals with me.  I think I should…..just not sure I want to carry it all with me!!  Fortunately, the portions are small….so carrying it is not a huge issue!  We are trying to determine what to do today.  We may well go swimming at the local Aquatic Fitness Center.