I’m honestly not quite sure where this belongs, so I suppose I'll just toss it here—anyway, I am on the hunt for something to wear to a wedding this July. It doesn't strictly have to be a dress, though if I go that route, I'll need some seriously formal trousers paired with an equally fancy top. My brother is getting married, after all.
To give you some context, I’m an XXL woman (size 18/20, though if luck is on my side, I might squeeze down to a 16 by summertime) and I'm on the taller side. I always seem to run into trouble with tailoring—it never quite turns out the way I envisioned, and I’ve had to endure more than a few snide remarks from seamstresses along the way... usually, I just stick to places like C&A or Kohl's and similar shops. But GOOD GRIEF, where on earth am I supposed to find a decent outfit? I'd really rather avoid buying anything online if I can help it. I’m willing to consider options in Chicago, Cleveland, Kansas City, or maybe even New York.
Look, I’m a firm believer in the whole psychosomatic connection—you know, how the mind can really mess with the body—but... I don't know, it feels a little bit out there to suggest you could actually influence your actual bloodstream like that, doesn't it?
It’s common knowledge that people dealing with high blood pressure really ought to steer clear of any positions where they're essentially sending all the blood rushing to their head, which is a genuine concern. Handstands, for instance, are definitely off the table. Personally, I find myself frustrated by anything that forces me to tilt my head back excessively—like hanging curtains, or, don't laugh, but trying to finish a drink from a bottle when it gets to the bottom and you have to crane your neck—or even tilting forward, such as during certain yoga poses where you're on all fours and forced to stare down at your own stomach... which, frankly, isn't my cup of tea. However, my head never throbs quite as intensely during specific exercises as it does during others. I'll try to track down some images online so I can better illustrate what I'm getting at.
So, it happens the moment I lift my head off the mat. It isn't an immediate pain, either; rather, it hits once I've finished my routine and I attempt to stand up. I did experiment with keeping my head pressed against the floor during the movements, but the pain persists, albeit slightly diminished. Based on everything I've researched and the various insights you all have shared here, I suspect that in that particular position, my spine might be pinching a nerve, or perhaps it's obstructing blood flow to my brain in some way, causing a sort of physiological short circuit.
But now I'm at a bit of a loss—should I just scrap abdominal exercises entirely? And if I do, what options am I actually left with to work on strengthening my Neck Muscles?
wiredcanyon2 said:Where exactly is this pain settling in? Is it a full-blown, all-over headache, or more localized—maybe just hitting your forehead or the back of your head? I’m curious about the sensation itself, too. Are we talking about that sharp, rhythmic pulsing that makes you want to hide in a dark room, or does it feel more like someone is physically sitting on your shoulders? You know that heavy, crushing tension that starts deep in your Neck Muscles and just radiates upward into the base of your skull?
If you ask me, that headache is likely just your blood pressure spiking while you're working out—which, let's be honest, is a perfectly normal physiological response to pushing your body through a session. But when you factor in the cervico-cephalic syndrome, things get a bit more complicated; those headaches tend to travel right along with that kind of neck tension. Once you add those two variables together, well... you can probably see where this is heading.
I feel like I might have mentioned this somewhere already, but since you took the time to actually get back to me, let me try to explain it again—it’s a bit tricky to put into words. Imagine you’re lying flat on your stomach, right? And just as you’re trying to push yourself up, someone comes along and firmly presses your head back down toward the floor with their foot. That’s the sensation. It isn't that sharp, throbbing kind of pain; it's more of a dull, heavy ache, if such a thing even exists. The forehead itself never hurts, nor does the area around my temples. What happens is more specific—for instance, when I wear my hair in a ponytail right in the middle of my head, I’ll get this regular discomfort right at the base of the ponytail or just behind it. Sometimes the tension spreads all the way down to my neck. Honestly, there are moments where it feels like I could actually reach out and physically touch the spot that's hurting, if you catch my drift. Every time I end up in the ER, they always write down "occipital"—some sort of headache diagnosis, anyway. Forgive me, I’m not home right now, so I can't double-check the exact wording on my medical report.
I have this tendency to deal with headaches quite frequently—they’re a bit of a recurring theme in my life—and they usually settle right in that same spot, but I can say with absolute certainty that nothing has ever hit me quite like this, especially not following those specific exercises in the position I mentioned earlier.
I find myself nodding along with your "diagnosis," though I’m still at a complete loss as to what the actual remedy might be. When I sat down with my doctor to ask how on earth I could strengthen the area that’s causing the most trouble if I’m physically incapable of performing the core exercises they prescribed, she just gave me this dismissive wave of the hand and suggested that the physical therapist would simply show me some alternatives. Well, I went to the clinic, and apparently, there are no alternatives—they insist those specific movements are the only way. So, does anyone have a suggestion? For the time being, I’ve just decided to steer clear of any abdominal work entirely; frankly, the headaches have been terrifying enough, and even if my blood pressure wasn't actually high, I’m certain it spiked quite a bit from the sheer panic of it all.
I’m weighing every single one of your comments carefully... honestly, I just went in for an abdominal ultrasound and everything came back perfectly fine—just glowing reports all around. My blood work is stellar, too. No issues with my blood sugar, no cholesterol problems... it’s almost laughable, really. There isn't any vascular blockage either, so we can rule that out. The only thing every doctor seems to insist on telling me is that I’m just incredibly tense, which apparently causes my Neck Muscles to tighten up and restrict blood flow... but even then, that doesn't quite explain why I get those headaches during the specific exercise positions I mentioned earlier. Besides, most of my "extra weight" is concentrated right around my midsection, so... well, we all know that's the worst kind for heart health. I'm aware. I'm working on it. But you can't exactly shed thirty-five years of accumulation overnight. For now, I think I might step away from yoga for a while and switch over to walking or cycling instead... though it feels like a bit of a waste, since I wasn't actually a huge fan of yoga to begin with, and it was much easier to manage during the winter months...
Susan Adams66 and Bradley Morgan3... well, thank you both. I really appreciate you taking the time to weigh in; reading through your perspectives has been quite helpful, as I hadn't truly considered how all these different pieces might actually connect until now.
Thanks so much, 😁. And if you don't mind me asking—though I feel like a bit of an idiot even bringing it up—how exactly did you manage to just stay still? Like, were you just lying there? In what kind of position? Maybe with your head propped up on some pillows, almost to the point where your chin is resting against your chest? I only ask because that feels like such a nightmare for your Neck Muscles... how did you actually navigate that? Was it through the movement you mentioned earlier?
This might turn into a somewhat lengthy post, but I would truly appreciate it if anyone with a bit of patience and actual expertise could offer some guidance:
1. I’m dealing with hypertension and what they call cervicobrachial syndrome (though personally, I feel like it's more cervicocephalic, but let's not get bogged down in semantics...) 2. I am overweight, though I’ll go so far as to say that for someone carrying extra weight, I’m surprisingly flexible—doctors have actually double-checked my weight on different scales because I look like I’m at least 20kg lighter than I really am, despite being over that amount above my ideal weight. 3. I went to physical therapy where they showed me a series of exercises that all required being on my stomach. 4. During that very first session, I performed those exercises continuously for about 20 minutes, only to end up in the neurology department because I was hit with a headache so intense I couldn't even drive myself home—nothing like I've ever experienced in my life. They gave me something, sent me home, and insisted it was just from the exertion; they claimed that as I increase my activity, the headaches would become less frequent and less severe, implying this was perfectly normal. 5. For the remaining nine days of therapy, the head pain subsided slightly, but I suspect that was mostly because I was being a bit clumsy with my pacing. 6. My primary care physician suggested I ask for different types of exercises, yet the physiatrist and the physical therapist both insisted there aren't any other variations besides the ones done on the stomach. 7. After finishing those sessions, I decided to enroll in a yoga class. 8. For two months, I felt like a million bucks; the headaches were gone, and while we did some movements similar to the ones in physical therapy, I would either skip them entirely or just do a few repetitions... 9. However, as the difficulty of the poses increased along with the number of repetitions, I experienced a recurrence of that same unbearable headache I had during physical therapy. I can actually feel the blood rushing to my head right before it starts... 10. These headaches are always accompanied by a spike in my blood pressure. I’m already on medication for hypertension, and through careful monitoring, I’ve concluded that whenever my blood pressure rises, my head *always* hurts, but most of the time when my head aches, it isn't due to high blood pressure, since my levels rarely spike now that I'm on tablets. The thing is, for the last year, my head has been hurting almost daily, regardless of my blood pressure or exercise... sometimes it's a dull ache, sometimes it's intense. Every doctor simply tells me it's due to the cervicobrachial issue and that there isn't much to be done, so I just take Diazepam and painkillers.
That last point, while certainly the most significant, isn't actually what I'm here to ask about; I've already addressed that in a different thread. What I'm really seeking perspectives on is this: Does anyone have an explanation for why my head specifically hurts during floor exercises done on my stomach? My own theory is that it's either the sheer effort involved, or perhaps because lifting my head off the floor causes me to pinch a nerve between my vertebrae, which are already a mess. It doesn't hurt *during* the movement itself, but rather when I try to lift myself back up to a standing position. It feels as if someone is using their foot to press my head back toward the floor while I'm struggling to resist. It's hard to move. It's easier if I transition slowly—moving to my elbow, then my hip, and finally sitting up fully—if I stretch that process out over five minutes. And one more thing: are there truly no other exercises for cervicobrachial issues besides these abdominal/stomach-based ones? Why aren't exercises focused on the back considered beneficial?
I only just noticed, after reading your post carefully today, that you included a diagnosis in the title that wasn't mentioned in the body of your message. Have you been diagnosed with TIA? Or has any specific diagnosis been given at all?
Ma'am,
That's a very interesting question. It is a fact—as you noted—that individuals who have experienced a TIA carry an increased risk of a subsequent ischemic stroke. That is precisely why thorough diagnostic workups are essential. The reality is also that a stroke can often be prevented if we successfully identify and manage the risk factors that triggered the TIA in the first place. This might involve prescribing medications, sometimes anticoagulants, or even indicating surgical intervention, such as a carotid endarterectomy.
A-ha, I hadn't realized that. So, there actually is something that can be done after all. That leads me to another question: is it truly possible for a TIA to slip by unnoticed? I mean, could someone, say, lose consciousness for a moment but snap back immediately without any other neurological symptoms appearing? Imagine if they ended up in the ER, but instead of getting any real "brain work" done beyond an EEG and some basic blood work, the doctors just chalked it up to old diagnoses—concluding that their cervical spine was the culprit behind the episodes and headaches. If this happened a few years ago and hasn't repeated since (though the headaches persist, even if most doctors now insist the issue lies with the spine rather than anything "in the head"), would there have been any actual indication to pursue further testing at that time?
Edit: They did perform that... I can't quite recall the exact terminology... a carotid ultrasound or something similar... and everything came back fine. But the spine is definitely problematic; that’s already been established via X-ray and MRI as a cervicobrachial issue.
hollowlynx6 said:Thanks! 🙂When I was taking Diane, everything was covered by my insurance, but I'm guessing these newer ones might cost a bit more out of pocket even with coverage..? 🤔
Everything except for Lyndette20, though even then, their coverage is only partial, which means you end up footing the bill all over again every single month... if my math serves me right, it’s roughly around... $12Regarding those pills everyone seems to be buzzing about lately—honestly, if you’re looking for a straight answer on the exact price, you aren't going to find much comfort in a single number. It’s all a bit of a moving target, isn't it? Between the retail markups at places like CVS or Walgreens and whatever specialized pharmacy decides to charge that week, the cost fluctuates more than my interest in most modern art. You might see one price online through a mail-order service, only to realize the shipping or the insurance co-pay turns it into something entirely different by the time it actually hits your doorstep. It’s a bit exhausting, really, trying to pin down a definitive figure when the whole system feels designed to keep you guessing. Just keep your eyes open, because the "sticker price" is rarely the final act.
Kimberly Rivera14 said:Can you even take a pregnancy test while you're on your period? Or should I wait until it stops? Just want to be safe and check.🙂
God, I know the feeling... honestly, I ended up in the ER today because my blood pressure spiked and my head was absolutely pounding... and then, just a moment ago, I saw the forecast saying it might drop to 60 degrees this Monday, and I just... oh boy.
I can’t say I’m entirely surprised by the lack of engagement on this thread... unfortunately, we’re still dealing with such a backward mindset where people cling to the outdated notion that HIV only affects sex workers or the gay community. There’s this pervasive, dangerous myth that you can’t contract HIV from just one encounter, either... but let’s be real, nobody walks around with their status tattooed on their forehead. If I had to bet, I’d wager there are corporate executives, university professors, and suburban housewives among those living with it right now.
I find myself pondering a rather unsettling question... if you've already been through the ringer with a TIA, what exactly serves as a warning sign that a full-blown stroke might be looming on the horizon? I mean, what's the telltale indicator? Because, if I’m being honest, at first glance, it feels as though there’s absolutely nothing one can do to stop it from happening.
I can't tell if you skipped over my previous post on purpose or if it just slipped through the cracks, but I did mention that you really ought to see an OB-GYN first. Having such short cycles isn't exactly standard procedure, and honestly, it might point toward a more significant underlying issue. Why wasn't a visit to the specialist on your radar before deciding to start trying? It feels a bit like you're willing to play a game of "well, everything is probably fine, let's just go for it," which is a risky way to approach things. Look, if that's how you want to handle it, that's your call, but there are plenty of women who focus entirely on the goal of getting pregnant while completely overlooking their own health and the potential impact on the baby because they didn't take the time to ensure everything was actually okay beforehand. Just some food for thought. For all we know, one of those earlier periods could have been an undetected early miscarriage... and if I recall correctly, you mentioned this recent one was quite heavy. It seems to me that instead of asking "am I pregnant?", the question you should have been asking was "what is going on with my body?"
Were your cycles always this short even before you started taking Longest? I mean, every 20 to 25 days is definitely not the standard rhythm. And did you actually manage to see a gynecologist during that gap in between? It really isn't wise to start thinking about pregnancy without getting a professional opinion first. Cycles that brief can stem from so many different underlying issues, and frankly, any one of them could end up being a hurdle for both conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy.
I mean, look, I wasn't exactly expecting miracles overnight... but I can't shake this feeling that my dermatologist isn't really planning on keeping me on this specific regimen much longer. It feels like they're constantly nudging me toward these other options—the premium ones, naturally—which I have absolutely zero interest in. Honestly, it’s just not happening; besides, those expensive alternatives won't actually address my hair thinning or the texture issues I'm dealing with. So, I suppose I’ll just wait and see what they have to say in about two months when I head back in for my follow-up. They won't give me a six-month prescription, just three. If I can actually find another specialist with an opening, I might even consider switching doctors altogether.
Anyway, if my memory serves me right, I think the instructions mention you should start seeing some actual improvement after about three months, so just keep that in mind... though I guess it’s all highly individual and depends on how severe your symptoms are to begin with.
I suppose I should express some regret... though I did stop taking them because the headaches became simply unbearable... still, I’ve decided to give it another shot since I deal with other underlying conditions that could be triggering these migraines, so now I'm just observing, trying to figure out if the culprit is the condition itself or the medication—that was the advice from both my specialist and my primary care physician back at the clinic. To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't even consider using them if I weren't planning on becoming intimate again, but here we are... I'll just have to see how it unfolds. During my first three months on them, I didn't notice any real improvement regarding the unwanted hair growth... maybe a tiny bit... but I certainly didn't have the issues I've described until now, aside from those headaches...
wiredlynx66 said:Thanks everyone... I mean, I already thought of that... I was planning on using a condom for the first month anyway. I'm such a klutz, honestly... But wait, will I actually get my period this month, or does that only happen after I finish the whole pack?
I think I already touched on this earlier... basically, you probably won't experience actual bleeding just yet. You might get some spotting that lasts a day, a few days, or it could even stretch until you're finishing the next pack. Honestly, it varies so much from person to person that it’s hard to say for sure; sometimes nothing happens at all. Usually, the withdrawal bleeding doesn't really kick in until that break after your second pack. Every scenario is on the table, so just let us know how it goes... though, I'm not quite sure why you're asking if it happens only after the full pack—you'll be taking that break between the second and third packs, so there's no need to run them back-to-back. That’s when the bleeding typically occurs.