I've had 4 years of dealing with wonkyhead, so I guess that makes me almost an expert!
(This is loooooong--almost a pamphlet, you may want to hit the "print " button at the bottom and hard-copy it.)
Wonkyhead--that light-headed, heavy-headed, pressure-y, achy, dizzy, fatigued, off-balance, disconnected feeling we AN Survivors get which is triggered by visual/noise/movement stimulation. Whacks us right in the middle of trying to go about the daily business of living. Mine is particularly bad and, if not managed, can lead to a "brainwreck" in the blink of an eye. I've had to be "rescued" in the middle of my errand-running more than once. I'm coming up on my 4th year of living with wonkyhead and I've developed some personal strategies that have helped me cope and I thought I'd pass them along. We just can't stay home all the time and expect others to do all this crap, well, in early post-treat we can, but there comes a time where we must get up and get out! Here's what helps me.
You will need:
1. A chalkboard
2. A pen
3. A purse or pocket sized notebook (I like the mini legal pads)
4. A bottle of water that fits in your purse (guys, your backpack, fannypack, or man-purse)
5. A midsized cooler (I have a soft-sided one that lives in my car--always!)
6. One dollar bills
7. Handicap parking tag (really--without directional hearing and the wonkyhead experienced upon emerging from a busy, noisy store--this is essential, at least for me. I also have spatial disorientation and this helps me find my car as well. Call your neurologist and he'll fill out the DMV paperwork)
During the week, I write down grocery lists and various crap that needs to get done on the chalkboard. This is essential, because, having short-term memory loss, I will never remember everything needed all at once.
Plan, plan, plan: The night before my errand day, I use the pen and the notebook to complete the grocery list, and list all the errands--bank, Wally World, hardware store, etc. Then (and this is the important part,) I make myself a map of the errands. Well actually a list of the errands
in the order in which they need to be done as to avoid taking left-hand turns without a traffic light. This is the bane of my existence--left hand turns. Once I have the list of errands, which will probably include the grocery store, I make the grocery list. I try to think this one through and make the list according to the layout of the store. I shop at the same grocery store every time so I stay familiar with the products and their whereabouts! Don't worry about frozen or refrigerated items--that's what the cooler is for. I actually go to the grocery store first sometimes.
So
I try to get a good night's sleep and off I go! I stick a bottle of water in my purse--getting dehydrated will set off the wonkyhead quicker than anything I know, as will getting hungry and having my blood-sugar drop--so a snack goes in the purse as well.
In the grocery store, I shop with a pen in my hand and my list in the other (again, when wonkyhead sets in, short-term memory takes a hike!) so if I think of something I need while in the produce dept, it's written down by the time I get to the aisle where it is. I also always get a cart, even if I'm getting a few things--it gives me some stability. As I get stuff, I cross it off the list. I hate backtracking in the grocery store!
At the check out, if I have more than I can carry, and they ask if I want help out with my bags, I say "yes, yes, yes!" (after selecting the line with the cutest bag-boy!--we're in a college town so there's no shortage of these) No macho-girl here anymore--I want help. I always give him or her a tip of $2-3. By then my head is usually spinning pretty badly and it is totally worth it. Again, no directional hearing and wonkyhead make me a hazardous pedestrian.
Once I'm safely
back in the car, I give myself a few minutes to "de-stimulate" before I head off to the next destination. I just close my eyes for a minute or two--no music, a sip of water, just trying to relax. As I head out to the next errand, I try not to let other drivers bother me, particularly the ones behind me waiting for me to turn (right turn) Let'em wait and let 'em honk!
When I was first getting back to doing stuff like this, I learned to
set limits for myself--I'd do one errand first, and the next outing I'd do two. I'm now up to four, and five is a real stretch. I also give myself permission to come home, an errand or two not done, if I feel like I'm not up to it. Superwoman is now officially in retirement.
Not all of us have to be so anal about all this stuff, but there are those of us who still struggle with wonkyhead and headaches that start out as wonkyhead. It is quite frightening to be miles from home, in your car, by yourself, or even worse, with small children, and have a "meltdown." These are some strategies that work for the "new me." I hope it is helpful. Perhaps you could share what works for the "new you," too!
Huggles,
Captain Deb
