Uh, yeah.  A huge, resounding YEAH, baby!!!!!!  Or, at least a murmuring maybe.   Your experimentation with your sleeping position might prove interesting, but I'm guessing that your SOM is a likely candidate for your discomfort.

 

Most of us have a subtle head-tilt which throws your entire upper body out of whack.  Mostly it gives us a pensive appearance. You know, like we are paying such rapt attention to what someone is telling us, or what we are seeing, that we end up canting our head to the side like a curious basset hound, huge, ropy strand of drool and all. 

 

It might be worthwhile to pay attention to your head position for a bit.  I had my hair cut on Monday and had to consciously keep my head in a balanced, upright position.  A few decades of having this head-tilt means that forcing my head to a normal position feels weird and becomes painful if I try to hold it for any length of time.  Go plant yourself in front of a mirror and see if you can replicate what I've described.  Bet you a nickel you have a head-tilt.

True, that.  I wonder if I will ever have strong and hearty muscles in the left side of my neck again.  Look at photographs--and note where your head is.  Mine (pre surgery) is almost exclusively trying to lie down on my left shoulder.  I look like a curious bird. It takes conscious practice to not do that now that I don't have to. Never linked the chest msucle strain I sometimes feel sharply.  Ah ha.  Thanks for the insight.

Thanks, Annie.  If you think about it, tilting one's head all (or most of) the time can't help but affect many of the muscles of the upper body.  I really don't know if or how one undoes the injustice and assault done to all of those muscles.  I often have pain in my chest, but it takes some reminding to myself and my doctor that it is because of how SOM misused the muscles, and not due to my heart murmur.  That said, women of our age really shouldn't ignore any kind of chest pain.  We have heart problems just as frequently as men do.  I would think, as a fellow surgical member that a year is not nearly long enough to readjust, doncha think?

It's better than anywho.

 

So, fine.

So, coffee in the morning, then work.

So, who would let you have a library card?

So, better get that done before your next gig.

So...

So, have you also noticed that we end our sentences with "and so"?  And we free- form with prepositions. Like, doncha hate it when you go by your friend's for six and she's not even close to ready, and so?  Aw cripes, that makes me so mad, then.

 

I'm not a native.  I moved here (Packerland) in 1973, but I am now a part of the culture.  I go places for a time and stay by my mom's, and get expecially flustrated about things.  Like that pulled twangy chest muscle that comes of having one of those classic head tilts that you read about--bad enough that I realize I pulled the left shoulder up to meet the ear in an attempt to level my gaze to some degree.  It is still such a habit.  Probably I permanently deformed my neck.  No wonder the muscles in the chest are slowly yielding.  And so.  

 

True--any new chest pain ought to be taken seriously.  I ended up four years with a dear friend in the ER one Saturday morning--she felt sick, had a mild pain in her RIGHT arm, and looked awfully gray.  She called me because she didn't feel well enough to drive. Bam  Heart attack.  Totally blocked right ascending artery (I think).  What a shocker.   She's ok now, but she called me instead of the ambulance, and I get shaky when I think of driving her to the hospital with neither of us knowing what was going on with her heart.

 

So, ya Tony, we love you then.          Annie   

So, he's probably happily eating out with his pretty wife, listening to the friendly waitress ask, "So, were youse ready to order, then?" while you still eke out a living.  Took me years to figger out that waitresses never address you in the present tense.  Also that "Hey" could be freely substituted for "Then" or even added for more verbal thrust.  "So, How do ya think those Packers are gonna do on Sunday, then, Hey?"

 

Truth to tell, I did try for awhile to will the SOM gremlin into peaceful slumber.  I think I thought it worked.  I think I was incorrect.  However, it's a good exercise, and maybe it will actually work for some.  I believe that on certain days, I can will my back to feel better, but possibly that's just the overall good pressure of positive thought.  Either way, it reduces negativity, and one can fall into that pretty easily when SOM symptoms rear up and eveything seems to be tainted by the disorder which also takes over a part of your head, a chunk of your balance, and a feeling of helplessness over this thing.

 

Annie

If you really want to use a non-invasive technique to help with your symptoms, this one is tried & true, having been used successfully by some of our members.

 

It involves spinning on your head, during the phase of the full moon, whilst humming show tunes.  Companion animals who can hum along are recommended.  Finish with dark & dreamy chocolate and champagne,.  Although it is permissible to substitute with the beverage of your choice, that might not give you the full benefit.

 

 

Another viable option is to print out two copies of this next image, putting one on your refrigerator and carrying the other in your wallet/purse/backpack/national disaster survival kit.

 

 One of our early attempts at symptom control was to wear your official SOM  mumu and have coffee with your companion animal.  Although I do seem to remember that Jeanie had vodka martinis in her mug, with equally good results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rats.  I forgot to mention that the spinning needs to be done in the bathtub (empty...for those of you who need the specifics).  Other locations may will have unfortunate results, much too scary to consider.  Shudder.

 

And, the champagne can be the cheap stuff from the grocery store.  It is the combination of the alcohol and the bubbles that is essential for a good result.  Using other bubbly or carbonated beverages will result in abrasions on the top of your head, and the development of coldsores.