Health Update.

Hi Friends

I figured I better give you a health update, its now been just over 3 months since I started the Ajovy self-injections, I noticed a difference about 2 weeks after doing the first one.

The injections I have, have to be kept in a fridge until the day you are to do the injection, its recommended that you take it out of the fridge approximately 30 minutes prior to injecting, however, some people take it out before then, I myself find taking it out at lunch time and then doing the injection at around 4pm to be good.

Below are the screen shots of my migraine buddy diary beginning 1 January 2023 until today the 14 October 2023 and as you can see, the Ajovy is definitely helping.

If you dont know what Ajovy is, here's a little technical information.

Ajovy is a anti-CGRP medication, CGRP is calcitonin gene-related peptide, when you have a migraine your brain produces CGRPs and these make the blood vessels in your brain widen, which in turn then causes the pain associated with an attack, the Ajovy binds to the CGRPs so that they cannot bind with the receptors in our brains. Ajovy is also known as fremanezumab. As you can see from the diagram, if Ajovy had not worked I could still try the other CGRP medications as they all work in slightly different ways.

Last pic is a diagram of how the anti-CGRPs work.

In March 2023 I did have my regular botox for migraine but as you can see I didnt respond as well as previous sessions.

A Zoya A Day - Crystal

Hi Friends

Today on the blog I'm sharing my swatch and review of the stunning Crystal.

Available on the website - Yes

Brush used - Original

Does it stamp - Yes
Name - Crystal (2)
Year - 2023
Number - ZP1174

Coats - 1
Finish - Cream
Collection - Toasty
Colour - Grey/Taupe/Nude
Topcoat - No

Crystal can be described as a greyed, muted grey mulberry with warm undertones in a full coverage cream formula.

So Crystal to me is not a grey, I'll show it next to Abigail and Dove, its got a much more pink undertone.  Crystal has a great formula, no running or pooling and opaque in one sweet coat, she also stamps well.

The original Crystal was realised in 2010 in the Fire and Ice collection, I all of them except Gloria who is discontinued.

Yesterday I was supposed to get my botox for migraine treatment but I explained that the last round hadnt been as effective as the others so we've decided to try the new CGRP meds that are available for chronic migraine warriors.  I've got some reading to do and then make a decision as to which to try first.  Last pic is Mr Handsome sitting in the window spying on the neighbours this morning :).

A Zoya A Day - Sue

 Hey friends

Happy Friday, sadly I'm still struggling with pain, the diazepam only worked for a very short time so I've been given baclofen to see if we can stop my neck and shoulders from seizing and causing the pain. The other issue is that for someone with chronic migraine if we take too many painkillers, now I'm not talking about taking 3 or more cocodamol once or twice, but if say I took two cocodamol every day for five days I could go into whats known as a medication overuse headache also known as a rebound headache, which doesnt sound so bad, however, what that means is that when I do then take more painkillers they actually make the pain worse, in order to break that cycle I'd have to go cold turkey without any kind of pain med not even ibuprofen or aspirin for probably a month or more, for someone with chronic migraine that is my worse nightmare because most days I am in pain, be it migraine or arthritis.

A link to the NHS website on MOH - Rebound Heahache Info

Anyway, enough with the pain, we're here for the pretty polish.

Today on the blog we meet Sue

Available on USA website - Yes

Available on the UK website - Yes

Brush used - Original
Does it stamp - No

Name - Sue

Year - 2015

Number - ZP0815

Coats - 2

Finish - Matte Velvet

Collection - Winter Matte Velvets

Colour - Gold

Topcoat - No 

Sue by Zoya can be best described as a soft champagne gold with a multi-hued oyster shell pearl fleck in the traditional Matte Velvet finish.

This polish is stunning, its one of my fav golden neutrals as you can wear it matte or pop a topcoat on and it brings out the tiny sparkles.

Great formula, no running or pooling, probably I should have put a third coat on but sadly I cannot bend my head anymore today.

The last photo shows topcoat over my middle fingers and a close up shot of my thumb without topcoat which I hope shows off all that sparkle, so pretty.

A Zoya A Day - Penny

Hey friends

Today on the blog we meet Penny

Available on USA website - No

Available on the UK website - No
Brush used - Original
Does it stamp - Yes

Name - Penny

Year - 2009

Number - ZP0492

Coats - 2

Finish - Metallic

Collection - Truth

Colour - Brown

Topcoat - None

Penny is a discontinued polish and described as a shiny metallic copper with orange undertones and soft frosty gold shimmer.

This really is the colour of a new penny, there are brush strokes when its wet but those mostly go once its dried.  

This is available on Nail Polish Direct if youre in the UK and its only £4.21 which is a really great price!  

This had a great formula, no running or pooling and opaque in two coats. Looking at the pics the brush strokes are showing up way worse than in real life.

Not having the best time, I have chronic migraine and was getting botox injections every three months to combat them, my last treatment was in March, I was supposed to get another round in June but that didnt happen because of C19, so now I'm in a lot of pain, I took my abortive meds last night and it hasnt worked. I do have strong painkillers but theres no point in taking them when the abortive hasnt worked.