Migraines

Have you ever had a migraine? If not, let me just say to consider yourself very lucky!

To put it bluntly...they are as close to hell as I think I can come to here on earth.

There are many different kinds of migraines and even more triggers for different people. For some it can be perfume, chocolate, or stress just to name a few. For me, my triggers are: PMS and/or AF, extreme stress, going a few days with not nearly enough sleep and, no caffeine. But every once in a while I will get one for no explainable reason at all.

Migraines can also vary in the length of time they are determined to hang around. Some last just a few hours, while some can last a few days. Those that last days are not fun!

My migraines are not always the same severity. Sometimes they aren't too bad and I can still function through the pain (like someone does when they have a "regular" headache). I might take some Ibuprofin and see if that helps first before taking my migraine meds. Sometimes if I lay down with a cool cloth over my forehead and eyes that'll help too. The mild ones are usually the ones that only last a few hours.

Then there are the times that I know Ibuprofin is not going to do the trick. I go straight for my migraine meds. I will also take Ibuprofin anyhow, because I know my body gets tense from the pain and I don't need a tension headache on top of the migraine.
For these more intense migraines, I will close the curtains in my bedroom, grab the cool wet cloth and cover my eyes and try to go to sleep. Sleep usually helps with these a lot. It won't make it go away, but it will definitely lessen it to the point I can function again.

Then there are the very severe migraines. Ibuprofin doesn't work, my migraine meds don't work either until I take them a few times over the course of a few hours. All I know is I can't see (not that I've gone blind, but the light stabs at my eyes, so I keep them closed). Every slight noise sounds like a jackhammer inches away from me. I feel like my head is in a vice grip that is being squeeze tighter and tighter. I also feel like vomiting and occasionally do. I want to cry, but know that that will only make my head hurt worse. My head feels like it will expode! I take Ibuprofin and my migraine meds every 4 hrs until the severity finally lessens, which is usually several hours. These severe migraines always last a minimum of 3 days. Fortunately though, they usually lessen by the 2nd day to where I can start to function again.

I have had to go to the ER twice for migraines. The first time was when I was officially diagnosed with them. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack or something. Jay drove like 90 mph all the way to the ER. I tease him now that he drove me to the hospital when we thought I might be having a heart attack because he's too cheap to pay for an ambulance. LOL At the ER my blood pressure was through the roof and my heart was pounding out of my chest. They needed to determine if the high BP was causing the pain in my head or the other way around (sort of like which came first...the chicken or the egg). Tests and meds determined that I was having a migraine and as soon as the pain lessened, my heart rate and BP both returned to normal.

The 2nd time we went to the ER for my migraines, I KNEW I was having a migraine, but I had vomitted all day and was in such severe pain and my migraine meds weren't touching it. A prescription shot and several hundred dollars later and life was good again.

Last night I started to feel a migraine coming on. This is one of those migraines where I have no clue why I am getting one. I took some Ibuprofin and went to bed. This morning it's still there, but still only a mild one and I'm praying it stays that way. We are going to a niece's wedding this afternoon and the last thing I want is to have a nasty migraine mixed with organ music....ack!

So again, if you've never had a migraine, count your blessings and don't add them to your Christmas wish list!