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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Diary of a migraine

 I am awaking from a migraine. It is a common thing, a regular occurrence for me. I have tried a gazillion ways to avoid them, I have seen many a doctor but the reality is that migraines are just something some of us have to deal with and swim through to the other side the best we can.

Oh the pain. The pain. It hurts.

I knew it was coming on Saturday. So I pretended this one would be ok. It wasn't too bad. I went to bed early, crossing everything that a good sleep would keep it away this time.

By 5 am I was scoffing down codeine. And nurofen. They come together in a neat little package. The package needs to be served with a Fibre gel chaser.

That codeine is no bowels friend.

It takes its time to settle in.

By 5.30am I decide a shower will help. Anything to stop the constant throb while I lie twisting in the dark with the pain.

For some people a migraine attacks their eyes making anything visual difficult. While I have this at times, mainly I find distraction a useful tool. Anything that takes my mind off the pain. It works best if I don't have to move. Reading can work for a short while. TV can work if it is not loud and too glarey. Social media can work too, but no one is there to talk on Sunday morning at 6am.

Because it is a Sunday Mr H is home. By now I have thrown myself into the spare room where no one comes to speak to me. Speaking and interacting can be difficult. It takes concentration and noise and means I have to move my head. I say no to all phone calls and utter one word replies to any questions.



At midday I move myself to the couch. I have a book and allow myself to keep reading it. Immy snuggles in with me, she has sniffy blanky and snorts away at the threads hanging off it. We sit there snuggled in silence.

Popps starts playing the keyboard. Mr H decides he is off to try his new golf clubs.

I call on my codeine package again.

We eat soup I have made the day before for tea.

I finish my book and go to bed but I can't sleep after lazing around all day.

The next day starts with a fresh throbbing pain. I turn to my new migraine friend, Mazalt. I don't know much about the drug. I am wary of it. I am not sure if I should be. It works. It dissolves on your tongue in seconds and then sends me rather spacey. My body feels odd, like I have less control of it and can't rely on it to do what I want it to. The feeling lasts for half an hour before slowly starting to leave and taking with it any pain at all. After an hour the pain is totally gone and I think I should have just taken the Mazalt first up the day before. But I never do, each time I try and beat the pain myself. Drink more water, avoid alcohol, get enough sleep, take a bath, do pilates, use voltaren, drink apple cider vinegar, walk more. Every time the migraine still attacks.

Maybe next time I will grab the Mazalt first and see how the diary goes.

21 comments:

  1. I know there's many causes of migraines but I've had what I'm sure are hormone related ones. I only guessed this because they were monthly. Now I take women's balance tablets daily that really seems to help. Keep meaning to blog about this. But in the meantime, I really sympathise with you.

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    1. Jen, Mine are certainly hormone related too, this was confirmed once and for all when I was pregnant - both times, not a single migraine!

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  2. I totally sympathise with you. I used to get them every month until I stopped taking the pill and then menopause hit and I am still dealing with that cr*p but at least the migraines have stopped.
    Maybe try taking the Mazalt first up next time and see if you manage to ward the migraine off altogether.
    Take care and I hope you feel better soon !
    Me

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  3. Maxalt and Imigran are my friends. The earlier I take them the better and my doctor told me that codeine has much worse side effects, like headaches, than the migraine drugs. Hope you don't have another for a while...

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    1. That's good to know Dorothy, my doctor didn't seem to know much about the maxalt - does it make you feel funny afterwards for a little bit?

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  4. I know how you feel. I suffered from my first migraine about 2 months ago and I really hate them. It was so bad. I now realize how bad they can be. It knocked me for about 3 days. Anyway, I agree, take the Maxalt straight away. The pain is too great.

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    1. Stocking up this week - you only get two in the box!

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  5. Oh Claire, I'm squirming just reading about your horrible migraine!
    Mine are head/eye pain, but even worse, the yucky nausea I have for the whole 3 days. I find the best thing for me is to take pain meds as soon as I get the aura in my right eye, at least then I have a fighting chance.
    Hopefully you're on the mend.

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    1. Thankfully the aura and nausea are not things I get, certainly wouldn't be able to distract myself from that.

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  6. oh claire you poor thing i used to suffer migraines at school but thankfully grew out of them. have you tried chiropractic? i used to work at a chiro office for 6 years and it is amazing how many it helped. take care x

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    1. I should try this, a physio can be great too, but its getting the appointment on the day that is really hard to do.

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  7. Oh you poor thing, that sucks. I get migraines very occasionally, usually one every 6 months or so and they are horrible. I know its coming if I've had a low-level headache for more than 48 hours and then bam, I can barely co-ordinate my body, I vomit, and then I can barely open my eyes because they become so light sensitive. Even lying in a darkened room, if the slightest bit of light comes in its like someone has taken a sledge hammer to my head.

    I am so thankful they don't happen often. As soon as the vomiting hits I know there is no coming back and all I can do is just lie in bed and try to sleep and ignore the pain until the light sensitivity goes away. Once I can see properly again I know I am on the way to recovery. Thankfully they've never lasted for more than about 36 hours but I always get nervous whenever I have even a slight headache, wondering what if?

    I'm glad you're feeling better now, there really is nothing worse.

    #teamIBOT was here!

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  8. I feel for you. I've been having hemi-cranial migraines for months (either that or cluster headaches - the neurologist doesn't know!) Steroids knocked them on the head, though (not so useful if the migraines only happen occasionally). It's so hard because you can't function, you can't look after your kids, or work. They SUCK mightily, so I'm really sorry that you're suffering with them. Kx

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  9. So sympathise with you. ..I also get them and am sure it's a hormone thing - none whilst pregnant. ..almost worth having another baby to be free of them for a while ;) I get nauseous and couldn't possibly read though, urghhh it's making me feel sick just thinking about migraines. Hope you knock the next one out super fast with your new drugs. X

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  10. So sympathise with you. ..I also get them and am sure it's a hormone thing - none whilst pregnant. ..almost worth having another baby to be free of them for a while ;) I get nauseous and couldn't possibly read though, urghhh it's making me feel sick just thinking about migraines. Hope you knock the next one out super fast with your new drugs. X

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  11. Another sympathiser here too. The Dr gave me maxalt wafers too and I was worried about taking them. I try and talk myself out of the headache too but the last one I took the maxalt and it definitely worked.

    Hope you stay well from now on.

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  12. Oh you poor love! I've only ever had four in my life, and it affects my eyes. Vision is the first thing that goes. Hugs to you. I feel your pain! X

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  13. I haven't had a migraine for years but my heart goes out in sympathy. The pain is bad enough, let alone the feeling that the migraine is holding you hostage. Mazalt sound short for Mazeltof, I'm sure it is your new best friend.
    xx

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  14. Claire, I raise my hand as a migraine sufferer too. I try all the things you have mentioned - but not Mazalt - might need to write it down so I don't forget to ask the doctor next time. It is quite scary how quickly a migraine stops everything else that you can do - I hope my children do not grow up to have these - thank you for sharing - nice to know that I'm not alone xx

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  15. You poor thing Claire. I too suffer from migraines. I see an Osteopath now and it helps a lot.

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  16. Ok Clairey, I feel your pain! I only get them occassionally but it's still too often. They attack the eyes for me, and usually I just sleep for hours on end.

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