Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Memoirs of a migraine...or whatEVER it was that put me down for the count last night

I don't actually have migraines very often so I'm not really sure if it was a real one or not, which is why I'm leery of stating that what I had yesterday was indeed a migraine. No, I have never been to the doctor to have a diagnosis. If I were to have them more often, I'm pretty sure I'd be getting my butt in to see someone (well, not my butt actually, but you know what I'm trying to say!).


Severe pain? Oh Momma! That would be a "yes"!!
Nausea? Kind of a "hoojie" feeling (and yes, that IS an original word.)
Dizziness? Yea....that was freaky.
Visual disturbances? Does something like
this count....?
No...I didn't have pink eye, but I did have this strange bit of fuzziness on the outside of my vision. While I was in class, it was weird as I could see the kids' pencils and their paper, I just couldn't see what it was they were actually writing. Almost as if my eyes were refusing to focus on what they wrote.
When something like this happens and the fuzziness starts, I know that I need to get some caffeine into my system quick, to buy me some time to get home. Before my class, I bought a can of hot coffee from the vending machine (uh-huh...we do, too have them!). It seemed to help a little, but by the time class was over, I had picked up Koji and then grabbed stuff from the grocery store, I knew that the clock was ticking and I needed to get home.



That said....I got dinner done (don't ask me what we had for I really couldn't tell you) and by 9:30 I was ready to crash. By that time, the lights in the kitchen were making my eyes hurt, so...I bid everyone "adieu" and fell into the futon (that the K-man had so very nicely put done earlier....gotta remember to buy that man some chocolate for Valentine's Day!)

Was praying for Divine intervention by way of the "Migraine Zapper" I had actually seen somewhere on the Internet!!


I slept through the night until 6:30 this morning when my alarm went of and "Praise be the Lord!"....the pain was gone!! All that was left was an almost-hungover feeling that I had to deal with for most of the day. But...the worse part was over.
As for what on earth could have caused the mind-freezing, jaw clenching, "call my mommy and cry" pain?
It really could have been a number of things...or a combination of all those things.
I tend to look at these "episodes" as Mother Nature's way of telling me to slow the frick down....relax more...get more sleep at night...and more importantly...
take better care of myself.
Sort of like a really painful, bitch slap of love.
That said....it's a little after midnight and I...am...going to bed.
I'm turning the computer off (she typed, shakily).
I can....and will...read blogs tomorrow....AFTER getting some work done!
Tomorrow is a National Holiday here in Japan. I asked my students what holiday it was (I tend to forget which is which). One class said, "Like the 4th of July in the States."
Since I'm thinking it's not "Independence Day" they are talking about, I'm going to go with the National Foundation Day of Japan.
I'm sure there are better titles for that, but....
the clock is ticking and the futon is calling.
Sweet dreams, everyone.

11 comments:

Mrs. G. said...

I have never had a migraine, but my MIL suffers from them terribly. You poor dear.

Nancy said...

Oh boy! Migraines are awful and you described one perfectly, aura (the weird visual thing) and all. I hope you are feeling better!

smalltownme said...

That sure sounded like a migraine!

Gina said...

Sounds like a migraine to me. The visual aura and nausea are big tip-offs. I also get an auditory aura where everything sounds too loud and echoey. I'm glad to hear that sleep helped.. Now no more late nights for you this week!

shrink on the couch said...

Of course, only a doctor can diagnose, but it would make sense that it's a migraine, given your impulse to get some caffeine in your system .. migraines are believed to be vascular in nature, and caffeine helps on a vascular level.. but then, caffeine can also cause headaches, that is, the lack of caffeine can trigger a headache .. gah .. here's a link

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/triggers-caffeine

and yes, generally headaches are related to stress, so the idea of slowing down is usually helpful. not always doable, but helpful.

Mike Golch said...

I can relate to the migraine headaches.I get them after a seizure.

Janet said...

Poor Deb! I hope you're taking better care of yourself :-)

3rdEyeMuse said...

Am happy you woke to it being gone and hope you get/got even more done than planned. :)

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

It's important to listen to your body. I'm glad you're on the mend.

The Girl Next Door said...

Sounds AWFUL whatever you label it. Glad you woke up feeling better. How you functioned as long as you did is beyond me!

Karen MEG said...

It sounds like a migraine, poor you! I don't get them, but I can barely handle the normal variety!

I hope you're feeling better!