I Figured It Was Time...

The first one I ever had was in 2007. I had just about a year's break before the next one came along. Then, I was able to make it through 2009 and 2010 without having any.  The episode last night made up for skipping two years.  Yes, it was time for one of my migraine episodes.

I'm assuming migraines vary from person to person.  I know a woman on FB that posts while apparently suffering from a migraine.  The first thing that comes to mind is, "How the eff can you be sitting up and typing while having a migraine?!?".  But, if it's the worst headache she's ever experienced, then I suppose that's what a migraine is to her.  My migraines? They are much, much different.

I was getting ready for bed around 11:00 when I noticed I had a slight headache on the right side of my head.  Whenever the pain is concentrated on that side, my first thought is always, "Geez, I hope it's not a migraine".  Little did I know what the next few hours had in store for me.  The pain began to rapidly increase and by 11:45, I was laying in bed with a bag of frozen peas on my head in a vain attempt to lessen the pain.  I tried switching positions so I could lay on my face and keep as much pressure on my face/head as possible.  I tried sitting up.  Nothing was working.

By 1:00am, I was sitting up in bed, rocking back and forth and moaning.  It honestly felt like contractions and that I had to breath through them.  Mike was downstairs and wouldn't have heard my pathetic cries, even if I had tried.  When he finally did come upstairs, he found me sobbing on the bathroom floor, my face pressed against the toilet seat.  I was in the midst of puking.  The crying only made the headache worse, but it also made me feel better.  It was like it was a release for the pain.

With cold cloths on my neck and face, Mike helped me back into bed.  I felt minutely better and thought I would be able to sleep, but my head had other plans.  Within a half hour, I was back in the bathroom, puking my guts out and, more or less, making my deals with God to let me live.  I vaguely remember making a promise that, after I had my next baby, I would personally end world hunger by breastfeeding everybody or something like that.  When my stomach was empty, Mike once again led me back to bed.  He laid in bed with me and kept pressure on the right side of my face.  I was finally able to fall asleep.

This morning, I sit with a cold cloth pressed against my face in the hope it will dissipate the final remnants of this headache. I am thankful the pain has been downgraded from "Dear God, save me!" to "I need more water and some Tylenol, but I think I'll be okay".

What I am not thankful for is the fact that whenever I throw up, I blow all the blood vessels in my face.  Maybe this afternoon, Kat can play connect-the-dots with the 8000 red marks covering my pale face.