Ouchy!
And that’s putting it lightly.
This week I had my first “full blown migraine that I just couldn’t cope with” in years.
My period started on Sunday so I knew that a headache would follow a few days later, it always does. So on Tuesday morning, I wasn’t bothered by the dull ache. On Tuesday afternoon, I wasn’t particularly worried by the thumping. On Tuesday night I assumed that something I’d eaten had disagreed with me when I woke up in the small hours with nasty stabbing pains in my abdomen. On Wednesday morning, the thumping was still going and I was getting annoyed. I attempted to blow the pain away and went for a run late morning. Sometime early-afternoon I realised that my right jaw and cheek were numb and tingly.
Uh oh! The realisation that this wasn’t just a particularly bad headache, it was the recognisable return of a migraine.
I get them from time to time, and usually cope with lots of pain killers and chill out. But this was a bad one.
By 3pm, I wasn’t coping. I’d stopped working because staring at the screen was fuzzy and my head was throbing. I went to pick the boys up from school early so that I wouldn’t have to drive later if it continued to worsen.
I got them home, made some herbal tea and laid on the sofa with a blanket while they played video games upstairs. The nausea was kicking in too. Sounds were really loud, the light hurt, everything just felt too much.
Himself came home and made dinner, I ate less than small boy and took myself off for an early night. I was hoping I could sleep it off.
I woke in the middle of the night and was briefly relieved, then turned over and it was awful pain again. By morning I knew I needed some real medicine. It took me an hour to get through to the Drs reception, only to be told that GPs and nurses don’t deal with migraines so I should go to a pharmacy. By this point I could hardly string a sentence together, my words were jumbled and I kept forgetting the end of my sentence. Like a bingo for migraine symptoms.
I walked down to the pharmacy as I didn’t feel safe driving. The pharmacist took my history and had to explain three times how to take the tryptan she was giving me, when and whether to take a second dose. She said I had to see my GP as well since it was so long since my last migraine and because this one was severe.
I took my tryptan just before 10am and went back to my sofa and blanket. By 11 the tingly jaw was gone and the headache wasn’t as bad. By midday, I felt well enough to join the important work meeting I’d been planning to skip. By the end of the afternoon, I felt like myself again, mostly just very tired.
So I’ve got a GP appointment in 2 weeks and hopefully they’ll prescribe a tryptan I can take proactively to stop future migraines fully developing.
When large boy got home from school he checked on me and offered me tea. The first thing small boy said when I picked him up was “before you ask me anything mum, are you feeling OK?” What nice boys. Small boy was very concerned because he very occasionally has a migraine that lasts just a couple of hours, he’s sick and then sleeps it off. When mine carried on for much longer than that and without me being sick, he was really worried.
So, now to wait and see what happens with my next period. I do hope this isn’t going to be a regular thing. It was really bloody awful.
Smelly Socks and Garden Peas 
Migraines are pretty deliberating once they hit. There are a range of treatment options beyond triptans that prevent them from occurring all together. Ask your GP about them and good luck
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Thanks loads. I’m fine with treating them as they arise rather than taking a prophylactic. It’s 2 tablets every few months and they work like magic, so that’s OK with me. Thanks for the advice though, I hope it’s useful to someone else reading.
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The reaction of your boys is just lovely to read at the end of a post on a topic I know all too much about. Luckily I haven’t had a bad one as you described for years, but a headache is never far away.
These experiences are horrible and shut the entire body down. I’m impressed you managed to go to the pharmacy. But then again, I was younger when I had my migraines. Your experience reminded me of how grateful I have to be not to have them anymore, but to be mindful that they can come back. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Thanks, sorry to hear you’ve had them too. I’m rather nervous about this month’s hormones and whether I’ll be laid out again. At least I saw the Dr last week and have some tryptans on hand now just in case.
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Aww what shit, I’m sorry. Migraines are hellish. I’m hoping this doesn’t mean a regular return of them for you but I agree it’d be an idea to have triptans in stock in the med cabinet just in case.
Your boys are so sweet though, that’s lovely to hear. I can’t even get my cat to give a crap about me or sit with me during my migraines anymore 😆
“…only to be told that GPs and nurses don’t deal with migraines so I should go to a pharmacy” – I’m starting to wonder just what it is our GP practices even do!
I take Sumatriptan and find it pretty excellent really, it’s the only thing that has kept me alive because the average 28 episodes a month I get has sent me close to the edge on many occasions now. I do feel for you with this and I hope the appt goes well and you get a prescription for future use, just in case. Sending gentle hugs,
Caz xxx
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I’m crossing my fingers the Dr can give me something to nip it in the bud. I can’t imagine feeling like that almost all the time, I was barely functional. I’m glad sumatryptan helps you and I hope that or something else will help me too. Xx hugs back, always
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hope you feel better and may the period gods be merciful on us all
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Amen
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Bless you. My mum always got horrific migraines. Your boys are sweet to check on you.
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They’re adorable sometimes, makes up for the constant bickering the rest of the time
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I think it will not give you trouble next period. It happens sometimes. Don’t worry.
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Hmmm I’m not convinced
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Wait .
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This sounds awful but your boys came up trumps!
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They are totally awesome
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Sorry, that really sucks. I used to get migraines frequently and they are so painful. Hope that doesn’t happen again.
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🤞
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I hope your new medication prevents any more migraines from occurring. Take care. X
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I don’t think it’ll be preventative, just hopefully catch it in the early stages before it gets really bad.
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So glad to hear you are better. My Dad and I both get migraines. Like you, I’ve not had a really severe one in a while. It’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop. It is awesome that your family understands what is happening and can be there for you as well. Take care!
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Oh I’m sorry you suffer from these. I’m going to worry that I get the same again next month.
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Oh, that sounds awful. But I love the sweetness of your boys. Glad you are feeling better.
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It was pretty horrid. I’ve still got a dull ache but ibuprofen is handling it now. Yes, they’re excellent boys if I do say so myself.
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Oh, the aftermath of a migraine is rough. Not that I’ve ever had one as bad as you describe but even from the ones I feel, it’s like everything is bruised.
And I think you have proof that they are excellent boys!
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