Living with Migraines

There’s something about the end of the week - but not necessarily the weekend - that gets to me.  It’s worth exploring, because I’m sick of Thursday and/or Friday feeling yuck (three guess how I’m feeling right now).  I actually think this one is more cyclical and have my Frova out and ready to go, as planned.

I took some time today to stop and watch the birds in my yard.  We actually have a fair number of varieties that like to visit, and I often see them in pairs these days.  Hawks, hummingbirds, sparrows, mourning doves and a couple others that I’m not sure of - they’re soothing to watch.  One stopped to take a drink from the fountain I filled up and plugged back in yesterday.  Very cute.

It’s nice to have time to stop and watch the nature right in my own backyard.

Yesterday afternoon I started feeling achy and off, and I didn’t feel much better when I went to bed.  Sure enough, I woke up this morning and before I even opened my eyes, I realized that I had a full migraine.  Ugh.  I took a Maxalt and a couple of hours later I felt much better.  It still kind of wiped me out, but there was a lot I needed to get done today, along with some things I wanted to get done, so I just kind of worked through the fatigue.  I was hoping to get in another ballet class this morning, but that plan had to be ditched.
Now DD and I are watching Monsters Inc., and I think we’ll have a little ice cream later on.  DH comes home tonight, late, from his six-day trip.  DD and I are both looking forward to having him back home.

I have been getting real rest lately, and it feels so good.  I haven’t been bone tired in the afternoons and evenings, and I feel ready to get up in the morning.  What a concept.  I’m trying to stay consistent with my eating and water, even though my daily schedule has been anything but routine the last week or so, and I think it’s helping me feel alright day to day.

Now, if I can get my runaway imagination to stop obsessing over things that are out of my control, I’ll really be making some progress.  I’m working on it, as no good comes of worrying about that which hasn’t happened, and might not happen at all.

It has been almost two weeks since I’ve been able to take a ballet class, and I am really looking forward to my class this evening. I need to move and stretch! I have been very tense, physically, lately, and I need to work the knots out and get everything loose again. That is, loose for me - there is a long way to go there! I was stretching a bit this morning and my DD comes along and says, “Want to see how far I can go?” Oh to be young, pliable and a real dancer.

I took a Maxalt earlier today and am feeling some relief from the headache that has been gripping my head for days now. Catching up on sleep, in addition to getting more exercise, will go a long way in helping me feel more relaxed and balanced again.

Back to work - needed to grab a lunch break before I go back to writing reports…

I was just reading an article about using Frova to prevent menstrual migraine.  This is one of my tactics, and when timed correctly often works for me.  The article discussed taking two tablets daily for six days.  I take one tablet daily for three days, along with 600 mg of ibuprofen those same three days, roughly twelve hours from when I take the Frova.  This difference in dosage is surprising, and I’m thinking about emailing the headache clinic I go to to see what their opinion is.

I’ve been going nonstop lately, and I keep trying to remember to take time to slow down, to breathe, to be in the moment.  Sometimes it helps.   I’m in a hectic, emotional  period right now, but this will pass, and slower, more mellow days will soon be here.  Time for my garden, time to go swimming, time for reading, time to just be.