It's been a while...

My headaches have been a lesser part of my life these past few months. I've been in a predictable rhythm now, with one or two when I ovulate and two or three during my period. That is very doable. Would I like to have none? yes, of course. But does life have pain? yes, of course. I'm at peace with them, do not fear them, and don't think about them much anymore.

I'm off the B-2, Co-Q10 and Butterbur for over a month now. I did this because I want to become pregnant soon and my neurologist said I can't take them during that. Not much difference. I'm not sure if I'll ever use them again. I have a whole lot of them left if anybody wants to have them...

I'm thinking my body got back to normal by itself. Though the neck exercises, I believe, made the biggest difference. My husband thinks that the reason for my major start on these was my neck in the first place. I argue that it was my menstrual cycle being funny (I think I was anovulatory for several months and finally everything became normal with the cycle and it shocked my body). Maybe both?

I had been reading the seventh Harry Potter book from Saturday morning (Friday night, depending on how you look at it) at midnight through Saturday and finishing it Sunday morning. Well the next day, Monday, was when I had my first vertigo-migraine episode. But it was also the first day of my period. Neck in a bad position for two days (I'm a nerd to read that much, I know), with little sleep, and then finally a normal period...a recipe for disaster, I guess.

It's been almost two and a half years since the start of these migraines. I'm looking forward to becoming pregnant soon, and hope that I'll have a break from the headaches for a while. I had one migraine (with visual aura) in my first trimester with my first pregnancy. None after that and none with my second pregnancy. It wasn't until four years after that first pregnancy when this whole mess started. I wonder if the hormone change at post-partem will start the migraines up again. Though I know a woman who had horrible migraines for years and then when she had her two daughters, she never had them again.

There is just no way to know, no reason to worry, because nothing can be done to prevent in that scenario.

I'm just at ease knowing that I know several different things to do to cope with the pain, deal with the nausea and dizziness, and perhaps treat them...

Ovulatory Migraines

Again, warning: writing about the menstrual cycle and it's connection to my migraines.

So last month I had a few migraines when I ovulated, as usual.

Then, during my period, I had no migraines.

Now this week, while ovulating, I've had a few migraines. At first (and a little, still) I was disappointed about having a migraine at all. I got my hopes up that if I didn't have a migraine during my period, then perhaps I wouldn't have one when ovulating.

No such luck; but I take heart that it is cyclic and not without predictability. After all, one of the difficult things about migraines (besides the pain, vomiting, fatigue, etc.) is that they strike without warning, and with much interruption to life's demands. If my migraines are down to just the hormone changes at ovulation, and not during the period, I can plan for those somewhat.

I just wonder what it will be for me when we try for a baby. I won't be able to use any of the preventive supplements I am currently taking. I'm worried about this but I know that I can deal with them, it's just not easy.

As for when I am pregnant, I cannot use the abortive drug I use now, either. My neurologist said that the pain is then controlled with narcotics. I have small children, so narcotics are out of the question for me unless my husband is home. If I am fortunate enough to become pregnant I will just have to deal with these pesky (understatement!) migraines, day-to-day, the way I've been doing.

Another thing for me to keep in mind, is that perhaps my migraines will go away, or decrease significantly while pregnant because of the hormonal change. ...though it could go the other way and they could become worse. But I will hope for the best.

Well, THIS Is Very Strange...

Warning: I talk about menses (for any young-minded readers, who still think the body is gross).

My periods have become spaced out more. Five months ago it was 28 days, four months ago it was 26 (very short!), three months ago it was 32, then 38 and then this last one was probably about 42 days apart or so. The menses was normal, nothing strange other than the sporadic timing.

So what am I reporting?

This is the first period in two years that I've not had one migraine during the period!!

I should state for the record that a little over one year ago I was on the BCP to stop my period to stop my migraines. So I didn't have a migraine for that month, but the pill only worked a month or two until my hormones fought back stronger and the BCP didn't stop my period. But back to current events:

I'm on day five today; I should have had at least two big migraines by now. And nothing! What does this mean? I don't want to get my hopes up. But could this mean a two year hell is ending? My life will not revolve around my headaches? What will that be like? What did my life used to be like?

Time will tell.

Getting Better, I Think

My headaches are more mild and short lasting. I've even had a few head-pain free days, too, this past month.

I've noticed my head pain linked to neck strain quite a bit. I've been doing more neck exercises and this seems to relieve pain pretty quickly.

I've had a migraine this week for the past two days. Before I understood migraines, I wouldn't have called this a migraine. There was very little pain; no thumping and pounding, just occasional side of the head pain that only lasts a minute or two. This kind of thing happens every hour or two but goes away and doesn't get in the way of anything. Mostly I noticed a little dizziness two evenings ago and a little last night. The same funny feeling I get before I get vertigo. Also, both times, a few hours before I felt strange, I was very sleepy for a few minutes.

I'm going to start paying a little more attention to the sleepy thing. I'm not sure if this is a common symptom. I do know that I noticed ion days that I would get a migraine I would often feel this way, like all of a sudden I couldn't stay awake, earlier in the day. A sleepy spell. It only lasts a few minutes. My husband suggested that perhaps I should pay attention to that--go to bed early when that happens.

That's all I've got to report right now on my symptoms.

I think the butterbur twice a day increase, along with the other things might be helping since my headaches have decreased. I need to keep a calendar to be sure. Sometimes I overestimate my well days and it would be well for me to mark the symptoms I have, the severity of the pain, and any pre-migraine feelings I have.

Neck Exercises

Part of the plan prescribed by my neurologist is to decrease tension in my neck. He highly recommends the exercises in this book and states the effectiveness they have in many of his patients.

He prescribed this to me a year ago, but I haven't taken it too seriously until now.

I know, non-compliant patient.

I am trying them now, in addition to the total compliance of the Co-Q10, Vitamin B-2 and Butterbur.

Chronic Transformed Miraine

I spoke with my neurologist on the phone today; this is how I do my appointments with him.

I have headaches all the time and have a hard time distinguishing the difference between tension headaches and migraines. One to two days a month I know I'm having a migraine and then the rest of the month I have headaches every day.

He told me I am having chronic transformed migraines and that I am to treat every headache I have as a migraine. Well...that takes the guess work out of it for me! I haven't been treating my headaches with any type of drug, except for maybe once or twice a week, and only using Alieve for those at that. Now I am to use my Migranal Spray, and if I still have the headaches after a few days I'll be using the prednisone taper.

On the other side of things, I'm increasing and adding back my preventative drugs/supplements.

Co-Q10 is back. I stopped taking it a few months ago because I didn't think it was doing anything. He told me that I'm not to stop the drugs he has me on but that if it isn't working, I may not be getting the level I need--so more drugs, not stop drugs.

Also, I asked about stopping the B-2: No; staying on them.

Butterbur is increased to 75mg, twice a day. I thought for sure that he told me in the beginning once a day; either way, I'll be increasing that.

Then I'll wait a month...

He said the "spot" headaches are probably referred pain from the occipital nerve being pinched. Back to that neck tension... My neck is a little tight, but not in pain like it used to be. I'll have to watch that and see if I notice a correlation between neck tightness and those "spot" headaches.

Let the pill swallowing, nasal spraying, steroid popping increase. Ugh.

mini headpain, auras and coping

It happened last night. I was getting the laundry ready for the machine and all of a sudden, pain on the right side of my head, about three inches wide. No warning.

The one thing auras have going for them is that they are fair warning. They're not always fun warning: who likes to be partially blind, partially numb, or having vertigo so severe it brings on vomiting? Those are the only auras I've ever experienced; I'm sure there are others.

All auras I've had are uncomfortable and even frightening, but auras give warning. They are concrete warning and a shout out for me to evaluate the day, determine if I should take the abortive drug, get that drug and take it as soon as possible. The reason for evaluating the day is because sometimes I have several headaches a week, but with only two allowed doses of the abortive drug a week. So if I don't have a commitment one day, and think I can deal with the pain okay, but I do have something critical the next day, and there is a chance of having another headache...well, I go with pain for that day. (This lifestyle has been much less frequent lately, but use to be the norm for well over a year.) But usually, the aura is not as bad as the headache, and if I take the drug right away, sometimes I can completely avoid any other pain. Sometimes I have to add other drugs to the mix to be comfortable. But the aura, for it's sometimes bum wrap, is not all that bad.

So last night I had one of those, what I call, "spot headaches." I still don't know if there's a name for it or not. But they come on without any warning, and leave just as quickly. They force me to stop and sit down. I've learned to close my eyes and take slow, deep breaths. I'm not as scared of them anymore. The breathing helps me to relax through it all. (Not that I am willing to try this for childbirth yet--I like those epidural blocks!) The gift I've been given is the ability to quickly relax, even though for a few seconds I panic a bit.

Fear is probably the feeling that trumps all other feelings when I have these headaches, be them "spot headaches" or full blown migraines.

Fear of not knowing how bad the pain is going to get.
Fear of not knowing how long this headache is going to last.
Fear of not knowing if I'm headed for a long cycle (weeks and weeks) of headaches, like before.
A tiny fear that these aren't migraines...though this is not as often: just when I'm being dramatic!

When I'm not having a headache, I often live in fear of getting one. Of being in public, or in the car driving, or at my daughter's school, and getting that hellish vertigo. In my mind, I've taken myself to those situations to deal with the anxiety. I logic myself through the hypothetical anxiety, realizing that people aren't going to judge me for getting sick. Everybody gets sick at one point or another. Though not pleasant to see somebody turn green, crawl on the floor or bump into walls, cling to those walls, or fall, sweat profusely and then hit the climax of the situation with vomit...well, it's not the end of the world. Vomit can be cleaned up, faces can be wiped dry, and as long as I have my purse, drugs can be administered. But still, it would be very humiliating. (I've only had that situation twice in front of people other than my family, and it wasn't the end of the world...just not ideal.)

So pushing past that fear... I just have to breathe. And try not to dwell in hypothetical situations. They aren't reality. At least, not yet. I'm so tired of fear. I'm working on pushing past that and trying to live not in the past, and not in fear of the future. Just to breathe and get through where I'm at, in the moment.

Another feeling I have is resentment. The "why me?" syndrome hits me, and if I don't watch it, it spirals into a small depression. I don't like to go there. I don't like others giving me pity just for the fact that it feeds into this "why me?" syndrome. It isn't a good place to go. There is no hope. I need hope. I need faith. So I pass over this thought quickly and deal with what I can do to help either change the situation (with drugs) or help buffer it (with quiet, calm, maybe even a movie if I can handle that). I also try to be analytical of my migraines through problem solving and communication. Not to say I don't cave, get overwhelmed, get emotional. I still do, I just try not to cater to this feeling.

And then there is the pain. How can I deal with the pain, get my job done, be nice to my husband and children and take care of myself at the same time? That is my biggest question. Often it is the "being nice" factor that goes out the door when pain steps in. I have a hard time being pleasant while in pain. I have this need to be cheerful, or at least courteous, and feel like a failure when I can't. And laying on the couch or in bed when life is happening around me...well I feel trapped. It's that control freak in me, screaming at the situation, screaming at myself for getting this headache in the first place. Yes, I know: ridiculous. I can't control getting a headache or not...but it doesn't stop me from wishing I could, or worse: thinking I can and that I should! Ha! Silly perfectionist.

And I know that it is silly expecting somebody in pain to be courteous. But truly, when the pain is common and gets to being chronic, one should try to learn to deal with the pain and be nice. It's just hard to do, is all. But attempts are appreciated, I'm sure, by my family, when I do try. And for me, this trying makes me feel human.

Headaches, Headaches, blah, blah, blah

This blog is kept partly for the reader, but mostly for my records; so I can remember and keep note of occurrences and maybe trends.



I've had a lot of headaches lately. A lot. Tension or migraine, whatever I call them, I'm having them a lot. Four days a week, about, for the past month. No auras. Well, some dizziness and nausea. But no vertigo and vomiting, and certainly no visual aura (those only happen a few times a year).



I haven't let my neurologist know this recent change. Mostly because the headaches aren't stopping me, and they don't all seem to be migraines. I finally broke down yesterday and took my migraine abortive drug, Migranal. It took the edge off for a while. I found myself taking three aspirin a few hours later and then, 30 minutes or so after that, found total relief. Mostly, I don't take anything for my headaches; I just get through them.



I don't mean to be tough or anything; it's not like I enjoy pain. (I'm all about epidurals for child birth, and am a big wimp if my back or even finger hurts.) It just seems, most of the time, that it isn't bad enough to stop what I am doing, take a pill, or the spray, and relax. There just isn't time for that, and besides, I like to save drugs for important occasions.



Yesterday I had a task that needed performing in the evening; people were counting on me, so I took the spray. I'm glad I did; though for the first time I noticed with using this spray, that it delayed my reactions, my verbal sharpness, my alertness. I don't remember it having that affect on me before. I took a short nap, ate dinner and then took off for the evening. I was able to cope very well, had some relief from the pain and my alertness slowly, but surely, regained. (And like I said already, I took some aspirin a while after that, then felt full relief.)



It seems that all year, until this month, I've been doing so well. Maybe this is the result of the change of season. It gives me some hope to think that way. Like life will go back to how it was a few months ago, or even better, a few years ago (but nothing in between, please!). I need to see things getting better. I'm okay with hiccups, because life is all about that. But I don't want to get stuck in a pot hole.

I do need to be more assertive with my neurologist and let him know this change. I just don't know that it will do any good. Doesn't hurt to try though, right?

tension headache?

My "tension headache" started this morning around 9:30. I felt like I was going to throw up. It hurt more on the left side. My stomach is upset still.

...sounds like these are migraines...but I can't tell.

There is A LOT of stress in my life right now. Things I cannot control. That usually upsets my stomach anyway (very good for weight loss...just kidding...sort of...)

Maybe just a tension headache.

Maybe a migraine brought on by stress.

I don't know what to treat this with. Alieve won't help. (sounds like a migraine!)

Perhaps I shall call in the guns (my neurologist and his nurse) to help with this problem. It's been going on since Sunday. I can tolerate the pain while having it. I can't, however, have much endurance or tolerance for a long term problem.

Just Plain Headache

I had a headache yesterday.

I'm 90% sure it was just a tension headache. I don't mean "just a.." to imply it wasn't just as painful--it was, if not more it seemed, more painful than some of my migraines. But I didn't have any additional symptoms and it was across my forehead and wrapped from ear to ear, like a headband, putting immense pressure in my eyes.

No light sensitivity (I don't ever get this anyway), no nausea, and though loud sounds hurt, running water or putting silverware away didn't bother me.

It's nice to know I can have a regular headache every once in a while.

Though I remember last year about this time, I took a migraine preventative treatment and it took these "non-migraine" headaches away. My neurologist's take on that was that the "non-migraine" headaches were probably migraines, as well.

I think it is interesting when people describe all of their worst headaches as migraines. On the flip, some people with mild headaches are actually having migraines and don't know there are better treatments than the naproxen, tylonel, or ibuprofen that may not be working for them.

I know that sometimes my migraines are mild, but because of the timing, the symptoms, the aura that precedes them, I know it's a migraine. I feel silly sometimes when I am having a migraine, but going about the day as normal, and somebody finds out that I'm having a migraine. They think I should be laying down in a dark room instead of doing errands, laundry, cooking dinner, being at the park. Like I'm some kind of martyr or something. I am definitely NOT a martyr! I'm an ultra sensitive, pain hating drama queen.

Lately my headaches (or migraines) last about four hours. That is a big change and a great relief, from how my headaches used to be. I would either have a two day migraine, or sometimes would have a few firing off every day for a week. Sometimes I would get a monster migraine that would only last half a day, but would leave me exhausted the next.

Whichever the head pain is called, however it is categorized, whatever the treatment is... headaches are a big disrupt to the flow of life. I feel like I'm better at them, though...like a professional migraineur. Yes! That is what I am! I've done plenty of study, asked my doctors numerous questions, and analyzed every little bit of my life before, during and after migraines. I'm an (almost) expert at how my body works and doesn't.

This self-absorption is tiring, but needed in figuring out how to function. Someday I hope I will not be thinking so much about migraines. Someday I hope I will have so little to do with migraines that this blog will be years old with nothing written. But as it is, I will push forward doing what I do. Following my doctor's orders, getting enough rest, drinking enough water, exercising and taking care of my stress.

The Ebb

As my cycle (sorry, boys) ends, I feel the end of the migraine.

I am grateful that there is an ebb.

It used to not matter what I did, it was always a migraine, always. I haven't had to use the prednisone taper for a few months now.

Now it is only cyclic. A few days before (or in this case, about four days) it starts and then during and then it goes. I don't use the prednisone taper on my period because I know it is just my period and that when that stops, so will my migraines.

In a few weeks I will most likely have a migraine, but only for a day or two. Then in a month, another week of headaches. Then an ebb.

I can take it when it's predictable. It's okay when I know about the pain, how long it will last and understand why I'm experiencing it all. More importantly I know what works for me to bring comfort and even function, and I know how to communicate all this to my husband and children.

So I probably (hopefully) will have nothing personal to post for a few weeks. Unless there is some current event that I need to write about.

Mini Migraine Me

Yesterday I felt like I was on the verge of throwing up for the majority of the day.

At first I thought it was that I hadn't eaten; so I ate. No change.

Then I drank a lot of water (so counter-intuitive when nauseated, right?) and though this didn't make my nausea worse, it didn't help.

I fully expected to have started my cycle, but I didn't. Which brought me to thoughts of pregnancy, though we're careful right now to not conceive until my health improves. So I wasted another test (my husband told me I could have just peed on a ten dollar bill, instead) to take that small anxiety away.

It was just a migraine. Just. The headache was not that bad. I didn't take anything. It was the nausea that bothered me the most. But no vertigo, so that is so very nice. (Do you see how positive I can be? It's better than the other option.)

Last night, when I got into bed, I had that horrible piercing pain at the front right corner of my skull. It was only two times, about five minutes apart and about one minute each time. That time frame is nothing, but during this experience I fear that it won't ever stop. Self talk gets me through it. Having experienced this type of pain before I know that it is acute. I breathe through it...like a contraction.

Funny how I used to compare all of my pain experiences to labor. I'm sure I will, in the future, compare my labor to migraines. Of course, not this tiny migraine I had last night (and am still having effects of this morning) since that was nothing. I compare my migraines to migraines. I've really only had a few that made me shake and shiver and cry and moan and hope to vomit to relieve some pressure. Thankfully, most of mine are not like that. They are strong enough to affect my day, thye aren't enough to stop me from doing what I need to do (translation: I'm on the couch but can still feed my three year old and pick up my daughter from the bus stop). Though I do admit to throwing small pity parties through them. I would invite you, but most of the time I like to go alone...and I'm just not very nice at those functions.

I hope (and assume) this is just my menses talking and I'm not slowly diving into the hell of headaches that I used to call normal. Positive thoughts....maybe some light yoga today...maybe a walk through the garden.

So here goes another day of tailoring my activities. It will be over in one week...I beg my hopes.

a tiny hiccup

Last night I was talking to my husband and mid-sentence was interrupted suddenly with subtle dizziness and nausea. It only lasted a few seconds and then went away, but was followed with a little bit of ringing in my ear and then a dull headache. (My migraines generally start with severe vertigo. I get the visual auras only a few times a year. Though sometimes I have no aura at all.)

It felt like the beginning of vertigo. I usually have a minute before I can't walk and I begin throwing up. It's nice because it helps me be prepared and have time to get to a toilet or at least get a bowl. Then after I calm down from throwing up and the vertigo subsides, I take my migranal spray. I wait an hour and if I still have a headache and nausea, I take three aspirin and my anti-nausea drug. Though sometimes (and this was when I would have an average of five migraines a week) I wouldn't take the spray and just risk it, saving the spray for a more important day of that week.

But that life was three months ago. And when I had that flash of vertigo and nausea last night it was so gloomy to me. I can handle the pain. It's not fun, but that was my life for a full year and a half and I have survived, and survived very well. It was the thought of having these three months off only to go back to that chronic life that revolved around my migraines...I just didn't want to go there.

I didn't take any drugs last night. It didn't bloom into full blown vertigo though my head started hurting a bit after. It was bedtime, anyway. I have never usually taken anything before bedtime for my migraines. I reserve those heavy abortive treatments for when I really need it: during the day with my children.

I'm tired today. So I took it easy today. I ran a few errands and did laundry, then took a nap with my three year old this afternoon. I know it's just my monthly cycle starting up in a few days or so, and I've decided to start taking alieve every twelve hours starting tonight. It's what my neurologist suggested once and I hope it will help as a buffer. We'll see.

I've found a migraineur's life is all about experimentation, moderation, and flexibility.

Official February News

This past cycle: I had a few small headaches that were short lasting and on one side of the head. But nothing to report except my life is getting back together!

It is a little unbelievable how much migraines can control life. My husband referred to the headaches as "that part of our lives is behind us now" and I am struggling to trust that. But eventually (I hope) life without the fear of a migraine will be the norm and I will look honestly at these migraines as a bad phase in life that I got through with strength.

I can report that it has been three months since I've had migraines a two to six times a week. The number is down to no more than five a month, and probably more like twice a month. That is phenomenal!

And I wish I knew exactly what it was to change this. My body's hormones, perhaps. The butterbur, perhaps. The yoga, perhaps. My advice to those suffering: go with your instincts on your care, be assertive with your neurologist, be aggressive on the research, and find something (healthy) that gives you peace, like yoga, writing, or the beach. It is important to find normalcy, some kind of normalcy, when you can't control what your body is doing.

Exercise is wonderful--and I know, that is the last thing you want to do when you are sure you will throw up, or you want to curl into fetal position in a dark, quiet room. But when the vomiting subsides, you're not dizzy, and you're not in too much pain: go for a walk, at least. Get some fresh air.

I know for many diet is key. I didn't find any foods that triggered my migraines. Though one time a smell triggered a migraine. I think for me it was that my body doesn't like change. For those who think it might be food, there is a book out there, I wish I knew the name, but it talks specifically about foods and migraines. My cousin mentioned it to me once, it helped her a lot, and if I find out the name, I will rewrite this post with the name.

Until my next post, hang in there.

February Update

It's early to update, really, since my period hasn't started yet. But it is so remarkable to me that migraines haven't been an active part of my life these past few months. My body no longer in a panic, I'm even starting to lose weight!

I think I had a headache a week or so ago (ovulating) but nothing much to report. I don't remember even taking medication for it.

I don't think it is the Vitamin B-2 that has helped me. I am still taking it and will finish the pills I have before talking to my neurologist and then discontinuing them. This isn't to say that the B-2 treatment didn't work for those in the study and won't work for another person; I just don't think it made an impact on me.

My migraines did dramatically decline one month after starting the Butterbur at 75 mg/day. I will wait a few more months of consistantly not having migraines before I discuss with my neurologist getting off of this herb.

You see, I'm still a bit of a skeptic. I have left a lot of room in my reasoning that it is just my body going back to wherever it was, before July 2007, before the migraines began. I'm not so sure it is the Butterbur...but it is significant enough and timely, that I will continue this treatment. After all, it doesn't harm me.

I do hope all out there who suffer will be agressive with their neurologist (again I repeat, if you are not seeing a neurologist who has a specialty in headaches--see one!!!) and researching from good sources (and not just anecdotal ones--like this blog!) different treatments.

It's been a while

It's been a while since:

1.) I've posted on this blog
and
2.) I've had consistent migraines.

In December I had one migraine a few days before my period, and then small, sharp head pain a few times a day during my period. Then...nothing.

Nothing until a few days before my period this month. Yes, I know, I'm very fortunate. (Well, a few years ago I wouldn't see it that way, but after being a chronic migraineur for a year and a half , I take what I get and find something positive from it.)

So a few days before my period (last Friday, to be exact) I had vertigo. But very slight vertigo where nothing happened except that I felt like I was on a ship for a second or two a few times in five minutes and no vomiting. But no headache until the next day. I was very tired on Saturday, as well. And then Sunday I had some of that terrifying but benign vertigo again, where I feared a public display of dizziness and vomiting, but it didn't happen. My husband and I are very in tune to this vertigo drill. We were at church, in the chapel, when it occurred. I just had to whisper, "vertigo", to him and we waited to see what would happen. After 3o seconds, I knew it wasn't going to turn into anything. I'm so grateful that when I get the vertigo, I have about a 30 second warning before it gets progressively worse. So I had a headache after that little vertigo tease and then was fine all week.

Until two days ago. I was shopping at Macy's and in the dressing room when I got dizzy. As always, I tried to rationalize it away. "Maybe there is construction in the building and the floor got uneven for a second." or "Maybe it's just because I had my head down and stood up too quickly." I do that a lot. But it is always a migraine.

Five minutes later I was purchasing my clothes and the pain came on intense. I couldn't think straight. Well. I thought enough to quickly grab my migranal (nasal spray for migraines) out of my purse and set it up for use. I now always keep a dose in my purse (note to self, put another in there now that I've used up the last one!) so I am not stuck somewhere with a monster headache. I took the spray quickly and after a few minutes was able to get to the car just fine. Fifteen minutes later I took the second dose and was pain free for the day. Tired, but pain free.

The next day a migraine happened again. We were just about to leave to take the girls to the park (an incredibly and surprisingly sunny day in Seattle!) and no vertigo, but intense pain. With that intense pain, I can't think straight. Though I do have enough in me to think, "spray! now!"
I took my second dose in the car on the way to the park. (It's so nice to not have to stop life completely for these headaches, anymore.) We were there for about thirty minutes when I knew that the spray wasn't going to be enough. We stayed at the park a little longer (I'm not going to leave early for some head pain when my three year old doesn't get to do her favorite thing, flying on the swings, very often) and then my husband dropped me off at home and took the girls for an extra errand. He's so good about giving me a little quiet time when I'm adjusting to a headache. I took three aspirin, as prescribed by my neurologist when the spray isn't enough, and this took all the edge off.

It's interesting that I had the headaches before and at the beginning of my period, nothing in the middle, and then at the very end. My body just doesn't like change. Especially estrogen change. I wonder, if this will eventually be controlled and my life completely back; and then if I will go through this during peri-menopause. Nothing I'm worried about now--I've got at least fifteen more years before this occurs (I assume), but I'm just amazed at our bodies never ending changes to hormones.

I'm grateful for my strong body. I'm grateful that I can walk, talk, breathe, see, laugh, read, cook, garden, write. My body is amazing and I can do many things. I'm even able to start to cope with migraines well. For a while, I didn't know if this would ever happen.

...though I really look forward to the post where I write, "Wow. I didn't know this day would come where I can write that I've had NO migraines for two months." something like that, would be victorious.