Saturday, January 1, 2011

Ow.

I've had migraines since I was 12, but I have learned to manage them.  I've discovered that I am sensitive to caffeine, so I try to drink very little.  They can be triggered by an ooky muscle in my right shoulder that sends electrical pain currents directly into the center of my head, so I lift hand weights to keep those muscles loose and happy.  I know that my menstrual hormones trigger the migraines too, so I make sure to be aware to avoid caffeine and work out my shoulder muscles extra vigilantly right before/during my period.

My last big migraine, about five years ago, lasted almost a week, and I vowed to do whatever it took to make sure that horror never happened again.  I still get migraines, maybe two or three times a year, but they only last one day, so it's not so horrific.

Until now. Christmas stress + road trip to go visit Mom + drinking coffee + my period + forgetting about the weights because of Christmas busyness = BAD MIGRAINE.

It started in Georgia on Christmas Day, and it hasn't completely gone away yet, although I am finally better today.  I can at last look at a computer screen without feeling vomity.

Oh, computer screen, how I've missed you...

My wonderful husband has been dutifully massaging my shoulder, and I've been lifting weights, and drinking only water, and sleeping in a dark room all day and all night.  FOR DAYS.  I had to miss work, when we were already short-staffed.

I really actually enjoy making a few resolutions for each new year.  I like picking a few important things to focus on, and maybe having a goal or two.  Right now the only thing my poor electricity-riddled brain can think of is, no migraines.  Please, please no more migraines.