Migraines Suck
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I have had headaches before, no big deal. Well Saturday evening around 10pm I experienced my first migraine. Wooooa! Nothing like a headache. I felt like my neck was a toothpick and my head was a bowling ball about to explode. I concluded it was from the fried calamari (which I rarely ever eat) that I had a few hours before during a date with my husband. Maybe my body was rejecting it?
I went to bed and woke up Sunday morning and it was worse. Since I am super ADD/OCD I did not take it easy and decided I needed to parade all around town looking for the perfect shelves for the nursery (so stupid I know and I still did not find them). This obviously made it even worse. I went to bed early and woke up yesterday and it was magnified to a level that was now unbearable. My blood sugars were shooting through the roof (a natural response due to me being in pain) and my vision was all fuzzy and blurry. Every head movement felt like a hammer banging against my head.
I called my OB and she said I needed to head on down to the hospital to rule out a few things. Off I went. They checked on the baby. He was doing great and bouncing around like a little chimpanzee. They took my blood pressure and did a few blood tests. Everything was normal.
After they ruled out hypertension/preeclampsia they chalked up my migraine to pregnancy hormones and stress. The nurses told me I needed to take it easy and relax a little more. Easier said then done...but I know it needs to happen.
I had some time to think yesterday as I laid there in my not so sexy ripped hospital gown. I realized I have a hard time saying no to people. I hate the feeling of possibly letting someone down by not being able to do something. I end up over committing myself and I wind up feeling overwhelmed and stressed as a result. I need to enjoy these last couple months of pregnancy and not over commit myself to anything or anyone. I decided it's okay to say no and the people who truly care and matter will always understand.
I recently read this great quote from Oprah that said, "Although it may feel uncomfortable to think about saying no, it's important to remember that each time you say yes to someone or something else, you say no to you and your priorities." That is so true and really hits home for me.
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27 comments:
I've only had a couple of migraines but they really do suck! Thankfully, I wasn't pregnant when I got them so I just took some Aleve and slept them off. My vision goes blurry about 30 minutes before the pain starts.
Oh wow. That last part was really something I needed to hear. I say yes probably to an uhealthy level. But I'm so sorry about your head and I hope it gets better. (I'm glad that everything else is ok!)
oh no! i hope you are feeling better. i get hormone induced migraines every once in a while, and the one thing that i love is aveda blue oil. i put in on all the pressure points on my head and then slather it on my neck. it usually helps a ton.
yeah, oprah put it perfectly (as she often does). hope you're feeling better!
Oh Linds, I'm so sorry. I had pretty bad migraines while I was pregnant. And about telling people no, you can't feel bad. I had to get over that as well, I am kind of a people pleaser. But honestly there is just one of you, and you already have a full plate right now. Don't overdo it, or the most important people in your life will be affected. Hope you can rest & soak in the last few months of the pregnancy. Life with 2 is so much different than life with one, but oh-so worth it. :)
Oh, that sounds awful! I haven't ever had a migraine but I can only imagine what that must be like, and to not be able to take anything for the pain. Hope you are feeling better. Love that Oprah quote as well, it's so true, it's hard to say no but sometimes it's necessary for your sanity. Best of luck in your last few months!
I am so glad to hear it wasn't PIH and you and baby are okay but it sucks you are feeling so crappy. Wonderful quote and I'm right there with you on the 'saying no' thing. Good luck. Feel better. XO.
Migraines are the worst. I used to get them in elementary school. Weird huh? But I went through puberty in 5th grade, so I'm pretty sure it was hormones too. Sorry you had to go through all that!
Ah, yes sometimes it is really hard to say no but we just have to. Rest up pretty lady!
Yikes - so sorry to hear you had to deal with that, but so glad you and your little baby are doing okay otherwise!
Migraines seem so horrible - my fiance started getting them last Summer and watching him suffer through those with little I can do to comfort him is one of the worst feelings I've ever experienced. I can't even imagine what it's like having that pain firsthand.
Loved the quote you shared. I too have a hard time saying "no." It always seems like a good idea to agree or be helpful at the time, but sometimes you just need to take your own needs into account first and avoid stretching yourself too thin.
Here's to migraine-free days for the rest of your pregnancy! And hopefully ever!
So sorry to hear you had to experience this! I get migraines quite frequently. They are horrendous monsters. After forcing myself and over-doing through many of them, I've learned (the hard way) that I MUST stop everything and lay down and ice my neck and eyes when I feel one coming on, otherwise it will take over and rue the day. I hope that is the only one you ever ever ever have to endure!!
http://www.migrastick.com/en/index.php
I have been getting migraines for almost 25 years now. Migra-stick is the best drug free remedy I have found! (helps with regular headaches too). Add a cold washcloth and a quiet dark room and you'll feel better in no time!
I get at least 1 or 2 a month. They are not fun at all. They were even worse pregnant because I didn't want to take my medicine while pregnant. I hope you don't have anymore of them, but if you do just go lay in your room in the dark and put a cold rag on your head or if you have one of those mask that you put in the freezer use that and try to go sleep. That helps me. Hope you feel better!
I hope you're feeling better. Oh Oprah, I miss her show.
Tab
Migraines are the worst...I've only had one or two before but it made me throw up both times. Ugh! Hope you can take some time out for yourself and the little bean on the way! And that you're feeling better soon!
Migraines are horrible but glad to hear everything with you & the baby are alright. Love that quote from Oprah and it is so true but yet it is still so hard to say no to people!
You are so right Lindsay! I've had similar issues lately with my health, not migraines, but still...very distracting. I've concluded the same thing! xo
Migraines suck. I'm so that you had to experience one! Hope you feel better soon. I get migraines a lot, everything you just described. It's hard to just sit still in a dark room when you're not sleepy because you have a migraine. Start saying no more often…you'll start to enjoy it. ;) xo
I am glad to know that you are ok! I hope you start feeling better! I love that last quote from Oprah, it is so true. I am very much like you, I have a hard time saying no! It has been something I am trying to work on!
You poor thing. I'm sorry you had to go through that. I hope it goes away asap. I have a new rule with this pregnancy. When I'm physically uncomfortable, I make 1 outing trip a day with only 1 place I'm going to. That's lifting my little one only a few times in and out of the carseat and unloading the car only once vs doing 3 trips.
- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com
Lindsay, so sorry to hear you went through that. I can relate...my youngest (18) suffers from them and has for almost 3 years now. We are in the process of weaning her off her daily preventative meds due to the side effects (she was starting to lose her hair!). It is a constant struggle, as there are MANY triggers. A couple of things that a biggies though...dehydration (be sure to drink a lot of water everyday), sleep patterns (nap are not good for migraine sufferers-you need to get up and go to sleep within one hour of the usual time everyday), foods with nitrites/nitrates (preservatives are just bad for you anyway), weather changes (boy have we had a lot of those this year),hormones, chocolate and of course caffeine (which I am sure you are avoiding anyhow). Cool compresses work, smelling peppermint works a bit too. My daughter of course has heavy duty pain meds she can take, but they put her out of commission for a day or so.
I wrote a post awhile back regarding "volunteering"...I was that YES person. Not anymore.
Aww, I'm sorry about the migraines! I've suffered from them since I was about 17, and sometimes I get them a couple of times a week... Stress, dehydration, and sinus pressure seem to be my biggest triggers. If this is new to you, the best advice I've gotten is stay extra-hydrated, and let yourself be ok with laying down in a dark room for the day so they don't last longer than they need to. I've learned that mine are like clockwork in that they last for about 24-30 hours, and nothing I do makes them go away completely before they've run their course. Pain medications sometimes take the edge off, hot baths or showers sometimes help a bit too if there's no accompanying nausea. Peppermint oil applied topically feels nice, and I have a special blend of mystery oils labeled "M-graine" that is supposed to help when breathed in and applied to pressure points. I'm sure you've heard all of this, but hang in there and take good care of yourself!
Lindsay I'm so sorry you've been in such pain these past few days! So relieved to hear you and the baby are okay though. That quote by Oprah is so true! I have a problem saying yes to everything too, and it always makes me stressed and unhappy. I hope you're able to enjoy these last few months of pregnancy!
love that quote! I too had headaches everyday with this pregnacy during the second trimester...it was no fun :( They will stop though!
I'm so glad you and the baby are ok! Headaches are terrible, so I can't even imagine a migraine! BTW I love that quote - it applies to me right now more than you can know! I'm putting it on my fridge to stare at!!
Jo-Anna
I am so sorry you had a migraine! Those are absolutely miserable. Thanks for sharing that Oprah quote -- so very true and a wonderful reminder!
so sorry! hope you're doing better, sweet friend! glad you and baby are ok. xo
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