Migraines and Manicures

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“I totally have a migraine,” she flips her shiny hair over her shoulder and takes a sip of coffee.

“Those are the worst,” her friend says loudly and somewhat sympathetically.

The girl with the “migraine” looks up from her iPhone long enough to say, “They so are. Do you have an Advil?”

An anvil? Sure. I happen to have one here I can drop on your head to give you an idea of what it’s like to actually have a migraine.

When did this term become synonymous with a bad headache? Or a Frapuccino-sipping, hair-flipping mild one?

Three days ago, my head felt like a coconut being split open.

I felt like one of the extras in a B-rated horror movie, shrieking for a moment and having the camera linger on me long enough to show the audience I was the latest victim of an ax-wielding psycho star.

Actually, I might have welcomed having my head split open at the time. The pressure was…indescribable. I thought my brain might actually be swelling and pressing against my skull. Gross, right? I know. Then there’s the nausea and vomiting that goes along with the blinding pain, the vision problems, and the inability to move for fear of crumpling to the floor in agony. Not to mention (but I will) that if someone drops a spoon on the other side of the house, they may as well have hit you over the head with a frying pan. Oh, and you have to avoid sunlight like a vampire. Because. Pain.

You can’t read, write, eat, think… So, basically, you whimper (very quietly) and wish the time away. At least, that’s what I do.

This is how I spent my day—curled up in a ball under the covers with my hands desperately trying to cover my ears and my eyes at the same time. That didn’t work out well.

A migraine is a medical condition.

Seriously. It has symptoms and everything.

People, please, for the love of all that is good and covered in chocolate, stop. If you’re up and about, swishing your sweet coffee concoction, examining your manicure, pouting over your split ends, and texting, please don’t complain about your “migraine”.

It makes people who actually suffer from migraines feel miffed.

Okay, angry.

Okay, maybe it only makes me angry but this is my blog so…

 

 

I may be overreacting a tad here but, having just been through a 2-day adventure in agony (again), this was a fun little rant. And kind of overdue… Just saying. Do you suffer from migraines? How do you cope? Hopefully better than I do.

 

62 thoughts on “Migraines and Manicures”

  1. I suffer from sinusitis, which is similar but not the same. It affects me when it’s cold out, when I get a minor cold or I sneeze or sometimes for no reason at all. “I thought my brain might actually be swelling and pressing against my skull.” That’s exactly how it feels, thank you very much for the accurate description! I don’t do anything other than sleep at those times and wish it away. Most of the time, it reduces in about 2 hours so I can do normal things like sitting. But nobody at home gets it and they classify it as “headache”, which irks me. They also complain about how much I sleep and not do much work around the house, but I just can’t, which no one seems to get. This post was 300% relatable!

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    • Oh, I only know of the sinusitis I’ve had when I get a sinus infection. I’m cringing just thinking about it. Ugh…I’m so sorry. I do know how that feels. Right? Just sitting up is a cause for celebration. A very quiet celebration. No, you really can’t do anything. And, yes, I try to “sleep it off”, if it lets me. But if people complained about me sleeping…I’d fear for their lives. 😉

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  2. I’m so sorry you have to put up with migraines, Sarah. Fortunately for me, I don’t suffer from them, but Bec does. They are very debilitating. To have a couple of days of your life wiped out is bad enough, but to have them wiped out by intense pain must be horrendous. And then you lose even more time for recovery. I hope you feel better soon.

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    • They *are* debilitating. Cannot be described. I’m glad you don’t suffer from them but I wouldn’t want to watch a loved one suffer from one, either. That’s awful. Exactly! It’s the duration of the actual migraine plus the time it takes to fully recover so you can use a screen, focus, concentrate, sleep, eat regular foods…all that jazz. Thank you, Norah. I’m feeling better. (And now need to catch up which is causing stress. Fun!) 😉

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      • Look after yourself, Sarah. Don’t push onto those screens before you’re really ready. Need (don’t ask me how!) to reduce stress. Take care. I’m pleased you’re feeling better. 🙂

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      • Yes, well, I don’t know how I’ll reduce stress but I’ll continue to try for sure. The screens… I think I need to give myself a limit on screen time like my kids have. 😉

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  5. I have the same reaction to the line that keeps coming up on TV these days, “Are you having a stroke?”

    Am I falling to the floor? Do I look like I’ve gone limp on one side? Then, er, NO, I’m not having a stroke! 🙂

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    • I haven’t seen that (I live under a rock and watch re-runs) but totally get your point. People toss medical terms around without much thought. I guess it depends how they say it. Or not. Probably not. 😉

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  6. I suffer from Migraines, but I’ve found that when I skip a meal that’s when they rear their ugly heads. So I make sure and always eat my lunch and take better care of myself. I’ve found that when I feel one coming on if I take Excederin for Migraines and lay down. I only lose a few hours instead of a whole day and I avoid the vomiting part of it. 🙂 I haven’t had one in probably six months, and before that I hadn’t had one in a couple of years. 🙂 I hope this info helps you. 🙂

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    • I’m sorry to hear that. But very glad to hear you’ve not had one in so long. Ooh… I have been known to skip meals. And, um, not take the best care of myself. This is a well-known fact about me. I need to work on that (and not just for migraines). Oh, what I would do to have a migraine flatten me for a few hours instead of a day or two… Thanks for the kick in the pants. 🙂

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  7. I used to have migraines (not as bad as yours, but bad enough). It was the pencils through the eyes meeting up with the pencils through the top of my head that I really hated. And all you can do is lie down and wait.
    But they stopped – and I hope yours do too.

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    • Ack! That visual! (No pun intended.) The pencils through the eyes. Argh… That is just… Well, it’s an apt description, to be sure. And I’ve found, yes, waiting is the only thing I can do since migraines laugh at Tylenol. So happy yours stopped. I got mine later in life so think I may be stuck with them but maybe not. *fingers crossed* Thank you.

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  8. I’m so sorry to hear about your migraine ordeal. It sounds terrible, and I fully understand your desire to rant about someone with a mild headache claiming a migraine.

    To be fair, though, medical issues affect people differently, and it’s possible she did have a mild migraine. I’ve been diagnosed with migraines. I can tell they’re coming on when the aura appears. But if I take a couple of nurofen straight away all I end up with is a bit of a headache.

    Other people experiencing your condition more mildly doesn’t make your suffering any less.

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    • Fair enough. That’s very true. Symptoms are different with different people. It was just WAY too soon after I was completely incapacitated to hear this. Also, I’ve heard it many, many times from people (like this girl, for instance). Even if she did have a medical history of migraines, this was probably not one as she was staring at a screen and studying her cuticles and offhandedly mentioning it.

      I’m so sorry to hear you experience these. Really. I literally feel your pain. I’ve heard catching auras early and avoiding certain foods right before can make migraines less…debilitating. I’ve yet to be able to do that so, hopefully, I’ll get that down and limit the pain and/or duration.

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      • I totally understand. I hope you manage to find ways to limit your symptoms. For me, auras are hard to miss because usually I’m working on my computer and suddenly I can’t see what I’m looking straight at. All the swirly lights are actually quite pretty. It’s a shame what they mean.

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      • I have occular migraines (which are yet another totally different thing) but, oddly enough, I don’t get them with or before an actual migraine. They are unnerving. Well, I’d say, no, you can’t really miss suddenly not being able to see. I should keep a diary to see if anything “triggers” it. That would be helpful. Thank you.

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    • Aw, man, it really did have me in a state. And conversations like that have often provoked the Brentyn Ire. 😉 You don’t flip your hair and sip a mocha latte with a migraine. Just saying. Thanks, my friend.

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  10. I used to get them with flashing lights and everything, at times of stress and hormonal change. I also had abdominal pain and nausea/vomiting for years, and when I saw a gastroenterologist, he diagnosed them as abdominal migraines. Who’d a thought?! Fingers crossed, I haven’t had one for about two years, but I know the signs to look out for now, namely stress, and try to avoid it.

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  12. Arg, I feel for you girl. I used to get them often when I was in my 20s and 30s, not so much anymore. I know what you mean, that nauseating feeling, and the light, oh the light, it’s painful. I remember if I wasn’t lucky enough to be able to hide in bed like you, I’d have to wear sunglasses. Good times . . . Not! 🙂

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  13. Reminds me of the old gag that when a woman gets a bit of a sniffle the men describe it as flu, or in my house Ebola. I have suffered from weekend migraines, brought on by relaxing after a hell week st work and flattening me almost like clock work on a Saturday afternoon. But they never lasted for more than a couple of hours if I reacted to the signs promptly and took myself off to a cool dark quiet space and hid, usually after being sick. Now I don’t work they’re mostly a thing of the past but never say never. To have one of these kittens lasting for days has to be awful. Poor you.

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    • Ooh… I’m cringing just reading that. Stress-induced migraines? You’ve mentioned work before but not really talked in great length about it. Not that I’m asking you to but, yes, I can see that flattening you for the day. So much for relaxing over the weekend. Yup. Dark, quiet place to hide. That sounds about right. How nice it is that, now, you’re doing what you love and are relaxing and enjoying life. 🙂 That makes me happy to think about.
      Sniffle = Ebola? I’d like to be a fly on the wall at your house. (Though I’m likely to get smooshed if I do that.)

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      • I think you’d like it here… you and the Textiliste may have a bundle in common… did someone say wine? And yep glad I don’t have the same days as I once did, though I think I’ll always get the migraine now, sort of like the dam has been broken

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      • I think you may be right (about the broken dam). Like your body is equipped for that kind of pain – it knows how and can plot against you. You can’t take that knowledge away from it. 😉 I’d love to meet the Textiliste and have a glass of wine. Someday perhaps I will show up on your doorstep. (Not in a creepy way. I’ll phone from down the street and give you a heads-up. And I’ll have wine.)

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  14. You hit the nail on the head! 🙂 What frustrates me is that true sufferers tend to be silent about their conditions. We don’t realize how much energy it takes to get through episodes or chronic pain because we can’t see it. I know someone who occasionally posts big medical scares or suddenly has a fibromyalgia day that disappears for months. The scares turn out to be nothing and I’m sure those with chronic conditions wish they only had to cope with one bad day once in awhile. Thanks for articulating this annoying social convention and I’m hoping you feel better!

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    • Ack! Don’t hit anything on the head! 😉 Completely agree. A lot of people who suffer do so in silence. If you can’t see it… Ugh… Don’t get me started on chronic pain. I don’t discuss it on my blog (though I guess I sort of am now) but it can be devastating and life-altering. And even acute attacks are draining because of the build up, the actual event, the after shock, and the recovery of mind and body. Okay, I suppose I did go on after all. Well, the migraine is over at least. Thank you. 🙂

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  15. I was diagnosed with ‘atypical headaches’ years ago – vision probs, nausea, light sensitivity, etc. – and to think Advil would help even those? Right. I know how my headaches are sometimes, and to think they’re not even migraine level – I can’t imagine the pain you feel. I’d think about splitting open my head too! Hope you’re feeling better.

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  16. I had migraines when I was a teen (Hooray hormone changes). I would often be rendered a useless lump of flesh after working out my abs gastrically speaking. I would use rubbing alcohol, darkness, Fioricet, and sleep. Lucky for me, it would be a couple of hours and then sometimes a mild hangover. I eventually grew out of them but in grade 12, I had 12 absences. I was amazed I didn’t get suspended. I’ve heard people use glasses specifically to mitigate effects and this is from people who get Thunderclap headaches. Aromatherapy has also helped a lot of people, lavender some and mint most. Other ointments on the temples have also helped but every person has their recipe. Hope you’re feeling better and no new episodes for a long while. Cheers

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    • Hooray for hormone changes! 😀 (That made me laugh.)
      Rendered useless is a perfect way to describe these. I am so glad you don’t get these anymore. But I do need to ask… What was the rubbing alcohol for? I mean… I can’t imagine a use for that for migraines. Do I want to know?

      Yes. I love aromatherapy. I use that a lot. For headaches (not migraines), stomach issues, stress, insomnia, sunburn… I use essential oils for everything. I am feeling better from this one and fingers crossed I don’t get any for a long while. Thanks, my friend.

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      • Always happy to bring out that laugh, luv 😀 I’ve seen plenty of people get sideswiped by migraines and my friend with the thunderclaps, well verging near death and cerebral bleeding is pretty f’ng crazy. I’m also glad I don’t get them anymore and the smell of rubbing alcohol helped a lot (Something VERY Puerto Rican/Cuban). It wasn’t every type of migraine, but for some it helped (of course I was creative even in types of headaches lol. and aromatherapy for sunburn or direct use of the oil? If so, which? Always crossing fingers for a healthy and sassy Ravenclaw 😉

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      • Those thunderclaps sound frightening. Damn.

        So…you sniff rubbing alcohol? Hmm. Sounds odd. I’ll try it. Always up for new tips. Honestly, I’ll try anything when I feel like that. I wonder if there’s a medical explanation why it helps. I’m Googling that. (I’ll try it anyway.)

        Aromatherapy is awesome. Yes, I use it in diffusers and on my pillow to sleep and so on but have used it for years on skin. I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone starting out because you have to know which ones can be used neat (without being diluted) and which ones cause skin irritation and/or photo sensitivity… But lavender oil is BY FAR the best treatment for burns (sun or otherwise) I’ve ever used. I could go on for a whole post (or ten) about essential oils.

        Healthy? Working on it. Sassy? Always. Always the sassy Ravenclaw. 😉

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      • Oh I’m always afraid for her and wishing her well. Good soul dealing with oh so many things.

        And the alcohol (Alcoholado Superior – Superior Bay Rum, if I’m not mistaken) is used for that. It’s a home remedy like witch hazel. ANd it could be aromatherapy or just placebo effect, who knows?

        And hooray for sass and oils 😀

        you ARE the sassy Ravenclaw 😀

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  17. Oh no! How often do you suffer from these things? They sound like torture.

    I’ve never had a migraine – I occasionally get bad headaches, but nothing remotely like what you describe. I hope they don’t happen too often…

    However, this is your party and you can rant if you want to. 😉

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    • Hey, cool, it *is* my party and I’ll rant if I want to! It’s been a bit since I had a good rant. That was fun. 🙂
      Thing is, as I’m reading comments here, I guess I’m not paying attention to signs so I get hit with these things. They could be twice a month, could be twice a week, could last a day, could last three… I’m going to start keeping a diary. That should help. I hope. They are torture. Torture.

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  18. Dude. That sucks. Seriously. (I can hear you mentally saying to yourself “yeah, I know it does. I’m the one with migraines, remember?”)

    I offer my sympathy for your sucky situation. I’ve never had a migraine, nor have I claimed to have had one (though I don’t have much hair to flip anymore and it’s been ages since my last manicure). My mom suffered from mild ones when I was younger, with flashing c-shaped lights in her eyesight. I hope things improve and your suffering diminishes.

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    • It does suck. It really does. (There. I said it out loud. Sort of.) Haha! No, you don’t have much hair left to flip though, honestly, I can’t see you doing a hair-flip and sipping a latte anyway. Ooh…I hate having these but I wouldn’t want to see a loved one go through them. That must have been awful.

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  19. You showed much restraint. I would have punched one or both of them. I get your kind of migraines. Brain-swelling, eye-popping, vomiting pain. About 20 years ago, I tried to convince my brother to drill a hole in the side of my head to relieve the pressure (he didn’t). Ice packs on the back of my neck and wrists, and a gumguard for when I grind my teeth in agony, are how I get through them. And weeping in the foetal position.

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    • I wanted to. 😉 Ah, yes, the curled-up weeping cure. I’ve tried that one numerous times. Kidding aside, that’s probably the worst thing you can do with the ironic side-effect that I usually cry myself to sleep which is a BLESSING. Ice packs on the forehead do help (both the cold and blocking out light). I am hoping I don’t get another for a long while but, when I get the next one, I will definitely try the ice packs on neck and wrists. Thanks! 💗 Stay healthy. And no drilling. Though I can imagine it sounds tempting in the moment.

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  21. So sorry! My brother suffers from them and I remember him being in a dark room for 24 hours in agony. I’ve only ever had one once and the anvil thing is pretty apt. So yeah, I’d be miffed too. Props for the Inigo Montoya meme – one of my faves. Hope you’re all recovered now xx

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    • Ah, yes, Inigo. The much-loved sword-wielding Spaniard set on revenge. 😀 All of the love for that film.
      I’m so glad you’ve only experienced this once but, as I’ve said, I’d hate to be the one watching a loved one suffer through these. I’m recovered, waiting for the next, trying not to dwell, and taking advice from awesome comments here. Thanks, Helen. 💖

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  22. I’ve only ever had pain like that once after having a lumber puncture! It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever experienced and yet it sounds very similar to your symptoms. I can’t imagine having to cope with that regularly so big hugs to you. When I ran my holistic spa I had quite a few clients who suffered with terrible migraines. When they weren’t in pain we used Indian Head Massage to help them. All of them reported a drop in severity and eventually reduction in attacks after receiving monthly treatments. It might be worth a try if you can find a holistic therapist in your area. xx

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    • Oh, that is horrible. I’m cringing reading about a lumbar puncture that causes that kind of pain. The Indian Head Massage sounds incredible! Is that Ayurvedic? Do you use aromatherapy or herbal treatments or…? I will definitely look that up. Thank you! 💖

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      • Yes, an Indian Head Massage would come under Ayurvedic. I only ever used coconut oil (unless my client had allergies) as it was great for the hair too haha. It’s such a wonderful treatment but incredibly helpful for migraine. It involves massaging the neck and shoulders then sweeping up into the base of the skull and working on the scalp to relieve pressure. I think you’d enjoy it and if it helps with the pain then it’s a win win. xx

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      • Aah… Dreamy. That sound so unbelievably dreamy. (And, yes, love coconut oil for healthy hair/scalp.) I will look for someone who knows Indian Head Massage because just reading this is making me relaxed. 🙂

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