I woke up this morning with an ache in my nose. Well, it was actually in my sinuses. I took some sinus medication and carried on getting ready for work.
The medication apparently did nothing. The pain spread to my forehead and around my left eye. I had a small breakfast and felt faintly like vomiting. Which should have been my first clue, really.
I went to work. The pain got worse. I took another sinus pill. I started to see faint lights at the periphery of my vision. Ah, I thought. I have a migraine.
I told the office staff that I had to to go home while I could still drive. I spoke to the other teachers with whom I usually work on Wednesdays. Then I went home.
Normally, when I have a migraine (admittedly not very often), a couple of Tylenol and a good nap works for me. I’m lucky that way, I know. I’ve only ever been really incapacitated by a migraine maybe once or twice in my whole life, but I know many people to whom this happens quite regularly, like once a month or so. I know people who have very strong prescription medication for their migraines. I also know a couple of people who don’t take their medication in time and end up suffering for an entire day and a half.
Anyway, when I approached my house (which is actually a triplex), half the driveway was blocked by one of those lift trucks. There were several signs posted along the driveway stating “Caution. Men Working Above.” There were hoses snaking all over the place. There were a couple of pressure washers parked near the house itself. Oh, I thought. Now I remember. Today is the day they start cleaning all the gutters, exterior siding, and windows. With pressure washers. Noisy pressure washers.
So I squiggled my car around all the cleaning paraphernalia into my garage, went into my house and popped my two Tylenol. However, a nap will be out of the question today. It’s just too noisy. But at least the Tylenol has done its job and although I’m still feeling a bit fuzzy two hours later, the pain has abated.
I guess I’ll just lie on the couch in front of the fire and gaze out my newly-cleaned living room windows, listening to the dulcet tones of pressure washers.
Thank you, 
Thank you, Fhina, at 
7 responses so far ↓
Jazz // October 28, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I get migraines now and then. They start with the lights. Like you I’m lucky in that if I take 3 or 4 extra strength Tylenol right away the worst of it can be averted. I can only imagine how awful it is for people who, like my mom was, are incapacitated by monthly migraines…
pinklea // October 28, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Jazz -My worst migraine was probably in Disneyland, of all effing places! It was NOT the Happiest Place on Earth for me that day, for sure.
wenderina // October 28, 2009 at 5:05 pm
A regular old headache can turn me into an unrecognizable pile of slush so I can’t imagine dealing with a migraine. And a migraine with uncontrolled noise pounding on my house would be cause for some serious pain – in the contractor’s ass most likely.
VioletSky // October 29, 2009 at 1:18 am
I used to get migraines several times a week. They eventually abated to just plain excruciating headaches, but that took years of not eating cheese or chocolate or drinking any red wine. Those were sad years, but at least less painful.
Now, I get few headaches, but I still I feel a little antipathy for anyone who says they never get headaches.
I’m typing this quietly, shhhhh
Irene // October 29, 2009 at 2:03 am
I used to get terrible migraines, but have thankfully outgrown them. I haven’t had one now in 20 years. Knock on wood! I know how debilitating they can be. I hope you don’t get another one soon.
pinklea // October 29, 2009 at 5:06 pm
wenderina – I moped around for a couple of hours, with the noise in the background. Then I ended up falling asleep for three hours, despite all the racket. When I woke up, I felt great – and also they’d stopped for the day.
VioletSky – I’m not even sure what my triggers are. I think stress is the big one. God forbid it should be chocolate or red wine!
Irene – Wow, 20 years without a migraine! That’s pretty impressive. My last one had to be a few years ago, but certainly not 20.
hannah78 // October 30, 2009 at 5:40 am
That sucks. My mom used to get incredibly painful migraines that caused her so much agony that she had to get prescription pain killers. (Which ended up giving her nausea:P)