Bigger Pants

It started a few months ago...I was sitting at my desk and my lips started to tingle, I was having a hard time focusing on my computer screen, and had a strange feeling at the base of my skull.  I talked to Jeremy about it and of course, spooked him a little.  He called me on my way home that night and noticed that I was having trouble finding words and forming sentences.  I promised to pull over if I began to feel worse.  A mile or so down the road, it was like nothing had ever happened.  I was fine. 

Last Thursday, I was sitting at my desk, and the tingling began.  I began to notice that my eyes were viewing everything like a kaleidoscope.  I felt a bit lightheaded and kinda dizzy.  It didn't get worse, nor did it get better.

I drove home, picked up Jacob, and we stopped at the City Police station to visit with the Sergeant on duty and of course, Jacob needed to know where Mel was (at SWAT training).  Jacob talked me into a trip to the store and the airport before heading home.  I was still feeling a little funky - mostly ready to PUKE my guts out!  I thought maybe something to eat or drink might quell this dull ache starting in the right side of my head.

At the airport, after eating/drinking I was beginning to feel better - so I thought.  We're watching planes and I suddenly lost about 3/4 of my field of vision.  I could see a really bright light up and to my left but, if I looked to it, it would go higher.  It looked like a child's drawing of a sun - the circle and all the triangles for the rays - but it was white - bright white!  Everything else was dull and grainy. I knew I had to get home.  I didn't know if I could get home!  I heard Jacob asking "Mommy?", but I couldn't answer him.  I could feel my head spinning.  I heard Jacob starting to get scared.  I watched the bright light burn out while thinking "what am I going to do?".  I knew if worse came to worse, I could call central dispatch - I knew Mel would be done with his class soon and he'd come help me get home.  If I could just get my head back together - just to see straight.  And snap!  It was gone.  I knew I had to stop dinking around and get us home!

I changed my clothes once we got home, and while sitting on the bed, every fingertip on my left hand (only the left) went numb.  I knew I was feeling the sheet, but all I 'felt' was tingling in my fingers.  The dull ache on my right brain was back.  I took some Ibuprofen and went downstairs.  Jacob and I planted our annuals while the dull ache in my head grew and the nausea intensified.

I went to bed about 8:00 - after calling Jeremy (again) and the pain was full blown.  I couldn't sleep.  The pressure on (not in) my head was too much to get comfortable.  I remember seeing midnight on the clock. 

I woke the next morning and the throbbing was gone.  Yet, I could still feel the stem and all the branches from this headache - especially when I bent from the shower to pick up my towel.  Sweet Jesus!   I did go to work that day and I left about an hour early.  I felt in a fog - hmmm...similar to medicine head.  And the nausea!  Ugh!  The nausea!

On Friday - someone said it sounded like I'd had a migraine.  I always thought that a migraine was pain in the worst possible form.  Either I have a high pain tolerance or this wasn't a migraine.  I did a little research online, talked to a few gals at work that I know suffer from them and I think that's what's happening here.  Of course, I do need to follow up my suspicions with my Doctor and I will at my upcoming appointment.  Jeremy and I talked about it too, we're going to watch it for awhile, take some notes, etc.  I want to build my case, arm myself with the details of my case before I talk to the Dr.

We're almost a week later now and I'm still experiencing after effects.  I have a tight tingle at the top of my head, I've cut my diet by about 2/3 due to the nausea/full/gassy/bloated feelings ALL. The. Time.  I still feel the stem and branches of the headache and I'm still kinda woozy (we won't talk about the bathroom effects, K?).  From what I've read, these are all normal after-effects from a migraine. 

But hey, good news my pants are getting bigger!  :)

P.S.  If any of you have knowledge/experience with migraines - I'd love to hear your story.