The mighty migraine and my dumb stomach

I've written about the lovely migraine headaches I get before-they are no fun, unless you like pain. If you've never had one, count your blessings. If you have, I feel your pain-literally. I've been "blessed" with these things since the age of 13. I've learned to deal with them. And I've tried a ton of different things to prevent them. I've still not figured out my triggers other than STRESS is a big trigger for me. I would not wish these on my worse enemy (well maybe I would wish ONE migraine on a few people so they would understand the hell, light, sound and smells cause for me. Being woke up while trying to stop a migraine is pure hell, I've got no other way to put it other than HELL.) Being woke up while trying to get a migraine to slow down can cause it to instead get bad very, very fast. Some people just don't understand that. But I still would not wish them on people.

Add an extremely sensitive stomach to the migraine mix and it's a a barrel of monkeys for me at times. Not really but the stomach thing does not help. I was told I have always had a sensitive stomach. Eating is always an adventure. I've had eggs, lettuce, turkey, peanut butter, milk, seasonings, dressings, sauces, and a host of other delicious food bother me at any given time over the years, including water. As an adult I'm trying the process of elimination diet. So I never know if what I'm going to eat will come back to haunt me in a variety of ways. Not fun. I often opt not to eat when my stomach is on the rampage. Or I will get so hungry that I eat without thinking-duh Lynn. I need to remember to not order things like broasted chicken, that no matter how good it will taste or that it is cheaper than the steak, that was my latest culprit...broasted chicken, do NOT order it! It was so good, but so greasy! I should have just order the steak-I've never had a problem with steak-go figure! Even one of my favorites, ham, has given me problems-that makes me sad. I've never been tested for any kind of stomach sensitivity. My mom always told me how I would curl up into a ball whenever they fed me banana baby food when I was a baby....I still can't do banana anything. See I've been at this stomach thing all of my life.

So the nasty migraine that paid me an unwelcome visit at 3 a.m. this morning had been flirting with me since Sunday. I'd taken my prescription med yesterday in an attempt to stop things-which, silly me, thought it did. And then my stomach decided to wreak havoc on my life yesterday afternoon. So while I was dealing with that and attempting to sleep peacefully that migraine hit me while I was down and out. Thanks a lot.

The best thing I've learned to do when I have either of these physical situations is to give in and let them run their course. I'm not giving up or in, I'm just being wise and letting my body deal with the problems. 

I've learned over the years my migraine triggers, they range from emotions, situations, food, lighting, weather and loud noise or people. Stress after a long time will take it's toll and sure as heck I'll get hit with a migraine often during the night-usually when I relax. A migraine during the day is something I can stop or at least deal with and slow down. I hate the night time migraines, as by the time I wake up with it I am too far into it to stop things. They are full blown-vomiting and a killer headache kind of things. I've been in the hospital twice with my migraines and the days that follow any migraine are still bad headaches but feel like a picnic compared to the real, full blown thing. I call them "headache hangovers" now-trying to find humor in not such fun situations. They can last for a day or several. I deal.

I'm not complaining about either of these physical things I've dealt with over the years. It is what it is. Would I like not to have to deal with them-you bet. But there are a lot worse things in life. It's no fun to have life interrupted by either of these, often times during big events, or take me out of things completely, but it could be a lot worse. I have learned to handle and manage, when I can, and keep moving forward. I wish there was a sure fire cure for the migraine, lots of tests and meds over the years but nothing to completely stop them.

Keeping a positive attitude, if there is such a thing with either of these two calamities that usually hit without much, if any warning is a challenge. But everyone has their thing and I'm used to it.  It's not fun, but it's part of my life. And honestly things could be a lot worse.

Positive thought of the day: Sunshine is great but on days when I have a migraine a cloudy day is a blessing-so today I am blessed while coming out of a migraine! May you find a blessing in your day too!