Timeline of a Migraine

Analogs anyone?

Yesterday: Intermittent sharp pains behind my left eye. Not throbbing. I've been battling a bit of an upper respiratory thing recently, so I write it off as sinus related. I still think it might have been, but it may have triggered the rest.

Last night: Laying in bed watching TV. . . all of a sudden, tinnitus in my left ear that lasts for about a minute. Hearing slightly muffled afterwards until I go to sleep.

This morning: I wake up with a mild, non throbbing headache in the left hemisphere of my head. Mostly centered behind my left eye, but also at the base of my skull where the back-left side of my neck meets it. Nothing worse than a Richter 1.

11:30 AM: Lunch time! Still at a Richter 1. I head downstairs for lunch: Cuban Angus burger and some Corn Nuggets (sometimes I swear I'm back in high school with the food they give us). Chaser was a Diet Coke with Splenda (#2 for the day).

12:30: Back from lunch. My migraine gremlin has cranked up the rheostat. The headache has rapidly climbed through Richters 2 and 3 and is steadily heading for a 4. Stupid me, I left my Maxalt at home today, and only have a couple of Midrin if I need them.

12:45: Nabbed 600mg of Ibuprofen from a coworker and dry swallowed them. Sat down for 10 minutes and have already broken into my pill container and set the Midrin out. I have no faith that this thing is going to go away.

12:50: Writing the blog entry and staring intermittently at the two capsules of Midrin before me. I've given the Ibuprofen about 10 minutes so far, and am wondering if I should give them some time to work, or if I should just go for the Midrin. The headache has started to throb and has moved up to a 4+. I'm finding it harder to concentrate on non-headache things. I also feel the gastric effect starting as well. Options? I could swallow the midrin, but then I'll be a bit loopy for the rest of the day. I could try to drive home, but I know that the simple act of standing up will cause this thing to go into overdrive.

12:55: It feels like something is in my head trying to break its way out. I actually mean this literally. I can feel this headache in my head, and even my scalp is tingly and sore. I mean WTF? Are migraines nature's idea of a practical joke? Looking more longingly at the Midrin now. I think it's time to pop them. This ain't no ordinary headache that's gonna be stopped by Ibuprofen. I'm really finding it hard to think now, and the simple task of getting words from my head into the 'blog is starting to fall apart. I've had to stop and retype words a couple of times now. Worse yet is when the simple words that should be easy to type come very slowly. I usually type around 75wpm. I would guess that I'm down to about 50 right now.

1:02: Signing off to take the Midrin. I'll follow up later with resolution.