Coping, hoping, moping and other strategies

I had a couple of posts on coping with migraine that I thought would work fine for this month's blog carnival, but I couldn't resist doing some on-the-job research.  Yesterday I had a splendid set of opportunities to get a migraine, followed by an opportunity to cope.

It went like this:  First, to create the desired research environment:

1.  Sleep badly.
2.  Rush through getting ready and go out in rush hour traffic to coffee with a business associate. Choose the hip, cool, NOISY coffee shop.
3.  Stay in the coffee shop for 2 hours afterwards doing professional reading with the noise battering your ear drums.
4.  Step out into the gorgeous Spring day with the Bradford pears in full bloom along the street (they are very pretty and I am allergic to them.)  Sneeze a lot.
5.  Lead a seminar over lunch.  Have the attendees show up late so your lunch is late.  Get ravenous before eating.  Then have an intensive seminar on a challenging topic, that you have never led before.
6.  Back at the office, discover a major error in your publication that will cost you money you can't afford.
7.  Receive worrisome news about someone.
8.  Cry.

There.  A near perfect research environment.  The only surprise was that the migraine pain was mild, and didn't begin until about 6 pm.

And on to the coping:

1.  Unsure yet whether it's a "real  one" or just a tension headache, take the mild and mainly ineffective pain-dullers available to an allergic person like me.  (Endorphigen  D-Phenylalanine supplement and Magnesium Choline Trisalycylic acid).  Drink a lot of water (16 oz or so).

2.  Take a fifteen minute gentle walk.  This will usually clear a tension headache for me.

3.  When these don't impact the head pain, eat a light dinner.  I cannot take my triptans on an empty stomach, as the ache and pressure in my trunk from the triptan will make me nauseous on an empty stomach.

4.  Take the blessed and cursed Imitrex.  (Blessed for usually halting the migraine, cursed for making my head go all stupid, making my whole body ache, and intestinal ickiness.)

From here on in, it's all about comfort.

5.  Receive hugs from husband and any offspring so inclined as to offer them.

6.  Hug kitty-cat who will probably not come snuggle on the bed.  (He comes once in awhile.  But generally considers our bed to be the territory of elder cat who died 7 years ago.  Can't convince him otherwise.)

7.  Lie down on comfy bed.  Lights low. Soothing adobe-orange walls.  Many pillows. And my stuffed animals.

Wally is the perfect size to hug.   

Pepito is very soft and exact holding-in-hand size.

Willy the Wooly Mammoth is really Danny's, but I borrow him for my other hand (he's my favorite but don't tell).

7.  Buckwheat filled eye-mask can be cooled in the freezer, blocks the light, and puts a soft comforting pressure on my eyes.

8.  Husband or offspring checks on me after an hour or two, usually bringing cups of tea and medicinal dark chocolate.

9.  Gentle comedy on the tv goes a long way.

10.  Sleep.

- Megan
There's got to be a morning after.

Comments

[deborah]

I received an email from an "anonymous" llama stating that he was being terribly abused and neglected. Not treated as well as a certain wooly or overly-hugged koala; he would love to be shipped to my home, where I have lots of room to love and will not neglect him. jus sayin

[Megan Oltman]

Nice try, there, lady. Thought you'd pull the guilt strings, eh? Well it didn't work. Pepito ain't going nowhere. He's my right-hand llama.

Besides, the other guys would all understand. Everyone has a soft spot for Willy the Wooly. After all, he's extinct!

[Eileen]

Sorry you got hit Megs!

I need to get me one of those buckwheat eye things - I've been looking for an eye mask for a while, but I can usually only find the lavender kind, and I'm not too keen on lavender.

And yes, Kitties are a big help when the beast hits.

Hope you are feeling better today my dear!!!

Hugs!

[Janet]

What a colorful post! I love the inclusion of photos. I often go for my right-hand lamb, Lamby. I've had her since I was an infant and, though I occasionally feel a bit babyish, like to cuddle with her when I'm feeling beaten down and sick. (I'm nice to her in times of health, too! ;) )

[Sue]

Yes, kitteh cuddles can be very helpful. Love the wooly mammoth too!

[Diana]

I really like #8 the best! You must have an awesome husband. Thanks for this post. Great steps to being gentle with ourselves.

[Megan Oltman]

Thanks Diana - yes, a husband who understands chocolate is worth his weight in... chocolate? Gold? You name it.
- Megan

[Susan Mc]

I also hate Imitrex--it makes me vomit and makes my joints ache like crazy. However, I've had MUCH better success with Maxalt. It has the good parts of Imitrex without the bad side effects. I've tried all the triptans, and Maxalt is the one that is best for me. I suggest you try the others until you find one you can tolerate better than Imitrex.