Headaches

The worst headache I have ever had was when I was in Brasil.  I had three host families during my year there.  One I still call family to this day.  One was like a sorority house and one was just a place to crash.  So it was in the middle one that I had a really bad headache.  Even as I was lying on the sofa in agony I was aware that if I had been at home at that moment the headache would not have seemed so horrible.

Recently, on a Saturday, I didn't feel quite right.  My right arm was achy and I felt nasuea in the morning.  On top of that was the stress of getting everyone out the door in time to have our weekly trip to the gym to workout before a family event.  I kept thinking to myself that I only needed to worry if it was my left arm that ached.

As I was doing my crunches I wondered how long it would take for someone to notice me on the floor if I passed out or started having convulsions.  And how would they match me up with my family since I didn't have an ID on me.

At the family event I took some Excedrin and started to feel better.  The rest of the day proceeded fine.  Until 3 a.m.   I awoke from my dream of being barefoot at work and realized I had a bad headache.  I thought about taking some more Excedrin but my husband is a light sleeper and I didn't want to bother him.  So I tried to massage it away - which is about like trying to tickle yourself.

Lying there in a quiet house, taking stock of any other symptom and wondering if this was going to wind up as an E.R. trip, I concluded that headaches seem more intense when I am lonely.  I suppose it is as simple as lack of distraction allowing more focus on the pain.  I began to repeat to myself, "71217" - assuring myself that I would survive this headache.  Then I wondered if it was the beginning of a brain tumor.

Finally my husband stirred and I got some Excedrin and tried to be patient as I waited for it to kick in.  Thankfully I don't suffer from migraines - but I feel for those that do.