This post may not be up to par. My brain is protesting my bad choices and giving me a lot of trouble.
Yeah, after three months of being totally migraine-free, those lovely little angels have decided to grace me with their presence once again. It seems that I accidentally slipped some dairy into my system a few days ago. During midterms week. IT'S FINE.
:)
Not to worry, though, because it has inspired a very useful blog that I've actually wanted to write for a long time.
What to do in the early stages of a migraine:
You know what's coming. Maybe the little silver lights have shown up, maybe you feel a mild headache and stiffness in your neck. Whatever it is, you know that you're in for it now, and you're hoping to figure out any possible way to make your next few days a little less awful. I'm very sorry and I empathize. You'll be okay, I promise! Here, I got you some puppies that look uncomfortable.
- Prioritize. You're not always going to be able to turn off the world when you have a migraine. But it is important to recognize your migraine as your physical self telling your mental/emotional self that it needs a little attention. So if you have to keep going with other responsibilities, it's okay. You will be able to do it. But make sure you put yourself higher up on your priority list, and at least address the problem minimally. You deserve it.
- Eat so much food. This is my favorite part. When you feel a migraine coming, eat all the food in your house. During a migraine, your brain is burning calories just by being in so much pain (isn't that disgusting? I know). So give your body the calories it needs to heal. That's more important than your diet. Simple carbs and sugars are especially effective quick-fixes, for me: fruit juice, starchy veggies, and grains. Overestimate the amount of food you'll want to eat and then prepare it while you still feel okay. There's always the possibility of nausea, so don't overeat or eat things that are too rich, but your body needs energy.
- Numb your brain. Of the food you're eating without regret, give yourself something cold to reduce the inflammation in your head. Ironically, I discovered this method very early on in my migraines, before I had discovered the cause: dairy. I would eat giant bowls of ice cream when I felt a migraine coming. So don't do that, but maybe try a popsicle or frozen berries, just to be sure. It sounds weird, but i'm telling you it really does help.
- Make yourself at home. Whatever environment you're in, try to make it as comfortable as possible. Lower the lights, get under blankets, eliminate the unnecessary noises. Also, wearing sunglasses at night is completely acceptable during a migraine. People might think you're on drugs, but that's not the worst thing. Your body is probably sensitive to light, sound, temperature, and basically everything, so don't feel bad laying in bed as long as you need to.
- Get moving. Though you may be cozy in bed, it's important to avoid getting stiff. I do some simple yoga when I feel up to it, which keeps me limber and also helps me to relax more.
- Stop googling. I know you want to figure out why you have migraines, but trust me, do it later. The internet is a dangerous place. One time, I asked WebMD why my feet were cold and they told me to go the hospital, so just do something else. I know that bright lights are not good, but I often watch movies at the beginning of a migraine because it keeps me from thinking about scary medical problems I don't even have. The most important thing to do is keep yourself away from the things that stress you out, so just worry about that another time.
So, I'm sorry this blog isn't as shiny and perfect as my others, but I promise I'll revise it when I'm feeling better. I'll be in Paris and London next week, and definitely feeling better, so I'll have a lot to write about when I come back. Happy Spring Break!