Migraine

Over the weekend that just passed, I was struck by my worst migraine attack thus far. I've been getting migraines all my life - some of my earliest memories are of me running to the toilet to throw up - so pain is not the new kid on the block. But this migraine, was like a dark, gigantine and most wicked monster from the ashes, complete with sharp fingernails and horrendously disgusting breath. And the most piercing bellow ever.

I woke up with the searing pain on the top right-side of my head. I knew immediately that the migraine was too advanced for any medication to take effect. After many, many hours of excruciating pain, the migraine then spread to the left-side of my head, where it proceeded to set its imprint on my already sore brain. I felt bed-ridden and nearly paralysed. Every beam of light coming from beneath the curtains was torturous. The heat was playing games with me whereby one moment it would be baking hot and another, freezing cold. I used my pillow to cover my head in futile attempt to soothe the pain. I kept thinking good thoughts and happy moments, and listed a few of my favourite things. But before long, I resorted to hitting my head where the migraine seemed to be coming from, hoping that the pain emanating from the hitting would hurt more than the slicing knife that was the migraine. The thought of self-harm came so naturally, and with no ill-intent whatsoever of, well, self-harm. The monster was just too overbearing.

This continued throughout the rest of the day whilst I battled to practise mind over matter. Pain is, after all, just a conjuration of the mind, isn't it? I only realised the impact that the migraine had on my body when I got up to make a cup of Milo in the evening, which took me a good hour as every simple act was interrupted by a ten-minute rest with my head on the table. I could not even finish the drink.

Luckily, by divine intervention or otherwise, the migraine subsided by the next day. Needless to say, there was a bad lingering headache which threatened to convert into a migraine numerous times, but at least the worst was over.

I guess that having lived with migraines all my life, I'm not surprised when it strikes. The pain, however, only gets worse, and I suspect, will only get worse in time to come. I know someone who has lived with migraines all her life, and hers could last up to a week. But I live each day thankful that migraines are not a sickness nor an illness nor a deformity, but mere pain which, with hibernation, will go away.

Take care.