February is almost over and for once I'm glad there is a month with fewer days. I usually want to expand my life expectancy with a full complement of 30 or 31 days in a month, but I'm ready to bid this month a (not so) fond farewell.
Let's see, this month Hub and I had a huge "disagreement", resulting in many difficult conversations. Then he left town to go snowboarding and I swirled into the pit of depression, then got basically snowed in with the big Snowmaggedon dump coinciding with Yoga Training weekend, stressful in itself. Then he came home with a bit of a cold, which I promptly caught, leaving me feeling stuffy, drained, and headachy.
Headachy is actually a bit of an understatement. I've had 8 "headache days" this month so far, 6 of them in a row this week. Today too. I don't like to give in to feeling ill unless it is totally incapacitating, so I've forged ahead with regular life stuff all week, but yesterday I was so tired and and nauseated from my headache that I decided to finally take a sick day.I don't like sick days. Feels like big waste of time and that I'm a big wuss. Can you tell I grew up in a household where illness was akin to weakness and sloth? My dad did take some time off work when he had his massive coronary at age 57, which would have killed him, said his doctor, had he not already been in the hospital for observation due to troubling symptoms the day before. My mom...hmmm...I don't recall even once seeing my mom sitting down in the middle of the day let alone lying down sick. And Hub is the same. He had surgery on his knee 25 years ago and took some time off then. That was it, in his 30 year career. We power through.
But yesterday I'd had it. I posted on FB about my headache and asked my wise friends what to do. Naturally I got lots of helpful advice! I'd been going the traditional route of Tylenol and Ibuprofen. I added an Epsom salts soak in the tub, a capsule of magnesium (but I understand the powdered version is better), and have leads on acupuncturists and auravedic practitioners to call in if needed. I'm scheduled for a massage and facial next week. I also got a private message letting me know that CBD and THC help. Well, it's all legal here with "pot stores" nearly as thick in some parts of the city as Starbucks. I've tried the CBD tincture and ointment and find some relief for aches and pains, but not headache. And I won't go the THC route. I have a bad reaction (no, it's no fun for me to be "high") as well as a personal aversion to intoxicants on spiritual and personal growth grounds. It's just not for me, but I appreciated the concern and the advice anyway. By the end of the day, I felt a little better....I think it was the warm Epsom salt bath.
Today the headache is back and I'm back to trying to ignore the whole thing. I'm acknowledging that it's been a very stressful month, my sleep schedule is totally screwed up, my head cold is lingering, and it's no wonder all of this is manifesting in a weeklong headache. I'm working on my asana practice and pranayama homework for Yoga training, hoping the stretching poses and breath work will yield a relaxation response in my parasympathetic nervous system. (Listen to me! Yoga teacher talk!)
I'm also looking for the bright spots -- Hub and I have made an attempt at peace and that feels better; Son Two and future DIL brought home a Golden Retriever puppy and I dare anyone to feel shitty when a Golden puppy is in the vicinity; I've had lovely breakfast and coffee dates with friends; we've hosted our weekly family dinners; I went to a catering biz tasting with Son-Two and future DIL as they make wedding decisions and even got to go along when she made her final wedding gown decision. Not having daughters, it thrills me to tears that my sons' women include me in these meaningful moments.
Next week we will celebrate our little granddaughter's 4th birthday with rainbows and unicorns. I ask you, what better way is there to banish a headache and usher out a stressful month?!?
At least, that's the view from here...©
Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com
Have you ever tried to figure out the triggers for your headaches? I know that wine or cheese can do it for some people who suffer migraines. I so rarely get a headache of any kind that I can count them on my fingers. When I do get one I think I'm dying of a brain tumor.
ReplyDeleteGlad things are looking up now and that you have some fun stuff going on to focus your energy on.
Yes. I've tried to figure out the trigger. Nothing specific, although I think stress and poor sleep contribute, but I would think that would be like maybe one day....not every day for 3-5 days in a row! It sucks. I never used to get headaches either, or rarely at least. Not sure why I'm getting them now when life is actually less stressful overall. Who knows? But it's gone for now, so that's good! (People tell me if it really was a brain tumor, which I always suspect too, it wouldn't come and go and by now there'd be other bothersome symptoms, so ... anxiety might play role. LOL)
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