A Rough Wake-Up Call: Migraine, Numbness, and Uncertainty

 

Early this morning (6am), I was jolted out of a sound sleep by a sharp, stabbing pain on the top right side of my head. The kind of pain that doesn’t ease in slowly...it was immediate, severe, and disorienting. When I stood up, I couldn’t regain my balance. The room tilted, and my footing felt unsure. And then, not long after, both of my hands went numb! (the familiar “pins and needles” of limbs falling asleep) Only this time it came out of nowhere and hit both hands at once.

I took a Fioricet and grabbed an ice pack, doing what I could to bring the pain down to something bearable. Eventually, I was able to sleep again. When I woke up, the worst of it had passed, but the migraine still lingers like a shadow.

• Fioricet is a combination medication containing acetaminophen (a pain reliever and fever reducer), butalbital (a barbiturate that promotes relaxation and sedation), and caffeine (a stimulant).
• It's primarily used for tension headaches but can be prescribed off-label for migraines.
• It's designed to treat immediate headache symptoms, not prevent migraine attacks. 

If you're new to my blog, I have a chronic migraine/headache issue. Yes, I am working with Doctors and neurologists to address this issue. I'm not relying on the internet to solve my medical problems. 😁

I don’t usually share the deeper side of these episodes, but this one rattled me. The sudden onset, the balance issues, the numbness...it’s hard not to wonder what else is at play. Chronic migraines can be unpredictable and isolating, and sometimes they come with symptoms that make you question whether it’s “just” a migraine or something more. 

Quick note: My recent CT scan was normal according to my PCP, and I am waiting to hear back from the neurologist.

PLEASE! If anyone reading this has experienced something similar, I’d really like to hear from you. Sometimes, just knowing you’re not the only one can offer a strange kind of comfort. Let’s talk
about your experience.