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.

I've Tried Everything for My Chronic Headaches....Nothing is Working

 Will it ever get better?

There are good days. Days when I wake up without the pressure behind my eyes, the dull throbbing at my temples, the creeping tension down my neck. On those mornings, I hold my breath, hoping, praying, that maybe this time, the pain won’t return. But it always does.

• I’ve tried migraine medications💊—only side effects, no relief.
• I’ve tried the chiropractor—nope.
• I’ve tried antidepressants—got worse. (stopped them)
• I’ve tried essential oils—almost threw up from the intense smells.
• I’ve tried walking, losing 50 pounds—still have them.
• I’ve tried birth control—nothing.
• I've tried working on my gut health—Nothing
• I make sure I'm hydrated—Nothing
• I’ve tried ibuprofen and Tylenol together—nope.
• I’m gluten-free now for stomach issues—still have headaches.
• Diet adjustments—Still have them.
• I’ve tried yoga, meditation, stretching—still have them.
• I've taken allergy pills (Claritin, Zyrtec, Flonase)—Nope.
• Supplements (Magnesium, oil of oregano with black seed oil, iron, etc.) 

One medication that actually "works" for a few hours is Fioricet. But of course I don't want to take that every four hours for the rest of my life.... 

Through every attempt, every hopeful moment, the headaches remain. And the worst part? It’s not just the pain—it’s the way it drains me, wears me down, makes it hard to function. Some days, I push through because I have to, because my family needs me, because life doesn’t stop for pain.

 But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The mental weight of chronic headaches is just as heavy as the physical one. The frustration, the helplessness, the exhaustion, it all builds up.

I don’t want to give up. But honestly? 

Some days, I’m just tired.

So here I am, still searching. Still hoping. And if you’ve felt this way, if you’re stuck in the same endless cycle, maybe this post is for you, or maybe you have some advice? 

Any help would be appreciated! 

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