The Worst Headache of My Life

Today I had a bit of a scare. Earlier today I became almost completely incapacitated because of a horrendous migraine headache and considered going to the emergency room.

I still can't move around too much without feeling nauseated or having my head pound.

This morning I flew from Texas to California for work. As usual, I slept for much of the flight. When I woke up as the plane was landing, I had a terrible headache. It got worse every second that passed.

As I stepped off the plane, all I could think about was taking something for the pain. I had one Tylenol and one Motrin left in my bag from my last trip, but I needed something to take it with.

My headache was getting worse so quickly that I didn't think I could make it all the way to baggage claim. I couldn't tolerate light or sound, and I was getting more and more nauseated. Luckily there was a gift shop near the gate, so I went in and purchased a juice and a snack to take my medicine.

I took the medicine immediately. Not wanting to leave my suitcase going around and around the baggage claim unattended, I slowly made my way to the baggage claim area.

As soon as I got my suitcase, I sat in the nearest chair and couldn't move without extreme pain. On a pain scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being extreme pain, I was at a 10. (I have only been at a 10 once before in my life, and that time resulted in a trip to the Emergency Room and a hospital stay.) The headache was so severe that I couldn't think straight.

All I could think about was the pain.

I was hoping the medicine would start working about 30 minutes after I took it. It didn't. I waited another 20 minutes. Still nothing. At that point, I dragged myself to the nearby giftshop and purchased another travel pack of Tylenol and Motrin. I went back to my chair and took one more Tylenol and Motrin. After another 40 minutes, my pain had slightly improved to a 9.

Though I've had migraines before, I've never had one this severe. Every sound felt like a dozen knives stabbing me. I had to cover my ears a few times as noisy people went by. I kept my eyes closed with sunglass on because the light was painful as well. I felt as if my head would explode. I was so out of it that at one point I thought the pain might kill me.

Sitting in the same chair at the airport for about an hour and a half with little relief from the extreme pain, I started to feel a little scared and alone. I also really wanted to get to my hotel so that I could lie down on a bed.

I ended up making a deal with myself. I would go to the hotel and lie down. If I continued to feel as bad, I would call an ambulance.

I made my way to the rental car shuttle bus and got on. I was the only passenger. As soon as we started moving, my pain went back up to a 10 and an extreme wave of nausea rolled over me. I knew I was going to vomit, but I couldn't open my mouth to tell the bus driver to stop.

I desperately started digging through my bag and found a small zip lock bag with some of my medicine in it. I dumped out the contents of the zip lock into my bag and proceeded to throw up in the zip lock uncontrollably. As far as I could tell, the bus driver didn't even notice. I sealed the zip lock just as we arrived at the rental car facility. As soon as I got off the bus, I tossed the contents into the nearest trash can.

Coca Cola sometimes helps settle my stomach when I'm nauseated, so I purchased one from the machine that was in the facility. I was obviously not well enough to hop in a car and drive, so I sat down in a chair while I sipped on my drink. The pain was at a 10. I contemplated asking someone to help me get an ambulance. I still couldn't think straight, but I knew I wanted to lie down on the bed in my hotel room.

I don't remember how much time passed before I got the strength to get up to find my rental car, but the pain had improved a bit to an 8. I think it must have been the combination of two Extra Strength Tylenol, two Motrin, and the caffeine in the Coke that was helping my headache.

I finally made it to my car and eventually got to the hotel. I was on the bed as soon as I entered the room.

My incapacitating headache lasted nearly four hours before I started to feel human again. My head still hurts a great deal, but it's not nearly as bad as it was earlier today. I would rate it at about a 6 at this time.

The worst part about all of this is that I am away from home traveling on business alone. I will not be home until Sunday, so I really hope I don't get another severe headache this week. Of course I'll be telling my doctor about this incident as soon as I get the chance.

Today's Activities: travel for work. Today's Most Annoying Symptoms: severe migraine, nausea, exhaustion, muscle fatigue, general weakness.

Mood (10 is best): 5
Energy (10 is best): 2
Physical Discomfort (10 is worst): 10 earlier today, currently 6