According to NortonHealthcare.com, approximately 39 million Americans suffer migraine attacks each year. I am one of those lucky people.
Some people don’t seem to understand just how debilitating a migraine can be and seem to think that a migraine is just a “bad headache.” A migraine is so much more than just a headache though.
A migraine wreaks havoc on many parts of your body. It can mess with your balance, your cognition, your vision, your gastrointestinal tract, your sense of smell, your sense of touch and taste and so much more.
For some people who suffer from migraines, they can be knocked down from a few hours to a few days. Many migraine sufferers have learned ways to cope with them in order to get on with life because they happen so frequently that if they don’t they may end up losing their job.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a migraine hit me during work, luckily I was working from home, but I still had students depending on me on the other side of the computer screen. When I started to feel better, later that evening I wrote a poem about it and want to share it here with all of you.
Wake up, systems check.
Nose is clear, I can breathe.
Stretch, just the usual cracks.
I can move, not too stiff.
Roll out of bed, start the day.
Morning routine, exercise.
Breakfast, brush the teeth.
Daily dose of migraine preventative.
That should do it, fingers crossed.
Need a good day, need to teach.
Pinprick of pain, behind left eye.
Could it be, a migraine coming?
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Swallow the meds, for onset of pain.
Gulp some caffeine, help it to veins.
Walk ten steps, work from home.
COVID era, has some perks.
Set up Zoom, students show in tiny boxes.
Pain is gone, but words don’t work.
“Student’s hello, To Welcome Wednesday!”
Funny looks, smiling faces, in little squares.
One asks, “Are you okay?”
I laugh, “I’m fine, just tired today.”
Can’t let them know how bad it is.
It’ll get better, it always does.
Classes Zoom, Periods 1, 2, 3.
Lunch and prep pass by, I’m busy.
Time for class, Zoom again.
Ice pick stabbing my left eye.
Wave of nausea, washes over me.
Students, swim on the screen.
Tiny boxes, all blurry.
“Yesterday, work to do.
Here. Questions. Let me know.
Tomorrow. I’ll see.” Waves goodbye.
More meds, dizzy, walls in my way.
Couch close by, alarm set for the end of class.
Sleep release, gone too quick.
Back to work, at my desk.
One more class to suffer through.
School is over, for today.
Sun too bright, turn it off.
Dog too loud, make it stop.
Clothes hurt my skin, take them off.
Climb in bed, maybe tomorrow…
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