Yesterday's to-do list was thwarted by a headache. It was a bad one, bad enough that driving home was kind of scary. Note to self: now that these headaches are happening more frequently I need to carry a bottle of painkillers in my purse. At least I had the sense to stop at Wendy's and get an iced tea. Caffeine helps by dilating the blood vessels in the head. I guess it dilates blood vessels everywhere, not just in the head, but it's the ones in the head that help with a headache.
Jane did the sweetest thing when I got home: normally she rushes outside as soon as I open the door, and stays out there pretty much all day. But yesterday she stayed with me, laying at the foot of the bed the whole time. It wasn't until hours later when I got up and started moving around that she went outside. Aww.
Eventually I fell asleep and when I woke up my headache was mostly gone. It usually happens that way. I thought it was just the passage of time but the doctor told me that sleep can stop headaches. Maybe it derails the pain response or something, I don't know. Anyway, by that time I was pretty well exhausted so I puttered around for awhile and then went to sleep.
So today is even worse because I've got all of yesterday's work to do on top of everything else. And yet, I can't feel cranky or stressed out when there's a wood thrush singing outside the window.
Condolences and *hugs*. Pain, bad. Pain going away, good.
That's sweet about Jane, too.
A natural remedy comment: If you think they're migraines, you could try MigraGard or MigraFew (standardized feverfew extract capsules you can buy at Whole Foods); if you think they're related to the recent spike in grass pollen, try BioAller's Grass Pollen homeopathic remedy (also at Whole Foods, or Weaver St).