Take Two and Call Me in the Morning

Have you ever had a migraine?

If not.....count your blessings and thank the Creator of the Stars.

If you have.....then you know that unless the "take two" refers to 100000000 mg of Valium or some type of drug that knocks you out cold.....that remedy/cure is a complete lie. I would rather pluck out every eye lash or repeated slam my hand in the car door than go through these. Fortunately, I only get about 7-8 a year. But they are brutal.

I wouldn't wish migraines on my worst enemies (if I even knew who they were). If I could sum up one word to describe my migraines, it would be "crippling".

*hey! I did it! I only used one word. I bet you thought I couldn't do that!

If I don't catch the warning signs of an impending migraine and pop some Advil..... I am in deep poop. Warning signs would include a dull headache that lasts over an hour and then a tingling sensation in my sinus area.

I was busy doing whatever it is that I do on a typical day and unfortunately did not pick up the warning signs this past Sunday. I thought the little throb of a headache was just due to not eating much that afternoon, so when Josh suggested we take that ride to the beach for clam cakes.....I figured eating greasy dough balls would be just what I needed.

Well to make a painful story short......I stupidly did not take any pills and the throb turned into a full blown migraine by the time those yummy balls of lard hit my stomach. It was too late. I tried not to complain as we did take this nice trip down to the pier and didn't want to be a buzz kill. So I laid down on the beach and tried to focus on the gorgeous sound of the waves instead of the ice pick feeling going through my temples.

When Josh noticed that I was just pathetically laying in a curled-up ball I am guessing that I resembled a sick whale that beached itself (hopefully not size, just the state of being I was in). He suggested that we pack it up early and head home. I must have been a nice shade of white and green walking to our car because I noticed that people did double takes as I walked by the outdoor patios. Either that or it could have been that my hair frizzed out like Rosanna Danna Danna with the salt air......either way, it wasn't pretty.

So I tucked my head between my legs and we headed home. The slightest light felt like someone took a sledge hammer to my head. With a combination of grunts and hand gestures, I let Josh know he needed to stop at the first convenience store we passed. I stumbled in and bought 6 Advils, a Pepsi and a banana. You know I must have been out of it when I didn't even flinch at paying $9.28 for that. In fact, I threw the $10 on the counter, grabbed my stuff and walked out. Now that I think of it, I probably looked like I was suffering from a pretty bad hangover with the sunglasses at night and bed head.

I shoved the pills down, ate the banana and washed it all down with the Pepsi. Then I went into shut-down mode to healing. With migraines, the slightest noises or motions can amplify it even more and I already was getting into the nauseous stage. Bribing the kids with ice cream and money kept them quiet for the most part.

So as I pressed my knees into my forehead to relieve a little pressure.....I started to think and pray. These are the only two things, besides breathing, that you can do during a migraine. At first I started to talk myself off the cliff and remind myself that this will be over soon enough. Then I started thinking about how people who have brain tumors might feel this way 24/7 and they have to still live their lives regardless. Then I thought about a good friend of ours, Grimace, who died of brain cancer two years ago this 4th of July. Towards the end of his life, he was living in this crippling state every day. He always had a positive outlook.....he lived his life to the fullest. He actually was a pyrotechnic specialist that traveled with national bands and WWF for many years so it was not surprising that his request to have his ashes shot out with fireworks was carried out by his friends last summer. I am pretty sure Grimace believed in God and my final prayers were for a peaceful passing and for his salvation.

So when I thought about the whole salvation thing, I started to think about the crippling feeling and how people who have addictions and depression must feel. The enemy has his relentless grip on them and keeps them in this immobilized state. He tries to blind them from the light and freedom that turning to Jesus Christ can and will bring. He is the great Physician......He is the perfect Counselor.

Many times, these people are not even aware that they are under his dictatorship. They think they have it under control or on the flip side, feel hopeless that their dire situation is too far out of control. The enemy will try to convince them that even God cannot help them or that He doesn't care about them. But we all know that he is a liar and he will do whatever he can to keep us from God.

It was then that when I stopped focusing on the discomfort of what I was going through.....and praying for people who had far more discomfort in their lives.......that I noticed the pain was starting to lesson. It once again reminded me that we are supposed to be the people who bring the ultimate prescription/cure to the lost and the oppressed people. We need to keep sharing the Good News to others and praying for those who are suffering with no hope of "the pills kicking in". We cannot keep this beautiful remedy to ourselves.....it was given to us so that we can share it with others.

So today, I encourage you to keep your eyes and ears open to someone who could use your prayers and uplifting words of hope. Maybe call someone who has been suffering from depression or is in an abusive relationship.....or have your kids draw some pictures for the local hospital's cancer ward. But most importantly.....pray. Pray for people who don't even know they need it. I promise it will be exactly what The Great Doctor/Physician would order. ;)

So I hope you have a fabulous day.......I am off to go to Chuck E. Sneeze Cheese for a birthday party and believe me......I already popped my Advil. *wink