First, thanks for all of the happy birthday wishes. It was a happy weekend. But I have to say 30 isn’t off to the greatest start!
I got my first migraine headache on Saturday night and it completely freaked me out. I couldn’t sleep because my head hurt so bad so I got up at 1:30 a.m. to Google “headache on one side of the head starting behind the eye.” It was the craziest, most intense pain. I don’t get headaches often and I’ve never had one like this so it was a little scary. I’ve now had a residual headache in the same spot for the last three days that dull aches and comes and goes. I honestly just think the headache is the result of stress and exhaustion. I’m so happy that I’m finally able to take a huge step back and chill out. Has anyone else started getting migraines later in life? I’m praying (hard) that this was a one-time thing.
Second, the AC in my house stopped working yesterday. The unit is making a crazy weird noise. I’ll have more details on that tomorrow but I’m pretty prepared for one thing…it won’t be cheap to fix.
And third, I had to get cavities filled today. That’s not fun to start with but I had to get like 5 shots in my mouth because there’s something about my bone structure that has always made it hard for dentists to get me numb.
Bad things come in threes (says my Mema) and these are just life things. I’m pretty determined not to let this stuff stress me out and make me think this is any indicator of how this new year is going to go. Just bad timing, right?
In happier news, this week is all about detoxing from birthday cake (delicious while it lasted!), eating clean and good workouts. I kicked it off with a double green smoothie from Whole Foods.
I went out for dinner last night at Basil for a friend’s birthday. I ordered the Basil Chicken and instead of rice I asked them to add extra veggies to the dish.
After dinner we stopped by another friends condo who lives on the 35th floor of a building downtown. The views are amazing! We were lucky to catch the sunset as we chatted.
Late morning snack to hold me over to lunch after teaching and practicing (well, for 30 minutes but that’s better than none!) yoga this morning was watermelon, blueberries and a hard boiled egg. I have officially entered the time of year where I am obsessed with watermelon. I ate it last night, this morning and tonight. I just crave cold, sweet, juicy watermelon.
Lunch today was chicken and corn chowder before getting my dental work done. I wanted something that would satisfy me but not make me feel gross as I has people mess with my mouth for hours. I loved this soup because they used tons of chicken, corn, pureed corn, onions and stock to make it thick and hearty with no cream.
After my dentist appointment I got crazy with birthday thank you notes. When I finally somewhat regained the ability to chew I had an apple with peanut butter.
I needed a low impact but high sweat workout tonight so I took my friend Lauren’s spin class at the gym before teaching yoga. This was officially the third spin class I’ve taken in the past year. So hard. It gave me the cardio fix I needed but spin is still just not my fave workout.
And finally, dinner tonight was a stir fry of eggplant, asparagus and red peppers with panko coconut curry chicken.
So there’s a big snapshot of everything that’s been going on over the last few days! Hope your week is off to a better start than mine. 😉
Ugh, dental work is the worst! I swear some people are just prone to cavities as i take really good care of my teeth and still get cavities.
I too have been obsessed with watermelon lately. Ive been buying the baby organic watermelons from Whole Foods and my daughter and i snack on them all week.
i have been prone to cavities my whole life…no matter what i do!
i’ll have to check out the baby watermelons at WF!
Migraines are the worst! The first time I got one with an aura I was pretty freaked out – I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t see properly. Luckily it didn’t last for too long, then the migraine came and it all made sense.
Sounds like your week is looking better!
i can imagine that the aura would be terrifying!
Excedrin Migraine is wonderful. I take two as soon as I feel a migraine coming. Mine are usually brought on by a lack of sleep and/or poor diet choices during the day. They also tend to come at the beginning of my cycle. Hope that’s not TMI, just wanted to give you some possible reasons! I tried a prescription drug once, but I had a terrible reaction. The Excedrin Migraine works just fine!
that is what i took and i definitely think mine was attributed to exhaustion/stress. i’ve heard them being cycle related too!
I used to get migraines when I was younger and it was terrible! I found that my migraine triggers were not eating enough or lack of sleep. I hope you don’t get anymore! I luckily grew out of them!
so glad to hear that it’s not something you struggle with any longer. i have heard of people growing out of things like that. lucky for you!
Google cervicigenic headache that’s what youre describing
Migraines are the worst- I hope it’s only a one time thing!
I just can’t get into spinning- I love cardio and riding my bike in real life but something about spin clases just doesn’t work for me. Maybe I’ll give them another chance…
i don’t love it either…like at all. i wouldn’t worry about it if there are other things you enjoy doing more for cardio!
I started getting migraines in my 30s (I’m 39 now) and they knock me out, sometimes for days. I’ve learned that stress is my biggest trigger for them so I try and not let myself get to that point of a migraine (try being the key word). I hope it was a one-tme thing for you.
I haven’t ever taken an official spin class, but I ride a trainer at home and love the workout. I started using it years ago to cross train while I was injured and couldn’t run. Now I love it because I can just crank away on the bike and get a great workout. Nothing is as good as running to me, though.
joy – i’m so sorry to hear that you started getting migraines and struggle with them. i agree with you on the stress and it is hard to manage sometimes. i’m hoping this was just a fluke.
i agree that running is #1 but i think it’s pretty cool that you can put your bike on a trainer and use it as a “spin” bike at home!
Ugh…welcome to the migraine club? Not a place I like to welcome people to! I’ve been getting migraines for 20+ years now (mine started in middle school), and they have changed types/patterns/triggers over time – they are super connected to hormones. Women’s hormones change every 7ish years (or so says my doc), so it’s possible that your body is changing and that’s what brought the migraine? Hopefully yours is a one-off, or at least not frequent, but definitely pay attention to what your sleeping, eating, and exercise patterns were leading up to them – that’s the best way to learn triggers and how to manage them! I definitely second the Excedrin recco – if you can’t find Excedrin Migraine, look for whatever the generic equivalent is, which will have acetaminophen, aspirin, AND caffeine.
I have a feeling that your detoxing will definitely help…maybe a massage, too? 🙂
Yes. THIS, exactly. Hormones change (I’m 36 and mine just went whacko.) There is always the chance that you won’t get another one again, or get them frequently, but if you find that you get another one I would highly recommend taking two seconds to jot it down on your calendar or in your smart phone. It didn’t take more than two months of doing that before I could see a clear pattern in my migraines. That makes them far easier to attempt to get under control. (And it helps immeasurably to have a record if you ever have to see a doctor about them down the road.) Best of luck!
sarah – i definitely think that stress, exhaustion and not taking care of myself in regards to diet and hydration were the perfect storm that made my migraine. all of those patterns leading up to it were pretty terrible! i did use excedrin migraine.
jenny – i’m praying that it was a one-off thing but i can totally see where tracking them can help you see patterns. luckily, since i have the blog i kind of track everything! 😉
Oh no! Migraines are the worst! I started getting them in my senior year of college when I was 22, and since then (4 years ago) I have had about 5 total. Every single one can be linked to a highly stressful time/event that happened within a month or two before the migraine. I even tend to get the aura where I lose my peripheral vision first before the pain strikes. When I realize what’s going on, I immediately take 3 ibprophen and chug black coffee. Excedrine has SO much caffeine in it that it makes me feel sick so this little combo works wonders. And yes, the lingering pain the day(s) after is typical. I call it the “migraine hangover”! They are so scary, but learning triggers (which research shows is different for everyone) is the most important. And always keep ibprohen/whatever works for you in your purse!!!
I hope they don’t occur too often for you, and that you start feeling better soon!! I agree with the person above me…time for some pampering time with a massage!
hey calla – the aura thing sounds so scary. i have heard that catching them early can really help with them not being so bad. my migraine hangover was definitely a few days long. today is my first truly headache-free day.
Haha, love your “to-do list” stationary!! I hope things are on the upswing and the rest of your week is a little (or a lot) brighter! 🙂
I am going to take a wild guess and say that those headaches are from stress and exhaustion, so make sure to take some down time, nurture, hydrate, and you will be feeling better. I know easier said then done and wish I could take my own advice as I say this. 😉 Have a beautiful day and good luck with the AC!
i have definitely been able to take a step back this week and have more of a rest week so it’s been helpful in getting me feeling better all around.
I’m so sorry, I’ve been getting migraines all my life and I really hope yours was just a fluke!! HUGS!!
Migraines stink 🙁 Excedrin Migraine, caffeine, and a dark room are the cure!
i tried the excedrin and it seemed to take the edge off. sleep was best!
Ugh, I agree, migraines are the worst. I used to only have one maybe a couple times a year, tops, usually connected to lack of sleep or an intense workout (particularly in the early morning before I’ve had much caffeine and food). However, in the last 4 months they’ve ratcheted up quite a bit in frequency, to now more like 1-2 a week. No idea why, other than lack of sleep and stress perhaps. Interesting, though, that some others commented about natural hormonal changes – maybe that’s it too (I’m 32).
oh laura, i’m so sorry to hear that you are getting them more frequently. i really hope you get it under control soon. i can imagine that it would be so hard to get them so frequently.
I’m sorry to hear about your migraine! I hope it was just a one-off. I started getting them at 31 (I’m 35 now) and quickly went from needing a prescription painkiller to now trying a third type of daily preventative. Mine are triggered by weather fluctuations and stress. Please make a note of the day/length of headache/etc, just in case. Good luck!
hey sarah – i’m so sorry to hear that you have been dealing with migraines for the last few years and that they have escalated to the point where you need a daily preventative. i have taken note of everything.
I have been getting migraines my whole life they are terrrible! I even see a specialist at the Headache Institute here in NYC. Here is what I have learned. Magnesium is key to keeping headaches at bay, I take a supplement called Natural Calm. 500 mg a day keeps a migraine away. Not awesome tasting but it really works. You can also try Curcumin. Really helps. Vitamin B2 is essential, make sure you get plenty of that. Excedrine migraine is actually going to do you more harm than good, you are likely to get rebound headaches from that according to my specialist. You are better off with two Aleve, two tylinol and an espresso. Some people like cold compresses and some people like heat. If you are a heat person, try a rice sock, a big sock with rice in it, microwave for a minute or two and it will stay good and hot for a long time. The dark room mentioned above with total quiet is definitely key to migraine relief. I hope you don’t get another one for a long time, they really are the worst!
Sorry about your migraine. 🙁 Fortunately, I don’t get those. I do however get a good headache every now and then and I definitely don’t enjoy those.
I have not been to Basil. Really good??
That is so weird that you got a migraine…because I just had the SAME EXACT THING yesterday! I even had to leave work early because I felt so terrible. I hope neither of us experience these anymore! On another note..you have sparked an interest in me to take a spin class…that is definitely on my “fitness bucket list”!
I used to get migraines all the time and would use OTC meds, but I prefer the natural path and honest to God I had a friend tell me to swab cayenne pepper mixed with water on a q-tip in my nose and it helped. It sounds super crazy and I blew my nose after, but it really did work. Just a teeny tiny amount and you’re nose will run, but it helps. Oh and LOVE your to do list pad of “don’t fucking forget”, hahaha where did you get it?
Green smoothies are always my go-to when resetting my tummy after heavy eats, and Whole Foods makes a darn good one when you are short on time. I hope the rest your year gets better than it started!
Hi Jen,
I love your blog! I was compelled to comment after reading about your migraine. I experience similar migraines to the one you described: intense pain on one side (behind the eye) with blurred vision on the same side. Migraines are often hereditary (my mom has them). I would encourage you to tell your doctor about it the next time you’re in for a checkup. These types of migraines usually happen to me when my blood sugar gets too low and then I do a really intense workout, or just out of exhaustion.I’ve learned to always carry some snacks with me, like fruit or nuts, just in case. Good luck!
I had my first migraine a few months ago. I’m 28 and have never had them before then. Thankfully I’ve not had one since then. Excedrine Migraine helped somewhat. Since then, I’ve kepy a bottle at my house just in case. Hopefully it’s just one for both of us!
i know, fingers crossed!