Migraine Survival Kit

I can remember having headache's since I was little. I had my first migraine Junior year of High School and was out of commission for about 4 days. Over the last 10 years the symptoms and frequency have only gotten worse.

About 5 years ago I started getting migraines probably 2 or 3 times a year. I'd miss a day of work here and there, but it wasn't too bad. Over the last 2 years however, their frequency and symptoms have changed drastically. I would say have at least 2 A MONTH and miss at least 2 days of work because of them. I even spent 2 days of my Christmas vacation in bed with a migraine.

Early May, I started to exhibit my usual aura symptoms and I knew a headache was coming. My neck seized up, I was vomiting and nothing seemed to be helping. This went on for 7days. A week into it I was finally given lidocaine shots, which help a bit and the severity started to decrease. I was able to go back to work, but I have had a tension headache everyday since.  It's frustrating, it affects my sleep and my life. Laying in a bed for 6 days can get pretty boring and frustrating when your body is healthy and wants to do things but your head just can't. It literally hurts to think. These little luxuries help me get through it and ease some of the pain.

Chris Notti Silk Sleep Mask 

Too block out light. It is so soft and delicate you can barely feel it on your head.

Hot/Cold Pack from Elizabeth W 

I usually put it around my neck to ease the severe tension I always get

Tempurpedic Pillow 

Hands Down the best investment I have ever made. It offers great support, sometimes I can feel the muscles in my neck release when I lay down.

Water

Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!

Wendy's Frosty

A little guilty pleasure. I don't know what it is but every time I get a migraine I crave one. Usually the only thing I can get to stay down. Thank goodness for lactaid pills.

Sniffle Season

Like clockwork, right around Christmas {usually during} I get a bad case of the sniffles. With temps in the high 20's out here this weekend, I think they were brought on early, with a raging sore throat. I've been trying to stay warm and hydrated with lots and lots of tea. I'm straight tea drinker. No sugar, cream or honey ever.  My favorites are Bigelow Constant Comment, Peets Masala Chai and Winter Solstice and Numi Rooibos Chai. All very citrus-y, spicey and Christmas-y.

There is something in cough medicine and drops that makes me really nauseated, so last night, when I needed to up my game with this sore throat business I decided to give the mysterious Hot Toddy a try. I think it comes up every winter at holiday parties and general, what is a Hot Toddy? I was chatting with a co-worker at a party recently who told me even when she was a kid her mom would make her Hot Toddies for when she had a cold. If a mom swears by it enough to give alcohol to her child it has to do something right?

 

1 oz brandy, whiskey, or rum
1 Tbsp honey
1/4 lemon
1 cup hot water
1 tea bag

 

Directions:

Coat the bottom of your coziest mug in Honey

Add the shot of your favorite liquor

Add Juice of 2 lemon Slices

Heat Warm Water and Soak Tea bag

Add Tea, Slice of Lemon and Cinnemon Stick to Mug

Enjoy

To google I went and found a whiskey based recipe {I just can't stomach rum much any more and I'm not old enough for Brandy}. A little honey, whiskey, lemon and Constant Comment tea in my mug and it was suprisingly soothing! I don't know if it was the whiskey or the honey, but one of these before bed does things Nyquil wish it could. Also, it's Christmas-y and I support all things Christmas.