A Big Headache

Labor Day weekend was relaxing. After we ate supper at Nanny's we headed home to prepare for the four-day work week ahead. My head started hurting. I took some Tylenol and later went to bed.

I noticed that throughout the night I would wake up with my head pounding. The next morning I woke up with my head pounding intensely. I felt a little sick and I thought 'Great, a migraine.' I stayed home from work and had my mother bring me some of her migraine medicine. I don't keep any because migraines are rare for me. Usually this cures it.

But not that day. I laid in bed all day. Mom got Asia from school and brought her home to me. When Shannon got home from work my head was no better despite the prescription narcotics running through my veins. So, I told him to take me to Rapid Care. I thought they might be able to give me a shot and nip the headache in the bud.

It was very crowded there so I told Shannon to stay in the car with Asia since there was nowhere else to sit. Then I told him it would be a while so he could go somewhere if he wanted and I would text him when I went back. Only a few minutes later I started sweating and got lightheaded. I looked at the woman seated next to me and whispered, "I'm passing out."
And then I slid right out of my chair. They put me on a bed and took me back. (Lesson: If it's going to be a while and you're getting impatient then hit the floor.) They called an ambulance. I was taken to the ER where I remained for the next eight hours.

They did some blood work, an EKG, and a CT scan. THEN, the finally administered some drugs. I hate taking medicine, but by now they could have shot me with a whale-sized tranquilizer and I wouldn't have cared.

A while later, I don't even know how long, my head was still hurting. The doc decided that it very well could be meningitis and decided to do a spinal tap. EEEK!

A spinal tap, is a very... unique... feeling. My fluid was slow coming out. So for one hour I had a four-inch needle in my spine while I lay helpless and alone in the fetal position with an anaesthesiologist who wasn't much for conversation.

They told me to be sure to lie flat on my back for eight hours, eat before I went to bed, and to see my PCP for a follow-up the next day. Since it was 2:00 a.m., and I was told to eat, and I sure the heck wasn't going to cook, we found an open drive-thru. Then I went home, certain that I would wake up better in the morning.

Unfortunately, I didn't. My back hurt no matter what position I tried. My head was slightly better. The doctor gave me some Treximet. It didn't work, and I took it all. But surely my head would me better the next morning.

Unfortunately, it wasn't. In fact, it was worse. So I sat in the recliner, where I had found the most comfortable position. So, that is where I sat all the live-long day. Nanny told me that she was going to take me back to the doctor the next day if it wasn't any better by then. But, surely, it would be. I mean, COME ON!!

Unfortunately, it wasn't. In fact, it was worse yet. So Nanny took me to the doctor where he hooked me up with prescriptions of Demerol and Phenergan. Then he gave me two shots. About an hour after the shots, the agonizing pain began to subside. But I still took it easy.

Saturday and Sunday, fared about the same: a little better than Friday evening. Monday, was even better. And Tuesday, better still. By Wednesday, over a week after the headache began, I was better. Finally.

Then, the bills start rolling in. I don't have insurance! I had to call all these places and let them know that I am not rich and they will not be receiving their payment in one lump some, but rather in monthly increments.

Who would've thought that one headache --though it was the most excruciating ever-- would be such a, well, headache.