I’ll never forget that fateful sleepover with my best friend in 7th grade. It was a typical Sunday morning, with our parents chatting and us kids buzzing with excitement. But little did I know, something was brewing inside me. As we sat down to enjoy the donuts my parents had brought, I started to feel…off. My vision began to blur, like I was looking at the world through a hazy lens. It was as if I’d stood up too quickly, but I was still sitting down.
I tried to brush it off, thinking it was just exhaustion from all the fun we’d had the night before. But things only got worse. My right hand started to tingle and eventually went numb, making it hard for me to even think straight. That’s when my mom noticed something was wrong. She ushered me away from the chaos of the morning and tried to help me describe what I was experiencing.
But I couldn’t find the words. It wasn’t until I threw up (yes, you read that right – I’d never vomited in my life before, not even as a kid!) that things started to clear up. My headache began to subside, and I felt…better. Well, sort of better. My mom was on high alert, monitoring me closely and keeping me awake until the symptoms passed.
It wasn’t until months later, when it happened again, that my mom pieced together what was going on. She did some research (or consulted our doctor – I’m not sure which) and realized that I was experiencing migraines with aura. The name became synonymous with those strange, disorienting episodes that left me feeling like I was stuck in a fog.
Fast-forward to when I told my mom about the first symptoms, and she sprang into action. She learned how to decipher my aphasia (those times when words just wouldn’t come together), and she even developed her own remedies – like wrapping peas in a towel and placing it on my head! It was her way of showing me love and care during those trying times.
Looking back, I’m grateful for that wake-up call. It taught me to be more mindful of my body and to advocate for myself when it comes to my health. And hey, I’ll never forget the time I threw up in front of my best friend…or my mom!
What’s your migraine story? Share your experiences with migraines and aura in the comments below!
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