h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been feeling unwell since Thursday morning, when I got a Migraine, which is very unusual for me. I don't remember getting one in the last 15 years or so. This came out of the blue with no explanation. As a result my brain has been acting up, not doing things the way it is supposed to. I can't think clearly or concentrate on anything. Hopefully I'll be OK in another day or two, as we have a lot happening next weekend:

Thursday - rehearsal
Friday - drive to Roscommon (2 hrs), performance of Messiah, drive home
Saturday - Bill Bailey in the O2 (Dublin's biggest indoor venue)
Sunday - performance of Vesper music, including Stanford's 8-part Magnificat, in St Patrick's Cathedral.

Not to mention Monday - rehearsal. Hope you'll be feeling better by then!

In the meantime avoid flickering screens, stressful soccer matches and the like.

Very dear Gnoman,

S L O W D O W N My dear friend.

You are doing too much. can you not cut a few things either down or out?

That is one of the problems of aging. It is very difficult to remember that one is no longer 25 with boundless energy and able to do every single thing which is going.

The headache/migraine might have been something you ate. it could oerhaps also be blood pressure.

Go and have a a physical and then tailor your life to fit your needs. the children and your wife will understand. You are very social to them.

With much affection and take care of yourself.

Christiane
AlsoRan80

14/11/09 15.45 GMT

Sorry to hear this, Gnomon. I've suffered from them in the past.

It can be difficult finding out what triggers them - in my case it was overdoing it with food and drink, and knowing this I've not had one for years.

Take it easy and cancel a few appointments if you can.

Icy

Hope you'll be feeling better soon

Hope you are soon over it Gnomon. I suffered for years, though they have lessened in recent years. I still get a bad one occasionally and they are abysmal.

I tend to agree with Christiane. Take it a bit easier. Your life sounds full to bursting

Sometimes you need to take time out.

Websailor

Get well soon Gnomon!

Willem

I know how bad that is.

Get well soon.

I hope the has completely disappeared my dear Gnomon!

If not, your family will all have to act as your chauffeur this weekend, as driving with a real migraine is completely impossible. Wear dark glasses to keep the flashing light from making it worse whilst travelling.



so old I hardly ever have migraines any more

Thanks everyone. The flashing lights went quickly (within an hour or so) but the headache, while never very bad, is still lurking in the background. And I am confused. I can't figure out what order to do things anymore.

Mrs G says that's just the way I always am.

You are lucky to have someone who understands you so well, who keeps an eye on your welfare as well.

for Mrs G

Ooh, home truths there but if you don't usually feel that way, something is not right. For decades my other half thought I was making a big fuss about a little headache until he saw someone (male) at work suffering. Since then he has seen me at my worst and realised no-one puts that on for fun!

Peace, sleep, quiet and dark are the only remedies for me, and I have to let it take its course. If I fight it it goes on for days. The usual is three days or so, after which I feel like a wet rag. It's a bit like how you might feel once you stop banging your head against a brick wall

Hope you are feeling back to normal soon,

Websailor

I used to suffer from skull splitting headaches for 24 to 48 hours at a time, once for over three days. I thought they were just migraines until after that three dayer when I got double vision. It was a tumor at the base of my skull. If I hadn't have had the double vision I don't know when I would have found the cause as the optometrist insisted I get an MRI when I mentioned the three day headache. The only times I get headaches now are usually about 24 hours after I've had a skin full of . It hits me right where that tumor was. I think it's probably caused by the dehydration effecting the scar tissue. They're just bad enough to remind me of how miserable I was before.

Crikey, Count - that must have been a devastating diagnosis.

Sounds a bit like a TIA to me, Gnomon. Are you going to have any tests done?

What's a TIA?

I'm not planning to have any tests.

TIA looks like a hard diagnosis to make at a distance . . . what makes you think of that, TC?

not to worry Gnomon - some things can affect the frontal cortex, where your speech and working memory reside. You will be fine once the migraine goes away.

(one whose son is researching brain injury and knows too much about malfunctioning brains)

TIA = trans ischemic attack = impending stroke.

Definitely not what you are experiencing. Migraines can often make you feel muddled or a bit lost for words. Especially if you are normally very articulate and organised.

(sorry sometimes I can be a bit of a know it all)

Don't apologise for being a know-it-all, L.

I'm working on the assumption that I'm just suffering from the after-effects of a migraine. I normally don't feel the best for about 5 days after an attack. It doesn't explain why I got the attack in the first place, as it was in work on a Thursday morning - normally I would get them at the weekend when out of work or going home from work. But I won't worry about that.

Well, I suppose it sounds a bit serious, but you can get mild ones where, for a short while, you have trouble remembering words for everyday objects, one side of you can go tingly or numb, your sight is impaired, but nothing comes of it except that you should take it as a warning to watch out for any heart-related troubles. I've had them and so's my Mum, but we're both still around. (She's 90 next week)

Anyway, if you're prone to migraines it's a different kettle of

Hi dear Gnoman, I wonder if you are feeling better?

If not, can you not have your BP taken, and then if you are still having problems ask to have a brain scan. It can be seen very quickly if you have had a stroke or if there is a problem. I cannot remember having had a headache at all last year. I just could not remember who I was or where I was. and then just felt generally unwell.

Still You are a young person still. Just take it easy. You do an enormous amount you know. I get tired reading your [ostings. !! and you probably are a perfectionist. !! You will soon lose that and then be able to relax.!!

Gosh I am disliking the early nights more and more. It really is not natural for it to be dark at 4 p.m. I wonder when the cocks start crowing telling the hens to get to bed? Do they still lay an egg a day I wonder. there is very little time to lay the egg. !!

Keep your chin up nad take care of yourself my friend.

Christiae
AR80

16/11/09 4.45 GMT