Waiting for the storm...

Little known fact about me: I get barometric pressure migraines. Em has posited that people are afflicted in one of two ways:

1. People who tend to have headaches and find stomach aches unbearable


2. People who tend to have stomach aches and find headaches unbearable

I fall into the latter category, and woke up with one today.

It doesn't always happen before rain or snow, but I will get migraines up to several days before precipitation is going to fall. My barometric pressure migraines follow a particular M.O.:

• They're persistent. The intensity of the migraine will wane, but will inexplicably reassert its presence, in a sharp, stabbing sensation.


• Painkillers don't help. They do help me relax enough that I'm not distracting by the pain, but I'm still aware of the migraine's presence. I often opt out of taking painkillers if the migraine's intensity doesn't flair up often.


• Sleeping or napping rarely eliminates the migraine. I'll usually wake up with the same migraine I went to bed with.


• They can make me hyper-sensitive to light. This occurs rarely, mercifully.


• Strong, perfumy smells seems to aggravate them. I'm much better at processing fruity smells than floral smells, for some reason.


• Rain or snow doesn't necessarily have to fall for the migraine to pass. This is why I refer to them as barometric pressure headaches.

I've yet to be rid of this one, but The Weather Network assures me that snow will fall tonight.