Jennifer Jakes talks about the pain of migraines

Posted Apr 11 2011, 12:01 am

 

Please welcome my Golden Heart sister, Jennifer Jakes! 

Jenn just celebrated her debut release of Rafe’s Redemption from the Wild Rose Press.  Here’s a quick blurb of her sizzlin’ hot historical:

 He rode into town to buy supplies, not a woman.

For hunted recluse Rafe McBride, the raven-haired beauty on the auction block  is exactly what he doesn’t need. A dependent woman will be another clue his vengeful stepbrother can use to find and kill him. But Rafe’s conscience won’t let him leave another innocent’s virginity to the riff-raff bidding. He buys her, promising to return her to St. Louis untouched. He only prays the impending blizzard holds off before her sultry beauty breaks his willpower.

She wanted freedom, not a lover. 

Whisked to the auction block by her devious, gambling cousin, and then sold into the arms of a gorgeous stranger, outspoken artist Maggie Monroe isn’t about to go meekly. Especially when the rugged mountain man looks like sin and danger rolled into one. But a blizzard and temptation thrust them together, and Maggie yearns to explore her smoldering passion for Rafe. 

But when the snow clears, will the danger and secrets that surround Rafe and Maggie tear them apart?

A totally excited and hot read, Jenn!  Great job!

Now, here’s Jennifer to talk about the pain of migraines:

 

WHAT A PAIN IN THE . . . HEAD. 

Imagine an ice-pick being hammered into your skull. If you suffer from migraines, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

I can’t remember how old I was when I had my first migraine, but I can remember my grandma and my mother suffering from them. Back then, I’m not sure people were aware of heredity playing a part when it came to things such as chronic migraines. But we know now. And I watch for the symptoms in my children.

So what are the symptoms? Well aside from the ice-pick and hammer thing (yes, I was serious) there is a sensitivity to light and sound. And I for one have to lie very still because any motion increases blood flow, which increases the pounding. . . well, you get the idea. Some people, my brother for one, has nausea with his migraines. And as I get older, I find myself having that symptom – what my mom used to call a stomach migraine.

So what can be done? There are of course prescription meds for migraine sufferers. However, I choose not to take those. My headache is usually once or twice a month and as long as they don’t increase, I can deal with them with over the counter meds. And frozen veggies. Yes. Frozen veggies. Corn or green peas are the best. You see, for me, the ice-pick is behind one of my eye sockets, but the pounding is in the back of my head- same side. (Migraines on one-sided headaches.) After I take a dose of Excederin Migraine, I lie down with the bag of frozen veggies on the back of my head and a cool towel over my eye. If my stomach is bothering me, some kind of bland food is in order first. In fact, being hungry seems to increase the force of my migraines. The other thing I discovered is Chiropractic care. If after trying the above remedies I still have the migraine, I call my Chiropractor and go let him adjust my neck. He usually suggests more cold packs and rest but by the end of the day, I’m feeling much better.

Why brings on a migraine? For me three main factors that I’ve noticed over the years. Too much lack of sleep; stress; and PMS.

So if you ever feel like your eye is going to pop out of your head along with the sensitivity to light and noise, chances are you’ve got a migraine headache. But it’s my sincere hope none of you ever know what I’m talking about.

 

 Thanks for sharing, Jenn!  If you have any questions, shout ’em out or email me at lynda@lyndabailey.net.  Have a great week!

19 Comments

Comments

19 responses to “Jennifer Jakes talks about the pain of migraines”

  1. lbailey says:

    Jennifer~
    Thanks for sharing your battle with migraine headaches and congrats again on Rafe.
    I used to get migraines maybe once every couple of months, but as I’ve gotten older, they’ve decreased in frequency. One of the only benefits of getting older! LOL. Hope you have a great week!

  2. I don’t suffer from them in a chronic way, thank goodness. Sometimes chocolate triggers one, or lack of sleep, but that’s nothing compared to you migraine sufferers! I have nothing but sympathy for you. 🙁

    • Thanks!
      I’ve heard other people say choc. is a trigger for them. Smells tend to be more of a trigger for me.
      That’s probably a good thing. God, what would I do without my choc? HA

  3. Ramona says:

    Makes me doubly glad I don’t have migraines. But my twin granddaughters do, and I really feel for them.

  4. Sarah Grimm says:

    Jennifer-

    I suffer from migraines and have since I was three years old. The only cure for them when I was younger was to sleep until it went away. My mother, a registered nurse, said I would sleep a solid 24 hours. She would constantly check on me to make sure I was still alive. (no joke) At the age of five, I would get a migraine a week, meaning I lost a day a week to the darn things. At that point the doctors put me in St. Louis Children’s Hospital for a week of testing. You guessed it, one of the things they were looking for was a brain tumor. The conclusion? They had no idea why I got them and told my mom, ‘They’ll either get better as she gets older, or worse.’ Gee, thanks.

    Luckily, they’ve gotten better. Well, that and I’ve learned to recognize the symptoms of one coming on and can medicate before it gets too bad.

    ~Sarah

    • That’s scary — and horrible for a small child. Not to mention your poor mother.
      And yes, I think anyone who suffers knows the early signs, and knows to head to the medicine cabinet.
      Thanks for stopping by!

  5. You poor thing. I don’t suffer from migraines but I’ve known people who do. If he can’t get his meds soon enough, my son-in-law just drops, sleeps for hours and is often still unwell the next day. It’s so easy to take good health for granted.

    Best luck in all things, Jennifer.

    • Jennifer Jakes says:

      Hi Leigh –
      Yes, sometimes it’s hard to explain migraines to people – IF they don’t have them or know someone who does. They can be debilitating until they pass.
      Sorry for your Son In Law.
      Thanks for stopping by today 🙂

  6. AJ Nuest says:

    Jennifer, thanks for the great tip about the frozen veggies My migraines usually don’t get too, too horrible bad – as long as I take an Advil Liquigel at the first sign. The only thing that really cures them for me is sleep. And waiting a day or two. It stinks, I know. I’m hoping they fade after menopause, because my mom’s disappeared afterward. I guess that’s one reason to look forward to the “change”. Hang in there kiddo.

    • Jennifer Jakes says:

      Hi AJ –
      Yes, my mom’s are all but gone since she went through the change. But boy oh boy, does that ever come with it’s own problems. HA
      Thanks for stopping by today 🙂

  7. Linda White says:

    Jennifer, I wish you pain-free days! I only started having migraines after menopause. And the triggers are perfume (!!!) and overly bright sunlight. Needlesss to say, I wear my sunglasses all the time. Sometimes even in the house, on an especially bright day. I cannot imagine having one’s childhood marred by such suffering. 🙁

    • Jennifer Jakes says:

      Hi Linda –
      Oh! Strong perfume can be a trigger for me also. Especially if I’m closed in a small area with the odor. But bright light only hurts me when I have or am getting a migraine.
      Here’s wishing for headaches that are few and far between!
      Thanks for stopping today 🙂

  8. Ouch. I’ve never had a migraine before but your description of one makes my heart go out to you and your family and all of those who suffer from migraines.

    Thank goodness for frozen veggies and chiropractors!

  9. I have a friend who suffers from migraines and spends a lot of time hospitalized for them. I know she does a lot of what you’ve described to lessen them. My mom suffers from them, and when I had a very stressful job a few years ago, I had them all the time. I haven’t had one in years though. Here’s hoping you’re headache free for a while now!

  10. Lynda says:

    Hey all~
    Jennifer is suffering from some technical difficulties in answering your posts. Please check back for her responses. I also understand some of you have being having the same issue. I’ve got an email out to my webmistress to see if it’s a problem on our end. Thanks for your patience. We’re working on it!

  11. Mariposa says:

    I’ve had them over the last few years–dark and sleep usually helps. Congrats on the new release!

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