209: The Migraine That Wasn’t Just A Migraine

Cashapp: $Askvelvetpodcast

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Welcome to Ask Velvet Podcast. Before I get into today's episode, I want to say this. If I sound a little off, it's because I'm still recovering from a recent medical episode, but I still felt it was important to get on here and share this with you because what I went through could have cost me my life. And if my story can help even one person listen to their body and take their health seriously, then it's worth it. Today we're talking about prioritizing yourself, really putting your health first and not ignoring the warning signs your body gives you. So let me take you through what happened. I recently ended up going back and forth between the clinic and the hospital because what I thought was just a migraine turned out to be something much more serious. And I'm going to be honest, I almost ignored it. I was still planning to go to work, push through the pain, and deal with it later. Just so I wouldn't miss a paycheck. Because like many of us, I was thinking about survival. I work a temp job. If I don't work, I don't get paid. So in my mind, I was telling myself just get through the day. But this migraine was different. To really help you understand the level of pain I was in, it felt like Freddy Kruger's fingernails were scraping across my forehead like they were digging into my head, trying to grab at my brain. That's how intense it was. Sharp, deep, relentless. And I've had migraines before, I know pain, but this was on a completely different level. It got me so bad that I honestly felt like I needed something to knock me out just to escape it. And it wasn't just the headache. My body was sending me signals I had never experienced with my migraines before. Back pain, muscle spasms, pain in my arm, numbness in my hands. That wasn't normal for me. Still, I thought about going to work. That's how conditioned we are to push through anything for a paycheck. But then I tried everything, aspirin, tolinal, advilmotron, and nothing worked. Nothing even touched the pain. And that's when I knew something deeper was going on. That pain forced me to stop. I had no choice but to go to the neighborhood clinic and from there they immediately sent me to the ER. When I got there, my blood pressure was two hundred nine and still rising. And the doctor told me something that shook me. If you had waited another day, you would have had a stroke. Not maybe, not possibly would have. And in that moment everything became real because I started thinking, what if I had ignored it? What if I went to work like I planned? I could have been paralyzed. I could have been in rehab learning how to walk again, or worse. All because I chose everything else over my health. And I had to be real with myself. This didn't just come out of nowhere. That high blood pressure, that was stress, that was worry, that was me constantly thinking about how I'm going to make it, how I'm going to pay bills, how I'm going to keep everything together. My body was carrying all of that until it couldn't anymore. But that pain, as intense as it was, it saved my life. It forced me to listen. So I made a decision right there. I'm not ignoring my body anymore. I'm not putting stress over my health. I'm not letting fear and worry control me. So again, if I sound a little off, just know I'm still recovering. But I had to come on here and share this with you. Because this is bigger than me, this is about all of us. Listen to your body. When something feels off, don't ignore it. Don't push through it just to make it to work or to handle responsibilities. Your body gives you warnings for a reason. Yes, we all need money. Yes, we all have bills. But none of that matters if you're not here. You can't work if your body shuts down. You can't take care of anything if you don't take care of yourself first. So please prioritize your health. Slow down when you need to. Pay attention to the signs. For me, I'm choosing to let go of the constant worry. I'm putting it in God's hands. And I'm focusing on healing, on taking care of myself and continuing my journey one step at a time. Thank you for listening to Ask Velvet Podcast. And remember, your health comes first, always.