Today I woke up at 5.00am and I was unusually active.  My thoughts were turning over very quickly and I was restless.  I've noticed that this kind of mental overactivity can lead to my having a migraine attack.

I tried to get a bit more sleep but when I got up I noticed the pronounced vein on my temple was looking angry and when I checked it, it was very warm.  As I opened the curtains, a kind of migraine started.

I say kind of, because it still feels related to the bad one I had a few days ago, that's trying to come back.  My life is very stressful at the present time, we have a sick pet and there are building works going on in the house.  On top of that I'm very behind with general matters.  Not being able to get on with things, always gives me a bit of a headache.

I'm also taking HRT.  I've been doing that for about a year.  My private doctor prescribed it but my GP warned against it.  The reason he told me to stop taking it was because my migraine could lead to stroke.

I have read extensively on that subject and its in fact one kind of HRT that causes this vascular problem and it tends to happen in women that are a lot older than me.  Still, he did frighten me, so when I get a migraine now, I stop taking the HRT.

Its the progesterone element that causes the problems, so that's only for the second half of the cycle.  

Its difficult to know which kind of migraine I have.  I know for sure its not a 'sinus headache' as I don't have pus or malodour coming from my nasal passages.  

I had to apply an ice pack to make the pain disappear this morning.  It turns out that what I had could well have been a 're-bound headache' due to taking so many painkillers.  

I've only admitted to suffering with migraine in the last 3 years.  Before that I was worried it would have employment implications.  Headache is one thing, but admitting you have migraine is quite a different matter.

Last night I drank a beer.  I think that's probably the main reason that this morning I woke up in pain.  It sounds extreme, but hangover and migraine were very similar with me for years.

I don't drink excessively.  I literally had one beer last night.  It was called Kentish Ale and its very nice.

Trouble is I have a lot of other problems and the alcohol is not helping my various medications to work.  

I also have hypothyroidism and all summer I was suffering with being overdosed.  I thought it was my doctor mis-prescribing but it turns out that my thyroid is linked to my stress levels and when I'm stressed I need more levothyroxine.  When I'm OK, I need less.  

I take the lowest dose of Levothyroxine, but these last few days - since the bad migraine - I've stepped it up, because I noticed other problems.