Normally I just get blindsided by the pain. This time, it decided to announce its presence by first totally screwing up my vision--floaty bright afterimages which not only made it impossible to enter data, but also scared the life out of me.
Then the pain started, and I realized that the vision weirdness was just one of those be-darned preheadache symptoms. Took painkillers and sat in the dark ladies' restroom for 20 minutes waiting for them to kick in. They didn't. So I excused myself and went home sick, before it got so bad I couldn't drive.
Drove home okay, aside from the nausea and momentary left-hand numbness (which I have experienced before with these headaches). Freaked out my roomie by arriving at totally the wrong time of day and walking like a zombie, then spent the next 5 hours curled up on my bed trying to will the pain away.
Yes, I am a wimp when it comes to headaches. I can't focus, I feel half-dead, and would like nothing better than to be knocked out till it goes away.
Slowly, it faded, I slept fine last night, and am having no problems today. I hope this means I get at least 5 months till the migrane strikes again.