I recently discussed the prodrome, which is the first phase of migraine. There's another phase called the "postdrome." This is the phase immediately following the headache phase, where (according to Wikipedia) the body is essentially recovering from the horrors that we've just been through. Typical symptoms are fatigue, irritability, inability to concentrate, mood changes, and listlessness-- though some people may feel unusually refreshed or euphoric.

So, let me think back to my college entrance exams . . . a simile is a metaphor using "like or as." So, a migraine is like a summer storm. How, you ask?

First, we have the prodrome. This is the clichéd calm before the storm, when you know something is coming. Maybe you can see the storm clouds brewing, or maybe there's just the smell of ozone in the atmosphere, but like Marcia Griffiths said in Electric Boogie: "It's Electric!"

Then comes the aura. It starts as distant lightning on the horizon (scotoma, or visual aura), which quickly develops into dark clouds blotting out the sun. (Don't stop me; I'm on a metaphorical roll today).

Then the migraine. Not much needs to be said about this. This is the F5 tornado of headaches.

Then the postdrome. The veritable clean-up phase of the migraine. I can imagine the shell-shocked survivors of my storm-ravaged grey matter slowly emerging from their shelters as the migraine finally subsides. Let's look at a couple of the key symptoms, shall we?

Fatigue: Yeah, I can believe it. Whether from the thrashing on the bed, or lack of sleep, fatigue after a migraine is easy to expect. Both of my abortives list fatigue as a side-effect as well.

Inability to concentrate: I would expect that to go hand-in-hand with fatigue.

Irritability: I don't know about you, but my migraines feel like someone is hammering a railroad spike into my head (blunt end first). I figure if you take anyone off the street and actually do that to them, it might—just might—make them a bit irritable.

Euphoric: Strange as it may sound, it is possible to be both euphoric and irritated at the same time. I can be irritated (and irritable) after a migraine, yet euphoric that the migraine is finally over. Usually this also goes hand in hand with the fatigue.

These symptoms all add up to something I like to call being "punch drunk." And, for those of you that aren't familiar with the term, this has nothing to do with drinking punch—the term actually means the feeling of being drunk after being punched too many times (like a boxer). It's almost a state of dementia that can last for anywhere from a few hours to even a few days, depending on the length and severity of the migraine.

Personally? I think it's the brain's way of telling you to take it easy after a pounder of a headache.

How do you cope with migraines? Tell us in the message boards.