that sounds like what happens to me regarding migraines. its not actually the day of stress itself, but the coming down off of stress that does it for me, that's one of the ways i know its a migraine and not stress headache. and good stress will often produce an infinitely more superb migraine than bad stress. when i was younger, i'd get them more often, easier, from lesser amounts of stress. i've gotten pretty good at getting rid of them once i have them, but still am often surprised when i wake with one and then have to think, "oh yes, yesterday was an emotional day. no wonder i have a migraine." its been probably 40 years and i'm still working on how to have highs and lows and not the migraines. something happens with my brain chemistry, but still haven't quite figured it all out. but have learned that once i have one, not only do i need to do all the physical things to overcome it: like eating, tylenol, caffeine, quiet, low lighting, but also have to consciously change my thought patterns. its a really hard thing to explain, but i can always feel when i'm making it better or when i'm once again making it worse.
i remember you sharing the title of a book with me, "A Headache in the Pelvis". wonder if while my migraine responses to stress, both good and bad, are pain in my head, if your response is this response that you describe.
i've had 40 years to try to come to terms with it, and while i can work with it once i have it, still am always surprised when it hits me, so still work to do in that department. but they are fewer and further between and it does take more stress to trigger them, so i must be learning something subconsciously, even if i don't quite know what it is.
my arthritis is much newer, so at a much earlier point of that journey, but hoping that my migraine experience will help me in this journey as well.
