Author: reader

This is a reader-submitted story. Want to share your 30 Things? Here’s how: Migraine & Headache Disorders 30 Things Meme. 

1. My diagnosis is: Ocular Migraines, Menstrual Migraine, and Migraine with Brainstem Aura
2. My migraine attack frequency is: 3-9 times a month
3. I was diagnosed in: 1994
4. My comorbid conditions include: anxiety, lactose and gluten intolerance
5. I take __1__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and __3__ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: in high school. I couldn’t stand or see and had the worst pain ever in my life. I thought I was dying. The nurse had me lie down for 30 minutes and then tried to send me back to class. Thank goodness, my aunt was a secretary at the school and took me home.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: vertigo, difficulty thinking/talking, and pain
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: having to urinate every 10-15 minutes! It’s such a pain because just standing and getting to the bathroom is exhausting then I finally get back to bed and I have to get up and do it all over again!
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: hormones, gluten, bright lights/sounds
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I can’t stop yawning and I am very weak.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: the effects on my job and my family.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: taking care of my kids. Even though they are (sort of) able to take care of themselves for a while at 10 and 14, I know I am not doing enough for them.
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: “How long will this last?” and “I’d never be able to do *this* if I had a migraine.”
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: how their relative/co-worker/neighbor has them too and what they do to fix it and be able to go about their lives.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: “I’m so sorry.”
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think:
17. My best coping tools are: Diet Coke, water, Snickers candy bars, caffeine, dark room, rest, ice, my meds, heavy blankets, blackout curtains, my “Badger – Headache Soother Balm Stick,” silence!
18. I find comfort in: knowing my friends believe me and my girls understand what is happening and know how to take care of me.
19. I get angry when people say: “Oh, I have the WORST migraine!” while they are walking around the office, talking, working, and generally living life normally. It makes me feel like I’m not tough enough to handle mine and/or people don’t believe me when I can’t function when I get one.
20. I like it when people say: “I love you and it’s ok and how can I help?”
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: My daughters know to bring me ice packs, a water bottle, chapstick, and one of their stuffed animals!
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: “I believe you.”
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: my daughters will probably get them too.
24. Migraine has taught me: Cherish the healthy times.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: Psalm 23: 1-3,
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: go on a gluten-free diet!
27. The people who support me most are: my girls and my friends.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: it really is as bad as we say it is.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I can talk about it and not seem like I’m complaining.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: every person is different but please believe me when I tell you I can’t stand up to walk to the bathroom, let alone go teach preschool special education.

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.

This is a reader-submitted story. Want to share your 30 Things? Here’s how: Migraine & Headache Disorders 30 Things Meme. 

My diagnosis is: chronic daily headache and chronic migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: headache at least one per day, leading to a migraine as few times per week
3. I was diagnosed in:2008, with just having migraines, but have since been diagnosed with chronic problems.
4. My comorbid conditions include: light, sounds, and smell sensitivity, nausea, atm and leg weakness, inability to concentrate/form thoughts, depression.
5. I take 5 medications/supplements each day for prevention and 2+ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: when I was eight years old
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: light sensitivity and nausea, and well duh: head pain
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: having a stuffy feeling head right before an attack
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: prolonged loud sounds, laughing too hard, not eating, and hydration. Laying in bed too long after I wake up also is a trigger.
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: my Hess gets stuffy and my forehead and neck start to get stiff.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: people think I am both overrating my own pain level, and people expect me to continue with work and responsibilities.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: making it work, so I can pay rent.
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: how nice it is to be almost pain free. (I usually always have a headache, even if it’s not a migraine)
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: either A: they don’t understand what that really means, or B: they have another possible solution that I’ve already tried.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think:I wonder how much better/worse they have it, because you never really know their pain level compared to yours.
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: ha. Works in 30 minutes, right, and then I’m back to work or play? Sure. I wish
17. My best coping tools are:sites that share others’ experiences and ice packs. Both used at different times.
18. I find comfort in: the dark.
19. I get angry when people say: you’re fine. Do some work instead of just sortisitting there.
20. I like it when people say:Hey, it’s ok, I get it and I’m here to help.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: be with me and get me whatever I need..? Like my boyfriend? But others could pick up my shift at work with understanding.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: they haven’t said anything good to me. I’ve had nothing but doctors giving up on my case.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: there is no cure. Your best chance is maybe to outgrow it or to have it be less later in life.
24. Migraine has taught me: empathy, and how to step out without being apologetic.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: nothing..
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: enjoy your time when you’re pain free, and rest yourself when you’re in pain.
27. The people who support me most are: my parents, my boyfriend.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: it’s not the victims fault.they don’t want to be in pain either.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: people don’t understand
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is:I wish it was gone.

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.

This is a reader-submitted story. Want to share your 30 Things? Here’s how: Migraine & Headache Disorders 30 Things Meme. 

1. I have nonstop migraines for months at a time
2. 3 days plus nasty day after if not continual
3. Extreme vertigo one night watching tv but first ocular no headache caring for Mom with advanced Alzheimer’s
4.4-9’5
5. Last year finally
6. Honestly changes there’s herniated discs stomach oh all kinds of issues to the point what is migraine and what else is going on Fear
7. Between vitamins ect over 20 plus plus plus ice plus physical therapy plus trigger points plus dry needles moving on to acupuncture and piercing possible
8. Madness anxiety nausea vkmiting dizziness vertigo new stuff all the time
9. Triptans major anaphylaxis reaction Maybe sulfa based Migranal allergy to dextrose feverfew allergy to NSAIDs ALL Turmeric works but swelled up muscle relaxants cortisone taurine magnesium b vitamins Xanax Not done yet!!
10. Try to get out of bed stay out of bed till must rest
11. Weather fronts Florescent lights lots sugar Emotionsl dress ESP ex because emotionally abusive
12. I don’t feel like me anymore
13. Strokes losing my mind
14. Oh try this…
15. I wish I could take aspirin
16. Dark rooms quiet and ice and support from unexpected sources
17. My home
18. Why are you so upset
19. So how’s it doing today
20. Understand when I have to cancel
21. You have a right to feel upset with having a real disease
22. I had to quit work and can’t work if tgere are Florescent lights
/3. My life has bed. Brought to a daily struggle to just do the basics
24. To have patience and many people suffer from them
25. Emotions only last 90 seconds physical your fear or anxiety will pass It’s just the migraine talking
26. Learn every thing you can about this disease NOW
27. The ones who helped me most during my parents illnesses ESP my mothers
28. There’s very little you can do to control it just trying to deal every day is truly a struggle sometimes It controls my life not vice versa
29. It needs more publicity and we need to know we are not alone in this very alienating disease
30. There are so many destructive diseases out tgere Migraines are just one of a vast amount of suffering The key us we all suffer if not now at another point so let’s practice compassion for each other (hard to do when migraines make me angry. But it’s a daily struggle!)

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.

This is a reader-submitted story. Want to share your 30 Things? Here’s how: Migraine & Headache Disorders 30 Things Meme. 

1. My diagnosis is: Episodic Migraine
2. My migraine attack or headache frequency is: 3-5 a month
3. The first migraine attack or headache I remember was: 14?
4. My pain levels range from: 1-9, average of 5
5. I was diagnosed in: 1997ish
6. My comorbid conditions include: Depression, Asthma, Allergies
7. I take 4 pills each day for prevention and 1 pill, and sometimes 1 injection, to treat an acute attack
8. In addition to pain, other symptoms I experience include: Visual changes, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, extreme fatigue, brain fog
9. Treatments I have tried include: Tons of meds, supplements, chiropractor, craniosacral massage
10. During a migraine attack or headache, I: Sleep, a lot
11. My migraine attacks or headaches are triggered or get worse when: I’m stressed, sleep too little or too much, skip meals, monthly hormonal changes, drink caffeine or red wine, change my routine
12. The most frustrating part about having migraine or a headache disorder is: Missing out on life
13. Having migraine or a headache disorder causes me to worry about: Losing my job and friends
14. When I tell someone I have migraine or a headache disorder, they usually assume or say: They feel sorry for me
15. When I see ads or articles about migraine or headache disorders, I think: Nothing new (mostly)
16. My best coping tools are: Meditation, yoga, having gratitude
17. I find comfort in: My pets
18. I get angry when people say: “Again??”
19. I like it when people say: “How can I help you?”
20. Something kind a person can do for me during a migraine attack or headache is: Give me a place to sleep it off or offer to drive me home
21. The best thing a doctor has ever said to me about having migraine or a headache disorder is: “I need to know everything about your medical history so I know how to best help you.”
22. Having migraine or a headache disorder has affected my work/school life by: Having to miss so much work, fearing that my employers won’t understand or be accommodating
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine or a headache disorder is: Never knowing when the next attach will happen
24. Having migraine or a headache disorder has taught me: Never take your health for granted
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through hard days is: “Be grateful because some people have it worse”
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Stop drinking so much caffeine!
27. The people who support me most are: Dave, Mom, Dad
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine or headache disorders is: Even when I take meds, I can’t function normally
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: It’s bringing awareness to a highly stigmatized illness
30. One more thing I’d like to say about migraine or my headache disorder is: It’s not just a headache!

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.

This is a reader-submitted story. Want to share your 30 Things? Here’s how: Migraine & Headache Disorders 30 Things Meme. 

1. My diagnosis is: Chronic Complex Migraine.
2. My migraine attack frequency is: daily headache, migraine 3-6 days weekly with current treatment.
3. I was diagnosed in: Initial migraine dx in 1997, Chronic Complex dx in 2014.
4. My comorbid conditions include: Fibromyalgia, gluten and lactose sensitivity, TMJ
5. I take 12 medications/supplements each day for prevention and 3+ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack in addition to self-administered IM shots. Also, I receive 30+ injections in my face, head, neck and shoulders every three months.
6. My first migraine attack was: when I was ten years old.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: Intense pain, unrelenting nausea.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: Inability to find words or speak clearly, numb lips.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: Sleep, Heat, Weather Changes, Stress, Menstrual Cycle
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I begin stuttering and using incorrect wording, I begin seeing sparkles and rainbows, and my ears feel full.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: Missing out on so much life and letting loved ones down repeatedly.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: Making sure my children are cared for.
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: Better not travel too far from home, bring medications just in case, WHEN will the next one hit, please, God, let it be a good day.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Random people, “Oh, I get headaches, too.” Loved ones, “I’m so sorry, can I help?”
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: “God, please remove their pain and symptoms and enable them to live a normal life.”
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: “Yup, tried that.” And, “Yeah, if it were that easy!”
17. My best coping tools are: the support of my family and friends and prayer.
18. I find comfort in: Cool, dark, quiet rooms and praying.
19. I get angry when people say: “So, you’ll be better when?”
20. I like it when people say: “Can I help?”
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Pray for relief and Keep my area quiet and undisturbed.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: “You are my partner.”
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: Continuously letting people down and knowing it’s not going to cease.
24. Migraine has taught me: Live in the moment and Slow down. Also, I’ve met many others with varying illnesses and I feel like I have a more compassionate spirit with them due to living with migraine.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: “This too shall pass.” “Be still and know that I am God.”
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Make memories now.
27. The people who support me most are: my husband, children, parents, in-laws, friends. I’m very blessed with a large, understanding group of loved ones.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: I’m not doing it to you. It’s happening to me. Also, it’s not just a “headache.”
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I can outwardly share my experiences in hopes of helping another.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: It’s challenging in ways you’d never think. The giggles of my children are my favorite sounds, except during an attack. You hold back tears no matter how bad it hurts because you know that it will only increase the pain. Cancelling my daughter’s fifth birthday party, missing our anniversary trip, not being able to attend family holidays and functions weigh heavily on my heart. The guilt stabs at inopportune times.
I’m trying very hard to not let migraine own me, but it is exhausting to keep fighting every.single.day.

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.