Tag: chronic migraine

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is: chronic migraine with aura
2. My migraine attack frequency is: daily
3. I was diagnosed in: around 2000
4. My comorbid conditions include: fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression,
unindifferentiated auto-immune disorder, IBS, foot pain (standing more than 30 is very painful)
5. I take __1__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and __2__ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: I can’t remember. I think I’ve had problems since high school but didn’t know what they were.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: pain, nausea, photophobia, sounds, jaw pain
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: don’t like to smell food cooking and the opposite side of my face will turn red (if it’s on one side)
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: being hungry, singing, stress, loud noise, standing on my feet to long, allergies, heat
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I get a dull pain at the base of my head and neck, jaw, or face.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: I can’t sing, I’ve gained 40 lbs in a month due to medication, waking up not knowing when or if it’s going to start and what will trigger it, not being able to work/even being discriminated against.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: how to treat it
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: When is the next one coming? How can I keep from having one?
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: you need to drink more water and take a walk!
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: I’m so sorry! I wish I could take your kids, make a meal for you, clean and do laundry!
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: THAT’S ME!!!
17. My best coping tools are: MY BED, pain meds in moderation, relaxing mentally and physically-like meditating, getting a treat sometimes, a little caffeine helps
18. I find comfort in: BED!, my husband, participating in community theatre
19. I get angry when people say: drink more water and take a walk, they know what’s causing it, you need to concentrate on being a pastor’s wife
20. I like it when people say: Can I make a meal for you? I’m so sorry! Can I help? Nothing and hug me.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: bring me a sweet tea without ice from McDonalds, make a meal, make a care package
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: I have them too.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: All the things I can’t do: sing, dance, and work. In MI our summers are short and I miss a lot of it! – It’s a grieving process.
24. Migraine has taught me: how to relax my body and mind, God loves me even though He doesn’t heal me. As a matter of fact, He uses me to understand others.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: The story of Job
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Don’t doubt yourself! If you have to take OTC’s more than twice a week, get on a preventative!!!
27. The people who support me most are: my husband, a few friends
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: I am disabled by them completely even though I look normal! When you see me doing theatre, it’s because it brings me joy. I work through as much pain as I can to do it.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I feel we are overlooked! This is a way to inform other people AND MYSELF!
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: I feel lost in a vicious cycle! I went back to college with migraines and was discriminated against during my internships. This is a painful life emotionally as well. Keep persevering!

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres. Follow this link to learn how to share YOUR 30 Things about living with a headache disorder.

This is a reader-submitted story.

My diagnosis is: chronic migraine with and without aura.
My migraine attack frequency is: I have some level of head pain daily.
I was diagnosed in: 2002 with migraine, becoming chronic in 2008.
My comorbid conditions include: depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia.
I take one medications/supplements each day for prevention and four medications/supplements to treat an acute attack.
My first migraine attack was: I’m not sure. The more I learn about migraines, the more I believe that I’ve dealt with them since childhood.
My most disabling migraine symptoms are: pain, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, aphasia, sensory sensitivities (to light, sound, smell, taste, touch).
My strangest migraine symptoms are: olfactory hallucinations.
My biggest migraine triggers are: weather changes, lights (especially bright and/or flashing), odors / fragrance / smoke, foods / food additives (bananas, artificial sweeteners, nitrates / nitrites, MSG).
I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I have difficulty controlling body temperature and moods, my ears feel hot and achy, increasing visual disturbance, certain cravings, aphasia, inability to focus.
The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: being suddenly unable to function well, and not knowing when one will hit or how long it will last.
During a migraine attack, I worry most about: how well my migraine treatment will work, and how long I’m going to be out of commission.
When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: please don’t worsen today.
When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: kind, but often indicative of the lack of public awareness of what migraine truly is.
When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: that migraine is so much more common than most people think. I also think about how I might be able to help them cope with migraine.
When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: how far we have to go (and how important it really is that we do so, every chance we get) to inform and raise awareness of migraine and the potentially debilitating affects this disease.
My best coping tools are: my faith, distraction (often involving Netflix).
I find comfort in: my husband, my dog, my house, my support system (family and friends, both in person and online).
I get angry when people say: “It’s just a headache,” which is sometimes followed by,”Just take a pill and keep going / move on” and/or “It can’t be that bad.”
I like it when people say: a sincere, “You’re in my thoughts and prayers.”
Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: allow me to escape to a dark, quiet place. Ask if I need anything (water, food, blanket, pillow, to be alone, etc) to help make me more comfortable. Be patient with me, as it can be difficult for me to think, speak, and move.
The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: “I won’t give up on you.”
The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: that it is unpredictable.
Migraine has taught me: to recognize the strength that I DO have. It is teaching me to have more patience, and to trust God more.
The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: to prepare for things to be beyond difficult, but to never give up hope.
The people who support me most are: my husband, my support system (family and friends, both in person and online).
The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: it’s a genetic neurological disease for which, there is currently NO cure.
Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I feel that we need to speak up/out to raise awareness, increase research, and help correct misinformation.
One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: that it’s hard, but find yourself a support system and be your own best advocate to getting the care and treatment you need to live the best life possible.

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres. Follow this link to learn how to share YOUR 30 Things about living with a headache disorder.

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is: Chronic Migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: nearly every day
3. I was diagnosed in: 2012
4. My comorbid conditions include: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which has also led to dysautonomia, GERD, IBS, panic disorder, and body-wide joint issues
5. I take propranolol, verapamil, B2, CoQ10, Prozac, & Magnesium each day for prevention, and Frova, Zofran, Antivert, & Xanax to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: as a young child, we now think I had abdominal migraines nearly from birth.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: vertigo & brain fog
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: olfactory hallucinations
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: lights — bright, fluorescent, or blinking
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: my vision gets wonky
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: never knowing when they’re going to happen
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: not freaking out my kids
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: um… is there a between attacks?
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: 50% some idiotic suggestion for drinking vinegar or some other ‘cure,’ 25% sympathy/empathy, 25% suck-it-up
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: Oh you poor thing!
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Right. Treatments work that well without nasty side effects. NOT.
17. My best coping tools are: distraction, Netflix, cuddles, ice packs
18. I find comfort in: soft dark fuzzy
19. I get angry when people say: If only you would…
20. I like it when people say: What’s that like for you?
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: point out that I should grab an ice pack & take some meds
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: I will not give up on you.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: there is no cure
24. Migraine has taught me: not to make plans that I can’t unmake in a hurry
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: I don’t really have one.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Go see a decent doctor in your 20’s you idiot!
27. The people who support me most are: my husband and my kids
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: it can steal your life, and there is no cure
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I don’t think enough people understand how nasty this disease is and how many people it impacts
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: Migraine doesn’t just affect those of us with the disorder, it also has profound impacts on our family members, friends, and other caregivers

Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres. Follow this link to learn how to share YOUR 30 Things about living with a headache disorder.