This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: Transformed Chronic Migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: I get daily head pain which sometimes turn into migraine without aura, but the aura migraines can range from 4 a month, sometimes 15.
3. I was diagnosed in: 1990s (in elementary for episodic aura migraine) then in 2011 for chronic migraine, once it transformed
4. My comorbid conditions include: depression (surprise surprise) and possible bipolar disorder (never been official)
5. I take __Botox/tea/caffeine and a crapload of__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and _currently painkillers/icepacks___ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
I’ve honestly been through just about everything I can’t even list them all! The triptans stopped working for me in late high school?
6. My first migraine attack was: kindgarten (says my mom), but I remember my first in 5th grade
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: the pain and nausea
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: the mood swings before an aura. I’ve always been told I’m really funny and nice, except during those swings. I turn really bitchy. Oh, and the numbness on my left side, the flushing.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: life. Seriously. Reading or being on the computer longer than my head can handle. Exercise. (which sucks, because I used to LOVE running before I turned chronic)
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: the aura. I can tell it’s going to be a bad pain day on a non aura day when I wake up and start moving around. If the pain doesn’t ease a little in an hour or two, I know it’s gonna be a hard day.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: actually, the aura migraines aren’t the worst. They are the most painful, but the most frustrating is the daily pain. It makes it so difficult to function and I have to be so careful. It’s so frustrating half the time I want to throw something out the window.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: how can I still get work done?
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: I don’t think. I’m an eternal optomist. So if I’m feeling good, I feel like I’ve always felt good. then my husband has to remind me, “uhh. Weren’t you on the couch, like, 4/7 days this week?” I just forget. I think it’s a coping thing.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Try this. It will cure your life.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: I listen. Then I say “I’m sorry. I get it.”
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: if only it were that easy.
17. My best coping tools are: massively restrucring my life. I say “yes” to very little, keep my stress level low, rarely travel. I love art and studied writing. So that’s what I do. That way, when I start to get triggered, I can put it down and wait until later to pick it back up. I’ve been uber fortunate in that my husband supports this. Also–my husband. I would not be NEARLY as functional if not for him.
18. I find comfort in: still being able to contribute to the world through art and writing, even if it’s in a small way. Then I don’t feel like migraine has beaten me.
19. I get angry when people say: how are you feeling? I don’t want to be reminded of it. That’s why I’m with people, to forget and live a normal life.
20. I like it when people say: I’ll bring over food on Tuesday. And when they treat me like normal.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: change out my icepacks and sit with me. Don’t let me do anything drastic. (my husband is super good at this). And don’t talk to me.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: “Let’s try this.” It’s encouraging and like we still have options.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: My life isn’t the way I wanted it to look. I can’t have these dreams I wanted for __ amount of years.
24. Migraine has taught me:to be extremely creative. If I want to reach a goal, I can’t cross the finish line the normal way. (ie: I’ve always wanted to run in a 5k, but even walking a mile is extremely difficult. So I signed up anyway…and rollerbladed it!! And took lots of breaks along the way. But I still did it 😀 )
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: this is only part of the bigger story. I have it tattooed on my wrist, so if I do something drastic I have to see it first.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: I would give myself a hug and not say anything. Otherwise, I think I would scare myself into never leaving the house again. But I could’ve used a hug. And someone to go to the doctor with me, despite protests.
27. The people who support me most are: my husband. Hands down. my BFFs. They get it.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: I don’t want to talk about it all the time. I live with it and it consumes me. I just want to spend time with you right now and forget about it. But I also want you to want me to talk about it. I know it’s contradictory….but it’s a complicated thing.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I don’t think people realize how hard it is. Even my immediate family makes comments that show me they don’t get it.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: It sucks and it’s hard, but you can still live a beautiful life even with it. It may be a small life and a different life than you imagined, but it can still be beautiful
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.