30 things about My life with Migraine.

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is: Chronic Migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: Daily
3. I was diagnosed in: 1977
4. My comorbid conditions include: Tension Headaches, Fibromyalgia, Trigeminal Neuralgia, and TMJD
5. I take 3 different medications/supplements each day for prevention and treatment. Also 3 different medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: My mother and I both believe was at age 18 months
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: Sensitivity to sound/ Light, Extreme Pain, and Nausea
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: Phantom Smells, vertigo
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: Weather, Loud noises and bright lights
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I have frequent Yawning, visual disturbances, and or phantom smells
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: Feeling helpless or lazy
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: Missing out on life
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: Knock on Wood!
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Judgement, Disbelief, or just disinterest
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: Depends on if I Know them. If I KNOW they truly have Migraines, Sincere Empathy. otherwise, I sometimes think THEY don’t really understand what a Migraine is
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Pftt. I wish that worked!
17. My best coping tools are: essential oils, self relaxation, being quite, and lastly, mostly as a last resort, medicating
18. I find comfort in: online support groups
19. I get angry when people say: Have you tried Goody powders? or Excedrin, or the Green smoothie?
20. I like it when people say: That sucks. Feel better
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Acknowledge that I am NOT faking or looking for attention. Fix me a drink (soda), or bring my meds or coping tools to me.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: Wow! You really have tried it all! Lets see what we can do to help you
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: There will Always be people that do NOT understand, or do not believe me.
24. Migraine has taught me: Life isn’t Fair
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: Breathe! Just Keep Breathing.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: This is a real Dx, You did Not ask for this, and you are NOT a burden
27. The people who support me most are: My Partner and online friends
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: It is so much more than just a Headache, even a Bad Headache
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I suffer and so do a LOT of my friends. Many just do NOT get it.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: If you LOVE me, then you have to accept that whether I like it or not (and I do NOT), I have Chronic Migraines. I only want acceptance.

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.