This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: migraines
2. My migraine attack frequency is: approximately once a month right now; has been as much as 2-3x/week
3. I was diagnosed in: 1992
4. My comorbid conditions include: GAD, Factor V Leiden, Ischemic Colitis
5. I take __0__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and _2-3___ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: when I was 12-years-old and sitting in my English class…threw up everywhere 🙂
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: severe pain, light sensitivity, exhaustion
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: confusion, not being able to put words into sentences, misusing words
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: preservatives, sugar, hormones, weather changes
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I get an aura in one of my eyes; kind of looks like the fuzziness on a TV without a signal
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: unpredictability. I never know when they are going to happen. “Good morning! You’re about to call in sick to work….again.”
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: work, what others are thinking about me (i.e. slacker, faker, etc.), my son’s perception of my health
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: I focus on showing/demonstrating that I can carry my weight and be successful.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: sympathetic and understanding
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: how sad; I wish no one else would have to go through it.
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Maybe that would work, but then I’m scared to try it.
17. My best coping tools are: sleep, my hubby and son, losing myself in TV, heat, sunglasses, window treatments, joking about what I’m experiencing
18. I find comfort in: that it could be, and has been, much worse
19. I get angry when people say: migraines aren’t that bad
20. I like it when people say: they get it
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Can I put pillows over the windows for you? (makes it that much darker)
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: You’re one of the most motivated patients we’ve had (in response to the work I did identifying my triggers)
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: again, the unpredictability; along with guilt about not meeting expectations and shame for thinking something is wrong with me.
24. Migraine has taught me: to live in the moment
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: It will be better soon.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: to be patient and practice self-compassion
27. The people who support me most are: my hubby b/c he bears the brunt of everything when I’m down and out
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: how difficult it is to function after a migraine. It can be just as debilitating as the actual migraine.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I needed to know I’m not alone
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: It sucks, but I like to think it has made me a more compassionate and understanding person. Good things, right?
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.