This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: Chronic headaches
2. My migraine attack frequency is: Variable. It can be constant for weeks on end and then I can be free of headaches for a few days. I can also wake up with a headaches and abort it with a triptan within a few hours.
3. I was diagnosed in: 30 years ago at age 9. 1985
4. My comorbid conditions include: Depression and fatigue. I am a nurse and have had rotator cuff surgery and three back injections for herniated discs but not sure if that is considered ‘comorbid’. I’ve also had endometrial cancer.
5. I take topromax 75 mg twice daily for as long as I can remember and 1 Gram of Magnesium daily as well as a B-Complex vitamin. I try to eat mostly natural foods without preservatives. I have Botox injections every 8 weeks that I’m not sure if they really do help but can’t hurt. I take Imitrex injections and Relpax pills for ‘attacks’. If my migraines are acute and last more than 2 weeks, I usually end up taking a double pack of methylprednisone which usually helps.
6. My first migraine attack was: I was in third grade but I can’t remember that.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: Extreme pain. Inability to process my thinking. Unable to speak or open my eyes. Unable to touch my head or face.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: On some occasions I have become confused, thinking that my children were kidnapped or that I had died and was unable to ‘cross over’.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: Definitely weather changes. Irregular eating patterns, lack of sleep. alcohol.
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: visual changes. head is sore on top, Feeling of doom
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: Not being able to make future plans. Letting people down.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: Letting my family down
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: When am I going to get hit again? I need to remember my medicine.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: “Oh I get headaches to!!”
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: “Yeah, really. I’ve heard that before.”
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: “Why can’t there be a cure for migraines?” I feel frustrated and pestimistic unfortunately at this point in my life because I have tried so many different things and nothing seems to help.
17. My best coping tools are: my best friend who seems intuitive to me.
18. I find comfort in: I have learned that having migraines is simply a part of my life and something that I need to just live with. I can’t change it. I have people in my life that accept me for who I am and know that I do the best I can and cope as best I can and they understand when I can’t do certain things.
19. I get angry when people say: “Oh, I get headaches too!” “Why don’t you try…..” Maybe you should see a doctor for those.” And I don’t get angry, simply frustrated. They just don’t understand because they can’t relate.
20. I like it when people say: “That must be hard for you.” And they let it go without acting all sympathtic.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Ask if I need anything. Get me an ice pack. Sometimes I would like to have my back gently rubbed.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: “We are going to work together to get this under control for you.”
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: There is no cure. I have to live with this and so does my family.
24. Migraine has taught me: That I can’t plan ahead and that the days that I feel good, I feel great!! I stay calm and try not to have any mood swings. I let things roll off me easier.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: “I can’t control this. God. I am in your hands now.” Daily I know that I have to push through many times. I have realized that a ‘can do’ attitude works better for me than a ‘can’t do’ attitude. It drives some of my friends and family nutty because they don’t understand why I ‘overdo’ but if I always waited for a completely good day, I wouldn’t get anything done and would feel more depressed about myself.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: To enjoy my good days more. My days with migraines are becoming worse and worse as I grow older.
27. The people who support me most are: my best friend, my mother and my gentleman friend. My children do the best they can but as teenagers, they have to be places and need help with homework as all teenagers do. But they are wonderful in making meals, cleaning and caregiving.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: how absolutely debilitating it really is. I can live with any other pain but migraine pain makes me unfunctional.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: It helps people with migraines come together in support of each other so we don’t feel so alone and help each other understand that there is more out there to help ourselves.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: The biggest trick to having success in life with migraines is having a strong support system and good attitude. People that love you and care about you and support you will help you survive this horrible disease—and it is a disease, no matter how you see it.
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.