Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Archives - Page 4 of 12

Professor

June 3, 2015May 10, 2016 reader

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is: chronic migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: 6-18 per month until recently (medical botox is working for me!)
3. I was diagnosed in: 1990’s
4. My comorbid conditions include: degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis
5. I take __8__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and ____ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was:1972
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: debilitating pain
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: aura; brain fog; difficulty thinking and talking
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: heat; over-exertion; stress; blinking light
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I get a “grainy” feeling in my head and pain in the back of my neck and skull; I also feel tired and out-of-sorts
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: loss of valuable time and daily life
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: the duration of the pain
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I hope I will not have a migraine for awhile
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: pity or compassion or silence
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: What do you need?
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Right, an excedrin . . . get real!
17. My best coping tools are: massage; ice cream; the couch and tv
18. I find comfort in: ice cream and tv
19. I get angry when people say: Have you tried . . .
20. I like it when people say: I’m sorry to hear that . . .
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: allow me to take care of myself
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: “You are a candidate for medical botox.”
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: That the more migraines I have, the more I am likely to have
24. Migraine has taught me: compassion for others; to protect myself from ignorance
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: n/a
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: learn more about diet and exercise and take it seriously
27. The people who support me most are: My dear, dear husband!
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: it’s not a headache and that, yes, most migraineurs have tried everything
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: educating myself and, hopefully, the general public
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: I forgive all the people who have judged, doubted, criticized, and hurt me because of their own ignorance.

thanks Kerry –you are terrific! xovm

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.

30 Things Meme

15 Years in the Dark

June 3, 2015May 10, 2016 reader

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is:
Migraine, cluster, and tension headaches.
2. My migraine attack frequency is:
Completely unpredictable. I went two years with only half a dozen bad migraine days. Twice I’ve had an intractable migraine last for 5+ months. There’s no way to know when they’ll come or how long they’ll stay.
3. I was diagnosed in:
March 1, 2000. You never forget your first!
4. My comorbid conditions include:
Hashimoto’s thyroid disease.
5. I take 9 medications/supplements each day for prevention and 5 medications/supplements to treat an acute attack.
6. My first migraine attack was:
In the shower when I was getting ready for work. I blacked out from the pain and woke up in the hospital, where my mother stayed with me in the Peds ICU for nearly 2 weeks. I was 18 years old.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are:
Losing vision in my left eye, losing hearing in my right ear, dizziness, nausea, motion sickness, and feeling like Alice in Wonderland when she gets SO tall.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are:
Seeing purple lava lamp like blobs dancing around. I call them the amoebas.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are:
Thunderstorms, wind, snow, and other major weather changes. Stress, not sleeping, not eating, and not drinking enough water.
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when:
It hits me in the face. I have always described it as a pool ball smack to the left temple. I don’t have any other warning.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is:
Whatever plans I had that day are out the window.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about:
How long will it last? Am I going to be ok in 4 hours? 4 days? 4 weeks? 4 months?
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think:
How lucky I am to have my mom who’s never left my side. How grateful I am to marry a man who’s completely willing to carry the torch forward. He’s gone to great lengths to understand my disease and learn how to take good care of me. I couldn’t survive these attacks without their love and support.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually:
“Oh you poor thing. I hope you feel better soon.” Then they get anxious as to why I’m not feeling better as soon as they would like me to.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think:
“There’s a 98% chance they have no idea what they’re talking about.”
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think:
“Been there. Tried that. Didn’t work. Next!”
17. My best coping tools are:
Distraction, aromatherapy, sleep.
18. I find comfort in:
My faith. It helps knowing I’m not alone even in my darkest hours. When I don’t have the strength to fight my own battles, I simply ask God to carry me through and He always does.
19. I get angry when people say:
“Oh I get migraines too! I take two excedrin and lay down with a cold compress for half an hour. Then I feel much better!”
20. I like it when people say:
“I’m here if you need anything” and mean it.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is:
Text me. Please don’t call! Texting lets me know you’re thinking of me and you care enough to reach out without making me answer the phone.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is:
I’m willing to fight on your side for as long as it takes. We’re gonna get you through this together.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is:
I am not in control.
24. Migraine has taught me:
To be flexible. To let go. To forgive myself the times I can’t get out of bed and make the most of the times I can.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is:
“There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning.”
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself:
Know when to say enough is enough.
27. The people who support me most are:
My mom and my fiancé.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is:
I’m not ignoring your calls, texts, emails, etc. If I haven’t hung out with you in a while, it’s not because I don’t like you. It’s because I’m in pain beyond reasonable comprehension. Let me know you haven’t forgotten me and I will treasure our friendship all the days of my life!
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because:
Migraineurs feel alone, abandoned, left behind when we can’t attend birthday parties, dinners, holidays, shopping trips, vacations. If everyone understood a little more about what it’s like to live in the dark, afraid of light and noise and smells, perhaps they’d be more gentle with those who suffer.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is:
It’s dark in here. It’s scary. It’s painful. It’s quiet. If a migraineur shares their story with you, please know that’s sacred. It’s means we trust you and probably love you. So thank you for listening.

30 Things Meme

My migraine rant?

June 3, 2015May 10, 2016 reader

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is: Chronic migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: more than 15 days a month
3. I was diagnosed in: 2009, I think
4. My comorbid conditions include: not sure, maybe depression and anger (crankiness)
5. I take __0__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and _2___ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: as a child
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: pain and fatigue
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: sore scalp (or I say sore hair)
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: lowering barometric pressure, stress, bright lights doing strange things
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: my head starts to hurt or my neck gets stiff, or my eyes don’t like all the stuff the lights are doing
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: the aphasia, dizzyness, fatigue, sadness, frustration
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: the drugs not working or I’m taking too much
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: I don’t have them and all is good
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Oh I get those too.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: What drugs do you take that help you? Or how do you work having migraines
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: What are the side effects?
17. My best coping tools are: taking the drugs at the right point
18. I find comfort in: Everybody has troubles, so do I. Maybe I can help them at some point.
19. I get angry when people say: The most angry I ever got was when I read an article about somebody with a hangover saying they told their boss they had a migraine and suggesting that other do that too.
20. I like it when people say: “it’s o.k. that the drugs cause aphasia. I’ll just wait until you blurt out what you are trying to say.” No one ever says that, because they don’t know about the aphasia part of the migraine or the drugs.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Help me when I can’t remember words
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: If chocolate is a trigger, eat it everyday, instead of just occasionally.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: It doesn’t seem like my life will ever overcome them.
24. Migraine has taught me: Help others and be gentle, because you don’t really know how much pain people are in for whatever reasons.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: Get up! Take the Axert! (instead of going back to sleep.)
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Your need to see a headache specialist
27. The people who support me most are: My family
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: I gotta work and support my family even though I don’t have a chronic disease.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: It’s a way to tell others about migraine as a chronic disease
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: There needs to be more research money for this disease. There are so many people who have it, a lot of them women and it’s debilitating if you don’t have the right drugs and general doctors don’t really treat it correctly, especially pediatricians.

30 Things Meme

30 Things About Migraines

June 3, 2015May 10, 2016 reader

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is: Chronic migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: Lately, almost daily. Varies with the weather, stress, sleep deprivation
3. I was diagnosed in: 2004
4. My comorbid conditions include: REM Behavior Disorder, Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure
5. I take various medications/supplements each day for prevention and various medications/supplements to treat an acute attack. Addiction runs heavily in my gene pool, so I avoid opioids as much as possible. When I have aura preceding the pain, I’ll take four 200 mg ibuprofen and two acetaminophen at the beginning of the aura. Then ice packs — or heat — and my bed are the best treatments.
6. My first migraine attack was: When I was a teenager.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: Brain fog. It is so frustrating to lose IQ points!!!
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: Aphasia.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: Fluorescent lights, strobe lights (as in ambulance, police car flashing lights), missing meals and sleep deprivation.
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I see the aura. However, I often will wake up in the morning with a migraine, no aura.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: It disrupts my life in a major way. I have missed weddings, funerals and many, many other social occasions because of migraine. I have also missed activities and commitments that would help me stay emotionally and spiritually strong, better able to cope with this chronic illness.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: If I don’t work, how to we pay the bills?
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: Have to get as much done as possible before another one bowls me over.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Oh, my friend had that and they did this, and now they’re cured.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: I don’t have to explain myself.
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Been there, tried that, bought the t-shirt, burned it.
17. My best coping tools are: Prayer and knowing that my husband understands.
18. I find comfort in: A cool, quiet room, with a TV turned down low. An ice pack wrapped around my head and/or neck. Sometimes, instead of an ice pack, a home-made “rice bag” that I heat in the microwave. My pajamas.
19. I get angry when people say: I try not to get too angry, because I think most people are well-meaning. It does get under my skin when people imply that I’m just simply not trying hard enough.
20. I like it when people say: We miss you and know you want to be with us.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Express their belief that I’m doing the best I can.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: Honestly, I can’t really think of any honest answer to this one. One neuro — early, early on — told me that most patients discover answers on their own, without a doctor’s help. All righty, then.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: It blindsides me, throws me down and kicks me and I am almost powerless against it.
24. Migraine has taught me: Who my real friends are.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: It’s temporary.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Don’t get so excited about the next new “cure” or treatment. This is a process, and it may well be a very long one.
27. The people who support me most are: Beloved by me more than they’ll ever know.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: It’s not just a headache. I was watching TV with my husband about a week ago, and some idiot on a show was hung over. I’ve only been hung over one time, but I told my husband, “That’s it! That’s it! It’s not just the pain, it’s like the worst hangover ever!!” Even though he has always been supportive and kind, it wasn’t until this analogy that he GOT it!
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: Knowledge is power.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: I’ve had several major surgeries over the years — I’m 55 years old — and I would gladly go through all of them again to get rid of a year of migraines.

30 Things Meme

30 Things about migraine and me

June 3, 2015May 10, 2016 reader

This is a reader-submitted story.

1. My diagnosis is: Migraine w/aura
2. My migraine attack frequency is: 10-12 per month
3. I was diagnosed in: 1988 (age 16)
4. My comorbid conditions include: anxiety, depression
5. I take _2_ medications/supplements each day for prevention and _3_ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: two weeks long!
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: light sensitivity, nausea, dizziness, aphasia, throbbing headache
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: sense of disassociation with self/reality, perception that left arm is growing longer than normal (AiWS)
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: lack of sleep, weather, bright light, bright colors – particularly hot pink
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I have aphasia, am dizzy, or have a “premonition” that an attack is emminent
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: inability to communicate effectively – affects my job duties
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: how long it will inhibit my abilities
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: I need to research and educate myself as much as possible to be prepared for the next attack
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: concern, and sometimes interest in symptoms, diagnosis, etc.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: I want to share my knowledge and resources to help them as much as I can
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: I don’t typically see commercials about migraine treatment
17. My best coping tools are: rest and scaling back/or eliminating activities & triggers
18. I find comfort in: having my thoughts, feelings and symptoms validated
19. I get angry when people say: You have another headache again?? Did you take something?
20. I like it when people say: I’m sorry for your pain. Is there anything I can do for you?
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is:
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: 1. We still have a lot of options to try for preventatives. 2. There’s two clinical trial openings that you might qualify for.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: it’s a life-long diagnosis
24. Migraine has taught me: to be more aware of my body’s clues that something is wrong
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: This too, shall pass.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: Find a good neurologist to manage this condition
27. The people who support me most are: husband, parents, friends who are also migraneurs
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: It’s NOT just a headache!!!
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: It’s a great opportunity to spread the word about what migraine truly is.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: Learn all you can about this disorder, but don’t let it control your life!