<em>This is a reader-submitted story.</em>
1. My diagnosis is: Chronic migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: Often daily, sometimes 15-20 migraine days per month
3. I was diagnosed in: My early 20’s I am in my late 40’s now
4. My comorbid conditions include: Neck and back pain
5. I take 2-3 medications/supplements each day for prevention and 2-3 medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: Twenty some years ago due to hormonal fluctuations
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: Confusion, head and neck pain, pain, blurred vision, nausea
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: Blurred vision, somewhat of an aura of nauseating blechhh feeling before any headache symptoms.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: Wine, food, sleep, heat, certain smells, pulled back hairstyles, certain bras
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: A wave of nausea comes over me, followed a while later by sharp pain behind my eye
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: Not being able to participate fully, missing work or trying to participate with work or family activities while feeling awful.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: Disappointing my family
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: About how much I appreciate feeling well.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Some recommendation of OTC medicine to try.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: I respond with compassion and empathy.
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments: I usually have tried it already! Also, while I like the idea of not missing out on things, rest is still important during a migraine flare. The commercials will have you think that you will be running through a field of daisies with your children without missing a beat.
17. My best coping tools are: Abortive meds.
18. I find comfort in: Pajamas, some quiet couch time.
19. I get angry when people say: You really need to figure out about these headaches. Ummm.. ok!
20. I like it when people say: I am so sorry, can I get you anything?
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Offer to fix something quick to eat so that I can keep my meds down.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: There are a lot of things we can try. Also, that many women get better after menopause.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: That I need to take a break from whatever is going on, and include rest in my treatment along with the abortive meds. I tend to just keep on going.
24. Migraine has taught me: To be compassionate towards others with chronic illnesses. Also, that today may be a bad day, but tomorrow will be better.
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 neurologist who is a headache specialist and start trying different treatments.
27. The people who support me most are: My husband, kids and dogs.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: Migraine is a chronic neurological illness that affects the entire body.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: It reminds me that I am not alone in this.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: Chronic migraine affects the entire body. Sometimes it feels like something horrible is really wrong, like a stroke or worse. I am trying to accept this as a chronic illness, and learn my limitations, and how to handle my bad days so that maybe I will be back to my good days faster. One thing that is very frustrating is dealing with the insurance company in getting the proper amount of medication to treat the amount of migraines that I have. If I could schedule fewer headaches per month, I certainly would but the thought of having one without medication is just awful. While I am on daily preventatives, I haven’t had great luck with them. I hope that new and better medicines are developed.
<em><a href=”http://www.thedailyheadache.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MHAMgiveaway.png”><img class=”alignright wp-image-8336″ src=”http://www.thedailyheadache.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MHAMgiveaway-300×234.png” alt=”MHAMgiveaway” width=”205″ height=”160″ /></a>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 <a title=”Migraine & Headache Disorders 30 Things Meme” href=”http://www.thedailyheadache.com/30things”>share YOUR 30 Things</a> about living with a headache disorder.</em>