This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: Chronic Migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: 2xwkly
3. I was diagnosed in: 2002
4. My comorbid conditions include: obesity
5. I take __1__ medications/supplements each day for prevention and __1__ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: as a young newlywed, brought on by stress.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: inability to do anything other than lay down. sound is the worst thing.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: confusion with simple word identity, i.e. door.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: blurred vision; nausea
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: things get “fuzzy” & I feel nauseated
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: I feel like I absolutely miss out on life. I have no control over my life. no matter what is going on, I have to take time out to stop & lay down until it is gone. No matter what is going on!! It is so debilitating! Feelings of hopelessness; defeat; helpless; loneliness
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: life passing me by; kids only remembering me having “headaches” and being in bed; my husband being the “only parent”.
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: if I don’t stop having them, I am going to lose my job because of missed work; is my husband going to get tired of dealing with it and leave me; when is another one coming; will I ever be migraine-free
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: “oh, my so-in-so has those and they are horrible. I’ve heard about them. that sucks.”
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: If they are trying to say they are having a migraine at that moment, I would say, “Really? Then how can you be standing here & telling me that and not be in a dark bedroom with all sound blocked out?”. If they are talking about themselves suffering from migraines, I would ask about what they do to stop the progression of the onset of one and if they use anything to ease the pain once one starts.
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Doesn’t work. There is a commercial right now where a mom is on the couch and had taken some OTC med. her kids are planning and one says to the other to quiet down because Mom has a headache, but Mom pops up from the couch to say “I did, but I don’t anymore”. THERE IS NOTHING ON THE MARKET THAT WORKS LIKE THAT!
17. My best coping tools are: sleeping; relaxing; watching movies; walking; talking with my husband
18. I find comfort in: my husband’s tenderness & kindness and understanding during my “episodes”
19. I get angry when people say: “You need to see a doctor about that.” “Why do you keep having so many?” “I didn’t realize migraines lasted so long?” “You’re lucky you have a boss who is understanding.” “Is it because of your weight?”
20. I like it when people say: “I’ve been praying for you”.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Leave me alone. Don’t call my house. Don’t come over.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: FIND YOUR TRIGGERS! Once you find your triggers, you can avoid them and lesson your migraine activity. Also, being diagnosed with chronic migraine by a neurologist made me realize that I wasn’t losing my mind; I had a legitimate problem with a diagnosis.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: LACK OF CONTROL. I hate that one minute I can be fine and an hour later, completely debilitated.
24. Migraine has taught me: Plans are difficult to keep, so be cautious when making them. It has also taught me that my husband loves me unconditionally.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: I am more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: keep a journal of foods eaten, when a migraine started, ended, symptoms, etc. The more info you have, the better treatment your neurologist can provide without additional testing.
27. The people who support me most are: my loving husband, two daughters, one son, and entire church family
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: IT IS NOT JUST A HEADACHE!!!!! no one is faking this. no one wants to suffer. trust that a bedroom once considered a sanctuary, becomes a prison to migraine sufferers.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: it is a chance to provide info to others who may not completely understand all the differences between headaches and migraines.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: drug companies need to spend more time on finding something that truly works AND is affordable!!!
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.