This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: Chronic migraine with aura
2. My migraine attack frequency is: Usually a few a month, but it can vary to up to 20 days straight
3. I was diagnosed in: Childhood
4. My comorbid conditions include: Extreme visual disturbances, body and face numbness, loss of speech and mobility and body weakness and fatigue
5. I take no medications/supplements each day for prevention
, just dietary and weather awareness. 2 medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: very young
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: loss of speech and mobility and visual disturbances
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: food cravings and toothaches
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: light, weather and food containing nitrates
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: my skin becomes incredibly sensitive and I feel a band of pressure around my head. Also when I have no desire to eat the day before.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: having to give up my daily activities
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: My kids seeing me in a state of weakness, where I can’t function for them.
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: No, no, no, no.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Oh, I know someone who gets them too.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: You poor soul. I wish I could take that burden off you.
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: I hope that solution works for someone!
17. My best coping tools are: quiet, darkness and an icepack.
18. I find comfort in: Knowing I’ll be ok once its over.
19. I get angry when people say: “it’s just a headache, take a (insert medication of choice here)”
20. I like it when people say: Is there anything I can do?
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Let me rest, but check up on me.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: …. still waiting.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: That my son has inherited this from me.
24. Migraine has taught me: Slow down, or a migraine will do it for you.
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: Hang in there!!!
27. The people who support me most are: My sons, husband, best friend and neighbor (who’s BF also suffers very similar migraines as I do)
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: It’s not a headache. It can be scary when it mimics other conditions such as a stroke.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: Others need to be aware of just how prevalent this condition is. And I take solace in knowing I’m not alone.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: Please be sympathetic to those who suffer with this. It can be scary and difficult to accept something that can knock you out at a moments notice, or hang around just past your consciousness for days.
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.