This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is:migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: right now 2- 3 migraines a week
3. I was diagnosed in:2001
4. My comorbid conditions include:depression
5. I take __2__ medications/supplements each day for prevention as well as Botox injections every 12 weeks and _1___ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: when I was 16 years old, I thought I had the flu because I was so sick
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: nausea and pain
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are:
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: STRESS, not eating, not sleeping
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I get nauseated
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: it is uncontrollable
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: how long will it last
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: when is the next one coming I hope it doesn’t come on an important day
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: have you tried taking Excedrin that works for me.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: is it really a migraine or do they just have a bad headache and assume its a migraine.
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: I have already tried that one, come up with something else.
17. My best coping tools are: try to maintain a consistent schedule, make sure I take my medications daily at the same time.
18. I find comfort in: my house
19. I get angry when people say: you have a headache again.
20. I like it when people say: migraines are terrible.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: make sure I have sprite or water to drink. Offer to drive me to the doctor if necessary.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: ???
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: that it could be disabling one day and the medication that works now may not always work.
24. Migraine has taught me: to enjoy the good days.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is:
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: ask more questions and demand better answers from doctors.
27. The people who support me most are: family
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: it is NOT just a headache and just because I may not actively have a head right now does not mean that I feel great. Also, sometimes choosing to do something that is a trigger means I am choosing to have a migraine.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: people don’t understand that migraine is an invisible disease not just a headache.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: I don’t want your pity just your understanding.
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.