This is a reader-submitted story. Want to share your 30 Things? Here’s how: Migraine & Headache Disorders 30 Things Meme.
1. My diagnosis is: Chronic Migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: It changes constantly. It used to be every day, then it was once or twice a week, but lately it’s back to everyday.
3. I was diagnosed in: I don’t even know, maybe around 1990
4. My comorbid conditions include: Endometriosis, IBS, Weak Bladder, Fatigue
5. I take 4 medications/supplements each day for prevention and 1 medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: Around 1990
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: The pain and nausea.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: I can’t remember words.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: The sun, children screaming, MSG
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I really haven’t noticed any warnings.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: They happen so often and without warnings. I can be at the grocery store and suddenly my head starts to hurt.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: The pain getting so bad I have to go lie down.
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: I hope I don’t get one today.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Have you tried this? It helped so and so.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: You poor poor person!
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Maybe I should ask my doctor about this.
17. My best coping tools are: Scented oils. I really love the doTERRA Tension Blend.
18. I find comfort in: My mother knowing how bad they can get. She’s been here for me. Also, my cat.
19. I get angry when people say: It’s just a headache, deal with it.
20. I like it when people say: I hope you feel better soon.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Leave me alone or bring me stuff.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: We’ll find something that works.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: I will always have them. Maybe not as often, but they will never go completely away.
24. Migraine has taught me: That everyone’s migraines are different. Just because yours aren’t that bad doesn’t mean mine are not.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: “Just keep swimming.”
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: This is nothing, it’s going to get worse.
27. The people who support me most are: My mommy.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: It’s not just pain. It’s nausea and throwing up, it’s being tired and weak. It’s not being able to concentrate.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: It’s helps people learn more about migraines.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: You can’t fully control these things. Just leaving the house to go get the mail is a battle sometimes.
Reader-submitted stories solely represent the personal point of view, experience, and opinion of the author, not of The Daily Headache or Kerrie Smyres.