As a woman with migraine and chronic daily headache, I tend to write about women with migraine or chronic daily headache. But there still are men with these and other headache disorders. (For example, although three times as many women as men have migraine, more men have cluster headaches.)
Reader Andy asked me for resources for men with headache disorders. I haven’t been able to find much. Andy was kind enough to share his experience:
“I woke up with a headache on January 22, 2005 and it’s been there ever since. I also determined through my own research that it is New Daily Persistent Headache – it has the symptoms of chronic daily headache without the traditional migraine elements. Most days it’s pretty mild, allowing me to live my life fairly normally as long as I’m distracted by my job, family, baseball game, etc. But it never goes away. It’s always there, and it’s really devastating to think I’ll be spending the next 50 years of my life in pain. 50 years! See how terrible that sounds? I just came across this blog for the first time and it’s somewhat comforting to know there are other people out there who can relate to that. Depressing, yet comforting.”
A surprising number of headache blogs are written by men. These are the ones I know of; please let me know of any others.
- A Clusterhead’s Life
- Doc’s Cluster Headache Journal
- Headache & Migraine News Blog
- Life at the Headbanger’s Ball
- Pain in the Head
- Xinc’s Domain: My Migraine Blog (More recent posts are at Rob’s new blog, but his old blog has lots of information worth looking through)
I know there are plenty of men reading this post. How do you cope with your headache disorder? What are your favorite sources for learning about men and headache?
Migraines started for me after a bout with viral meningitis when I was 50. This one has lasted 10 months now with no relief. I’m learning to cope with it so I can continue daily activities yet miss out on quite a few. It’s too bad others can’t realize what’s really going on. Thanks to the rest for sharing.
Thanks for sharing, Dan. I’m sorry you haven’t had any relief for 10 months. Finding the balance between what you can and can’t do is so difficult.
I’m in the beginning stages of a post about men with migraine for Migraine.com and am planning to interview men for their perspectives. Please let me know if you’d like to be interviewed (you can use a pseudonym, if you’d prefer). Even if you don’t, I’ll share the URL here when it is published.
Take care,
Kerrie
I have had migraines since 1982. I have tried so many things I don’t believe in the word, “Everything”, so I don’t use it. I was forced to go on disability last fall, and have started my own blog to help myself deal and heal. I have tons of collected data, images, and references that I am working on including. I would really enjoy some interaction.
We are not alone, even if it sure does feel like it.
I’m 25 and have had migraines since I was born. They are hereditary – my father also has them, however I have it a lot worse. I have migraines more often than I don’t. I’m on two daily perscription medications and an abortive in an attempt to manage the pain … the medications do a good job of downgrading the really intense migraines, but I still get them 4-6 times a week.
It sucks, but I’ve never known life any other way. Didn’t realise how bad things were till I had kids, missing out on stuff with them is worse than dealing with the pain.
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I’m sorry you’re suffering so much. Please know that you’re not alone and we’re always here to help.
Kerrie
I’ve had migraine, on and off, for nearly 12 years.
Current coping strategies are a daily dose of pizotofen, a triptan as needed and puddy cat cuddles 🙂
Thanks for this post Kerrie – people have to know that headache is not just men or women, it affects all of us. And you know what? It bloody hurts!
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That’s a great point — who cares if a sufferer is male or female, headache disorders are still no fun.
Kerrie