What’s it like for you to live with migraine? The 30 Things About Your Life With Migraine meme is a great way to share your experience. To share your answers on The Daily Headache, copy and paste the questions and your response into the submission form at the end of this post. Even if you don’t wish to share your answers publicly, I encourage you to think about the questions. Whether you share them with loved ones or just keep them for yourself, reflecting on your life with migraine can provide helpful insight.
1. My diagnosis is:
2. My migraine attack frequency is:
3. I was diagnosed in:
4. My comorbid conditions include:
5. I take ____ medications/supplements each day for prevention and ____ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was:
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are:
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are:
9. My biggest migraine triggers are:
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when:
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is:
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about:
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think:
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually:
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think:
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think:
17. My best coping tools are:
18. I find comfort in:
19. I get angry when people say:
20. I like it when people say:
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is:
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:
24. Migraine has taught me:
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:
27. The people who support me most are:
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is:
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because:
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is:
To submit your post, complete the form below. You must fill in every field for your submission to go through (your name and email will not be published and I won’t send you spam). Within 24 hours, I will moderate it (to prove it’s not spam) and it will be published as an individual post with a URL you can share. Check the 30 Things Meme category for your post then click on your post title to get the URL.
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If you have trouble with the submission form, please email me at kerrie[at]thedailyheadache[dot]com.
Special thanks to to Invisible Illness Awareness Week for the idea for a 30 things meme. The 30 Things About My Invisible Illness meme was so well received that I knew we needed something similar for Migraine and Headache Awareness Week.
1. My diagnosis is:Chronic migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: 5-8 times per month
3. I was diagnosed in: 1985
4. My comorbid conditions include: ibs, anxiety vertigo, travel sickness
5. I take beta blockers and pizotofen____ medications/supplements each day for prevention and imitrex medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: when i was a teen. I thought I was dying.
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: the fatigue, the inability to communicate, the lethargy and the piercing pain.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: yawning, single eye gushing with tears, hunger, weakness, auras and single eye blindness.
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: changes in routine, tiredness, sleep or lack of, smells of diesel fuel, smoke and alcohol. Also, low blood sugar.
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I get the yawns despite being rested.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: wondering how long it will go on for. How many imitrex can I take? have I taken too many? does everyone thing I’m a total disaster? Will I get fired?
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: Getting fired, people thinking I’m slacking, and how much pain I will have to endure.
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: Thank God I feel ok for a bit, I must do my chores. I also try to avoid trigger items or behavours so I don’t go out much any more.
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Oh yes I hate having a headache.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: Oh you poor thing. Can I lend you any ginger tea or help you?
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Ha. That didn’t work either.
17. My best coping tools are: When I can do it, rest in darkness. Mostly I go to work and suffer.
18. I find comfort in: The love of my boyfriend and ginger root tea.
19. I get angry when people say: How are the migraines? Well they are a living hell actually…
20. I like it when people say: Are you OK? Are you happy?
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is:
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: It won’t kill you.
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: Sometimes I wish it would kill me just so it would stop. I hope menopause will cut it down.
24. Migraine has taught me: to value the period of remission like love.
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: YOU CAN ENDURE THIS. YOU WILL FEEL BETTER SOON.
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: a. Imitrex is coming! b. it’s going to get worse!
27. The people who support me most are: The Boyfriend. Oh he is great. And my Doc.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: It is a serious neurological condition and it can be hell; people who have it are not slacking off.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I can help it spread the good work done by medics and charities.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: Value periods of remission. Live. The are doubly precious when half your life is lying in a dark room with an icebag on your skull.
I feel for everyone who has shared their story. I too suffer from chronic migraine and it has basically destroyed my life. A day doesn’t go by without pain and nausea to some degree. I have made so many trips to the ER in the last 5 years i have lost count. Injections, pills, IVs, massage, chiropractic…I have tried them all with very little or short term success. I am now allergic to all major pain meds leaving me with no options for relief. All I do is sleep and work (which I miss a lot of) and I have had no social life in the last 5 years. When does it end?
Kimberly, I’m sorry you’re having such a rough time. Hang in there. It’s impossible to say when any one person will get relief, but most of us do. And I’m sorry you can’t take pain meds. Are triptans OK and helpful for you?
Take care,
Kerrie
The one meme I read inspired me to tell my story. That in truly not alone even though I already knew that. It’s unfortunate to say I like knowing what others go through and hope maybe one day I can help some one.
1. My diagnosis is: Chronic Migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: I have head pain almost daily, approximately 20-25 day’s per month. The severity and symptoms vary daily. Botox is beginning to show me some relief though, for about 6 weeks between injections!
3. I was diagnosed in: 2004 and initially I was episodic, the last few years I have been in an Intractable state.
4. My comorbid conditions include: History of TIA, Congenital Heart Defect. May be related, the Migraines started after the TIA and an Atrial Implant.
5. I have Botox injections every 90 day’s currently, supplemental daily and abortive medications.
I could not possible remember all of the deifferent medications that I have tried. The most effective form of treatment for me was Nerve Blocks. They provided relief for approximately 3 weeks and then I would slide right back in to the same chronic state though.
6. My first migraine attack was: In 2004. I thought that I was dying, having a stroke. I started initially having what I would refer to as a 10,000.00 headache (emergency room visit and the complete work up) just a couple of times per year!
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: Numbness, tingling, weakness (stroke like), Constant Vertigo and Head Pain. My right temple hurts constantly. Just varying degrees of pain…forgetfulness, cognitive abilities and reasoning skills and simply communicating.
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: Constant Yawning. Cognitive impairment, trouble speaking and comprehending. Phantom smells. Last week I was in the hospital, I started to brush my teeth with blistex! The really sad thing was that I just acknowledged with the Nurse that Blistex was a great thing to give out, since you get so dehydrated in the hospital. And then, I started to brush my teeth with it!
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: Lights (fluorescent mostly), smells, noise. Weird, random, unexplained, and varying. Certain stores, hardware stores, plastics, fertilizers, exhaust fumes etc.,
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: The Back of my Neck starts getting stiff. This is usually but not always the first sign.
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: I can not accurately predict it or control it. The only thing that seems to help is doing as little as possible…It is extremely difficult to work, concentrate, think clearly and/or do anything at all.
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: all of the symptoms, could this be more than a migraine…what if I am having a stroke?
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: Wow, I feel half decent today 🙂
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: Oh, yea, I hate headaches etc.
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: Oh, I am so sorry, how can I help you?
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: Yea, whatever! Very frustrating to see all of the so called cures/guarantees for migraine sufferers. “Dr. Oz said” yea, yeah, yea…
17. My best coping tools are: Quiet and Rest.
18. I find comfort in: My doctor’s understanding of Migraines and my personal support system, my spouse and my family members that understand.
19. I get angry when people say: Did you have another headache?
20. I like it when people say: I can’t imagine what that is like and/or I hope that you can find relief soon.
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: Be understanding that I am not myself, physically, cognitively and/or emotionally. Try not to ask me a lot of questions or try to engage in conversation. It is just too difficult to think, let alone communicate effectively.
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: You are not alone. There so many people just like you, in chronic pain. We will keep trying 🙂
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: It is unpredictable and only slightly manageable.
24. Migraine has taught me: To embrace my good hour’s and occasional day’s to the fullest. Get as much accomplished as possible while I feel decent!
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: You ain’t seen nothing yet, yikes!
27. The people who support me most are: My husband and my Neurologist.
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: It is not just a bad headache and each of us have our own array of triggers, symptoms and solutions. Caffeine does not bother me even though it may trigger others. Icing my forehead does not help me either, it makes me feel worse. Yes, I get plenty of rest, I eat well, I take pretty darn good care of myself!
And as soon as my head stops hurting and the constant state of dizziness lets up for a little while, I will begin to exercise more too 🙂
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: Unless you have experienced a migraine, you couldn’t possibly understand all of the complex neurological side effects that go along with the headache.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: Challenging, enjoy your good day’s to the fullest 🙂
This touched my heart and now I am going to fill in a form to submit too. It made me want to share my story too. Thanks for making me feel no so alone in all of this. Migraines have stopped me from doing a lot. I don’t know anyone with migraines, except you guys!!! But no one in person. Stay pain free today every one. xoxo
I am happy to hear, see that this post helps you also 🙂
I truly felt as if there must be something else wrong with me (not just the MIGRAINES) for years…
this my 30 things post has been a comforting resource, a community of others that I can actually relate to.
Best of luck to you and may you have more pain free moments :););)
Your site and all of the felllow migraine sufferers are such a wonderful resource. I truly thought that I was the only one going through all of these crazy migraine symptoms. I wish everyone pain free days 🙂
Thank you, Susan! You’re definitely not alone.
Take care,
Kerrie
Thank you for reminding me I’m not alone.
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