This is a reader-submitted story.
1. My diagnosis is: common migraine
2. My migraine attack frequency is: anywhere from 1-2/month to daily
3. I was diagnosed in: 1982 and again in 2012
4. My comorbid conditions include: depression, insomnia, eating disorder
5. I take _4___ medications/supplements each day for prevention and __1-2__ medications/supplements to treat an acute attack
6. My first migraine attack was: age 10
7. My most disabling migraine symptoms are: pain, sensitivity to sound and smell, dizziness, cog fog,fatigue, irritability
8. My strangest migraine symptoms are: sensitivity to head position changes like bending over, pain with chewing, having to drive and hitting bumps in road
9. My biggest migraine triggers are: weather/barometric drops, hormones
10. I know a migraine attack is coming on when: storms/rain in is forecast
11. The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: lack of knowledge of everyone I’m around, response to get treatment, the hopelessness and weariness that it will never end, disruption to my life- parenting, work, hobbies
12. During a migraine attack, I worry most about: lack of attention to my kid, I’m a single parent, my job. Covered by FMLA but what do people think
13. When I think about migraine between attacks, I think: ugh can please not ever have another????
14. When I tell someone I have migraine, the response is usually: very empathic, they usually say that they know someone who also has them and they are very debilitating
15. When someone tells me they have migraine, I think: I’m so so sorry, I hope you have good meds, a good MD and have good control of them
16. When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: meh?
17. My best coping tools are: meds, quiet, fetal position on left side
18. I find comfort in: the continued research on the brain
19. I get angry when people say: buck up
20. I like it when people say: let me know how I can help
21. Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: be understanding and keep things quiet
22. The best thing(s) a doctor has ever said to me about migraine is: let’s keep working until we have this figured out
23. The hardest thing to accept about having migraine is: disruption to daily life, accepting that I have precious little pain tolerance
24. Migraine has taught me: that I am not cut out for chronic pain
25. The quotation, motto, mantra, or scripture that gets me through an attack is: you can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
26. If I could go back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: find that tryptan!!!!
27. The people who support me most are: friends and family, work not too bad
28. The thing I most wish people understood about migraine is: it is horrible and not just a bad headache. So many accompanying symptoms due to neurological/vascular issue in the brain. We also know the research that we are much more likely to have a CVA than the gen pop.
29. Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: I would people to know that I am not using my vacation time from work curled up in a dark house for fun.
30. One more thing I’d like to say about life with migraine is: it’s hard when you plop it onto someone’s life who is already dealing with depression. Add chronic pain to depression, it’s just not a great mix. It really is an uphill battle so many days. I need almost an army of a support team to keep me going.
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.