There have been times that living with chronic migraine has made an indelible impression on my life. One Christmas Eve a migraine came on like an angry bull seeing red and felt a bit like that bull was running around in my head. I remember sitting on the floor in the living room wrapping presents with the lights dim, fireplace going, Christmas tree lit and barely making it to the bathroom to be sick. I went between the living room floor and the bathroom about three times before finally giving into the pain and going to bed.
One of the very worst times that living with migraines affected my life was when I was in charge of a fund raiser. We were having a 50’s style dance and casino night and as the director I was expected to give a speech + have my best game face on. . .the medicine I was taking at the time did nothing to ease the knife slicing through my brain in waves. Smiling while the band played, dancing to the music, engaging with potential donors in between trips to the bathroom to be sick or hide made the evening one I will never forget. To this day, I’m not sure how I got through that evening! {but it was a very successful fundraising campaign!}
What treatment have you tried for chronic migraines? Did it work?If you know someone, or if you have the unfortunate experience of having chronic migraines, then you know the plethora of treatments that may or may not work and may or may not last even if it does work. I’ve done everything from acupuncture to changing my diet to having ice picks shoved up my nose and in the back of my head. . .desperation will have you trying anything đŸ˜‰ Ok, maybe it wasn’t literal ice picks, just straws with some nasty-tasting numbing agent that was supposed to deaden the nerve. . .it didn’t work.
Nowadays I have a trio of things I do to prevent a migraine from coming on AND to ease the pain when I do get one {although I still keep the Emergency Room number close by}. My main triggers are stress, weather changes and heat ~ all unavoidable things in life! It’s ironic that the very things that trigger a migraine are the same things that trigger an MS relapse. Aargh! My solution is to move my entire family to the coast of San Diego where the temperatures stay around 72 degrees and the storm fronts are rare. . .they just haven’t bought into packing up everything and road tripping out west. But I’m still working on them! Hmmm, that would be my kids and their families, my two brothers and their families, my mom and step-dad, my kids’ dad & his family. . .oh geez, the numbers are growing! Watch out San Diego ~ your population is about to explode!
So why talk about migraines on a book review blog? One, according to statistics at migraine.com over 37 million people in the United States alone suffer from migraines. Two, June is Migraine & Headache Awareness Month and three, education leads to understanding.
So what makes someone qualify for the chronic migraine label as opposed to simply having a headache every now and then? Ah, I’m glad you asked!
Chronic migraine is when someone suffers from a migraine for 15 or more days per month. But what does that mean?
A migraine is characterized by severe head pain often accompanied by other symptoms, which can be disabling in nature. My symptoms include
- head pain on one side {I typically call it a knife being shoved over and over into my right eye}
- nausea and/or vomiting
- light sensitivity {sunglasses & LED lights are my friends}
- sensory aura
- weird, metallic taste in my mouth
- stiff neck
Living with chronic migraine means changing plans at the last minute, canceling important dates, hiding out in quiet rooms, trips to the ER, disappointing family and friends, not being able to get everything done and a lifetime of avoiding stress, weather changes and overheating.
It also means finding the courage and strength to smile through the pain, laughing with my kids while waiting in hospital rooms because what else can you do, and learning that taking it easy on myself, loving myself, is the only way to survive.
With this month of Migraine Awareness, my message is this ~ find the little things that make life a joy because dwelling on the problems only leads to more problems. Wishing you a month of happy days.
Have you suffered from a migraine or know someone who has? How do you cope?
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