Laughing Through #Migraines #MHAMBC

I love to laugh. Who doesn't? More than that, laughing has become an important method for coping with my chronic migraines and fibromyalgia.

It's well known that laughter has positive effects on both the body and the mind. While that is certainly a big part of how it helps me cope, I've also found that comedies provide a wonderful distraction from the pain, fatigue, anxiety, sadness...all the crap. Even when I can't bring myself to actually laugh, a good comedy can still amuse me, lift my spirits and distract me from whatever symptoms are bringing me down.

Here is a list of some of the great comedies that I like to cope to:

Saturday Night Live
Arrested Development
The Daily Show
The Colbert Report
South Park
Family Guy
The Big Bang Theory
30 Rock
The Wonder Years
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
The Jerk
Various stand up comedians
When Harry Met Sally
The Bachelor/Bachelorette
The Soup

This list is by no means complete but you get the idea. What makes you laugh?

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Anger and #Migraines #MHAMBC

It would be impossible to live with chronic migraines and not experience anger and resentment. The list of things that make me angry or cause me to feel resentful is extensive. But I don't want to dwell on that right now. Instead I want to talk about how I deal with it.

In general I believe these emotions need to be felt, explored a bit and eventually let go of. Easier said than done, especially when the thing sparking your anger isn't a single event but rather a constant assault, like with chronic migraines. 

I've found blogging and reading other chronic pain blogs has been a positive way to explore and express some of the anger and resentment that results from all the loss. The sense of community actually helps to take some of the sting away. Then, often, my exhaustion over dealing with the angry feelings is enough to help me let go of it for a time. But it always bubbles back up, being constantly retriggered (just like my migraines).

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Oh Memory, How You Trouble Me! #MHAMBC

There are so many troublesome symptoms associated with chronic migraines. While I wouldn't say that any one symptom is worse than another, I would say that each one takes its own toll on me physically and emotionally. The loss of my memory and my ability to recall things that I know has taken the biggest hit to my sense of self.

It's humiliating to not have access to even the most basic information when you need it. It's frustrating when the brain just won't function the way it used to. The worse the pain, the worse my brain functions. But even when the pain isn't bad I can't count on my brain. My body is always gearing up for or recovering from the pain phase of the migraine and memory/recall is part of all the phases for me.

So how do I cope?

When I'm having a conversation I often just apologize for myself and move on. That I can deal with. What I don't cope with well is being put on the spot, quizzed about something, or when the people I'm speaking with  get impatient with me. The truth is that I can't always control my brain and it's not my fault. Having that fact highlighted and thrown in my face is just so humiliating and makes me so angry. I hope that when I find a good therapist I will learn to deal with this better.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Van Gogh: Brilliant Painter and Migraine Sufferer #MHAMBC

Word on the street is that Vincent Van Gogh suffered from migraines. That would make him my favorite historic migraine sufferer. I've always been drawn to his work. I love the rich colors, the expressive strokes, the ordinary subject matters elevated by the dream-like quality he assigns them.

His work is just so wonderful. I never tire of looking at them. 

Day 24 Migraine Awareness Month Blog Challenge #MHAMBC

I've unfortunately had to miss the last several days of this blog challenge. My husband and I are house hunting so I've been wrapped up in the tasks, exhaustion and resulting pain. Today I'm back on track and addressing the prompt: Each time you try a new treatment you take a risk. How do you initiate a discussion with your doctor so you can make an educated decision about trying it as a team?

I wish it felt like a team. My doctor is very methodical and whenever one preventative drug fails (as they all have) he is ready with the name of another one. In the same breath he will tell me what kind of a drug it is and what the usual side effects are. By the time he's finished the only questions I usually have are questions he can't answer: will it work for me, will those scary side effects happen to me.

Under the strong influence of both desperation for relief and desire to be a "good" patient I've taken everything he suggested until this last time. It didn't feel like I was deciding, or even part of the decision making process. It was like each suggestion was wrapped in hope. Any one of them could have helped me. So I took them. They just didn't end up delivering on their potential.

Here I am, 7 years later, wanting to partner with a doctor to find good practitioners of alternative medicine and nutrition. Knowing full well that my super conservative, Mayo migraine specialist will know nothing about it and won't be willing to step outside his wheelhouse to partner with me.

I'm asking myself now if there was something more I could have done to at least feel like I was part of the decision making. There probably was, but the ultimate conclusion I've come to is that I'm glad I did it the way I did for one simple reason. I would have always wondered if one of those medications would have worked - that's just the way I am. With my curiosity satisfied, I'm ready to move forward and explore the alternative approaches to symptom management. My fingers will remain crossed that someday a good preventative medication will be developed specifically for chronic migraines.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 20 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAMCB

Migraines run in my family. While I'm not sure how far back they go, I do know that my maternal grandma had them most of her life. All of her 5 kids talk about how bad it was for her. Back then doctors really didn't even think of migraines as a real disease and mostly chalked it up to a her being a woman and not coping well with life. Triptans didn't exist so her only rescue option was to take a sleeping pill and hopefully sleep through the worst of it. The only saving grace here is that her migraines never went chronic.

Most of her five kids have had at least one or two migraines in their lives but none have suffered the way grandma did. All five of her kids have kids of their own (11 total) and most of us have also had at least one or two migraines. A handful of us have had enough of them that we have prescriptions for rescue meds. I went chronic 7 years ago and just in the last year or so one of my younger cousins also went chronic. We have been the unlucky ones who have suffered more than grandma did.

Migraines are very much a part of my family. Even though we've all had at least one, it's really only my one chronic cousin and I who understand them. The rest still carry around misconceptions and false beliefs based on their very limited experience. To make matters worse, they are all pretty convinced that this experience has made them experts. 

That is a big part of why I've been spending this month dispelling migraine myths of my personal facebook page. Although, I have serious doubts that people are actually reading the links and posts. Such is life.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

June PFAM Blog Carnival

The new Patents For A Moment blog carnival is now available. This month the topic is Getting The Attention You Need - especially the medical attention. Check out the link to read all the great posts by your fellow chronic patients.

Day 18 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAMBC

If I were to design a weapon to blast my chronic migraines away, it wouldn't be a traditional weapon. It would be a simple wand. This wand would be small, sleek, black in color, light in weight and infused with magical powers.

I would stand, without ceremony, and just wave my wand while focusing on destroying all the terrible migraine crap. Then *poof* they would be gone and I would go about living my life free from these wretched migraines. You see, these migraines have taken so much from me, I refuse to give them a big dramatic end. They don't deserve the attention and energy that it would require from me.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 16 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAMBC

For the first few years I lived with these chronic migraines I was living under the impression that that all I needed to do was figure out what happened to cause my episodic migraines to turn chronic, fix that problem and life would return to normal. Because I was clutching to this belief, I was living like my pain was acute, withdrawing from most regular activity. Exercise was one of the first things to come to a stop.

When I finally came to my senses and realized that I needed to keep living and keep moving, I had to work on figuring out what kind of exercise was going to work for me despite my circumstances. Here is what I've come up with:

1. Stretching has become a daily thing and honestly feels really great every time.
2. I do some weight resistance 3 times a week. Using light weights and being very careful about my breathing has been the key to ensuring this activity isn't a problem for my migraines. It is worth noting that the actual movements I do with the weights depends on how much pain I'm in. More about this in future post.
3. I'm also find myself out walking our dog Gypsy regularly.
4. A couple days a week I add some yoga poses to my daily stretches. I've tried classes and following exercise tapes but some poses, like downward facing dog, that are used with great frequency but cause my head big trouble. I find it easier to just do some on my own, avoiding the trouble poses altogether.


June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 15 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAMBC

For the very worst of the migraines I use the following remedy:

1. Eat 1 plain slice of bread
2. Take 2 Ibuprofen
3. Take 1 Imitrex
4. Drink a full glass of water
5. Lay down with my head on a soft pillow, under a blanket
6. Wrap an ice pack in a towel to apply around the head and neck
7. If tolerable, put on a funny movie or TV show (at a very low volume) to have on in the background to distract from the pain.


June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 14 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAMBC

Has life with chronic migraines and fibromyalgia made me stronger in any way? It's funny, most of the time I just feel like all this chronic pain has beat me down and made me weaker. I'm super sensitive to my environment, the smallest little thing can trigger a migraine or a fibro flare. It's hard to feel anything but weak when so much of my time is spent dealing with the many disabling symptoms of these two conditions. But as I sit here pondering this question I am coming up with a few ways I am stronger.

1. I have gotten better at standing up for myself, especially when it comes to dealing with doctors.
2. I have gotten better at listening to myself and understanding my body.
3. I have gotten better at weeding through the bulls*&% of false promises and crap products.
4. I even think I've gotten a little better at coping with the pain - just a little.

Ultimately, the strengthening has all been internal. You may remember from my post, Getting Off the Medication Rollercoaster, that it is this kind of internal strengthening that I will be focusing on over the next year. Small world.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 12 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAMBC

I've felt like a lab rat the entire 7 years I've had chronic migraines. But, the time I felt most like I was being experimented on would have to be when my migraine doc prescribed Neurontin (Gabapentin). The drug is supposed to treat nerve pain in addition to being an anti-seizure medication but instead it made my nerves screamingly painful. 

The prescribed titration was a lengthy one as I was working up to something like 6 pills a day. Right away I started to notice an increase in pain but I chalked it up to a fibro flare. The next week I increased my pills and noticed a huge jump in my pain so I called my doc. He insisted that this was not a possible side effect from the meds and that I needed to just keep titrating up. Wanting to believe him and be a good patient, I went ahead and kept taking it and increased again on schedule. It was this final step up that pushed me over the edge. The pain was terrible and it now seemed very obvious that it WAS the medication. I called the doc again and insisted that this was causing me an increase in nerve pain (the exact opposite of what it was supposed to do). The doc still insisted that it couldn't be the Neurontin but he didn't push me to keep taking it. 

As soon as I stopped taking it, my nerve pain returned to normal levels. Conclusive proof that it was indeed the Neurontin. 

Now, increasing nerve pain wasn't in the handout I got from the pharmacy and my doc said that he hadn't seen this in any of his patients before. There's a word for that: idiopathic. Like I've said before, my migraine doc can be kind of rigid but at least he didn't push it. 

The whole experience just underscored how inexact medicine is, how complicated our bodies are and how little (the collective) we know about it. 

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 11 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAM

The world is a very loud place. Just an hour ago as I stood sifting through the greeting cards at Target, my ears were accosted by some 4 or 5 years old boy trying to get his "me-maw" to respond to his question. With each repetition he just got louder and louder. Meanwhile I'm giving this woman a very cross look, hoping to communicate to her that she needs to do her part to keep her grandson's noise under control when out in public. This went on WAY TOO LONG before she decided to finally respond to his question. I don't think she even noticed the nasty look I was shooting her way.

Everyday noises from the television, to my husband's sneezes can feel overwhelmingly loud and painful. Add in the extra loud noises from young kids to construction projects that you will inevitably run into when out in the world and you have a recipe for migraine disaster.

I don't know that I've really developed any great tools for coping with my phonophobia (noise sensitivity). The most obvious solution would seem to be wearing ear plugs when going out into the big noisy world. The reason I don't do that is because my ears are incredibly sensitive to touch. Sometimes just resting my head on a pillow can cause my ears to flare in pain. Headphones, no matter the type, have always caused my poor ears pain.

My only strategy: whenever possible, I try to avoid or, at least, limit my exposure to loud sources. During big family gatherings my hubby and I will retreat to a quiet area for a break from the din. I try to do my errands during the week when the stores are not as busy. I don't go to concerts or see much live theatre. I keep the TV volume low. These are the kinds of things I do.

Have you found any way to cope besides ear plugs and avoidance?

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 10: Migraine Awareness Month #MHAM

People always say "it takes a village to raise a family". I tend to believe that everything takes a village. Managing my chronic migraines surely isn't something I could do all on my own. Here are the people who currently make up my Migraine Care Team:

1. My husband is the most active member of my care team. He is on the front lines every single day. He listens when I need to vent or verbally process this crud. He doesn't fuss when I can't keep up with household chores. He doesn't mind having cereal for dinner from time to time when I just can't manage cooking. He appreciates and loves me even though my chronic migraines and fibromyalgia impact his life.

2. My migraine specialist at the Mayo Clinic. Because of the distance I only get to see him once or twice a year but he is my access to both preventative and rescue medications. Even with 7 years of failed treatments under my belt he hasn't yet given up on me. His thinking can be rather ridged but when we disagree he doesn't push me and doesn't dismiss me. Now if he could only help me...

3. My pets are another big part of my care team. I know I say it with some frequency, but only because it's so true. Petting them, watching their antics, seeing their adorable faces looking at me, walking Gypsy, and feeling their love, well, it's good for the body and the soul.

4. My friends are another part of my care team. They still see me and not my disease. Most of them are social workers and so they know just the right kind of supportive things to say regarding my migraines and fibromyalgia. Talking with them helps me to feel normal and reminds me that I'm still the same Emily deep down inside. I never feel more like a full person than when I'm lost in conversations with my friends. The only real problem here is that all these dear friends live 8 hours from me so I rarely get the pleasure of their company. 

Much to my displeasure there is one big hole in my care team: the role of primary care doc. I've seen a couple docs since moving to St Louis two years ago but things quickly seem to fall apart. I get that I'm a difficult patient because I live with two chronic pain conditions that have not responded to treatment, plus I know more about both conditions than almost any PCP. They don't know what to do with me and NEVER seem willing to partner with me to manage the big picture. Next time I try a new doc I'm going to try a radical new approach and see how it works. I really do want a great relationship with a PCP.

Who is on your care team?

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 9 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAM

Today's blog challenge prompt is: How does living with migraine disorder impact your financial situation?

Simply put, the impact is significant but, thankfully, not devastating. From time to time I allow my mind to think about how different our financial situation would be if I hadn't lost the last 7 years of pay and career advancement as a social worker, most disturbingly what it means to our ability to save for retirement. I don't so much mind living simply and sacrificing some luxuries like cable and DVR. I don't feel compelled to always have the latest, greatest gadgets. But financial security is a big deal to me.

We're very blessed that my husband's pay has been enough to sustain us all this time. We were doubly blessed when disability kicked in last year and made a huge impact in our ability to pay the ever growing medical costs. But we have lost years of retirement contributions, we have lived in some crummy apartments and I've become an expert in the art of frugal living.

Financially speaking, things could be so much worse. Still, they could be better if not for these damn migraines. We'll never know just how much money I've lost the opportunity to earn over the years. I try not to think much about it for fear I will lose sight of just how blessed I am truly am.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 8 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAM

When in the throes of a migraine, as I often find myself, food is far from my mind. I still get hungry and remain aware that I need to eat but between the pain, fatigue and mostly the nausea, eating is a real challenge. Far too often taking a few bites of something yummy will kick the always present nausea into overdrive, shutting the whole thing down.

It is this very dynamic that makes even maintaining my weight a huge challenge. Gaining enough weight to return to the normal weight I was 7 years ago seems like an impossibility. Whenever doctors talk about weight gain as a possible side effect of a medication I find myself crossing my fingers that I would be lucky enough to have that side effect. Unfortunately it never really works out.

Don't get me wrong, I love food. I love cooking and eating it. I've even enjoyed just learning about food as I have since giving up meat a few years back. I try to load up as much as possible on days when the pain isn't too intense. When I can, here are a few of my favorite recipes:

Kale Pesto Pasta

Lemon Cheesecake

Brownie Bit Cookies

Veggie Fried Rice

Veggie Enchilada 

Tahini Orange Cookies

Sweet Potato Pie

Veggie Lo-Mein

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Day 7 Migraine Awareness Month #MHAM

I have to admit that I feel like crap all the time. Some days are obviously worse than others but there is never a day when I am free from all the symptoms of my chronic migraines AND fibromyalgia. It's just the reality of my life now. Depending on how bad I'm feeling on any given day and if I'm going out in public or not, I have some tricks to help me look like a normal person.

The lowest level of the fake is what I do exclusively for myself even on really bad days (not on the very worst of days): Eye Brightener. These years of intense migraines and sleep difficulties have taken a toll on my eyes. Not only do they usually hurt but they always look like they hurt. I have dark circles under and redness all around my eyes. Merely catching a glimpse of myself in a mirror can make me feel worse with my eyes like this. But I found that spending just 60 seconds dabbing a little eye brightener (I use Revlon PhotoReady Eye Brightener/Primer) around my eyes makes a huge difference. It makes seeing myself a positive experience. 

The next level of the fake is again mostly for myself but also for running an errand when I can pull it together: Eye Brightener and a little Blush. The impact doing these two very simple, very quick things is impressive. I may not look great but, really, I'm not looking to impress anyone at the grocery store. I just want to look like I am somewhat pulled together.

The highest level of the fake is for when I don't feel so bad AND I have an event to attend: Eye Brightener, Blush, Eye Liner and a Curling Iron. Even on the best of days I don't have the energy and will to spend a bunch of time applying all kinds of make-up. I've found that I can really pull off a good fake with just these three quick make-up elements and providing my hair with a little direction. The great thing about my hair is that it wants to curl so it doesn't take much to talk it into cooperating. 

No matter what I will never be one of those women with perfect hair and make-up. I'm okay with it though because I feel like I've figured out how to maximize my look using minimal products, time and energy. 

I would have liked to show you a before and after pictures here but I'm 7 days into a stretch of really bad days so it'll have to wait. You understand how it goes.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Migraine Awareness Month Day 6 #MHAM

My wishes for the future of migraine treatments are simple.

1. I want more doctors to understand the nature of migraine, what it takes to treat them and how to treat persons who are seeking help with them.

2. I want research to have produced a better understanding of migraines and a preventative medication specifically designed for them.

3. I want more doctors taking up the headache specialties.

That's not too much to ask for, is it?

Day 5: What You Can Do For Me #MHAM

Okay I have to admit that I'm choosing to do one of the alternate prompts today because I just don't understand the scheduled prompt. The prompt I chose is "Evita: Don't Cry for me Argentina: We don't want to be pitied, but we aren't always open about telling people how they can help us. How would you like to be helped?"

I'm just like every other person in the world in that what I really want is to be heard, understood and appreciated. Living with chronic migraines I am almost never heard, understood or appreciated. People judge and dismiss me all the time. I like to think it's because they just don't know how to deal with someone like me. Whatever the reason, it's hurtful and makes my already challenging days more challenging. 

The biggest help anyone could give me would be to take the time to listen and really see me for the whole person I am. Even though I don't work outside the home, I am still a person of value, an intelligent woman who has a lot to offer. In this day and age it's very unlikely that people will start taking the time to really listen to the people around them so I'm not holding my breath on this one.

Here are a few, more practical, ways I would like to be helped:

 - Don't get upset if I need to bow out early or if I have to cancel plans. 

 - Please keep in mind how painful bright lights, loud noises and strong smells are when you are with me. I can enjoy a lot more of our time together if you are not bombarding me with triggers.

 - Just trust me on this one: I am more informed and more current on everything migraine related than you are. I am working hard every day to do all that I can. Just trust me - IT IS TRUE. 

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Dealing With Set Backs #MHAM #MHAM13 #MHAMBC

My chronic migraines have dealt me some pretty big set backs over the past 7 years. I've lost my career, my high level of activity and involvement in the community, my verbal communication skills, my involvement in the arts...the list goes on. But the thing is, I'm still here. I'm doing what I can, when I can. I'm working hard to redefine my sense of self, to develop a new way of being. I want to live the best I can even if I have to live with chronic migraines and fibromyalgia.

The only other option is to crawl into a hole and wither away, to give into all the awful feelings (physically and emotionally) that are constantly trying to overwhelm me. I don't want this for my life. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I do get weighed down by the horror of it all and all I want to do is give in. But with lots of time and real effort I've always been able to pull out of it.

I like to think of this song by Chumbawamba when I'm working my way out of the horror:

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Migraine Awareness Month #3 #MHAM #MHAM13 #MHAMBC

After years of living with chronic migraines I finally stopped believing that eventually the doctors would figure out why my episodic migraines suddenly turned chronic, thus leading to a magic fix. At the time I think I needed to believe the end of this misery was just around the corner. When I finally began to accept the reality of life with chronic migraines I began to open up to making some big lifestyle changes to help me manage my symptoms and live the best I could despite my situation.

Here are some of the big changes I've made so far:

- I became a vegetarian. It didn't make any kind of difference to my migraines, but it has made a huge difference to my overall health. Making this switch has helped me to discover my passion for food and for cooking. I've learned so much about food, health and myself since making this big switch.

- I began exercising regularly again. For the first few years that I had chronic migraines I didn't exercise much at all because I was always in pain and didn't feel like it. I finally realized how important it is to remain physically active so I learned what gentle exercises were more appropriate for me.

- I began practicing relaxation techniques and meditation. I have to admit that I'm not great at either. The lack of success I've had with it has lead me to become rather inconsistent with it in 2013. This summer I plan to reincorporate it into my daily routine because I know eventually It'll get easier and I will see the benefits.

- I'm working on developing and sticking to a more regular routine. It's been difficult since we moved to an area of the country with lots of family nearby. Most people don't need routine and regularity the way I do but I've come to realize that going to bed and waking up at the same time, eating healthy food at consistent times, drinking lots of water throughout the day, staying away from the myriad of everyday things that trigger my migraines and even allowing myself time to rest between activities makes a big difference. Keeping this regular schedule isn't always possible but I think I can do better than I have in the last couple years.

- Adopting a lap dog. I've said it before, several times, and I'll say it again, my sweet little dog Gypsy has been a wonderful blessing. She gets me out of the house walking every day. She snuggles by my side all day. Petting her and holding her and even taking care of her brings me so much comfort and joy.

The plan for the coming months is to continue to find positive ways to better manage my symptoms and cope with my chronic migraine life. Here are some of the things I'm already planning to do:

- Find a counselor to help me work through all the emotions.
- Find an acupuncturist.
- Find a massage therapist.


June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.

Migraine Awareness Month #2 #MHAM #MHAM13 #MHAMBC

There is one superhero in my life: my hubby.

I'm not always the easiest person to live what with my pain, brain fog, fatigue, irritability and frequent need to withdraw from activity. Plus I've not been able to work outside of the home for years, which means I'm not able to contribute to household expenses the way I used to. My hubby has really done a great job of providing for us and our animals. There is no overstating what a big deal this is. We eat, we are sheltered, we have clothes on our backs, soap to clean with and even pets, all thanks to his hard work.

As if that wasn't enough he also does two other big things that make him my superhero. First, he is always willing to run out and get groceries or pick up take-out when I just can't pull it together. He'll do this even after a long day at work. Second, he truly doesn't care about the many things that I can't get done. If the bathroom doesn't get cleaned one week, or the dusting doesn't get done, or if things don't get tidied up he doesn't complain. What's more, I'm not so sure he even notices. Lord knows, I beat myself up enough about these things. The fact that he doesn't, means the world to me.

So you can see how these things he does are things that make a huge difference in the quality of my life. I am thankful every day to have been blessed with such a wonderful superhero hubby.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog 

Migraine Awareness Month #1 #MHAM #MHAM13 #MHAMBC

All my friends and extended family know that I have chronic migraines. Which is not to say that they understand what that means and how debilitating it is. If they were to peek under the mask I wear they would see all the ugly details.

- I'm in a lot more pain than I usually let people see.

- My brain doesn't work like it used to. All the knowledge is still there but I can't always access it.

- I often feel embarrassed, ashamed and even guilty about my situation and the burden it puts on hubby.

- I am often offended and angered by the insensitive things people say.

- Pulling myself together to meet up with anyone is a big deal for me. It is taxing emotionally and physically.

June 2013, Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, is dedicated to Unmasking the Mystery of Chronic Headache Disorders. The 2013 Migraine and Headache Awareness Month Blog Challenge is a project ofFightingHeadacheDisorders.com.