30 Things About My Life With Chronic Migraines

You may have seen the 30 Things About My Life With Migraine meme that has been going around this month in honor of migraine awareness month. I set aside this day to participate. Here it goes:


My diagnosis is: Chronic Migraine

My migraine attack frequency is: 18 per month on average.

I was diagnosed with migraines in 1986 and chronic migraines in 2006

My comorbid conditions include: fibromyalgia

I take 2 medications/supplements each day for prevention and 2 medications/supplements to treat an acute attack. Currently.

My first migraine attack was: as an 8 year old girl.

My most disabling migraine symptoms are: the pain, the nausea, the fatigue and aphasia.

My strangest migraine symptoms are: my teeth will hurt and I can't seem to focus my eyes on anything.

My biggest migraine triggers are: strong odors or tobacco smoke, bright lights, lack of sleep and loud noise.

I know a migraine attack is coming on when: I get super cranky.

The most frustrating part about having a migraine attack is: how it takes over my entire body, forcing me to put everything else on hold and there is very little I can do about it.

During a migraine attack, I worry most about: the pain. I know it will eventually let up but I don't know if that will be a few hours, a few days, or a couple weeks. Still, part of me still worries that one day it will start and never end.

When I think about migraines between attacks, I think: I sure hope it doesn't happen today.

When I tell someone I have migraines, the response is usually: sympathetic.

When someone tells me they have migraines, I think: Yes, so then you know. Then I start wondering about the details: how frequent, triggers, do they have a good doc, how do they treat, etc.

When I see commercials about migraine treatments, I think: they make it sound much easier and more dependable than it actually is.

My best coping tools are: distractions and laughter.

I find comfort in: my hubby, my pets, my home, my loved ones, my fellow migraineurs.

I get angry when people say: you just need to (fill in the blank with crazy random suggestions).

I like it when people say: just let me know if you need anything.

Something kind someone can do for me during a migraine attack is: be patient as I struggle to speak and bring me food.

The best thing(s) a doctor has said to me about migraine is: well it was what was done, or not done - I've never had a doctor tell me there is nothing more they could do for me.

The hardest thing to accept about having migraines is: how much it has limited what I can do.

Migraines have taught me: to be more aware of what my body is telling me.

The quotation, motto, mantra or scripture that gets me through an attack is: breathe, breathe, breathe.

If I could get back to the early days of my diagnosis, I would tell myself: to find a migraine specialist NOW.

The people who support me most are: my hubby and my mom.

The thing I wish most people understood about migraine is: that they are extremely complex AND chronic migraine is different than episodic migraine.

Migraine and Headache Awareness Month is important to me because: many people assume they know about migraines because it is so common. But there is a lot of misinformation out there along with a general lack of understanding of the complexity and severity of the disease. Knowledge is power.

One thing I'd like to say about life with migraine is: that it's doable. It's horrible but it's doable.